Sansevieria ‘Mikado’ is the minimalist’s dream. With dark green, spear-like leaves that grow upright in a tidy fan or cluster. Each leaf tapers to a soft point and is gently striped with lighter green.

This snake plant is about as low maintenance as it gets. Native to arid regions of West Africa, it stores water in its fleshy leaves and prefers to be left alone. Let the soil dry out completely between waterings and avoid cold draughts. It’ll be happy in anything from bright, indirect light to a shady corner (just don’t overdo the watering in lower light).

With its upright, compact form and stylish simplicity, ‘Mikado’ is perfect for desks, windowsills, and bedside tables and is easy to look after, which all in all makes for an excellent gift or first plant for beginners.