Houseplants add a natural, earthy element to any home, and bring great comfort to gardeners during winter when it’s too cold to be outside. If the one thing that’s stopping you from bringing houseplants into your own space is lighting concerns, it’s time to put those worries to rest. While all plants need some light to grow, many varieties can thrive in dimly lit corners, such as in a small home office or a windowless bathroom. To help you choose wisely, we spoke to gardening experts who shared their go-to low-light houseplants.
Pothos
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Pothos (Epipremnum) is a beautiful vining plant that can tolerate low-light conditions. “There are many new cultivars, but the variegated forms require more light to maintain their variegated appearance,” says Lisa Eldred Steinkopf, founder of The Houseplant Guru. “If your plant loses its variegation, move it to a higher light area.” She notes that the green variety of this plant can thrive in low light without losing its color.
Size: 10 to 20 feet long x 6 to 12 inches wideCare requirements: Low to bright, indirect light; well-draining soil
ZZ Plant
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ZZ plant (Zamioculcus zamiifolia) is the ultimate low-light houseplant. “Though it would prefer bright light, it does well in low-light conditions,” says Steinkopf. This extremely low-maintenance plant also requires little watering, as it stores excess moisture in its rhizomatous roots. “Keeping it too wet could rot the plant,” Steinkopf says.
Size: 2 to 3 feet tall x 2 to 3 feet wideCare requirements: Low to bright, indirect light; well-draining soil
Cast Iron Plant
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Cast iron plant (Aspidistra) gets its name because of its ability to survive in undesirable conditions. “It was popular in the dark, drafty Victorian parlor in the 1800s,” says Steinkopf. “There are variegated versions, and these will need more light to keep their variegation. The dark green original plant can tolerate less light.” Keep it evenly moist, but don’t overwater or you risk root rot, especially in low light conditions.
Size: 2 to 3 feet tall x 1 to 2 feet wideCare requirements: Low to bright, indirect light; well-draining soil
Chinese Evergreen
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One of Steinkopf’s favorite plants, Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema) is a genus of flowering plants with many colorful cultivars. For low-light areas, she recommends picking one that is more green than pink, as green varieties tolerate dim lighting better. “These plants need a well-drained potting mix, but are tolerant of drying out a bit as they have succulent stems,” she says. “Though if they become too dry, they will lose their lower leaves.”
If the plant gets too tall, cut off the stem near the soil line and it will send up a new stem, says Steinkopf. You can propagate the cut stem by putting it back in the same pot or in a new one to share with a friend.
Size: 1 to 2 feet tall x 1 to 2 feet wideCare requirements: Low to bright, indirect light; well-draining soil
Peace Lily
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Peace lily (Spathiphyllum) is a common houseplant that can tolerate low-light conditions. “It often sends out its white flag-like flowers (spathes) with low to medium light,” says Steinkopf. Available in a range of sizes and shades, the peace lily can bloom year-round in the right conditions.
Size: 1 to 4 feet tall x 1 to 3 feet wideCare requirements: Low to medium, indirect light; well-draining soil
Inch Plant
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Inch plant (Tradescantia zebrina) is a low-light-tolerant plant known for its beautiful, variegated foliage in shades of silver to purple. “This plant also creeps and, if tended to well, can become quite large,” says Leigh Couture, master gardener at American Meadows. She notes that this plant doesn’t like to sit in wet soil, so water only when the soil feels dry to the touch.
Size: 8 to 12 inches long x 12 to 24 inches wideCare requirements: Bright to medium light; well-draining soil
Bush Lily
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Bush lily (Clivia) can last for decades with proper care. It’s very sensitive to light, and direct sun can cause the leaves to burn, which is why Couture recommends this plant for a shady area in your home. “The Clivia is part of the amaryllis family, so if you have had success with amaryllis, you will with this,” she says. “Much like an amaryllis, it prefers to be crowded, and while it can be divided over time, it is not necessarily required for it to thrive.” It provides year-found foliage and sends up trumpet-like orange flowers in spring.
Size: 2 to 3 feet tall x 2 to 3 feet wideCare requirements: Medium to low, indirect light; well-draining soil
Heartleaf Philodendron
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Heartleaf philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum spp.) adds a trailing or climbing element to your houseplant collection. “I have one on a shelf that’s grown so lush it cascades over the edge, creating a small leafy nook in my living room,” says Tabar Gifford, master gardener and partnership cultivator at American Meadows. “It tolerates dim conditions very well, though it will grow faster with moderate indirect light.”
Size: 3 to 10 feet long x 1 to 3 feet wideCare requirements: Medium to low, indirect light; well-draining soil
Snake Plant
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Snake plant is one of Gifford’s all-time favorite low-light plants, noting that it’s “practically indestructible.” Even in dim light, a snake plant will continue to send up new leaves year after year. “I usually water it only when the soil feels completely dry, and it thrives in a well-draining potting mix,” she says. “It’s perfect for beginners or anyone who likes greenery, but doesn’t have a lot of time to fuss over plants.”
Size: 6 to 48 inches tall x 6 to 12 inches wideCare requirements: Low to bright, indirect light; well-draining soil
Spider Plant
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Spider plants (Chlorophytum comosum) add movement and texture to low-light spaces, says Gifford. This beginner-friendly plant produces arching leaves, from which baby “spiderettes” form, which you can cut and give to friends. For optimal results, water only when the soil feels dry.
Size: 1 to 2 feet tall x 1 to 2 feet wideCare requirements: Low to bright, indirect light; well-draining soil
Lucky Bamboo
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Perfect for a dimly lit office, lucky bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana) is another one of Gifford’s favorite plants for low-light nooks. “I keep mine in a small vase of water, away from windows, and it stays bright green year-round,” she says. “It grows slowly but steadily, and its upright stalks add structure to any corner.”
Size: 1 to 4 feet tall x 1 to 2 feet wideCare requirements: Medium to low, indirect light; well-draining soil
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