Three of the most forgiving houseplants you can buy, chosen so that a beginner has something that will survive a missed watering.

Chlorophytum comosum, the spider plant, makes an arching clump of narrow green and cream striped leaves and sends out plantlets on trailing stems as it matures. Zamioculcas zamiifolia, the ZZ plant, is upright and glossy, storing water in fat underground rhizomes so it copes with long gaps between waterings. Dracaena marginata, the dragon tree, grows on a slender stem topped with rosettes of narrow deep green leaves edged in red, and gives the set some height.

All three are happy anywhere from a bright indirect spot to a dim corner, which is what makes them so useful. Keep them at normal room temperature, between about 15C and 25C, out of cold draughts, and water only when the top few centimetres of compost feel dry. Overwatering kills all three far more often than neglect does. Ordinary household humidity is fine and none of them needs misting. Feed once a month through spring and summer, and wipe the leaves occasionally so they keep working.

Supplied as three established plants in 1 litre root balls, ready to pot into containers of your own. The ZZ plant is harmful if eaten and the dracaena is harmful to cats, dogs, rabbits and rodents, so keep both away from animals and children.

Cultural Information

Common Name: Spider plant, ZZ plant and dragon tree

Fully Grown Height and Spread: Spider plant 30 to 45cm; ZZ plant 45 to 60cm; dracaena 100 to 180cm indoors

Growth Habit: Arching clump with runners, upright clump with arching stems, and upright tree like

Perfect For: Beginners, offices, bedrooms, shelves and shaded corners

Foliage: Green and cream striped; glossy dark green; deep green with red margins

Flowering Time: Grown for foliage

Planting Position: Bright to low indirect light indoors

Soil Type: Free-draining, peat-free houseplant compost

Hardiness: Tender, indoor only; keep above 12C

Maintenance: Easy; water sparingly and feed monthly in the growing season

Seasonal Interest: Evergreen foliage

Type: Houseplant collection of three plants