There are many choices for low-light indoor plants that don’t need bright, direct sunlight to thrive.
What Is Low Light for Houseplants?
There are two levels of low-light conditions for indoor plants:
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Here are 35 indoor plants that will do well in bright indirect or low light conditions.
These plants are quite tolerant to low-light conditions, and direct sunlight burns their foliage.
A window that provides bright indirect light is ideal.
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These fast-growing plants prefer some shade, as too much sun fades the foliage colors.
An east- or west-facing window is ideal.
High humidity and moist soil will keep these tropical stunners healthy and happy.
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Native to rainforest environments, the bird’s nest fern thrives in high humidity.
The smooth, lance-shaped fronds of thistype of ferndevelop gentle ripples when given sufficient sunlight.
The plant is somewhat temperamental, because it requires very high, consistent humidity.
The Spruce / Kara Riley
It makes an excellentterrarium plant.
Direct sun scorches the leaves, so bright indirect light is preferred.
These plants are highly versatile and will tolerate low light and will bounce back from periods without water.
The Spruce / Leticia Almeida
There are many similartypes ofHoyathat it’s possible for you to grow indoors.
Tip
If you’re not sure whether or not to water a plant, use amoisture meter.
This can help you figure out whether the soil is truly dry or still somewhat moist.
The Spruce / Alonda Baird
Ponytail palm is often grown in shallow pots and is slow-growing, so be patient.
check that to water regularly.
The braided trees will continue to grow this way as they mature.
The Spruce / Cori Sears
Radiator Plant
The Spruce / Autumn Wood
Easygoing and hardy, radiator plants (Peperomiaspp.)
are popular houseplants that are perfect for filling a small gap in your space.
This slow-growing houseplant is available in a widevariety ofPeperomiaspecies, offering lots of diversity in colors and leaf shape.
The Spruce / Lisa Ruschioni
These fast-growing plants have a reputation for being finicky, so they are not the best for beginners.
Long stems respond well to trimming to keep them at a manageable length and encourage branching.
Pothos can be toxic to people and pets.
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The snake plant is a very long-lived plant that you might have in your home for decades.
double-check not to overwater it, as this will cause root rot.
Snake plants can be toxic to people and pets.
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Their distinct green leaves grow large and tend to look like deer antlers.
As a houseplant, they are often mounted on wooden boards, making them beautiful natural art pieces.
Let the soil dry out completely in between waterings of this slow-growing plant.
The Spruce / Kara Riley
English ivy can be toxic to people and pets.
They are handsome plants, with large and arching deep green glossy leaves.
This slow-growing plant tolerates all kinds of neglect, including a lack of light and water.
The Spruce / Krystal Slagle
A north-facing window is ideal.
Peace Lily
The Spruce / Cara Cormack
Peace lilies (Spathiphyllumspp.)
are popular low-light indoor plants that also tolerate neglect.
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They produce large dark green leaves and bloom with a rare elegant white flower or two every so often.
They need consistently moist soil, and if the soil dries out, thefoliage will wilt.
However, watering will usually perk up wilted foliage.
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Peace lilies can be toxic to people and pets.
Its a popular low-light indoor plant that adds a pop of green to a space.
These ferns need consistently moist, but not soggy, soil to thrive.
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They also like a warm, humid environment.
Thus, youll find it in manywindowless offices.
However, the plant does best with bright indirect light.
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It has shiny, wide, oval-shaped leaves that grow upward.
These slow-growing plants also tolerate drought well and should be allowed to dry out between waterings.
ZZ plants can be toxic to people and pets.
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Be sure to regularly dust the vines to keep them looking their best.
This fast-growing plant tolerates low-light prefs but might experience leggy stem growth with sparse foliage.
Heartleaf philodendron can be toxic to people and pets.
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Anthurium
Anthuriumis a genus of tropical plants with lush foliage.
They are also called flamingo flowers for their unique, bright red, green, and white colors.
They can bloom repeatedly for long periods any time of the year and have a slow growth rate.
The Spruce / Anastasia Tretiak
Many species are climbers, and all need high humidity and warmth to thrive.
They need consistently moist but not soggy soil.
Anthuriumspecies can be toxic to people and pets.
The Spruce / Alexandra Shytsman
Chinese Evergreen
Chinese evergreens (Aglaonemaspp.)
feature oval, glossy green leaves on short stems.
If you are growing a variegated variety, it will need bright indirect light to produce the best color.
The Spruce / Letícia Almeida
AllChinese evergreen varietieswill likely survive in shady conditions.
Indoor plants rarely produce flowers.
These plants can be toxic to people and pets.
The Spruce / Letícia Almeida
These plants grow naturally in shady conditions and tend to do well with bright indirect light indoors.
Monstera deliciosacan be toxic to people and pets.
Bright indirect light is ideal for the best leaf color, but the plant will survive in dimmer locations.
The Spruce / Letícia Almeida
Place silver pothos in a humid room ornear a humidifierfor best results.
Grow this vine on a moss pole or a trellis or in a hanging planter.
Dragon Tree
The dragon tree (Dracaena reflexa var.
The Spruce / Letícia Almeida
angustifolia) has sword-like, red-edged, green upright leaves.
This slow-growing will survive in lower-light conditions, but its leaves might grow smaller than in bright indirect light.
Dragon trees can be toxic to people and pets.
The Spruce / Krystal Slagle
Wax Begonia
While most people think ofoutdoor begonia plants, they also make excellent indoor plants.
They are slow growers that take several months to mature into flowering plants.
Bright indirect light is best for optimal flowering, but they also survive in lower-light locations.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Begoniaspecies can be toxic to people and pets.
The plants shouldnt be exposed to direct sunlight, which wilts and burns the leaves.
Bright indirect light is best, though these slow-growing plants will survive in a fairly shady spot.
The Spruce / Cara Cormack
Corn plants can be toxic to people and pets.
Parlor palms can be toxic to people.
Dieffenbachia
Dieffenbachias (Dieffenbachia seguine) are prized as houseplants.
The Spruce / Krystal Slagle
Light streaming through curtains works well, and high humidity will help them thrive.
Best if left mostly alone, this plant is an easy option for houseplant novices and experts alike.
Deeper green varieties will be best adapted to low light.
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This plant can be toxic to people and pets.
It is easier to grow than many tropical plants and makes for a vigorous, rapidly growing indoor plant.
Keep it well-watered, and see to it it gets enough light.
The Spruce / Krystal Slagle
In low-light prefs, use growing lights.
Bird of paradise can be toxic to people and pets.
Dwarf Umbrella Tree
The dwarf umbrella tree (Heptapleurum arboricola) is one of two popularHeptapleurumspecies.
The Spruce / Kara Riley
Its vibrant green, glossy leaves are smaller than those ofHeptapleurum actinophyllumand also have creamy variegation.
Place your dwarf umbrella tree in a spot that receives bright to medium indirect sunlight.
While the dwarf umbrella tree may sprout flowers, this rarely happens when grown indoors.
The Spruce / Jacob Fox
These houseplants can be toxic to people and pets.
Unlike other spiderworts native to North America, it is not winter-hardy and therefore commonly grown as a houseplant.
This plant can be toxic to pets.
The Spruce / Kara Riley
They often have sculptural or braided stalks dotted with little green leaves.
These slow-growing plants have a well-earned reputation as being nearly indestructible.
Lucky bamboo prefers some light but will gladly thrive in nearly full-shade locations.
The Spruce / Krystal Slagle
Just ensure they aren’t located near drafty areas in your home.
Lucky bamboo can be toxic to people and pets.
North Carolina State Extension.
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