5 Plants that Vibe with Our Coastal Minimalist Home

Our coastal bungalow, while decorated minimally, breathes life and energy, not only due to the salty air, and the bright light that enters the windows. Our coastal home has plants that are dispersed throughout. Not only are the plants air purifying, but they provide aesthetically pleasing décor for our abode.

I (Shannon) have talked about my love of plants before. This adoration connects with our minimalist lifestyle. I won’t bog you down with those details, but rather this time, discuss more of the minimal décor aspect, especially as it relates to our home sanctuary. 

Coastal Plants: More Than Coastal Decor

Even though we live on the coast, where it is statistically a bit warmer than our inland friends, we still have winter. We have to be mindful of the chilling temps that accompany the season. Therefore, our interior becomes a bit greener when colder weather arrives. Many of our plants thrive in the late spring, and early summer outdoors. When there is a chill, protective plant mom comes to the rescue. The outdoor plants come in, for protection. 

Don’t get me wrong, we don’t have an indoor jungle. However, we do have a significant amount of plants, When the traditional household plants share their space with the traditional outdoor plants, well, it gets a little cozy. We’re all about that cozy minimalist feel. We dig it. No pun intended.

I thought I would share my top 5 plants that live inside our bungalow. These are the top faves either year-round or in the colder months. These plant babes vibe with our minimalist lifestyle.

Sidenote- as a true plant mom, I should add that while I love all of my plants equally, I just seem to gravitate a little more to the plants I am highlighting here. 😉

Our Top 5 Coastal Plants

Our selection of indoor plants embodies simplicity and joy. These plant babes, bring a breath of fresh air to our space. Each one is the perfect plant for our lifestyle. They effortlessly infuse our home with natural beauty and a sense of calm. Not only do they mesh with our coastal vibe, but they serve as coastal-inspired decorations without being intentional. 

Let’s introduce our coastal living plant babes to you. For each, we introduce their name around our home, their common names in the plant world, and their botanical name.

(1) Mr. Plant- Pothos- Epipremnum aureum

If you know me or have been a follower of this blog, you know Mr. Plant. We go way back. My first plant, I welcomed him into my life in 1994, and thankfully have kept him alive and well for all these years. Yes, the pothos is one of the easiest plants to care for. Believe it or not, with the plant lover that I am today, I still do not consider myself to have a green thumb. 

Thankfully, the plants that stick around, just mesh well with me, and vice versa. If you saw Mr. Plant a few years ago in this post, you will be shocked at how vibrant he is today. He normally enjoys the outdoors in the summer months but must come inside in the fall, winter, and early spring, The coastal winds bring a bit of salt spray. We love it, but the big winds are a little too much for Mr. Plant. 

When indoors, and with some light nearby, he can remain healthy and happy. Since we moved to Beaufort a few years ago, he has looked the richest green I have ever seen. He must enjoy his surroundings, as much as we do.

FYI- pothos plants do not enjoy full sun. Be careful as the leaves will turn bright yellow. I learned this the hard way. Thankfully, Mr. Plant recovered. They do well when their vines can hang. A hanging basket is perfect, or if you can drape their vines hanging down from a shelf, it will thrive.

(2) François- Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree- Ficus lyrata

I was introduced to the appeal of the fiddle leaf fig by Hilton Carter. His Instagram posts on his favorite plant immediately had me intrigued. 

I have to admit that while I gravitated towards the aesthetic that the fiddle leaf fig provided, I was intimidated by those who talked about how particular of a plant it could be. Lordy, did I want to bring in a plant that I may fall in love with, just to kill it? 

I did my research, watched tons of Hilton’s videos, followed along with Alvin Wayne‘s “Plant Talk Tuesday” on how to care for the species, the dos and don’ts, and finally began my search for one. I finally found the fiddle leaf fig at a local nursery, only a foot or two high at the time. Once I began caring for the fella, which I happily named, François. I became more confident. 

Since acquiring him a few years ago, he is now about twelve feet tall and is as handsome as he can be. He also provides a chic style to our living area. Fiddles are known for being fabulous home decor, which is why you see so many fiddles as faux plants.

FYI- fiddle leaf figs are notoriously fickle. While they have tough green leaves, you want to keep them clean, from debris and bacterial. They enjoy a sunny spot in your home. Ours adores bright indirect light. 

(3) Audrey- Ficus Audrey- Ficus benghalensis

Audrey became a part of our family after I continued to see all over Apartment Therapy, not only how beautiful she was in various minimalist dwellings, but that she was being touted as the new fiddle leaf fig, in the plant styling world. While we would never agree that they are the new fiddle leaf fig, we do feel that the ficus audrey can be great additions to your home. They have a coastal style to them, without being so obviously coastal. 

Like the fiddle leaf fig, she has large leaves that need to be gently wiped once a week as they accumulate dust, like François, and once clean, she exudes splendor, seeming to be happy with the way she stands proud in her white pot. Similar to Mr. Plant, she has also thrived since our move to Beaufort, and we couldn’t be happier about that. We have since divided the original plant into two plants. They both serve as great plants, thriving on indirect light in their windows. 

FYI- Audrey is a great plant and is great for coastal areas. However, ficus audrey plants should only be indoors. They do not do well with drafts or temperatures that go outside of a 65-80 degree range. 

(4) Sammy- Snake Plant- Sansevieria

Naturally, I love a plant that is difficult to kill. That isn’t why I brought Sammy into our home. 

While walking through a nursery a few years ago, I walked past Sammy the snake plant. I felt him poke/grab my arm. I looked at the table, and there he was. This little snake plant, just adorable, staring up at me, said, “Hey lady, please take me home. You can’t kill me I will take care of you.” Well, who can say no to that?! 

In all seriousness, I am not proud to admit that this was an impulse buy. I do believe that he intentionally poked me, to get my attention. I later learned that dear Sammy cleans the air better than most other indoor plants as he absorbs excessive amounts of carbon monoxide. Additionally, he emits oxygen and filters other toxins from the air. 

Aesthetically, well, he looks so distinguished standing in a corner, having grown now to about 3 feet, standing on his plant stand, at about 4 feet tall. Sammy is no-drama, and I love that about him. Snake plants are the perfect solution for anyone who is timid about having indoor plants. 

While he is a tropical plant, we keep ours indoors. We don’t water ours as often as other plants since they are prone to root rot. They are one of the plants that people tend to overwater. 

FYI- While snake plants do well in low light, and do not require a lot of watering, be sure you are attending to the plant’s needs. Just because they are living in a certain area, doesn’t mean a plant is thriving. This is the same for a ZZ plant. Many people get a snake plant or ZZ plant to decorate an area of their home. They still need love and TLC. If you don’t want to provide that, get an artificial plant.

(5) Jimmy- Yucca Tree- Yucca

I fell in love with Jimmy due to him bringing an island vibe to our home. 

Jimmy, being a yucca, reminds me of a palm tree, hence the name Jimmy, as in Buffett. Palm trees are the epitome of coastal, tropical living, so he is perfect for our coastal bungalow.

When in the Florida Keys, we often walk through coastal gardens, enamored by the beautiful tropical plants. Jimmy reminds us of that same feeling we get. 

Jimmy loves the sunshine, so he lives outdoors in the spring and summer. Being of Caribbean descent, he wouldn’t last below 60 degrees for a few nights, so as soon as the tropical feel of summer is over, he comes inside, where he inhabits a bright corner for the colder months. 

Jimmy is a wonderful addition to our minimalist home and allows for a fresh reminder of living on the coast, whether he is inside, or outside. While outside, our patio is adorned with his flamboyance. He is the type of plant that constantly invites the citronella torches for a salsa dance. Jimmy’s presence is an Aide-mémoire that we are on island time, and to live each day as such.

FYI- When bringing a yucca inside, just know that they may not thrive as well if they are not by a window. Our Jimmy seems to sort of stop growing when he is inside, but he is cared for, so he is healthy. Outside, each year, he grows. He does well with a bit of sandy soil. If you do not use that, it’s ok. With well-drained soil, just know that you need a protective tray under him when indoors. He needs water and will drain through the bottom. 

Enhance Your Space with a Coastal Look

We hope that these plant children of ours inspire you to begin building or to nourish your own plant family. Whether you want to add some style to your minimalistic décor or to nourish your home with purified air and an ambiance that you deserve in your home sanctuary. 

Check out our Top Tips for Indoor Plant Care for a boost of confidence with your plant game. You can learn more about the best plants for newbies, those that can live in low light, and how to handle tough plants. Give the plant life a try! We think you will enjoy it as much as we do!

FAQs | Frequently Asked Questions