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Houseplants add beauty to a home and bring a little of the outdoors in. Not everyone has excellent light in their home so what about houseplants for low light? The good news is that there are plenty of good low light houseplants to choose from.
About Good Low Light Houseplants
Many common houseplants are tropical in nature and reside beneath the jungle canopy in reduced sunlight, making them perfect for low light. If the location you wish to place a plant is in an east or north-facing window or any place 8 feet (2 m.) or more from a window with no direct light, it is considered a low light area.
10 Easy, Low Maintenance Houseplants
- Agalonema spp or Chinese evergreen is an easy low light houseplant to grow. It prefers shade, grows to about 18 inches (46 cm.) in height and may be variegated or have deep green leaves. This easy low light houseplant is considered toxic if ingested.
- Aspidistra elatior, cast iron plant, grows to about 2 feet (61 cm.) in height and the same across. Some varieties are variegated with yellow and white striations.
- Dracaena (Dracaena fragrans ‘Warneckei’) is a big low light houseplant that is generally under 4 feet (1.2 m.) in height but can grow to 8 feet (2 m.). Some varieties are striped while others are patterned. Dracaena prefers to be kept on the drier side. While this houseplant loves bright light, it also does well in low light.
- Parlor palms are an example of big low light houseplants. Chamaedorea elegans has dense, green leaves adorned with yellow blossoms in the spring. All of the parlor palm is poisonous.
- Spider plant, Chlorophytum comosum also known as ‘Mother of Millions” is an easy low light houseplant that makes a great hanging plant.
- Cissus rhombifolia or grape ivy is a good low light houseplant for those that like vining plants. While grape ivy likes humidity it does not like wet feet.
- Peperomia spp. have variegated or solid markings on smooth or wrinkled foliage.
- Philodendron is likely one of the easiest to grow of the big low light houseplants. Even when neglected the plant thrives as long as the soil is allowed to dry between watering. The largest of the philodendron (P. domesticum) has leaves that grow up to 2 feet (61 cm.) long while the heartleaf and red-leaf philodendron are vining types. This houseplant for low light is poisonous when ingested and may cause skin irritation.
- Snake plant or mother-in-law-tongue is another big low light houseplant that attains heights of 2-3 feet (up to a meter) although the cultivar ‘Hahnii’ is shorter at 6-12 inches (15-30 cm). This houseplant is also poisonous if ingested and may cause skin irritation.
- ZZ plant, Zamioculcas zamifolia, is another low light houseplant that tolerates neglect. Grown for the decorative zigzag pattern and rich green color, parts of ZZ plants are poisonous if ingested.
This article was last updated on 01/19/22
Houseplants add beauty to a home and bring a little of the outdoors in. Not everyone has excellent light in their home so what about houseplants for low light? The good news is that there are plenty of good low light houseplants to choose from.
About Good Low Light Houseplants
Many common houseplants are tropical in nature and reside beneath the jungle canopy in reduced sunlight, making them perfect for low light. If the location you wish to place a plant is in an east or north-facing window or any place 8 feet (2 m.) or more from a window with no direct light, it is considered a low light area.
10 Easy, Low Maintenance Houseplants
- Agalonema spp or Chinese evergreen is an easy low light houseplant to grow. It prefers shade, grows to about 18 inches (46 cm.) in height and may be variegated or have deep green leaves. This easy low light houseplant is considered toxic if ingested.
- Aspidistra elatior, cast iron plant, grows to about 2 feet (61 cm.) in height and the same across. Some varieties are variegated with yellow and white striations.
- Dracaena (Dracaena fragrans ‘Warneckei’) is a big low light houseplant that is generally under 4 feet (1.2 m.) in height but can grow to 8 feet (2 m.). Some varieties are striped while others are patterned. Dracaena prefers to be kept on the drier side. While this houseplant loves bright light, it also does well in low light.
- Parlor palms are an example of big low light houseplants. Chamaedorea elegans has dense, green leaves adorned with yellow blossoms in the spring. All of the parlor palm is poisonous.
- Spider plant, Chlorophytum comosum also known as ‘Mother of Millions” is an easy low light houseplant that makes a great hanging plant.
- Cissus rhombifolia or grape ivy is a good low light houseplant for those that like vining plants. While grape ivy likes humidity it does not like wet feet.
- Peperomia spp. have variegated or solid markings on smooth or wrinkled foliage.
- Philodendron is likely one of the easiest to grow of the big low light houseplants. Even when neglected the plant thrives as long as the soil is allowed to dry between watering. The largest of the philodendron (P. domesticum) has leaves that grow up to 2 feet (61 cm.) long while the heartleaf and red-leaf philodendron are vining types. This houseplant for low light is poisonous when ingested and may cause skin irritation.
- Snake plant or mother-in-law-tongue is another big low light houseplant that attains heights of 2-3 feet (up to a meter) although the cultivar ‘Hahnii’ is shorter at 6-12 inches (15-30 cm). This houseplant is also poisonous if ingested and may cause skin irritation.
- ZZ plant, Zamioculcas zamifolia, is another low light houseplant that tolerates neglect. Grown for the decorative zigzag pattern and rich green color, parts of ZZ plants are poisonous if ingested.