13 Low-light houseplants
If a room only gets weak or indirect light, these are the houseplants most likely to keep going without sulking. Every plant here is one whose own care notes say it tolerates low or shady light, rather than one that merely limps along before stretching and fading.
Low light means slower growth and less watering for almost any plant. "Tolerates" is not the same as "thrives" - even these will grow fuller nearer a bright, indirect window.
Bird's Nest Fern (Asplenium nidus)
The Bird's Nest Fern - Asplenium nidus - is one of the most welcoming ferns you can bring…
Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior)
The Cast Iron Plant earned its name honestly: it is famous as the toughest, most indestructible…
Haworthia (Zebra Plant & Window Plants)
Haworthia is the small, tough, charming succulent that fits almost anywhere - a desk, a…
Homalomena (Queen of Hearts)
The Homalomena - sometimes sold as "Queen of Hearts" - is one of those quietly excellent…
Lucky Bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana)
Lucky Bamboo grows as green stalks in a vase of water and pebbles, a common sight on desks…
Ludisia discolor (Jewel Orchid)
The Ludisia discolor - the Jewel Orchid - is an orchid grown for the one thing most orchids are…
Nerve Plant (Fittonia)
The Nerve Plant is a small, vivid, dramatic little houseplant - its olive-green leaves are…
Pothos (Epipremnum aureum / Devil's Ivy)
Pothos is the friendliest trailing vine in the houseplant world - fast, forgiving, beautiful…
Selaginella (Spikemoss / Resurrection Plant)
Selaginella - known as Spikemoss, and in some forms as the Resurrection Plant - is one of the…
Snake Plant (Sansevieria / Dracaena trifasciata)
Tall, sculptural, and almost indestructible, the Snake Plant thrives on neglect, survives in…
Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
The Spider Plant is the cheerful, generous, almost foolproof classic of the houseplant world.
ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)
With glossy, almost artificial-looking leaves and a near-supernatural tolerance for low light…
ZZ Raven (Zamioculcas zamiifolia 'Raven')
The ZZ Raven is a dark cultivar of the classic ZZ Plant whose new leaves emerge bright…
Prefer to filter yourself? Try the Plant Finder to narrow all houseplants by light and watering.
Choosing a plant for a home with pets? Our table of plants toxic to cats and dogs shows what every profile says - and the reference behind it is the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant list.
Gear for low-light rooms
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