The shifting light in a west window makes it a challenging location to grow houseplants. It is simply too hot for many plants to survive while others end up with scorched leaves.
West windows are also challenging because the many hours of sunlight streaming in can be too overwhelming for some plants.
Some plants thrive in west-facing windows. Consider these options, and you will find one or more that you love and will thrive in a window on the west side of your home.
Jade
Often taking on the appearance of a miniature tree, jade can be grown in west windows. This plant can grow up to 6-feet tall, so be sure to choose varieties that are much shorter. You will love its evergreen leaves that will have a tinge of red if this plant gets enough hours of sunlight. When grown outside in warmer climates, it will produce small white and pink flowers, but houseplants seldom bloom.
Aloe
This member of the cactus family grows marginally toothed, lance-like leaves that can be up to 18-inches long and will occasionally have white spots. Only mature aloe plants will flower, so do not expect any for the plant’s first three years. When they do bloom, you will see yellow flowers appear on top of erect stalks.
Kalanchoe
This plant thrives in west windows, but it is a little picky about other things. It does not like wet feet, so be sure that it is in a container that drains well. You should also fertilize it with a well-balanced fertilizer while it is growing. It will reward you with many dark-green, scallop-edged leaves and large clusters of flowers that appear above the foliage and stay on the plant for many weeks. See our guide on growing Kalanchoe.
Hens and Chicks (Sempervivum)
This plant that can grow to be about 12-inches tall forms evergreen rosettes that are about 4-inches across. Each rosette is made up of 50 to 60 leaves that often have a purple tip. In the summer, this plant puts on a flowering stalk that is about 12-inches long and topped with a reddish-purple flower. Once it flowers, it sets seeds and dies. Then, the seeds germinate to grow new plants.
Agave
There are about 450 species of agave, and some of them make outstanding houseplants. This plant has bluish-gray to green-gray leaves with spines of them that can be up to 12-inches long and form a rosette shape. When mature, this plant may be up to 3-feet tall. Take good care of your plant, and it may reward you with a flower in about 25 years.
Burro’s Tail
If you are looking for a hanging basket houseplant to put near your west window, then burro’s tail may be the perfect option. The blue-green leaves on this plant appear to be woven into shape. Make sure that you water this plant infrequently and that the pot drains well. The tiny pea-shaped leaves on this plant fall off easily, so keep it where it will not be frequently bumped.
Hoya
There are over 250 types of hoya plants, and many of them make great houseplants. Most will grow to be about 3-feet tall, making these sun-loving plants an excellent option for west windows. The sweet fragrance of the waxy, star-shaped flowers is a great way to get your home to help your home smell good naturally. The flowers grow in clusters of up to 30 flowers. Each flower has a red-centered corona, making them look beautiful.
Croton
You can find many types of crotons. Generally, those with variegated leaves do best in west windows. This plant goes into shock very quickly, so be sure to set it in a place where you want it to live to prevent leaf loss. Crotons love a humid environment, so place it in a dish of water. You can find this plant in orange, red, green and many other colors.
Geranium
Botanists have developed many new types of geraniums, including trailing and vining options, so be sure to pick the one that is right for your circumstances. You can also find options that will bloom throughout the year, although most still bloom in the spring and summer. Most geraniums do not like it hotter than 70 degrees during the day and 55 degrees at night. You can find many colors of geraniums, including white, red, and pink.
Christmas Cactus
This winter-blooming plant loves temperatures about 80 degrees when it is putting on flower buds, and it will drop its flower if it gets above 90 degrees when flowering. It needs at least 13 hours of darkness daily until September. The tropical-looking flower on this plant comes in many different colors, including purple, orange, pinks, and creams, and it has graceful stems when not in bloom.
There are many choices in plants that will grow well in your west window. Choose your favorite and add a new plant to your collection today.
