31 Best Low-Light Indoor Plants to Brighten Up Your Home
Low-light indoor plants are the way to go when selecting greenery for your home if it lacks sunlight streaming in through large windows. All plants need some light to grow, but a wide variety of vines, ferns, and foliage plants will do just fine in the dimmer areas of a room. So brighten up that not-so-sunny spot in your living room or office with these beautiful houseplants that thrive even where they don't get a lot of light.
Adanson's Monstera
Create a tropical getaway in your living room with Monstera adansonii. Also called Swiss cheese plant, this vining tropical plant produces bright green, attractively cut leaves. Its long, trailing stems make it a good choice for a hanging basket. If you want to keep the plant compact, simply prune back the vining branches. The cuttings will root easily in water if you want to make more to expand your collection. Water Monstera whenever the soil feels dry to the touch, and fertilize once a month during the spring and summer.
Light: Indirect light
Water: When the top inch of soil is dry
Size: Up to 13 feet tall, though most will stay much smaller indoors
Adanson's monstera contains chemicals that are toxic to humans and pets if ingested.
Boston Fern
Since they were first discovered in the late 1800s, Boston ferns (Nephrolepis exaltata) have played an important role in interior design. These gorgeous plants develop bright green, arching fronds that look great in urns or baskets. Some varieties offer interesting leaf textures, such as 'Cotton Candy' shown here, which has very fine foliage. Boston ferns thrive in partial shade locations away from cold drafts or heat ducts. Like all ferns, they love humidity, so mist often during the winter to minimize leaf drop.
Light: Low light or indirect light
Water: When the soil is dry to the touch
Size: Up to 3 feet tall
Goldfish Plant
Columnea develops tubular yellow or orange blooms that give these jungle natives their common name, goldfish plant. Although Columnea blooms best in a bright location, the tropical plant will thrive in darker rooms where its trailing, shiny, dark green leaves will be appreciated. Columnea also makes a great basket plant.
Light: Low light or bright, indirect light
Water: When the soil is dry to the touch
Size: Up to 24 inches
Philodendron
One of the best low-light indoor plant varieties, philodendron, is very tolerant of dark interiors. This fast-growing vine works well in hanging baskets or can be trained to climb a small trellis or totem. Two newer varieties offer colorful foliage. The 'Brasil' variety has gorgeous gold-and-green variegated foliage, while 'Micans' sports purple-flushed leaves with a satin-like texture.
Light: Low light or indirect light
Water: When the soil is dry to the touch
Size: Trailing stems can reach up to 8 feet
They may look like harmless houseplants, but philodendrons are toxic to humans and animals, so position them out of the reach of children, dogs, and cats.
Pothos
Often confused with Philodendron, pothos will thrive in any room of your home if you keep it out of full sun. It's an easy-care vining plant that you can train onto a trellis or allow to tumble over the edge of a hanging basket. Pothos comes in various colors and bicolors, including dark green, chartreuse, white-and-green, yellow-and-green, and spotted silver.
Light: Low light or indirect light
Water: When the soil is dry to the touch
Size: Most will stay between 6 and 10 feet, but the trailing stems can reach up to 30 feet (prune it back to keep it smaller or if it's looking leggy)
Pothos plants are toxic to pets.
Parlor Palm
Popular since the Victorian era, parlor palm (Chamaedorea elegans) is a slow-growing Mexican native and is one of the best low-light indoor houseplants. It grows 4 feet tall and makes a bold statement in any room. Parlor palm only needs to be watered when the soil feels dry to the touch, but it does help to mist the plants occasionally during the winter.
Light: Low light or bright, filtered light
Water: When the soil feels dry to the touch
Size: Up to 4 feet tall indoors
ZZ Plant
Looking for a low-light indoor plant that tolerates dark corners and neglect? Check out ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia). This African native will do fine even if it only gets fluorescent light in an office or shop. It also tolerates dry conditions, so it's ideal for someone who travels frequently. The ZZ plant looks great, too; it produces upright, slightly arching stems covered in shiny, dark green leaves (and you can even find a new variety with near-black foliage).
Light: Low light or bright, indirect light
Water: When the top inch of soil dries out
Size: Up to 3 feet tall
ZZ plants are toxic to people and pets if ingested.
Dieffenbachia
When it comes to colorful leaves, few houseplants offer as many options as Dieffenbachia. These gorgeous tropical plants feature a wide range of speckled or splotched leaves in either yellow and green or white and green. Although they grow well in dark rooms, they prefer some bright, indirect light to keep them from getting too leggy.
Light: Low light or bright, indirect light
Water: When the top inch of soil is dry
Size: Up to 3 feet tall
Note that dieffenbachia is toxic to humans and pets.
Gloxinia
Although Gloxinia can't survive in a completely dark room, it will bloom beautifully anywhere it can receive bright, indirect light away from full sun. A close relative of African violet, Gloxinia develops large velvety, trumpet-like flowers in a variety of jewel-tone colors. Use warm water and avoid getting the foliage wet. Feed once a month with a liquid houseplant fertilizer while the plants are in bloom.
Light: Bright, indirect light
Water: When the soil is dry to the touch
Size: Up to 12 inches tall
Cast Iron Plant
Here's a houseplant that truly lives up to its name. Cast iron plant (Aspidistra elatior) is a low-light indoor houseplant that thrives on neglect. It lives happily in dark rooms with only occasional watering. Plus, this rugged low-maintenance houplant spreads slowly, so it rarely needs repotting. The cast iron plant produces dark green narrow leaves; there's also a variegated form, but it can be difficult to find.
Light: Low light or indirect light
Water: When the soil is dry to the touch
Size: Up to 3 feet tall
Aglaonema
Aglaonema has taken the houseplant world by storm. With spectacular bright green leaves, this houseplant will brighten even the darkest room, though you can also find varieties with red or even pink foliage. In addition, Aglaonema doesn't mind dry soil, so it's a great gift for forgetful gardeners. Originally called Chinese evergreen, Aglaonema is almost foolproof.
Light: Low light or indirect light
Water: Water when the soil is dry to the touch
Size: Up to 3 feet tall
Aglaonema is toxic to humans and pets when ingested.
Peace Lily
Easy and elegant: That's the best way to describe peace lily. This low-light indoor plant sends up pure white flower spathes on tall, graceful stems. Peace lily also has shiny green foliage that looks great even when the plants aren't blooming. Often sold under its botanic name, Spathiphyllum, peace lily makes a relatively undemanding houseplant.
Light: Low light or indirect light
Water: When the soil is dry to the touch
Size: Up to 3 feet tall
The leaves and flowers of peace lilies are considered toxic to humans, cats and dogs.
Prayer Plant
Brighten the dark corners of your home with the cheerful foliage of prayer plant (Maranta leuconeura). This easy-care charmer sports variegated green-and-cream leaves with bright red veins. It gets its name because the leaves fold up at night. Prayer plant only grows 6-8 inches tall, so it's a good choice for a bookshelf or an end table.
Light: Low light or indirect light
Water: When the soil is dry to the touch
Size: Up to 8 inches tall
English Ivy
Perfect for a hanging basket or urn, the trailing foliage of English ivy (Hedera helix) is an excellent choice to lush up a dull room. English ivy is a low-light indoor plant that comes in a wide variety of leaf colors and shapes. It's the perfect plant to grow on a cool, north-facing windowsill. You also can train English ivy into a variety of topiary shapes. English ivy can be bothered by spider mites, so mist the plants often to prevent these pests from gaining a foothold.
Light: Low light or indirect light
Water: Before the soil is dry to the touch
Size: Up to 8 feet
English ivy is toxic to humans and pets, so put it high off the ground out of reach of kids and pets.
Corn Plant
Corn plants (Dracaena fragrans) add a touch of elegance to any room of your home. Their wide leaves resemble those of the plant that produces edible corn, hence the common name though they are not related. The lowest leaves naturally will fade as the plant grows, so remove these as needed to keep your corn plant looking its best.
Light: Low light or indirect light
Water: When the soil is dry to the touch
Size: Up to 6 feet tall indoors
Corn plant is toxic to pets.
Arrowhead Vine
Native to Central America, arrowhead vine (Syngonium podophyllum) is one of the best low-light indoor plants and can tolerate many conditions. Its handsome foliage can be bright green, bronze, or variegated. When young, arrowhead vine forms a bushy mound; the plants will begin to vine over time, making them ideal for hanging baskets or training up a trellis or totem. Pinch your plants if they start to get too leggy.
Light: Low or medium indirect light
Water: When the soil is dry to the touch
Size: Up to 36 inches
Arrowhead vine is toxic to humans and pets.
Peperomia
Perfect for terrariums or dish gardens, Peperomia grows only 4-10 inches tall and offers a wide selection of different leaf shapes and colors. It has few insect or disease problems and is native to rainforests, so it likes to be in a spot with plenty of humidity.
Light: Low light or indirect light
Water: When the soil is dry to the touch
Size: Up to 10 inches tall
Moth Orchid
Add a touch of elegance to any room in your home with Phalaenopis, commonly called moth orchid. These easy-care beauties hold their blooms for up to four months and are among the best low-light indoor plants.
Moth orchids come in a wide selection of colors and bicolors, and they're generally sold in two sizes: Standards that grow 18-24 inches tall and dwarfs that stay under 12 inches in height. Moth orchids grow in bark or moss and should only be watered when that material feels dry. More orchids die from overwatering than underwatering, so don't be afraid to let it get just a little dry.
Light: Low light or bright, indirect light
Water: When the growing medium is dry to the touch
Size: Up to 24 inches tall
Anthurium
The bold, red, pink, orange, white, or purple flowers of Anthurium are a welcome treat during the dark days of winter. However, these tropical beauties don't like overly dry or wet soils, so keeping the soil slightly moist at all times is essential. Anthurium blooms best in bright, indirect light but will do fine in darker situations, although flowering may be limited. However, the plants have bright green, heart-shaped leaves that keep the color show going even when they are not in bloom.
Light: Low light or bright indirect light
Water: Just before the soil is dry to the touch
Size: Up to 2 feet tall
Anthuriums are toxic to humans and pets.
Spider Plant
Don't let the common name of this fantastic houseplant scare you off. Spider plant, also called airplane plant, gets its name from the many runners it sends out with baby plants at the tips. Available in dark green and variegated forms, spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) makes a great tabletop or basket plant in low-light conditions. During the winter, mist the plants frequently to help prevent the leaf tips from turning brown.
Light: Low light or indirect light
Water: When the soil is dry to the touch
Size: Up to 12 inches tall
Spineless Yucca
When you think of yucca plants, sunny desert conditions probably come to mind. But indoors, the spineless yucca (Yucca elephantipes) will do fine in a dim corner where you can enjoy its leathery green, lancelike foliage, and attractive tan bark. The plant won't grow as quickly in low light as in a sunny spot, but it will be fine as long as you don't overwater it.
Light: Low light or bright indirect light
Water: When the soil is dry to the touch
Size: Up to 8 feet tall indoors
Some parts of the plants, especially the sap, are toxic for humans and pets.
Begonia
The jewel-like leaves and flowers of low-light indoor plant begonia will turn any dark room into a festival of color. There are many species of begonia to choose from, but one of the best for growing indoors is rex begonia, which comes in different varieties sporting multicolor leaves in an assortment of silver, green, pink, red, orange, and burgundy. Growing only a few inches tall, rex begonias can also be used in terrariums or dish gardens. Rex begonias do best in soil that's always kept slightly moist.
Light: Low light or indirect light
Water: Just before the soil is dry to the touch
Size: Up to 8 inches tall
Begonias are toxic to pets.
Hoya
A gorgeous slow-growing vine, Hoya, or wax plant, thrives in bright indirect light but does almost as well in darker locations. Hoya comes in flat-leaved or crinkled-leaved forms and occasionally produces highly fragrant white flower clusters. Flat-leaved Hoya also comes in solid green or variegated cream-and-green leaves. You can train a Hoya up a trellis or totem or allow it to trail over the edge of a pot or urn.
Light: Low light or bright, indirect light
Water: When the soil is dry to the touch
Size: Trailing vines can reach up to 4 feet
Ponytail Palm
Ponytail palm (Beaucarnea recurvata) is virtually indestructible for any room in your house. It's a fascinating and unusual plant with long, straplike leaves sprouting from a large, wide base that gives this plant its other common name, elephant's foot palm. If you travel a lot, ponytail palm is ideal because the plant stores excess water in its thick base, so it can go for several weeks without being watered. Ponytail palms are sold in various heights, from tabletop to tree-size.
Light: Bright light
Water: When the soil is dry to the touch
Size: Up to 6 feet tall
Calathea
The many diverse forms and colors of calathea plant (Calathea spp.) have made it a popular houseplant. It enjoys a warm, humid environment of 65°F or warmer and lots of filtered light. At night, these plants fold up their leaves, leading some people to refer to them (mistakenly) as prayer plants, which are relatives. Calatheas prefer the soil to remain moist but don't tolerate saturated soil.
Light: Bright indirect light
Water: Before the soil is dry to the touch
Size: Up to 3 feet tall
Schefflera
Schefflera (Schefflera spp.) is a classic low-maintenance houseplant that has been a favorite in homes and offices for years. This plant prefers bright light but grows in medium light, just more slowly. It doesn't tolerate cool breezes, so position it away from air conditioning vents. Schefflera tolerates direct sun and is happy to spend the summer outdoors.
Light: Bright indirect light or medium light
Water: When the soil is dry to the touch
Size: Up to 10 feet tall
Schefflera is toxic to humans and pets..
Janet Craig Dracaena
Dracaena deremensis 'Janet Craig', one of the many species of dracaena, can handle low light, low humidity, air conditioning, and irregular care. Its shiny green, arching leaves brighten the dark corners of any room. It requires little water and doesn't tolerate soggy conditions. As it grows, the plant develops a cane-like stem with a cluster of leaves at the top.
Light: Low, moderate, or bright indirect light
Water: When the soil is dry to the touch
Size: Up to 8 feet tall
Dracaena plants are toxic for pets.
Staghorn Fern
Staghorn fern (Platycerium bifurcatum) gets its name from its antler-like foliage and brings a touch of the tropics to indoor environments. It doesn't grow in soil. Instead, it is usually mounted on a board and hung on the wall. Treat it like an air plant and mist it daily or soak it in water once a week. It prefers a high-humidity setting.
Light: Medium to bright indirect light
Water: Mist daily or soak weekly
Size: Up to 3 feet tall and wide
Money Tree
Money tree (Pachira spp.) is a humidity-loving plant that adapts well to a range of indoor conditions. However, it needs a home kept at 65°F or warmer. Whether your money tree comes with a braided trunk or not (braiding is supposed to capture and hold luck), this beauty is a standout addition to a home.
Light: Medium to bright indirect light
Water: When the soil is dry to the touch
Size: Up to 8 feet tall
Fittonia
Fittonia (Fittonia spp.), commonly called nerve plant, is a tiny plant equally at home in a terrarium or pot. The intricate veining and lively color combinations, mostly in shades of pink, red, or green, make it perfect for a small space that needs some brightening.
Light: Bright indirect light
Water: Just before the soil is dry to the touch
Size: Up to 6 inches tall
Ficus Tree
Ficus tree (Ficus spp.) is a tropical plant that prefers indoor temperatures of 75°F during the day and 65°F at night. It enjoys humidity, so mist the tree daily (or set up a plant humidifier) if the air in the home is dry. This tree is a manageable size when grown indoors, but a ficus tree that is 6 feet indoors can be 60 feet outdoors. The container size and judicious winter pruning of the glossy foliage keep the tree houseplant size.
Light: Bright indirect light
Water: Before the soil is dry to the touch
Size: Up to 6-8 feet when grown indoors
A ficus tree, particularly the sap, is toxic to pets.
Indoor Plant Care Tips
- Not sure when or how to water your houseplants? Our complete guide to watering explains everything you need to know to keep your plants as moist (or dry) as they need to be. A moisture meter is a good tool for new indoor gardeners for extra assistance.
- Watering isn't always sufficient to give plants the moisture they need—sometimes, humidity is just as important as water. Learn how to increase humidity in your home to keep your plants happy.
- Our list of essential tips for keeping your plants alive is an excellent resource to have on hand. It has helpful information for things like repotting and deadheading your indoor greenery.