I would always have thought that every houseplant needed a sunny window or sunlit corner in order to thrive. But as it happens, some of the most ubiquitous plants don’t object to being put in shady spots or rooms with barely any natural light. Before dismissing your home as too dark for plants, take a look at this list of excellent low-light indoor plants—you might be surprised at the sheer variety there is!
Our upstairs family room receives fantastic natural light due to unobstructed windows on all sides. But most of our indoor plants reside downstairs, where the light is dramatically lower. Thankfully, they’re still healthy and growing just fine.
9 HOUSEPLANTS THAT DON’T NEED MUCH LIGHT
Below are our favorites for low-light houseplants. Scroll down for full information, but here’s a convenient list for your next plant store trip:
Snake Plant
ZZ Plant
Pothos
Heartleaf Philodendron
English Ivy
Aglaonema
Cast Iron Plant
Monstera
Parlor Palm
The loveliest thing about it? These aren’t « leftover plants » we reluctantly maintain marooned in corner gloom—they’re beautiful, lush, and often our go-to plant for any given space. That they’ll also dangle in low light is just icing on the plant cake.
WHAT IS « LOW LIGHT »?
Let’s be specific: low light ≠ no light. All plants need light to live. Windowless spaces, such as basements or closets, will require artificial light—and for those, full-spectrum grow lights are a good choice. But in most homes, « low light » simply means a space where a window is visible but not the sky—meaning indirect or diffused light, which many houseplants tend to like.
Low-light spots are typically north-facing rooms, rooms with small or filtered windows, or rooms where trees, porches, or curtains block direct sunlight. Ironically, these conditions often suit houseplants better than bright, direct light, which is likely to burn leaves.
WHY LOW LIGHT WORKS NATURALLY
Many houseplant species sold as houseplants are tropical in nature. They grow on forest floors under dense canopies in the wild—so they are naturally adapted to conditions of shade. That natural adaptability makes them perfect low-light choices within the home.
THRIVING VS. SURVIVING
Some of these lists assert these plants « thrive » in low light, but come on. Most plants do their best with moderate, indirect sunlight—where leaves are fuller, growth is quicker, and some even bloom. If award-winning size is your goal, shoot for more light (just not direct rays).
Usually, though, our goal is to have plants alive and thriving, not dead, spindly, or droopy. Our low-light plants will grow slowly in low light, but stay healthy, require minimal fuss, and don’t need strong sun. That’s just fine.
OUR FAVORITE LOW-LIGHT PLANTS
This is a personal experience, pro tip, and crowd-sourced plant love list (ahem, we surf Reddit comment threads). And we chose plants that are nice to look at, too—not the wilted peace lily, thank you!
SNAKE PLANT
Dracaena trifasciata: striking vertical leaves, can live in low light, and even helps convert CO₂ in bedrooms. A few other low-light Dracaenia species include corn plant and dragon tree.
ZZ PLANT
Zamioculcas zamiifolia: tolerant of drought, stores water in rhizomes, thrives in dark corners—even near a north-facing door with zero sunlight. Extremely low-maintenance.
POTHOS
Versatile and tough—“devil’s ivy” lives up to its nickname. Our neon pothos thrives in a high shady corner, trailing beautifully despite minimal light.
HEARTLEAF PHILODENDRON
Often mistaken for pothos, this vine has softer, heart-shaped leaves and thrives in low light too. A great alternative with similar care.
ENGLISH IVY
Climbs or trails to your heart’s content. Not fussy about light—use ivy if you wish a more formal, old-fashioned look.
AGLAONEMA
Chinese Evergreens look lush and tropical but are happy in dark spots like experts and only require watering every few weeks—perfect for overlooked spaces.
CAST IRON PLANT
Aspidistra elatior: nearly impossible to destroy, large, leathery leaves, rhizome-drought hardy. Will put up with indirect light but powers along in low-light areas.
MONSTERA
Monstera deliciosa tolerates more light, but still tolerates lower-light corridors—though big split leaves take longer to develop.
PARLOR PALM
Chamaedorea elegans: long, slim fronds in tight clumps. Adds tropical feel to dark spaces. Will grow larger in more light, but content in shade as well.
OTHER LOW-LIGHT OPTIONS
Not enamored with our top nine? Then try these less-loved but still effective alternatives:
Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
Dragon tree (Dracaena marginata)
Lucky bamboo (Dracaena braunii)
Peace lily (Spathiphyllum)
Staghorn fern (Platycerium)
Maidenhair fern (Adiantum)
Dumb cane (Dieffenbachia)
Wax plant (Hoya carnosa)
SIGNS YOUR PLANT NEEDS MORE LIGHT
If growth looks askew, pay attention to the following signs. But remember: overwatering—not underwatering—is often the issue in low light. The soil holds water longer, so ensure your pot drains well and isn’t waterlogged.
LEANING
If your plant leans towards light, turn it often or relocate to multiple light sources.
LEGGY GROWTH
Thin leaves and long stems show the plant is stretching towards light. Cut back leggy stems (no more than one-third from the top) and take cuttings to achieve bushy growth. Or move the plant to a slightly brighter position.
FADING LEAVES / SMALL NEW GROWTH
If anything makes leaves dull or loses variegation, anything makes new growth small, the plant can save energy. Experiment with a temporary light boost—maybe anything including a grow light or relocation closer to a brighter window during the spring/summer.
