Are all your houseplants competing for space near the brightest window in your home? The good news is that many popular houseplants can thrive beyond those sunny spots!
Low light is generally defined as 50–250 foot-candles of light, a measurement of light intensity equal to one lumen per square foot. Our plant shops offer a wide selection of low-light–tolerant plants that make it easy to bring greenery into darker rooms, hallways, and corners. Below, we’ve outlined the top indoor plants for those lower light areas in your home or office.
The Best Houseplants for Low-Light Spaces
1. Snake Plant (Sansevieria / Dracaena trifasciata): One of the toughest houseplants you can grow, snake plants tolerate very low light and infrequent watering, though growth will be slower in dim conditions. Their upright, architectural leaves make them ideal for corners and tight spaces.
2. ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia): With glossy, dark green leaves and exceptional drought tolerance, the ZZ plant thrives where many others fail. It adapts well to low light and looks polished year-round, making it perfect for busy plant owners or low-maintenance interiors.
3. Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior): True to its name, the cast iron plant is nearly indestructible. It handles low light, temperature fluctuations, and occasional neglect with ease, offering deep green foliage that works beautifully in traditional or modern spaces.
4. Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema): Aglaonema varieties are prized for their attractive patterned leaves and adaptability. They perform well in low to medium light and add subtle color and texture to rooms that lack natural sunlight.
5. Heartleaf Philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum): This classic trailing plant is ideal for shelves, hanging baskets, or desktops. Heartleaf philodendrons tolerate low light and irregular watering, while their cascading vines soften interiors and add visual warmth.
6. Pothos (Epipremnum aureum): A favorite for beginners, pothos grows well in low light and recovers quickly from missed waterings. Pinching back vines encourages fuller growth, and its trailing habit makes it versatile for many indoor settings.
7. Dracaena ‘Janet Craig’ (Dracaena deremensis): Known for its dark green, arching leaves, ‘Janet Craig’ is especially well-suited to low-light environments. It’s commonly used in offices and commercial spaces due to its durability and clean, upright form.
8. Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum): Peace lilies adapt well to low light and signal when they need water by gently drooping. While flowering may be reduced in dim conditions, their lush foliage and air-purifying qualities still make them a popular choice.
9. Arrowhead Plant (Syngonium podophyllum): Arrowhead plants tolerate low light and reward growers with soft, arrow-shaped leaves that mature into a trailing form. They’re compact when young and work well on desks or in mixed plant displays.
10. Lady Palm (Rhapis excelsa): One of the best palms for low light, Lady Palm has fan-shaped fronds and a refined, architectural look. It’s slow-growing but very long-lived indoors.
11. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum): Adaptable and easygoing, spider plants tolerate low light and produce arching leaves and baby plantlets that add movement to indoor spaces.
12. Bird’s Nest Fern (Asplenium nidus): Prefers low to medium indirect light and higher humidity. Its broad, wavy fronds add a lush, tropical feel without needing bright sun.
Beyond choosing the right plants, it’s also important to adjust expectations and care when growing plants in lower light. Plants in these conditions use water and nutrients more slowly, so they typically require less frequent watering and fertilizing. Many “low-light tolerant” plants will still grow faster and fuller in brighter, indirect light, and variegated or vividly colored foliage may become more muted or turn greener over time as light levels decrease.
Ways to Help Houseplants Thrive in Low-Light Spaces
Window Direction Matters
Window direction plays an important role in light quality and strength. For best results, place low-light plants within these distances of your windows:
- 2–3 feet of a north-facing window
- 3–5 feet of an east-facing window
- 4–10 feet of a west-facing window
- 10–18 feet of a south-facing window
Supplement Natural Light
Full-spectrum LED grow lights are an easy way to boost light levels indoors. Decorative pendant-style grow lights or simple LED bulbs can be installed in existing fixtures to support healthy growth.
Rotate Plants Regularly
Give indoor plants a 90-degree turn about once a month so all sides receive light, helping promote balanced, even growth.
Rotate Plants Between Spaces
In very dark rooms, consider buying two of the same plant and switching them every 2–4 weeks. Keep one plant in brighter, ideal conditions while the other decorates the darker space, then swap them before stress appears.
The best way to find the right low-light solution is to experiment. Try a few of these strategies and see what works best for your home’s unique light conditions! Visit us in store to explore our vast selection of houseplants for every indoor space and get expert advice to help your plants flourish.