Best Indoor Plants for Low Light

Favorite Low-Light Houseplants

Numerous common houseplants are easy to care for and can be exotically colorful; in fact, some foliage can be more dazzling in lower light. Take the dieffenbachia, which produces abundant leaves in variegated patterns of cream, yellow, or white. Its upright habit makes it ideal for any setting, from kitchen to bath to corner office or office corner.

With white-speckled leaves and white stems, ‘Star White’ dieffenbachia is one of numerous cultivars, each equally attractive. Dieffenbachia is tolerant of all sorts of conditions, from low light to bright light, and can reach up to 6 feet in height with the right care.  

This eye-catcher is related to skunk cabbage (but doesn’t have the smell) and goes by the common name “dumbcane” thanks to its effective defense system. The leaves and stems of dieffenbachia contain irritating crystals called raphides that can cause stinging and burning, so avoid touching your eyes after handling the plant and keep pets and small children away.

The elegant snake plant is a great choice for low light areas. It’s one of the easiest houseplants to care for and comes in a range of shapes these days—from the wide and flat leaves of ‘Whale’s Fin’ to the thin, pyramidal spikes of ‘Starfish’, there’s a style for everyone. Of course, the classic dark- and light-green snake plant is just as beautiful, too!

Snake plants, which are also known as “mother-in-law’s tongue,” are a succulent plant from the forests of South Africa, so they are sensitive to overwatering and do well in low light. Read more about caring for snake plants.

Ferns are another favorite for low-light settings, and none so much perhaps as the Boston fern. Its discovery was a happy accident: The plant came to the attention of Fred C. Becker, a florist in Cambridge, Massachusetts, when, in 1894, a nurseryman in Philadelphia shipped 200 fern plants to Becker. (Victorians loved ferns!) He noticed that one fern was distinctly different from the rest. He began to propagate it, and soon thereafter, botanists identified it and proposed the name.

Light needs aside, the Boston fern can be fussy in winter. In northern climes, it survives best in a room that’s kept cool (50° to 55°F) and has a south-facing window. Water only occasionally until you see new fronds appear (sometime in February), then increase water.

Flowering Houseplants for Low Light

Love plants that bloom? Flowering plants such as spathiphyllum and anthurium have been bred to produce flowers nearly all year long.

Spathiphyllum, aka peace plant or peace lily, is native to rain forests. Is it any wonder, then, that it thrives in warmth, humidity, and low light? Filtered light and fluorescents are fine; direct sun should be avoided. (Yellow leaves are a sign of tooharsh light.) Keep soil moist, not wet, and the environment between 68° and 85°F. You will be doubly rewarded for your care: NASA found peace lily to be one of the top 10 natural air cleaners.

Look for anthuriums with flower colors beyond the usual red. Purple, lavender, pink, and hot-orange blooms cover plants 10 months out of the year. Because of their multiheading characteristic, there can be dozens of flowers on the plant at a time. They flower more in brighter light, but may still produce a few blooms in lower-light areas.

Eye-Catching Houseplants for Low Light

Another desirable trait—thicker leaves— allows plants to better endure the low humidity in most homes. Alocasias, with their big-veined, heart- or arrow-shape leaves, and crotons, with their eye-catching, firehued foliage, thrive in environments that maintain a temperature between 60° and 65°F and a humidity of 25 to 50 percent. Crotons like more light, which brings out their rich colors, but do not put them in direct sun. (However, if the leaves become dull—or worse, fall off—move it to a brighter spot.) Water sparingly; these plants also can go without water for long periods.

‘Red Gold’ aglaonemas are tough plants, with thick, leathery leaves tolerant of low humidity and vividly splattered with hundreds of red, yellow, and gold spots. ‘Red Gold’ requires little light and will thrive in a north window. These plants also go by the name “Chinese evergreen.”

‘Brasil’ philodendron, aka heart leaf, sports lemon and lime–color stripes on every green, heart-shape leaf. The vining plants make excellent hanging baskets. ‘Autumn’ and ‘Prince of Orange’ have burnt- and brightorange leaves. These philodendrons are self-heading, meaning that there are multiple growth leaders, and their leaves are thick and broad to tolerate low humidity. Other colorful philodendrons in the same class include ‘Moonlight’, a brilliant yellow, and ‘Black Cardinal’, which has deep-burgundy leaves that are almost black. 

Calatheas do well in east or west windows with about 50 percent humidity. Spray them daily or place pots on a tray of pebbles and water. Look for ‘Dottie’ calathea. Its round, shiny leaves are a blend of purple and black, but it’s the vibrant burgundy zigzag lines on each leaf that set this plant apart from all others.

The spider plant, a mainstay of low-light situations, has a colorful cousin, the ‘Flash Fire’ mandarin plant. Discovered in Indonesia, it’s not what you might think: This variety does not produce offsets or runners like spider plants do. Instead, the plant grows upright in a whorl of oblong leaves. The main stem and leaf ribs are brilliant orange. ‘Flash Fire’ is happy in an east or west window.

Finally, give a cheer for rex begonias: They beautify indoor windows with their stunning mixes of colored leaves. Some are bred to tolerate lower humidity and are even more spectacular in color. Favorite rex begonia varieties to look for are ‘Fireworks’, a plum and silver combination, and ‘River Nile’, noteworthy for wavy, spiral leaves that are 6 inches across and colored chartreuse with ruby markings. In winter, it produces pink flowers to help you make it to spring.

What are your favorite houseplants for low-light areas? Let us know in the comments!