Skip to Content

7 Perfect Spiky Plants for Your Home

Sharing is caring!

Have you ever heard about spiky plants? If not, then you are on the right page. The spiky plant, also known as “Dracaena.”, is a popular ornamental houseplant, grown both inside and outside in subtropical climates.

It has a height of about three feet indoors and looks like a bushy tree. These are the things that make these spiky plants different from other ordinary plants.

These plants are edgy or architectural and are used to enhance the beauty of the garden. It has sharp-tipped leaves, with colorful margins of pink and white color.

Spiky plants are available in many varieties like Aloe Barbadensis, Cacti, Haworthia Attenuata, Agave, Yucca, Aloe Vera, Marginata and many more.

In this article, we will discuss everything you need to know about spiky plants. If you are interested in keeping one, then you should keep reading.

Spiky Plants Care Tips:

Spiky plants require less amount of care as compared to the other plants. However, taking proper care of these plants is important. So, if you want your dracaena to grow healthy, then make sure you follow the points we have listed below:

Sun exposure

These plants can tolerate direct sunlight for short periods of times, but their leaves start to get damaged after that. So, for a long lifespan, keep your spiky plants away from the direct sunlight and keep them in a semi-shade spot.

Also, in winters, try to keep your spiky plant in a warm space because a cold environment can affect its growth.

Water

Spiky plants need less amount of water as compared to the other indoor plants. However, it is important to keep them hydrated by good drainage. Make sure that you use mineral water because spiky plants are a little sensitive.

Before watering the plant, make sure that the upper layer of soil is dried, and leaves are green. Also, if you notice any yellow or damaged leaves on your plant, then you should cut those portions of the leaves.

Water your plant immediately after that, damaged leaves start gathering insects in the plants that eventually damages the other leaves and root.

Temperature requirement

Spiky plants require 60 – 75℉ temperatures in the daytime and at night not below 55℉. Make sure that you keep these plants away from heating and cooling appliances.

Best varieties of Spiky Plants

1. Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera is one of, if not the most famous spiky house plants. The gel contained in this plant provides many benefits to the human body.

The gel is used to help in treating acne, improves the growth of hair, aloe vera juice boosts the immune system, and many more.

It also produces baby plants that are called as pups and grow underneath the parent plant.

Ideal Growing Conditions:

Aloe Vera plants should be kept in a place with a good amount of sunlight, don’t be afraid to keep them in direct sunlight. You should water your Aloe Vera plant thoroughly once every two weeks.

The USDA hardiness zones for Aloe Vera plants are 8-11.

2. Cacti

Cacti Spiky plants

It is a very easy to maintain houseplant and can grow with very dry air and direct sunlight. Basically, cacti are an African Milk type of tree and an interesting variety of spiky plants.

They can reach 4 feet (120 cm) in height and produce beautiful pink or yellow flowers on the top.

These plants are harmful to pets, so you should take special care to keep them away form the reach of your dogs or cats.

Cacti also come in different varieties and sizes; Here are some of the best types of cacti you can keep at your home:

  1. Christmas cacti:

This cactus adorns in red, pink, white, or orange flowers and fans out in dropping long braces. These plants are particularly great for enhancing the look of your Christmas tree.

  1. Moon cacti:

It is a small and compact variety of cactus and is perfect for enhancing the look of your desk. It produces bright, rounded bulbs of yellow, orange, pink, and red flowers.

  1. Old lady cacti:

These cute and fuzzy little plants are great for removing toxins from the environment. You can keep them at your work desk as a nice little decoration.

  1. Bunny ears cacti:

These Cacti get their name from their bunny ear shape, in addition to being cute, these plants are also extremely easy to maintain, making them a popular choice for beginners.

Ideal Growing Conditions:

These types of plants are very easy to maintain, making them a great choice for beginners. They need to be watered once a week and can live happily with a good amount of sunlight.

The USDA hardiness zones for Cacti plants are 6-9.

3. Zebra Haworthia

Zebra Haworthia Spiky plants
via Pixnio

Zebra Haworthia are very easy to take good care for. Like other succulents, these plants only need to consume water every 7 days or 14 days.

This variety of spiky plants only grow 4 to 6 inches (8 to 13 cm) tall. So, they are perfect for keeping on windowsills or desks. These plants can live well with direct sunlight.

Ideal Growing Conditions:

Zebra Haworthia plants like to be in well-lit areas, they can even survive direct sunlight. You should water them every few weeks or when the soil has dried out.

The USDA hardiness zone for Zebra Haworthia plant is 11A.

4. Dracaena Trifasciata

These plants have many different names, they are known as Saint George’s sword, Snake Plants, Viper’s Bowstring Hemp, and many more.

Besides their interesting names, these plants are known for absorbing cancer-causing pollutants like benzene, xylene, CO2, and other toxins. Their ability to purify the air makes them an excellent choice for an indoor plant.

Ideal Growing Conditions:

Snake plants prefer to be in medium to brightly lit rooms, but they can tolerate direct sunlight or even low light conditions. You should only water these plants once their soil has completely dried out.

The USDA hardiness zones for Dracaena Trifasciata plants are 10-12.

5. Agave

Agave plants are available in many varieties, and all of them are spiky and suited for growing indoors. The leaves of agave plants are green and gray. The leaves are also covered in very tiny spikes around the edges.

Once the agave plants start flowering, the leaves themselves die but produce tiny plants from underneath that allow them to regrow.

Ideal Growing Conditions:

Agave plants prefer to live in strong light conditions, you should leave them in direct sunlight without worrying about damaging them. They should be watered once their soil has dried out.

The USDA hardiness zone for Agave plants is 7.

6. Dracaena Marginata

Dracaena Marginata Spiky plants
via Flickr

Also known as the dragon tree, Dracaena Marginata is an attractive indoor plant that looks like a small tree with large green spiky leaves.

Dragon trees require less care and are ideal for beginner to advanced gardeners.

Ideal Growing Conditions:

These plants prefer to live in moderate, indirect sunlight. They also do well under well lit conditions, so you don’t need to worry too much about placement. You should only water these plants once the top part of the soil has dried out a little.

The USDA hardiness zones for Dracaena Marginata plants are 10-12.

7. Yucca

Yucca Spiky plants
via Flickr

Yucca is another great example of an indoor plant; it is similar to a dragon tree in appearance. These plants are native to the US and are slow growing plants that are also drought resistant.

The leaves of the Yucca plant can be toxic to pets, so, you should keep them away from the reach of any household animals.

Ideal Growing Conditions:

Yucca plants are easy to maintain, all these plants need is a sturdy pot, a well-draining soil and some sunlight.

The USDA hardiness zones for Yucca plants are 7-9.


Benefits of keeping spiky plants:

Purify the air

Like all indoor plants, Spiky plants are also great air-purifiers. You can greatly improve the air-quality of your home by having a few of these plants inside.

Enhance the look

Spiky plants have a very unique aesthetic to them and can provide good contrast for the interior design of your home.

Remove air pollutants

Spiky plants are particularly well known for killing bacteria and other microbes present in the air.

 and filters the oxygen, and absorbs the CO2, Benzene, Formaldehyde, Xylene, and Toluene.

According to the expert’s research, 1n 1989 NASA did an experiment on indoor plants that proved that plants with spiky leaves and heavy leaf surface area do better air purification, and spiky plants are one of them.

Absorbs CO2 at night

Just like the other plants and trees, spiky plants also absorb C02 at night and give oxygen.

So, keeping a spiky plant will help you to get fresh air with no pollutants.

Effective against allergies

If you have any allergic reaction on the skin, you can use the leaves of aloe vera and snake plants. These boh varieties of spiky plants are helpful in treating allergies.

However, if you have a major issue or have sensitive skin, then do not try a spiky plant on the allergic area. Try to concern yourself with your doctor first.

Positive energy and feng shui

Many people consider that spiky plants are not good for feng shui. However, if we keep them in the right position they can generate positive energy.

According to feng shui, spiky plants are good against negative chi. As these plants are aggressive in nature, you should keep them in less crowded areas.

Low maintenance

As we have already mentioned that spiky plants require less care. So, you can keep them in your house easily. These spiky plants can grow in direct sun, in full light , in less amount of water. Basically. We can also add them to the chart of beautiful and easy care Houseplants.

However, make sure that you keep them away from your pet as these plants are toxic for animals.

Great learning experience

Cactus teaches children the responsibility of water and check on the conditions, so eventually, these spiky plants also teach children basic good things.

These spiky plants can be the best option to increase your child’s school habits and helps in preparing a good mindset for your child. So, go get these beautiful spiky plants fast and teach your child good manners.

Reduces outdoor and indoor noises

Cacti help in reducing the amount of noise you hear in your home when you are trying to relax. They can do it because their surface area bounces noise away from you.

Placing a cactus plant on your doors, windows, or on your desk gives a beautiful smell and refreshes the mind and mainly reduces the background noise.


Conclusion

Who doesn’t love the idea of having an indoor garden because of its many benefits? Spiky plants are the best options to be kept as houseplants in small gardens.

It has several benefits like it produces oxygen, enhances the look of your house, removes the pollutants, absorbs co2, requires low maintenance, great learning experiences etc.

Though these plants require less care yet, it is important to take proper care like keeping ways for direct sunlight, providing the required amount of water, required temperature, etc., as we have mentioned in the above points.

Also, having these spiky plants in your garden area can be very therapeutic and may help in relieving stress.

Also, there are many varieties of spiky plants like aloe barbadensis, cacti, haworthia attenuata, sansevieria trifasciata, etc., to choose from. We have mentioned all the information you need to choose the right plant for your garden in the above points.

These cute yet defensive spiky plants are easily available in the market, so what are you waiting for?

We hope that the above post covers everything about spiky plants. If you found the post informative, then hit the like button, and share the name of your favorite spiky plant in the comment section below.