With its delicate, long leaves and elegant stems, the maidenhair fern would make a beautiful addition to any desk.

The only problem? It’s a bit of a drama queen – maidenhair ferns like lots of moisture so you’ll want to keep yours well-watered and mist it every other day, and ensure it gets lots of bright, soft light.

You’ll also want to avoid touching the leaves as much as possible, because they tend to go brown as a result.

Shop Maidenhair Fern at Prickle, £14

Famously hard to kill, a cactus is the perfect plant for anyone looking to get all the benefits of a desk buddy without all the effort.

The bunny ears cactus isn’t just beautiful to look at, it’s also pretty easy to look after – just water when the soil is completely dry and make sure it gets lots of light (if your desk is in a sunny spot, this one’s for you). 

Shop Bunny Ears Cactus at Beards & Daisies, £20

Known for being one of the most adaptable and easy-to-care-for houseplants out there, a spider plant is another great option if you’re looking for a low maintenance desk plant. Spider plants also thrive in low light conditions, meaning they won’t mind living under the artificial lights in an office – just be prepared to cut them back every so often, because they tend to grow like crazy.

This curly spider plant is the perfect size for popping straight on your desk. To look after him, let the soil dry out between watering and make sure he’s not sat in lots of water.

Shop Curly Spider Plant at Patch Plants, £10

If you’re looking for a stylish plant to add a bit of character to your workspace, the ZZ plant is definitely the desk plant for you.

This small-sized one from Leaf Envy boasts some beautiful, dark green foliage. The best bit? It requires very little watering and can survive in low light levels, perfect for adding a bit of life to a dingy desk corner.

Shop ZZ Plant at Leaf Envy, £25

These little guys come in all shapes, sizes and colours, making it easy to find a desk buddy you love to look at. Much like cacti, succulents retain a lot of water, meaning they don’t need attention more than once a week. Keep them happy by providing natural light.

This set of three mini succulents from Beards & Daisies would make the perfect addition to any type of desk.

Shop Three Mini Succulents from Beards & Daisies, £18

Trick your colleagues into thinking you’re a houseplant expert by picking yourself up a Chinese money plant. These cool-looking little plants need surprisingly little care but look pretty impressive – just provide indirect light and water when the soil is dry, and you’ll have a great-looking desk in no time.

This medium-sized one is perfect for adding a bit of character to a bland deskspace.

Shop Chinese Money Plant at Patch Plants, £15

A favourite of trendy coffee shops and minimalist co-working spaces alike, there’s nothing not to love about the humble snake plant. Although the one in the picture above is probably the most common, there are many different shapes and colours of snake plants out there, so you can take your pick.

This small one is a great place to start. The best bit? It’s practically indestructible, unless you water it too much.

Shop Snake Plant at Patch Plants, £12