• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • DIY Projects
    • Homemade Bath and Body
    • Sewing
    • Flower Crafts/Decor
    • Thrift Store/Vintage
  • Gardening
    • Flower Gardens
    • Container Gardening
    • Houseplants
    • Indoor Gardening
    • Landscaping
    • DIY Garden Art
  • Decorate
    • Room Makeovers
    • Spring Decor
    • Summer Decor
    • Fall Decor
    • Winter Decor
    • Home Decor Projects
  • Recipes
    • Breakfast Recipes
    • Lunch Recipes
    • Dinner Recipes
    • Dessert
    • Salad Recipes
    • Soups and Stews
    • Side Dish Recipes
    • Appetizers and Snacks
    • Healthy Recipes
  • Holidays
    • Valentine's Day
    • Easter
    • Mother's Day
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas
Hearth and Vine
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • About Hearth and Vine
  • DIY Projects
    • ...Flower/Gardening Crafts
    • ... Bath and Body
    • ...Sewing/Fabric Crafts
    • ...Thrift Store/Upcycle
  • Gardening
    • ...Flower Gardens
    • ...Container Gardening
    • ...Indoor Gardening
    • ...DIY Garden Art
  • Decorate
    • ...Home Decor Projects
    • ...Spring Decor
    • ...Summer Decor
    • ...Fall Decor
    • ...Winter Decor
    • ...Room Makeovers
  • Recipes
    • ...Appetizers and Snacks
    • ...Dinner Recipes
    • ...Side Dish Recipes
    • ...Salad Recipes
    • ...Dessert
    • ...Drinks
  • Holidays
    • ...Valentine's Day
    • ...Easter
    • ...Mother's Day
    • ...Halloween
    • ...Thanksgiving
    • ...Christmas
  • Subscribe
  • Instagram
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Gardening

    13 Beautiful Indoor Plants for Low Light

    October 11, 2021 by Patti Estep Leave a Comment

    Philodendron plant
    Pothos Pearls and Jade plant

    Here's a list of low light indoor plants that will bring natural beauty and happiness into your home. They are also so easy that even the brownest of thumbs can grow them.

    Christmas cactus, rabbit's foot fern, staghorn fern, pothos, and philodendron indoor plants for low light.

    Many people want to grow plants indoors as they offer natural beauty and there is some speculation that they are good for your health. I have loved growing houseplants since I was a child and continue to grow many to this day.

    However, many people also get discouraged because some plants require a lot of light that most homes cannot offer. Still, most houseplants do not like bright light or direct sun either but prefer indirect sunlight.

    So today I'm sharing a group of plants that grow well in low-light conditions. Of course, all plants need some light but you'd be surprised that many can live well with just a small amount of light.

    This post contains some affiliate links (that means if you make a purchase after clicking a link, there's no additional cost to you, but I will earn a very small commission. ) i.e. as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

    Very Tolerant Low Light Indoor Plants

    This first group thrives or seems happy with very little light. They cannot grow in the dark but they are some of the easiest plants I've ever grown.

    Snake plant in a white planter.
    Sansevieria trifasciata aka Snake Plant

    Sansevieria trifasciata aka Snake Plant

    The Snake Plant is super easy to grow.  Also known as Mother In Law's Tongue, it was recently reclassified as a Draecena so you may see that on the label instead of Sansevieria. It also doesn't need much water. In fact, the one way to kill this plant is by overwatering it. It comes in many varieties, however, the basic green is the easiest and most tolerant of low lighting.

    Philodendron leaves
    Philodendron leaves

    Philodendron

    The lovely vining plant is often one of the first plants people try to grow and it's a good one because it's a very low-maintenance houseplant. It has pretty heart-shaped leaves that grow just about anywhere. Yes, more light will make it grow faster but if you don't have a lot of light it will still be happy.

    ZZ plant near a window.
    Zamioculcas zamiifolia aka ZZ Plant

    Zamioculcas zamiifolia aka ZZ Plant

    The ZZ plant grows well in lower light conditions. It grows from rhizomes that can store water and the leaves are thick and glossy. Such a pretty unique plant.

    Pothos Pearls and Jade in a bathroom.
    Pothos 'Pearls and Jade'

    Pothos 'Pearls and Jade'

    Pothos plants aka Devil's Ivy are also very popular beginner plants and it's no wonder. They come in a ton of different varieties and are very easy to grow. The one shown above is a cultivar called 'Pearls and Jade.' It sits on a shelf in our guest bathroom. There is a window in the bathroom but the plant is over in the corner and it looks great.

    Hanging variegated hoya plant.
    Hoya

    Hoya

    This pretty vining plant has thick waxy leaves and is sometimes referred to as the Wax Plant. It doesn't need to be watered often in fact, it's pretty sensitive to overwatering so wait until it's dried out a bit before watering.

    Partially Tolerant Low Light Plants

    This list gives you more plants that can survive low lighting situations. However, they are slightly more particular and though they will likely not die, they may grow slower. Also, in the case of variegated or multi-colored foliage, the leaves may tend to lose some of the variegation and return to mostly green.

    Monstera deliciosa leaves
    Monstera deliciosa

    Monstera deliciosa

    A monstrous beauty aka Swiss Cheese Plant. Mine is in the corner of our living room. There is a window nearby but it's obstructed by trees and doesn't get much light. I recently had to move it into a larger heavy pot as it has grown so large.

    Monstera adansonii leaves
    Monstera adansonii

    Monstera adansonii

    The cousin of deliciosa, commonly called Monkey Mask, the leaves tend to stay smaller in low light but that's ok with me. They are still very pretty with little vines that grow quite long.

    Christmas cactus actually Thanksgiving cactus in bloom
    Schlumbergera truncata aka Christmas Cactus

    Schlumbergera truncata aka Christmas Cactus

    While most of the low-light houseplant plants on this list have beautiful green foliage, Schlumbergera also has pretty pink flowers. This one is typically labeled as Christmas Cactus and blooms around Thanksgiving in the US. It does grow pretty well in lower lighting and like many succulents needs less water than most houseplants.

    Peace lily in flower.
    Spathiphyllum aka Peace Lily

    Spathiphyllum aka Peace Lily

    This well-known plant for sympathy is often used as a funeral gift. Its beautiful dark green leaves and interesting white flowers look great in offices and other places where there is not much light. It may not bloom in very low light but it will continue to grow well.

    Rabbit's foot fern in a clay pot.
    Davallia fejeensis aka Rabbit's Foot Fern

    Davallia fejeensis aka Rabbit's Foot Fern

    As you may know, many ferns prefer shade. Perhaps that's why the next few plants grow well indoors with little light. Rabbit's Foot Fern is a good grower for me in my office. It sits near a window but depending on the time of day there is not much light coming in. Unlike some other ferns this one doesn't seem to need high humidity but it probably wouldn't hurt to give it a good misting from time to time.

    Staghorn fern mounted on wall.
    Platycerium bifurcatum aka Staghorn Fern

    Platycerium bifurcatum aka Staghorn Fern

    This mounted Staghorn Fern is near the Rabbit's Foot Fern on a wall. It is reaching a little towards the window but overall it looks great.

    Maidenhair fern on porch
    Adiantum capillus-veneris aka Maidenhair Fern

    Adiantum capillus-veneris aka Maidenhair Fern

    Many people complain that Maidenhair ferns are hard to grow. I think it has more to do with watering and humidity than light. I've seen mine grow well in low light levels as well as bright shade outdoors.  I love the black wiry stems with delicate green leaflets. This is one plant that seems to love water more than most. And it has the amazing habit of growing back. If you notice dead or brown fronds just cut them back to the base and watch for new growth.

    Rex Begonia in Dining Room
    Rex Begonia

    Rex Begonia

    The last plant on the list is Rex Begonia. This is a very showy plant and can grow pretty large. There are also tons of different varieties with fancy leaves in different colors and patterns. I'd say it likes at least a thorough weekly watering but the attractive foliage is well worth the effort. It prefers bright indirect light but will still thrive in lower light conditions.

    Are you already growing one or more of these indoor plants for low light? Or have I convinced you to try some of them? I think you will find that growing houseplants is not difficult.

    Just remember every gardener, including me, has killed their fair share of plants. Don't give up based on just one experience. Experiment and you will find the right plants for your space.

    Patti signature

    More Houseplant Articles

    • How to Propagate Houseplants
    • Houseplant Symbolism
    • Homemade Potting Soil for Indoor Gardening

    More Gardening

    • Maidenhair Fern - A Lovely Houseplant
    • Cooking with Parsley - Growing, Harvesting and Recipes
    • 2023 Plants of the Year - Easy Picks for this year's garden
    • Hanging Teacup Planter Upcycle

    About Patti Estep

    Patti is the creator of Hearth and Vine, a home and garden blog filled with projects to inspire your creative side. She loves crafting, gardening, decorating and entertaining at her home in Pennsylvania. When she is not working on a project at home or searching for treasures at nurseries and thrift stores with her girlfriends, you’ll probably find her with family and friends, at a restaurant, or home party enjoying new and different food adventures.

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Follow Me

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

    Patti profile pic

    Hi! I'm Patti

    Join me to create lots of fun DIY projects including crafts, gardening, home decor and tasty recipes.

    more about me

    Popular Posts

    Blue jean crossover bag

    DIY Crossbody Bag from Jeans

    tabletop water gardens

    How to Make an Indoor Water Garden

    Echievera planter

    What to do With a Stretched Succulent

    Fabric bowl covers in 3 prints

    How to Make Fabric Bowl Covers

    Collage of flowers including russian sage, pink hydrangeas, coneflower and yarrow.

    10+ Long Blooming Plants

    Chicken black bean tortilla casserole

    Chicken Black Bean Casserole Recipe

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About
    Privacy Policy
    Disclosure Policy

    Sign Up Here!
    for our weekly
    newsletter &
    special offers

    • Shop
    • Web Stories

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. i.e. as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2021 Hearth and Vine