11 Plants That Actually Prefer to Be Ignored • Schisandra & Bergamot

Some plants just don’t want the attention—and that’s a good thing for anyone who forgets to water or tends to over-care. While many popular houseplants need routine upkeep, others flourish when left alone.

These 11 low-maintenance plants are tougher than they look—and they actually prefer to be ignored.

Elephant’s Foot (Dioscorea elephantipes)

Close-up of a caudex from a Dioscorea elephantipes plant with gray, corky, patterned segments, surrounded by soil and green foliage. — Photo Credit: jipen/Deposit Photos

This fascinating plant has a thick, cracked caudex that stores water, making it extremely drought-tolerant. During dormancy, it drops its leaves and thrives best when left undisturbed. Just give it a bright spot and forget about it.

Ox Tongue (Gasteria spp.)

Close-up of a green succulent plant with pointed, thick leaves arranged in a spiral pattern against a black background. — Photo Credit: martin_hetto/Pixabay

Named for its thick, bumpy leaves, Ox Tongue is one of the most forgiving succulents. It tolerates low light, thrives on neglect, and barely needs water. It’s perfect for low-effort plant lovers.

Sea Grape (Coccoloba uvifera)

A cluster of small green fruits hangs from a tree branch among large, glossy green leaves. — Photo Credit: DEZALB/Pixabay

This tropical plant grows slowly indoors and doesn’t mind dry air or missed waterings. With its large, round leaves and reddish veins, it adds a bold look with minimal care. It’s surprisingly tough for such a pretty plant.

String of Dolphins (Senecio peregrinus)

A string of pearls succulent plant with small, round green leaves grows in a round, gray stone pot filled with black pebbles. — Photo Credit: dyturge/Pixabay

This charming succulent forms tiny, dolphin-shaped leaves that leap along its vines. It thrives on dry soil and infrequent watering—and overwatering is actually the quickest way to kill it.

Buddha’s Temple (Crassula 'Buddha’s Temple')

A small, geometric succulent with layered leaves grows among light-colored rocks in a textured planter. — Photo Credit: Leo_65/Pixabay

This sculptural succulent resembles stacked pagodas and is a slow grower that dislikes attention. Water sparingly, keep it in bright light, and enjoy its unique form without much fuss.

Candelabra Tree (Euphorbia candelabrum)

Close-up of the upper branches and green succulent stems of a large Euphorbia tree against a pale blue sky. — Photo Credit: byrdyak/Envato

Looking like a cactus but technically a euphorbia, this architectural plant loves full sun and dry conditions. It requires almost no watering and is perfect for those who forget their plants for weeks at a time.

Japanese Sedge (Carex morrowii)

Close-up of tall, green grass-like plants with white-striped leaves, growing densely outdoors with blurred background vegetation. — Photo Credit: CynthiaMarie/Deposit Photos

A graceful, grass-like plant that doesn’t demand much. It tolerates shade, inconsistent watering, and poor soil—making it a great choice for those who want greenery without a care routine.

Sand Rose (Anacampseros rufescens)

A white pot containing a succulent plant with green and pink leaves, placed on a wooden surface. Other potted succulents are partially visible in the background. — Photo Credit: Jahidul Islam/Deposit Photos

This colorful succulent features fleshy green-and-pink leaves and is happiest when ignored. It handles drought like a champ and needs little more than a sunny spot to shine.

Lifesaver Plant (Huernia zebrina)

Close-up of a cactus-like plant with star-shaped, striped flowers and spiky green stems in an indoor setting. — Photo Credit: leechentou/Pixabay

Named for its wild, star-shaped flowers that resemble candy, this succulent is drought-tolerant and rarely asks for attention. Overwatering is its only enemy—otherwise, it’s almost unkillable.

Snake Lily (Drimiopsis maculata)

Close-up of a green succulent plant with spotted leaves growing in a pot filled with clay pebbles; white stones are visible in the background. — Photo Credit: kriangoto31/Deposit Photos

This bulbous plant features spotted leaves and does just fine in partial shade and poor soil. It enters dormancy during dry seasons and requires little water or care to thrive.

Pickle Plant (Delosperma echinatum)

A cluster of green succulent leaves with several red and yellow daisy-like flowers growing in dark, rocky soil next to a large stone. — Photo Credit: bill2828/Pixabay

With its fuzzy, pickle-shaped leaves, this quirky succulent enjoys bright light and minimal moisture. It’s adorable, drought-resistant, and nearly thrives on neglect.

Not all plants want pampering. These 11 low-maintenance varieties prove that sometimes, the less you do, the better they grow. So go ahead—skip the watering schedule and let these green gems do their thing.