Low-Light Houseplants
Not every room gets a flood of sunlight — and that is fine. A well-chosen low-light plant can thrive in darker corners, north-facing rooms, and office spaces away from windows. This guide explains what "low light" actually means, which plants genuinely tolerate it, and how to care for them.
What Does "Low Light" Mean for Houseplants?
"Low light" does not mean no light — it means the plant can survive and grow in conditions where direct sunlight never reaches, such as a room with a north-facing window, a spot several feet from any window, or a hallway with only ambient light.
As a rough guide: low light is bright enough to comfortably read a book without turning on a lamp during the day. If you need artificial light to see clearly, that is below the threshold for most plants.
Medium indirect light — also included in this guide — refers to bright rooms without direct sun, like a room with east- or west-facing windows. Many "low-light" plants actually do best in medium indirect light and merely tolerate true low light.
There are 29 plants in our database that are rated for low light, and 104 total that tolerate low or medium indirect light conditions.
Top 10 Low-Light Houseplants (Easy Care)
Selected from easy-care plants that tolerate low or medium indirect light. Browse the full list of 29 low-light plants →
Pothos
Epipremnum aureum
One of the most popular and forgiving houseplants, known for its trailing vines and heart-shaped leaves. Thrives in almost any light condition.
Snake Plant
Dracaena trifasciata
Nearly indestructible upright plant with striking sword-shaped leaves. One of the best air purifiers and survives neglect.
Peace Lily
Spathiphyllum wallisii
Elegant plant with glossy dark leaves and white spathes. One of the best low-light flowering houseplants.
Spider Plant
Chlorophytum comosum
Fast-growing plant that produces cascading offshoots called spiderettes. Safe for pets and very easy to propagate.
ZZ Plant
Zamioculcas zamiifolia
Glossy, waxy leaves on arching stems. Extremely drought-tolerant thanks to rhizomes that store water.
Heartleaf Philodendron
Philodendron hederaceum
Fast-growing trailing plant with heart-shaped leaves. Tolerates low light well and is very forgiving of neglect.
Chinese Evergreen
Aglaonema commutatum
Colorful foliage plant available in green, silver, red, and pink. One of the most tolerant houseplants.
Dieffenbachia
Dieffenbachia seguine
Bold tropical plant with large patterned leaves. Sap can cause intense oral irritation if ingested.
Corn Plant
Dracaena fragrans
Tall cane-like plant with long, arching leaves. Excellent for adding height to a room with minimal care.
Cast Iron Plant
Aspidistra elatior
Virtually indestructible plant that tolerates deep shade, dust, and neglect. Perfect for dark corners.
Caring for Low-Light Plants
Water less in low light
Plants in low light photosynthesize more slowly, meaning they use water more slowly too. In darker spots, reduce watering frequency — overwatering in low light is a very common cause of root rot.
Do not expect rapid growth
Low-light plants grow more slowly than those in bright spots. This is normal. Do not over-fertilize in an attempt to speed growth — fertilizing a plant that is not actively photosynthesizing causes salt buildup in the soil.
Rotate occasionally
Even in low light, plants grow toward the light source. Rotating the pot a quarter turn every few weeks promotes more even growth.
Supplement with grow lights if needed
If your space is genuinely dark — no windows nearby — even low-light plants will struggle. A basic LED grow light placed nearby for 12 hours a day can dramatically improve health and growth.
Browse All Low-Light Plants
See the full list of 29 plants rated for low-light conditions in our database, with toxicity and care data for each.