Looking to try your hand at plant parenthood but have no idea where to start—and no practical gardening skills or experience to speak of? Don’t fret: as Hartley Rosen, co-owner of East Vancouver’s longstanding Figaro’s Garden so confidently states, “there’s no such thing as a black thumb.”

Below, the horticulture wiz recommends five houseplant varieties that beginners and even the most helpless, botanically challenged urbanites can handle.

Sansevieria

Commonly referred to as snake plants or mother-in-law’s tongues, the structural blooms under this genus are “basically bomb-proof”, says Rosen, making them an excellent choice for green novices. Extremely tolerant of dry and low-light conditions, the class’s stiff, upright leaves make a bright architectural statement, too. “They have a lot of colour variability: there are blacks and greens and silvers,” adds Rosen, “so you can match it with any décor in your house.”

Zamioculcas

Popular for its robustness and elegant, super shiny leaves, zamioculcas—a genus known for its ZZ plant—are ideal for self-described brown or black thumbs. The practically indestructible plants can stand long periods of neglect, require minimal water, and thrive in low-light environments. “This is another one that sort of fits in the same mould as the snake plant,” notes Rosen, “really, really bomb-proof and a really nice décor piece.”

Spathiphyllum

Those who prefer to have florals blooming at home but are nervous about tackling more challenging botanicals like orchids should look into the spathiphyllum genus. The category includes a species that is more generally called peace lilies: plants with tall white “flowers”—or, more specifically, specialized leaf bracts—that don’t need much to survive. “It’s another low-maintenance, sort of low-light plant,” says Rosen.

Monstera

The subject of Instagram’s well-liked #monsteramonday hashtag, this tropical genus is best recognized for the holes that punctuate the plants’ large, heart-shaped leaves, hence earning them the moniker “Swiss-cheese plants”. The most popular variety is the Monstera deliciosa, which can grow to up to 20 metres, offering dwellers an “instant urban jungle” vibe. “This is a good one for beginners,” says Rosen, “but they can get a little bit vine-y and range-y, so they kind of need to be maintained.”

Pothos

This class of hardy, trailing vines looks great spilling out of a planter and onto a table, countertop, or bookshelf. More commonly known as devil’s ivy due to its hard-to-kill nature, the genus’s most distinguishable species is the Epipremnum aureum, which features marbled yellow-green leaves that may run the gamut from moss to chartreuse. However, they’re toxic when consumed by pets and humans. “In terms of tropical [plants], those have been very popular,” says Rosen.