Australian native plants that you can grow indoors
Some Australian natives can work indoors because of how they grow naturally. Many originate from rainforest margins, shaded gullies and forest understories — places with filtered light, higher humidity and water that moves slowly through the soil. These are conditions that can be partially mirrored indoors.
Some of these plants are easier than others and a few have very little margin for error. But if you understand where they come from and adjust how you water, prune and pot them, they are well worth trying in your home.
Hoya (Hoya australis)
A climber that naturally grows upside down at times, trailing from tree canopies — which is why it adapts so easily to hanging planters and shelving indoors.
Indoor care
Place in bright, indirect light. Allow the potting mix to dry slightly between watering. Use indoor pruning snips to shape growth and planting tweezers to guide new vines onto supports as they snap easily.
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Hoya australis is forgiving because its thick leaves store moisture. Occasional missed watering is tolerated, but consistently wet soil will cause problems.
Native violet (Viola hederacea)
Native violet spreads by gently rooting wherever its stems touch the ground, meaning one small plant can slowly turn into a living carpet in an indoor pot.
Indoor care
Bright indirect light suits it best. Keep soil evenly moist without waterlogging, especially in shallow pots. A controlled-pour watering can prevents flooding. Trim lightly with florist shears to encourage fullness and use a scoop when topping up soil to avoid disturbing fine roots.
Difficulty: Easy
Native violet copes well with indoor conditions because it naturally grows in shaded, moisture-stable environments. It is quick to show stress but also quick to recover.
Kidney weed (Dichondra repens)
Dichondra repens has soft green foliage adapted to shaded or semi-shaded environments. Indoors, it copes best in bright, indirect light with even moisture. Its creeping habit allows it to form a living ground layer that helps retain soil moisture, but it does not tolerate dry air or prolonged drying.
Indoor care
Provide bright, indirect light or light shade. Water regularly to keep the soil evenly moist, allowing the surface to dry slightly between watering. Kidney weed responds well to light trimming with sharp florist scissors, which helps maintain a dense, trailing habit rather than long, sparse stems.
Difficulty: Easy
Dichondra repens is relatively forgiving when given even moisture and bright, indirect light. Drying out is a more common cause of failure than low light when grown indoors.
Giant-leaved hoya (Hoya macgillivrayi)
The cup-shaped flowers trap fragrance, making it detectable to pollinators in dense vegetation. Indoors, this translates to scent that is noticeable but not overwhelming.
See page for author, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Indoor care
Bright filtered light and warmth are important. Let the soil dry slightly before watering. Use indoor pruning snips to remove wayward growth and planting tweezers to position new shoots without damaging soft stems.
Difficulty: Moderate
It shares many forgiving traits with Hoya australis, but larger leaves and tropical origins mean it reacts more quickly to cold or irregular watering.
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Kangaroo fern (Microsorum diversifolium)
Kangaroo fern has thick fronds that store moisture, allowing it to cope with occasional missed watering indoors. Its creeping rhizomes spread across the soil surface, helping it access moisture efficiently in pots.
Indoor care
Keep in bright, indirect light. Kangaroo ferns like even moisture — an olla is a great option, as it reduces the risk of dry patches in the pot.
Difficulty: Moderate
This fern tolerates indoor conditions better than many, but dries out fast. Inconsistent watering is the main challenge and shows up quickly as browning or limp fronds.
Staghorn fern (Platycerium bifurcatum)
Staghorns grow attached to trees rather than in soil. Indoors, this means they are comfortable with airflow around their roots, irregular watering and limited growing media. They can be mounted or placed in a free-draining pot.
Indoor care
Position in bright filtered light. Water by soaking the root ball rather than frequent surface watering. A watering can with a rose makes this easier and avoids disturbing mounted plants.
Difficulty: Moderate
Staghorns dislike being kept constantly wet. Because they are epiphytes, overwatering is a more common problem than underwatering indoors.
Bird's nest fern (Asplenium australasicum)
Bird's nest fern forms a tight rosette that funnels water and organic matter toward its roots, allowing it to feed slowly. Indoors, this adaptation helps it cope with restrained watering.
Indoor care
Bright indirect light and steady moisture suit it best. Water into the soil using a controlled watering can and keep the central crown dry. Remove damaged fronds cleanly with indoor pruning snips.
Difficulty: Moderate
The margin for error is reasonable, but water sitting in the central crown can quickly cause rot. This plant rewards careful watering into the soil rather than overhead watering.
Olla tip: Rather than watering from the surface and risking moisture sitting around the crown or in the top layer of soil, a small watering olla buried in the potting mix releases water slowly and directly into the root zone of indoor plants, where it can be drawn on as the plant requires it. This mimics the gradual, deep moisture uptake that most Australian natives are adapted to.
Maidenhair fern (Adiantum aethiopicum)
Maidenhair fern leaves repel water so efficiently that droplets bead and roll straight off — a trait that helps prevent fungal disease indoors.
Indoor care
Provide bright light without direct sun. Soil must remain evenly moist at all times. Mini snips are helpful when removing dead fronds.
Difficulty: Hard
Maidenhair ferns have a tiny margin of error. Missed watering, dry air or sudden temperature changes can cause rapid leaf drop. They punish neglect.
A considered approach works best
Australian natives succeed indoors when their natural habits are mirrored as closely as possible. This gives you the best chance of success. Some will test your patience and not all are suited to beginners. But they offer a way to grow Australian plants indoors and get closer to some remarkable local species.
keep reading
A Guide to Australian Native Gardening
How to plan, plant and care for a thriving native garden, whatever your experience level.
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