Ask any seasoned decorator: there’s nothing that brings a sense of freshness and life to a room faster than a houseplant. Even better? Plants that bloom, creating a de facto bouquet that never wilts (assuming you water it, of course). Below, some need-to-know intel for black and green thumbs alike.

If you’re the type that champions a “matchy matchy” look, from your wallpaper to your throw pillows, don’t go rogue when it comes to your houseplants. Nowadays, you can find houseplants that bloom in nearly every color, whether you want to mimic your candy-pink artwork or Tiffany-blue upholstery.

Each plant has its own requirements for water, sun, shade, and more. The closer you hew to them, the longer they’re likely to live—and flourish—bringing all the eye-catching beauty you could ask for indoors. Keep track of their care notes in an easy-to-access notebook you can hand off to your house sitter should you go out of town.

top 5 favorites

1. African violet (Saintpaulia): It’s no surprise these delicate purple darlings are beloved: they bloom basically all year round. Make It Happy: African violets crave indirect sunlight and humidity, so keep them moist.

2. Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera x buckleyi): Famed for blooming in the dead of winter at the holidays, these Brazilian natives “thrive on neglect,” as the old maxim goes. Make It Happy: Mist and water often, drain well, and keep it in indirect, bright light.

3. Peace lily (Spathiphyllum floribundum): Beware, this one is poisonous to children and pets when eaten. But if you live in an adults-only, critter-free home, its tropical white blooms are ravishing. Make It Happy: Low light and even moisture mimics their native jungle undergrowth home.

4. Jungle Geranium (Ixora coccinea): Fans of hydrangea will love this shrub, which can grow up to five feet tall indoors. Make It Happy: Fairly dry soil, bright light, and balmy temperatures are the trick with this lacey stunner.

5. Jasmine (Jasminum): As fragrant as houseplants get, this beauty’s dainty white flowers evoke evening walks in warm-weather climes. Make It Happy: Moist soil, bright light, and year-round warmth (60 degrees minimum in winter).

Bored with standard-issue flowers? Nurseries like Logee’s Plants for Home & Garden sell rare plants online and deliver them straight to your door. Try Angel’s Trumpet ‘Moonlight Glow’ (Brugmansia hybrid), which opens its perfumed petals under the darkness of night, or fragrant Hoya ‘Eskimo’ (Hoya krohniana)—which has teensy, sweet-smelling flowers that bloom off and on all year round.

Unfortunately, a few of the loveliest blooming houseplants aren’t so lovely for your four-legged friends. According to the ASPCA, dogs will find amaryllis, begonia, and garden hyacinth poisonous; same goes for kitties when it comes to Barbados lilies, bird of paradise, and snake lilies. Visit www.aspca.org for a full list of what to avoid for your particular pet’s health.

If you don’t have a green thumb, you’re not alone. Keeping plants alive can be a dizzying prospect, even for people who have great luck with children and pets. If you’d like to try an indoor garden with less risk, consider a membership to The Sill, which delivers potted houseplants to your door (along with copious instructions). You can even try their subscription services, which are tailored to your personal and environmental needs. Whether you need help to get started, are looking for pet-friendly options, or require plants that thrive in low light, The Sill has something for you.