Top 10 Retro Houseplants from the 1960s and 1970s (Blog)

Bring vintage charm into your home with timeless greenery
 

From the virtually indestructible snake plant to the graceful spider plant, houseplants were an essential part of living room interiors in the 1960s and 1970s. Alongside macramé plant hangers, bamboo plant stands and colourful ceramic flowerpots, they helped create the distinctive atmosphere of the era.

And the best part? These timeless green classics look just as beautiful in modern homes today!

The Green Living Room of the Past

A teak sideboard, a comfortable armchair, an orange or brown flowerpot and, of course, plenty of greenery. Houseplants played an important role in interior design throughout the 1960s and 1970s.

During the 1970s in particular, natural materials such as bamboo, rattan and macramé became increasingly popular. Plants were displayed on decorative stands, placed in ceramic pots or suspended in front of windows.

Many of these classic houseplants are enjoying renewed popularity today. So let's take a nostalgic look at ten favourites!

Top 10 Retro Houseplants

1. Snake Plant – Sansevieria

Perhaps the most recognisable houseplant of the era. With its sturdy, upright leaves, the snake plant was a familiar sight in countless living rooms. Exceptionally hardy, easy to care for and particularly attractive in a vintage ceramic flowerpot.

2. Spider Plant – Chlorophytum

The spider plant, especially the variegated variety, was a firm favourite. Its long, arching leaves and trailing baby plants made it ideal for macramé hanging planters. A truly iconic look of the 1970s!

3. Swiss Cheese Plant – Monstera deliciosa

With its large, deeply split leaves, the monstera brought a touch of tropical atmosphere into the home. This impressive houseplant looked particularly striking beside a teak cabinet or displayed in a large rattan planter.

4. Rubber Plant – Ficus elastica

The rubber plant was another familiar feature of vintage living rooms. Its large, glossy leaves added an elegant touch to interiors. Mature specimens could grow into impressive indoor trees, becoming real statement pieces.

5. Chinese Money Plant – Pilea peperomioides

Instantly recognisable by its distinctive round leaves, the Chinese money plant has a charming history. Its small offshoots were often propagated and shared with family and friends, earning it a reputation as a friendship plant. A delightful green classic with a nostalgic story.

6. Staghorn Fern – Platycerium

An unusual fern with leaves resembling a stag's antlers. Staghorn ferns were grown in pots or mounted on wooden boards and displayed on walls. Their sculptural appearance made them a perfect match for the natural interior design trends of the 1970s.

7. Christmas Cactus – Schlumbergera

A true windowsill classic. The Christmas cactus often produces beautiful pink, red or white flowers during the winter months. Some plants live for decades and are even passed down from one generation to the next.

8. Cacti – Small Desert Plants

From round barrel-shaped cacti to tall, columnar varieties, cacti were popular decorative houseplants. Small collections arranged along windowsills were particularly fashionable, often displayed in colourful ceramic pots.

9. Boston Fern – Nephrolepis

With its lush, gracefully arching fronds, the Boston fern brought a fresh and abundant green appearance to interiors. This decorative plant looked especially attractive in hanging baskets, on plant stands and in woven rattan holders.

10. Wax Plant – Hoya carnosa

The wax plant is a nostalgic climbing houseplant with thick, glossy leaves and beautiful clusters of star-shaped flowers. A hardy, long-lasting favourite that was often trained around decorative trellises or along window frames.

Macramé, Bamboo and Rattan – Vintage Plant Holders

It wasn't just the houseplants themselves that made interiors from the 1960s and 1970s so distinctive. The way they were displayed was equally important.

Macramé plant hangers became especially popular during the 1970s. Hand-knotted from cotton cord or rope and often decorated with wooden beads, they added a handcrafted, bohemian touch to interiors. Filled with a spider plant or fern, they created an eye-catching display in front of a window.

Bamboo and rattan plant stands were just as decorative. Designs ranged from simple low plant stools to tall, multi-tiered stands. Elegantly curved models, including unusual twisting or snake-shaped designs, are particularly sought-after vintage home accessories today. Similar styles were also produced in later decades.

Vintage ceramic flowerpots completed the look. Think of West German pottery in warm retro colours such as orange, brown, ochre yellow and olive green. Textured ceramic planters and distinctive glazes, including the famous Fat Lava style, also complement retro houseplants beautifully.

Retro Greenery in a Modern Interior

The wonderful thing about this vintage style is that you don't need an entire 1970s-inspired interior to recreate its atmosphere.

A snake plant in a vintage ceramic pot, a spider plant suspended in a macramé hanger or a monstera displayed on a rattan plant stand can already make a remarkable difference.

Experiment with different heights, natural materials and authentic vintage accessories. Combining old and new pieces creates a personal, inviting interior full of character.

Whether your home has a minimalist, Scandinavian, mid-century modern or eclectic style, retro houseplants can add warmth, texture and a touch of nostalgia.

A Little Piece of Nostalgia That Keeps Growing

From the familiar snake plant to the beautifully handcrafted macramé plant hanger, the green living rooms of the 1960s and 1970s continue to inspire us.

Many of these houseplants never truly went out of fashion and are now finding renewed appreciation in contemporary homes.

By pairing them with an original vintage plant stand or ceramic flowerpot, you're bringing more than just greenery into your home. You're adding a small piece of interior design history.

Because some interior trends come and go, but a beautiful houseplant never goes out of style!

Which retro houseplant do you remember from years gone by?

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