Five plants that are genuinely hard to kill

Confidence is the real beginner plant. Start with something forgiving, get a win, and the rest follows.

Our five: the snake plant and ZZ plant for dim, forgetful corners; golden pothos for fast, visible growth; the cast-iron plant for true neglect; and a rubber plant once you're ready for something with presence.

Each of these shrugs off a missed watering and a less-than-perfect window. Master one, and you'll find you were never bad with plants — you just had the wrong plant.