TOUGH ONES \ Hardy houseplants

Some plants are more tolerant of home conditions than others. Here are a few of the toughest survivors.
Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata): Native to Hawaii, where it lives on the forest floor, the Boston fern has been a popular houseplant since Victorian times. It does well in the low light of a north window, but it likes steady moisture and high humidity.
Cast-iron plant (Sansevieria trifasciata), also known as snake plant and mother-in-law's tongue: Hailing from dry, rocky regions of Africa, this plant has tall, upright, swordlike leaves adapted to conserve moisture. It can tolerate low light and dry air -- almost anything except overwatering.
Peace lily (spathiphyllum): Native to rain forests in Costa Rica and elsewhere in Central America, it has a cluster of pointed leaves each a foot or more long. It can tolerate a wide range of conditions, including low light, but it needs steadily moist soil. It cannot tolerate direct sun, but if it gets enough filtered light, it may produce a single white bloom.
Golden pothos (Scindapsus aureus): Native to the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific, where it twines around forest trees, pothos has gold-streaked, heart-shaped bright green leaves. It can handle low light. Water it as often as necessary to prevent wilting, but allow the soil to dry out between waterings. The vines will branch more if pinched back.
Rubber tree (Ficus elastica): In its native habitat in the forests of India and Malaysia, this evergreen tree can grow dozens of feet tall. As a houseplant, it can be kept to container size by regular pruning. Like all ficus plants, the rubber tree, with its large, leathery leaves, needs bright indirect light and moist soil. If it is stressed -- for example, by a draft or by roots that are left standing in water -- it may drop some or all of its leaves.
Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum): Hailing from western and southern Africa, the spider plant has a clump of lancelike leaves that seems made for a hanging basket. The baby plants it bears on long stems quickly root in water or soil. They do best in bright light with regular watering.