10 sun-loving houseplants that can take the heat

Lisa Boone
·4 min read
These plants can take the heat — and thrive. <span class="copyright">(Stephanie DeAngelis)</span>
These plants can take the heat — and thrive. (Stephanie DeAngelis)

Sunlight is prized in Southern California where many homes and apartments are furnished with floor-to-ceiling glass windows and French doors that allow us to enjoy indoor-outdoor living.

But that sunlight can be brutal on tropical houseplants that are accustomed to shady tree canopies. (A Mona Lisa lipstick plant may do well in bright light, but its leaves will burn in direct sun.)

The hottest months of summer are ahead of us, which means it may be necessary to move some houseplants out of the sun. With that in mind, here are 10 that can take the heat:

A dwarf Meyer lemon tree can be grown indoors in full sun.
A dwarf Meyer lemon tree can be grown indoors in full sun. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

1. Dwarf citrus

Characterized by glossy green leaves, white flowers and brightly colored fruit, a dwarf citrus tree — lemon, lime or orange — makes an uplifting houseplant. It will require at least four hours of direct sunlight a day and under the right conditions will flower regularly. Place containers on a pebble tray and mist them occassionally to assist with flowering and pest control. If the humidity in the room is too low, spider mites can become a problem.

Euphorbia obesa
Euphorbia obesa, often called the baseball plant or the baseball cactus, has a stitching-like pattern that is the source of its name. (Ann Summa)

2. Succulents

While most succulents don’t like being inside due to their airflow needs, some will rally in a sunny spot. Annette Gutierrez of Potted recommends kalanchoes, euphorbias, gasteria and aloes. "Oddly, except for kalanchoes and euphorbias, these would all burn if they were in full sun outside," Gutierrez said. Agave geminiflora; Crassula argentea, or jade plant; and Euphorbia obesa, or baseball plant, can also withstand full sun and will do well in rooms with south-facing windows.

Ponytail palm at the Sill in West Hollywood.
Ponytail palm at the Sill in West Hollywood. (Marisa Vitale )

3. Beaucarnea recurvata, or ponytail palm

The ponytail palm is not a palm at all, but like a palm, it can take direct sunlight whether planted indoors or outside. With its curly ponytail, the succulent is a striking choice for interiors and is a good choice for amateurs: It is nearly impossible to kill as long as you don’t overwater it.

Cactus can do well indoors if placed in your sunniest area.
Cactus can do well indoors if placed in your sunniest area. (Bloomscape)

4. Cactus

Desert cactus will do well in containers indoors as long as you place them in your sunniest window. Some good choices for indoors: Opuntia subulata, Cereus peruvianus, Cereus jamacaru, Aporocactus flagelliformis, Notocatus concinnus and Notocactus ottonis. Try planting several small cactus in a bowl to create a fun decorative planter. And remember to turn plants regularly as they will be affected by one-sided sun exposure.

Greek basil grown by Windrose Farm at the Santa Monica farmers market.
Greek basil grown by Windrose Farm at the Santa Monica farmers market. (David Karp)

5. Herbs

Like succulents, herbs don’t particularly like being indoors but will do fine in a south-facing sunny window. Try basil, rosemary and cilantro.

Indoor olive tree from Terrain.
Indoor olive tree from Terrain. (Terrain)

6. Olive trees

The silver-leafed fruitless olive is gorgeous inside, which is why you see so many faux olive trees at home stores lately. It needs a lot of sun to survive, but is not a forever indoor houseplant. It will eventually need to be planted in the ground outside.

Snake plants are popular and easy to grow.
Snake plants are popular and easy to grow. (The Sill )

7. Sansevieria trifasciata, snake plant

Popular sansevierias require little water and thrive in bright light. “People think they are low light plants but I’ve seen them do fine in full sun too,” Gutierrez said. “You just have to acclimate them. Many plants will adapt to full sun if you give them time." If you are going to try this, wait until fall or winter when the sun isn’t as intense and they have time to acclimate before summer.

White bird of paradise (on stand, at back).
White bird of paradise (on stand, at back). (The Sill)

8. Strelitzia nicolai, white bird of paradise

This tall tree-like plant can grow up to 6 feet indoors (and much higher outside). Its large oblong-shaped textural leaves are lush and will give interiors a tropical vibe. Thanks to its height, and expansive leaves, this is an ideal plant to liven up empty spaces.

Spineless yucca thrive in direct sunlight.
Spineless yucca thrive in direct sunlight. (Lisa Boone )

9. Yucca elephantipes, spineless yucca

Commonly called spineless yucca, This tall succulent can grow up to 8-10 feet tall and features clusters of sword-like leaves that shoot out from its woody trunk. Yucca plants are susceptible to root rot, so it's a good idea to plant them in well-drained soil and add rocks to the bottom of the container.

An insect is caught on Drosera filiformis, a threadleaf sundew.
An insect is caught on Drosera filiformis, a threadleaf sundew. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

10. Drosera

If you are a fan of carnivorous plants, sundews do well in full sun as long as they're kept in a marsh-like setup (they are commonly found in bogs so it's a good idea to place them on a pebble tray). Sundew plants often have rosettes and feature sticky pads that trap insects and digest them. Keep the soil moist and it will spread like a weed.