30 Indoor Plants for Low Light

These houseplants are perfect for homes and offices with little or no natural sunlight.

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By: Lynn Coulter and Debbie and Mark Wolfe

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Plants That Love the Shade

Have you been afraid to try growing houseplants in your home, or a particular room, because you think you don't have enough light? Fear not! These 30 plants thrive in low-light conditions and are also easy to grow. If you are not sure what kind of light you have, consider this: A south-facing room with lots of windows has high light. Medium light would be in an east- or west-facing room. North-facing rooms or rooms with no windows are considered low-light rooms. If your room has no windows, you should leave lights on 12 hours a day or rotate low-light plants into the room for a few weeks at a time before moving them back to a naturally lit room.

From: Lynn Coulter

Bromeliad Guzmania

You might think this bromeliad needs a lot of light to produce such vivid colors. But guzmanias prefer low light and can't take direct sun. Many other bromeliads also thrive in low light conditions, so check the tag or label on your variety before you buy.

Also See: Growing Bromeliads: How to Care for Bromeliads

Ivy

English and Algerian ivies do well in low to moderate light. They should dry out between waterings.

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English Ivy

ZZ Plant

ZZ plant grows well in a dry environment and pushes the low-light limit to its extreme.

Learn More: How to Care for a ZZ Plant

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ZZ Plant

Ponytail Palm

Native to semi-desert areas in Mexico, ponytail palms (Beaucarnea) are actually succulents in the agave family. They store water in their trunks, which can enlarge and resemble an elephant’s foot. These are some of the easiest tropical plants to grow, happy in low to bright, indirect light.

Also See: The Easiest Tropical Plants to Grow at Home

Snake Plant

Snake plant performs well in dry spells and handles moderate to low light with ease.

Learn More: How to Care for a Snake Plant

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Snake Plant

Watermelon Peperomia

In their native South America, watermelon peperomias grow in jungles in part sun and shade. Give this undemanding cutie a shaded spot in a room with medium to bright light. This variety is named for its leaves, which look like watermelon rinds.

Staghorn Fern

Staghorn fern performs well in high humidity locations, like bathrooms. In nature, it grows in trees and requires no soil and little moisture around its roots. It requires moderate light.

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Staghorn Fern

Parlor Palm

Also known as Neanthe bella palms, parlor palms can adapt to low light conditions or thrive near windows with cool morning sun or late afternoon light. This finely-textured palm is a good choice for beginning gardeners.

Pothos

Pothos is a low light lover that makes a good entry point into growing houseplants. It handles a wide range of conditions and still performs well. Ideally, it should have low to moderate light and should dry out between waterings.

Learn More: Pothos Plant: Care and Growing Tips

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Philodendron Green

Mass Cane or Corn Plant

Mass cane or corn plants (Dracaena fragrans) are low-maintenance evergreens from Africa. Grow them under artificial lights or in low light. If their leaf colors fade, they may be signaling their need for brighter, filtered light.

Also See: Dracaena Plant Care

Maidenhair Fern

Many ferns, including button, Autumn, rabbit's foot, maidenhair and more, are good options for low-light situations. Give them consistently moist soil and low to medium light.

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Maidenhair Fern

Yucca Cane

Yucca cane plants tolerate low indoor light but will grow faster in bright, indirect light. Don't worry if you forget to water them. They're drought tolerant and need watering only when the top 50 percent of the soil feels dry.

Learn More: Growing Yuccas

Dieffenbachia

Dieffenbachia prefers a medium- to low-light area. Allow it to dry between waterings.

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Dieffenbachia

Fittonia spp. (Nerve Plant)

Nerve plants get their common name from the colorful veins on their leaves. Give these small houseplants, sometimes called mosaic plants, indirect, filtered light or shade and high humidity. This pink variety is from the Exotic Angel series.

Also See: 20 Best Plants for Cleaning Indoor Air

Philodendron

Philodendron is a medium- to low-light houseplant that prefers to be kept dry between waterings. Some forms trail, or can easily be trained to a post or "totem." Others have larger leaves and a bushy habitat.

Learn More: Philodendron Care

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Brazil Philodendron

Schefflera Arboricola

Sometimes called dwarf umbrella trees, Schefflera arboricolas thrive in low to medium light environments. They'll also grow under artificial lights if they're kept within about one foot of the light. If your Schefflera becomes leggy or grows slowly, it probably needs a brighter location.

Also See: 21 Forgiving Houseplants

Calathea

Calathea, including the beloved prayer plant, grow well in medium to low light. They require consistent moisture for best performance. As a rule, the lower the light, the less frequently they will flower.

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Calathea Ornata

Anthurium

Anthurium bloom in red, white or pink and rebloom well in medium to low light. Keep soil consistently moist.

Also See: Health Benefits of Houseplants

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12" to 14" Anthurium

Rex Begonia

Rex begonias are grown for their colorful foliage. Keep them in medium to low light and allow them to get dry between waterings.

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Rex Begonia

Lucky Bamboo

This popular housewarming gift is often received growing in water only. It can remain that way, only change the water weekly. If you prefer, plant it in soil and keep it evenly moist. Low to medium light works well.

Also See: Bamboo Plant: Get to Know It Before You Grow It

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Lucky Bamboo

Dracaena 'Twister'

'Twister' is a relatively new variety of dracaenas with dark green, strappy leaves that seem to spiral up and down its stalks. It can handle low light or bright, indirect light. This houseplant is said to help purify indoor air.

Also See: Cleaning Indoor Air With Plants

Tradescantia Zebrina

Tradescantias are pretty in planters or hanging baskets that let their vining stems trail gracefully. Tradescantia zebrina, shown here, has green and purple leaves with stripes, but other varieties come in blue, purple-green, silver and burgundy. Also known as spiderworts, the plants like low to bright, indirect light.

Chinese Evergreen

Aglaonema, or Chinese evergreen, is an easy-to-grow foliage plant that performs well in low to medium light. Let it dry between waterings.

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Chinese Evergreen

Peace Lily

Peace lily prefers moderate to low light and consistently moist soil. It reblooms several times a year, even with low-light conditions.

Learn More: How to Grow and Care for Peace Lily Plants

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15" Peace Lily

Prayer Plant

This lovely plant tolerates low light but will thrive in bright, indirect light. The prayer plant prefers well-drained soil and requires high humidity.

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Red Prayer Plant

Spider Plant

Spider plants are adaptable and one of the easiest-to-grow houseplants. They grow in a variety of conditions, making them perfect for any home. Give them well-drained soil and indirect light to flourish.

Learn More: Spider Plant Indoor Care

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Spider Plant

Monstera

Monstera, also known as the Swiss cheese plant, is a show stopper. This plant is perfect for adding a big, bold, tropical feel to your home. It tolerates all types of lighting conditions and helps purify the air.

Learn More: How to Care for Monstera, the Swiss Cheese Plant

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Split Leaf Philodendron

Arrowhead Plant

The Syngonium podophyllum is an easy-to-grow plant with minimal needs. To help keep it looking nice, it will need regular pruning to keep its unruly nature in check.

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Arrowhead Hanging Plant

Bird's Nest Fern

The crooks of tropical trees are the bird's nest fern's natural habitat. They love filtered light to light shade and humidity to thrive.

Learn More: Bird's Nest Fern

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Bird's Nest Fern

Cast Iron Plant

This tough-as-nails plant grows in full shade and is not picky about regular water, either.

Learn More: Cast-Iron Plant: How to Grow and Use This Tough Evergreen

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Cast Iron Plant