tuckara.com/post/beautiful-garden-australia-budget-bunnings-under-300" title="How to Create a Beautiful Garden in Australia on a Budget — Bunnings Picks Under 0 Total">Bunnings is overlooked as a plant source by many Australians who head to specialist nurseries instead. But for everyday indoor plants at honest prices, Bunnings is excellent — wide range, consistent stock, knowledgeable staff in the nursery section, and competitive prices. Here are the best indoor picks for 2026.
What to Look For When Buying Houseplants at Bunnings
Before buying any plant, check: the stems are firm (not mushy), the leaves are mostly healthy (some yellowing at the base is normal, wholesale yellowing is not), the soil isn't waterlogged or bone dry, and there are no obvious pests (check under the leaves). Inspect before you buy — Bunnings plants are handled by many people and conditions vary.
1. Pothos / Devil's Ivy — $5–$10
The most forgiving indoor plant available. Pothos tolerates low light, irregular watering, cold, heat and neglect with equal equanimity. It trails beautifully from shelves and hanging baskets, grows fast, and propagates easily in water (free new plants). If you've killed plants before and want to try again, start here. Available year-round at Bunnings in multiple varieties — golden, marble queen, and neon pothos all look different but have the same hardy nature.
Light: Low to bright indirect. Water: When top 2cm of soil is dry. Mistakes it survives: Almost all of them.
2. Snake Plant (Sansevieria) — $8–$15
The snake plant is the indoor plant for people who forget to water. It stores water in its thick leaves and can go 4–6 weeks without water in winter with no ill effects. It tolerates low light (though grows faster in bright indirect), grows slowly but surely, and looks architectural and elegant in any room. One of the best plants for bedrooms — it converts CO2 to oxygen at night unlike most plants.
Light: Low to bright indirect. Water: Every 4–6 weeks in winter, 2–4 weeks in summer. Common mistake: Overwatering (root rot). Err on the side of underwatering.
3. Peace Lily — $8–$15
The peace lily is one of the best bathroom and low-light plants available. It flowers reliably (white spathes, elegant and long-lasting), thrives in humidity, and communicates its water needs by drooping dramatically — then recovering within hours of being watered. It's the plant that tells you what it needs, which makes it easier to care for than most. One of the best NASA air-purifying plants.
Light: Low to medium indirect. Water: When it droops slightly or the top soil is dry. Warning: Mildly toxic to pets and children — keep out of reach.
4. Spider Plant — $5–$10
Spider plants produce cascading babies on long runners that look spectacular trailing from a high shelf or hanging basket. They're extremely hardy, tolerate varied light and irregular watering, and the babies can be propagated into new plants (excellent for filling a home with plants cheaply). Variegated varieties in green and cream are the most commonly available at Bunnings.
Light: Bright to medium indirect. Water: Every 1–2 weeks. Bonus: Self-propagating — one plant becomes many over time.
5. ZZ Plant — $10–$15
The ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) is the indoor plant equivalent of a cactus — it survives neglect, low light, and infrequent watering with grace. The glossy, deep green leaves look genuinely lush and tropical, and the plant grows slowly but steadily. Perfect for offices, hallways, and any low-light corner where other plants struggle.
Light: Low to medium indirect. Water: Every 3–4 weeks. Common mistake: Overwatering. The rhizome stores water and doesn't need frequent attention.
6. Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema) — $10–$15
Aglaonemas come in a huge range of variegated colours — green, red, pink, silver — and all are excellent low-maintenance indoor plants. They tolerate low light better than most colourful plants (usually colourful plants need more light), grow at a reasonable pace, and bring genuine colour to a room. The red and pink varieties are particularly striking.
Light: Low to medium indirect. Water: Every 1–2 weeks. Warning: Mildly toxic to pets.
7. Boston Fern — $8–$12
If you have a bathroom or kitchen with decent natural light, a Boston fern thrives in the humidity and creates an immediate lush, tropical feel. They need more consistent moisture than most plants on this list — they don't like to fully dry out — but in a humid room with filtered light they're low effort and high impact. Their trailing fronds look spectacular in a hanging pot.
Light: Bright indirect. Water: Keep soil consistently moist. Ideal for: Bathrooms and kitchens with natural light.
The $50 Bunnings Indoor Plant Starter Kit
Buy these four plants, pot them up and you'll have a home full of greenery that needs almost no maintenance:
- Golden pothos in a trailing pot (shelf or bookcase): $8
- Snake plant in a terracotta pot (bedroom): $12
- Peace lily (bathroom): $10
- ZZ plant (low-light corner): $12
- Potting mix (Bunnings Osmocote Premium): $12 for a bag that covers all four
Total: $54. Four thriving plants, all low maintenance, all suited to different rooms and light conditions.
What are the easiest indoor plants to keep alive in Australia?
The easiest indoor plants to keep alive in Australia are pothos/devil's ivy, snake plants, ZZ plants, spider plants and Chinese evergreens. All tolerate low light, irregular watering and varying temperatures — making them ideal for beginners or anyone who finds plant care challenging. All are available at Bunnings for $5–$15.
Are Bunnings plants good quality in Australia?
Bunnings plants are generally good quality and well-priced for indoor and outdoor plants. The nursery section is better staffed and maintained than most people expect. Inspect plants carefully before buying — check roots (healthy soil, not waterlogged), leaves (mostly healthy), and for pests under the leaves. Condition varies by store and season, but Bunnings is consistently reliable for the common houseplant varieties.
What indoor plants are good for Australian winters?
Most common indoor houseplants handle Australian winters well since they're kept inside where temperatures are relatively stable. Snake plants, pothos, ZZ plants and Chinese evergreens all slow their growth in winter but continue to thrive. The main winter adjustment: water less frequently (most indoor plants need about half as much water in winter as summer) and keep them away from cold draughts near windows and doors.