Our Plant Personality Quiz Reveals What Your Plants Say About You

2021-12-07
Our Plant Personality Quiz Reveals What Your Plants Say About You

Houseplants have recently soared in popularity, as many of us work from home and want a healthy and pleasant environment. Social media is filled with houseplant lovers sharing tips for successfully growing and caring for greenery. Potted plants liven up our indoor spaces, reduce stress, and are fun to grow. Sometimes, your plants can also reveal traits about you and your personality.

Researchers believe most of us fall somewhere on the scale of five "Big Personality Traits." These include agreeableness, extraversion, openness, conscientiousness, and neuroticism. Cinch Home Services surveyed more than 1,000 plant parents who also took a Big Five Personality test to determine if these qualities aligned with particular houseplants. Cinch then developed a Plant Personality Quiz based on the results, so you can see how your own houseplant choices align with your personality.

Which Houseplants Match Your Personality Best?

Ricardo Rodriguez, a strategist for Cinch, explains that the survey showed particular plants seemed to match up with different personality traits. For more neurotic people, for example, plant care might take a back seat to self-care, "which is completely understandable," he says. So if this sounds like you, low-maintenance greenery such as succulents and snake plants are probably your BFFs.

However, more challenging plants, such as fiddle leaf figs, also can align with neuroticism. Your fig tree can give you away if you "won't tolerate anything less than the best," says Rodriguez. "Fiddles are notorious for being difficult to care for. They need very precise amounts of sunlight and water to stay healthy."

The same fiddle leaf fig that indicates neuroticism can also suggest you're extroverted. Extroverts often enjoy plants that need a lot of care and grow them as "a way to fulfill their needs to stay active and busy," Rodriguez says. Extroverts also like to grow dragon trees. "This is a plant that has personality, and its appearance stands out in a crowd, like those with high extroversion. Dragon trees can survive many conditions but thrive with bright light and consistent watering."

Agreeable people gravitate toward English ivy, pothos, and aloe vera. Rodriguez says these people generally like to help others, so perhaps that explains the appeal of aloe vera, which is medicinally useful. Agreeableness is also about being considerate and generous. "If you've ever owned a pothos," he notes, "then you'll know this is a very considerate plant, as it can do well in low light and doesn't need to be watered frequently."

Aloe vera is also a favorite for conscientious people, who "tend to strive for excellence, yet remain cautious about their choices," says Rodriguez. "Choosing a low-maintenance plant [such as aloes] could help them feel successful," says Rodriguez. The survey found that conscientious people usually stay the course and don't just stop taking care of their plants.

Plants that grow and adapt to any setting, such as cacti, succulents, and spider plants, are linked to openness, says Rodriguez. "Spider plants are known for their ability to handle stress, grow in a wide range of environments, and still thrive. Similarly, succulents and cacti don't require much to be happy either, as they need very little water to survive."

Take the Plant Personality Quiz

Growing plants that suit your personality can make you happier (even if they give away a few secrets about you). This short quiz will determine which varieties are best-matched to your personality.

Indicate how much you agree or disagree with each statement below using these five options: Agree, Strongly Agree, Neutral, Disagree, or Strongly Disagree.

  1. I see myself as someone who is reserved.
  2. I see myself as someone who is generally trusting.
  3. I see myself as someone who tends to be lazy.
  4. I see myself as someone who is relaxed and handles stress well.
  5. I see myself as someone who has few artistic interests.
  6. I see myself as someone who is outgoing and sociable.
  7. I see myself as someone who tends to find fault in others.
  8. I see myself as someone who does a thorough job.
  9. I see myself as someone who gets nervous easily.
  10. I see myself as someone who has an active imagination.

Give yourself the following points based on how you answered each question.
Strongly Disagree: 1 point
Disagree: 2 points
Neutral: 3 points
Agree: 4 points
Strongly Agree: 5 points

Scoring Your Plant Personality

Each question aligns with a specific personality trait shown below, and the top score per question is five points. The "R" beside a number means the reverse of the quality. For example, if you scored high on question #1, you're low in extroversion.

  • Extraversion: 1R and 6
  • Agreeableness: 2 and 7R
  • Conscientiousness: 3R and 8
  • Neuroticism: 4R and 9
  • Openness: 5R and 10

With your top personality traits in mind, look for the plants below that appear to match up best. Do you already own any of them? If not, you may want to make that your next plant purchase.

Extraversion: Dragon tree, fiddle leaf fig, English ivy
Agreeableness: English ivy, golden pothos, Aloe vera
Conscientiousness: English ivy, succulent, Aloe vera
Neuroticism: Fiddle leaf fig, snake plant, succulent
Openness: Succulent, cactus, spider plant

Related Article

7 Common Poinsettia Care Mistakes Everybody Makes

7 Common Poinsettia Care Mistakes Everybody Makes

Keep your poinsettia plants looking festive and beautiful by avoiding everything on this list.
How to Tell Thanksgiving Cactus from Christmas Cactus

How to Tell Thanksgiving Cactus from Christmas Cactus

How to tell Thanksgiving cactus from Christmas Cactus
How to Grow and Care for Living Stones

How to Grow and Care for Living Stones

Find out how to grow living stones, unique miniature succulents that look like pebbles. This guide covers how to care for living stone plants, including watering them just right to keep them thriving.
How to Make a Hummingbird Haven

How to Make a Hummingbird Haven

Get out your binoculars and get ready to watch some wildlife. Plant an appealing container garden that rewards hummingbirds and other pollinators with a sweet nectar feast.
How to Make DIY Plant Markers for Labeling Your Garden

How to Make DIY Plant Markers for Labeling Your Garden

Make your own stylish and fun plant markers with these simple directions and supplies for five types of DIY labels.
How to Plant and Grow Saffron

How to Plant and Grow Saffron

Saffron is an expensive spice harvested from an easy-to-grow type of crocus bulb. Here's what you need to know about growing saffron.
How to Plant and Grow Bush Honeysuckle

How to Plant and Grow Bush Honeysuckle

Also called diervilla, bush honeysuckle is an easy-care native shrub that attracts pollinators with cheerful yellow flowers.
Planting a Bradford Pear Tree Might Be a Mistake—Here's Why

Planting a Bradford Pear Tree Might Be a Mistake—Here's Why

You might regret planting a Bradford pear tree because they are considered invasive plants with weak branches and a strong, unpleasant smell.
5 Garden Plans for Solving Your Yard’s Most Challenging Problems

5 Garden Plans for Solving Your Yard’s Most Challenging Problems

If there are spots in your garden that never seem to flourish no matter what you try, our planting plans can help. Download our free guides.
Use This Slope Garden Plan to Add Color and Stop Erosion

Use This Slope Garden Plan to Add Color and Stop Erosion

A low-maintenance mix of annuals and perennials creates the perfect border for a set of steps.
10 Best Lavender Companion Plants

10 Best Lavender Companion Plants

Learn how to grow a lower maintenance edible or ornamental garden with these top lavender companion plants.
12 Tips for Growing Basil in Pots So You'll Always Have This Tasty Herb Nearby

12 Tips for Growing Basil in Pots So You'll Always Have This Tasty Herb Nearby

Make growing basil in pots a snap with these simple tips, including the best types of basil for growing in pots, watering needs, and what to grow with basil in containers.
7 Must-Know Tips for Overseeding Your Lawn

7 Must-Know Tips for Overseeding Your Lawn

Transform a sparse, thin lawn into a thick carpet of turf in just a few weeks. Use these essential tips for overseeding your lawn to ensure lush results.
When to Water Your Lawn for Best Results

When to Water Your Lawn for Best Results

There's a right and a wrong time to water your lawn, and we've pinpointed the best time to turn on your sprinklers to water your lawn for best results.
How to Build a Raised Garden Bed for Easier Veggie or Flower Planting

How to Build a Raised Garden Bed for Easier Veggie or Flower Planting

Learn how to build a raised garden bed with our step-by-step guide, including all the supplies you'll need. This DIY project is easy to do.
How to Get Rid of Grasshoppers So They Don't Eat Your Plants

How to Get Rid of Grasshoppers So They Don't Eat Your Plants

Grasshoppers have huge appetites. Use these tips for how to get rid of grasshoppers and keep them from devouring your garden.
How to Get Rid of Cucumber Beetles on Your Plants

How to Get Rid of Cucumber Beetles on Your Plants

Have you noticed little bugs on cucumber plants in your garden? Find out how to identify a cucumber beetle and prevent these insects from killing your cucumber, melon, squash, and other crops.
18 Backyard Landscaping Ideas to Upgrade Your Hangout Spots

18 Backyard Landscaping Ideas to Upgrade Your Hangout Spots

Use plants, hardscaping, and other backyard landscape design elements such as water features, fencing, and arbors to create privacy and beauty.
How to Landscape with Rocks and Stones in Your Yard

How to Landscape with Rocks and Stones in Your Yard

Decorative rocks and stones add another element of nature to your yard, whether you grow hydrangeas, tulips, or cacti.
What Are Cover Crops? And How to Plant Them in Your Home Garden

What Are Cover Crops? And How to Plant Them in Your Home Garden

These step-by-step instructions will help you feed your soil and beat weeds naturally.