Gardening Houseplants Choosing Houseplants 23 of the Best Houseplants for Low-Light Spaces These colorful and easy-care houseplants thrive even where they don't get much light. By Nicole Bradley Nicole Bradley Nicole Bradley Kinning is a former garden and home improvement writer for Better Homes & Gardens, where she has also written about pets, beauty and lifestyle topics. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on February 21, 2023 Reviewed by David McKinney Reviewed by David McKinney David McKinney is an experienced plantsman sharing his expertise in horticulture. His knowledge spans landscape management, growing plants indoors and in the greenhouse, ecological plant selection, and much more. With nearly 15 years in the industry, he is well versed in both herbaceous and woody plants with additional interest in entomology. Learn about BHG's Gardening Review Board Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Blaine Moats When selecting a houseplant, one of the first things to think about is how much light you can provide. But even if your home lacks lots of large windows, our list has some of the best houseplants for low light to choose from. So brighten up that not-so-sunny spot in your living room or office with these easy-care houseplants that will thrive even where they don't get much light. 5 Houseplants So Tough They Can Survive Weeks Without Light and Water 01 of 23 Philodendron Jacob Fox One of the best indoor plant varieties, philodendron, is very tolerant of dark interiors, so it's one of the best houseplants for low lights. 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 02 of 23 Pothos Jacob Fox 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) 03 of 23 ZZ Plant Kindra Clineff Looking for a houseplant 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 How to Water Your Houseplants 04 of 23 Palms Jacob Fox Popular since the Victorian era, parlor palm (Chamaedorea elegans) is a slow-growing Mexican native and is one of the best houseplants for low-light situations. 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. 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, fat 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 chubby base, so it can go for several weeks without being watered. Ponytail palms are sold in various heights, from tabletop to tree-size, and can reach up to 6 feet indoors. 05 of 23 Boston Fern Brie Passano 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 partially shady indoor and outdoor 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 06 of 23 Dieffenbachia Jacob Fox 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 Dieffenbachia is toxic, so keep it out of reach of children and pets. Contact Poison Control if you suspect someone has ingested it. 07 of 23 Gloxinia Denny Schrock 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-like 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 08 of 23 Adanson's Monstera Jacob Fox 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 22 Creative DIY Indoor Hanging Plant Holders 09 of 23 Cast Iron Plant Denny Schrock Here's a houseplant that truly lives up to its name. Cast iron plant (Aspidistra elatior) thrives on neglect. It's one of the best houseplants for low light and lives happily in dark rooms with only occasional watering. Plus, this rugged plant 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 10 of 23 Aglaonema Jacob Fox Over the past few years, 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 11 of 23 Peace Lily Blaine Moats Easy and elegant: That's the best way to describe peace lily. This low-light houseplant 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 12 of 23 Prayer Plant Scott Little 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 an end table or bookshelf. Light: Low light or indirect light Water: When the soil is dry to the touch Size: Up to 8 inches tall 10 Easy-Care Indoor Plants That Haven't Taken Over Instagram Yet 13 of 23 English Ivy Jacob Fox 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 comes in a wide variety of leaf colors and shapes and thrives in low light. 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 14 of 23 Dracaena Jacob Fox Dracaenas add a touch of elegance to any room of your home. This plant is often sold as a standard houseplant or in tree form, so you can cluster several together to create a miniature forest. Remove any faded leaves as they appear to keep it 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 15 of 23 Arrowhead Vine Jacob Fox Native to Central America, arrowhead vine (Syngonium podophyllum) is one of the best houseplants for low light 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 16 of 23 Peperomia Jacob Fox 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 17 of 23 Moth Orchid Peter Krumhardt 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 plants for low-light locations. 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 Watering Orchids with Ice Cubes Is Really a Thing—Here's How to Do It 18 of 23 Anthurium Marty Baldwin 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 19 of 23 Spider Plant BHG / Juli Lopez-Castillo Don't let the common name of this amazing 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 20 of 23 Spineless Yucca Dean Schoeppner 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 21 of 23 Begonia Justin Hancock The jewel-like leaves and flowers of 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 22 of 23 Columnea Dean Schoeppner Columnea develops tubular orange or yellow blooms that give these jungle natives their common name, goldfish plant. Although Columnea blooms best in a bright location, the 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 23 of 23 Hoya Kindra Clineff 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 either flat-leaved or crinkled-leaved forms and will occasionally produce clusters of highly fragrant white flowers. 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 Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit