The Best Low Light Indoor Plants

It’s no secret that I love houseplants. Over the last four-ish years, I’ve really amassed quite a collection and learned a lot about what works for me and what doesn’t. I, thankfully, live in a home with lots of natural light…but what about if you don’t? It can be hard to find plants that survive – much less thrive – in low light conditions. But, they’re out there! So today, we’re doing a bit of a deep dive on the best low light indoor plants. So, even if you don’t have a home full of bright windows, you can find something that will work for you.

How Much Light Are We Talking Here?

First of all, I think it’s important to talk about what “low light” really means. Because, if we’re being honest, there are some rooms that just aren’t meant to keep a plant alive. For example, if you have no windows at all, it’s probably unlikely that you’ll keep a plant alive.

It’s also important to know there’s a difference between plants that can survive low light and plants that thrive in low light. Sure, there are lots of plants out there that will hobble along and stay alive without much light. But, there are far fewer plants that will really grow and thrive and be beautiful in low lighting conditions!

I want to focus mainly on the plants that actually like low light. Because, if you’re going to have a plant in your home, you want it to be thriving and happy, right?!

In general, when we’re talking about low-light plants, we’re talking about plants that do well in room with north-facing or east-facing windows. They won’t get direct light, but can still be placed near a window that gets indirect light. I do recommend placing the plants as close to the window as you can – even plants that love shade still need sunlight!

The Best Low Light Indoor Plants

Here is a quick list of the plants that can really do great in lower light conditions:

• ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas Zamiifolia)
• Corn Plant (dracaena fragrans)
• Snake Plants (Dracaena trifasciata)
• Dragon Trees (Dracaena draco)
• Lucky Bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana)
• Spider Plants (Chlorophytum comosum)
• Golden Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
• Staghorn Fern (Platycerium)
• Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)
• Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea elegans)
• Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum)
• Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema)
• Ponytail Palm (Beaucarnea recurvata)

I’ve had quite a few plants on this list, but not all! My personal favorite are Pothos vines and ZZ plants. They’re both easy-to-care-for plants with gorgeous foliage. I love the dark green leaves of the ZZ PLants and seeing how long the stems of my pothos can get.

If you have pets, be sure to check with any plant you get to make sure it’ll be safe around them. My dogs do a great job of leaving our plants alone so it’s not something I worry much about. But, it’s definitely something to be considered!

Plants That Prefer Medium Light

Now, let’s say you have a lower-light situation but it’s not too bad. Perhaps you have a few windows in your room and can easily place a plant close to one or two. Maybe it’s a room with a ton of bright indirect light, but no direct sunlight. Or, maybe it’s still a low light room but you’re willing to supplement with grow lights. Here are a few plants that could be a good fit for you in that situation:

• Monstera
• Hoya
• Swiss Cheese Plant
• Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra Elatior)

Most of the plants above are still considered low-light houseplants. But, they generally won’t actually grow and look super happy in lower light conditions. They prefer a little more light if you want them to actually thrive!

Pretty much every single plant on these lists are easy-care houseplants that even beginners should have good luck with!

Plant Care Tips

If you’re looking for a detailed guide, I’ve got one all about how to care for houseplants. But, if you just want a few quick tips to get you started, I’ve got you covered right here.

• Most plants thrive in humid conditions. If you consider where a lot of plants live in the wild, they’re dealing with high humidity! So, consider adding a humidifier to your room if you don’t already live in a relatively humid environment.
• As you learn the right watering schedule, check the plants first top inch of soil. If it’s dry, your plant needs water! I like to use. this soil moisture meter to help me check to see if my plants are ready to be watered!
• Be sure to rotate your plants regularly. This helps them grow evenly, and makes sure they don’t get lopsided as they try to grow towards the sun.
• If all else fails, faux plants are great too. Remember, not every room or home is cut out for real houseplants. There’s nothing wrong with throwing in the towel and deciding to stick to fake plants. In fact, I love real plants but I still have quite the collection of faux ones as well!