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15 Best Low-Light Indoor Plants To Transform Your Space

15 Best Low-Light Indoor Plants To Transform Your Space

Do you find your home or office lacking in natural sunlight? While not every space is blessed with sun-soaked windows, this shouldn’t deter you from having indoor plants. You can still create a lush, green oasis with the added benefits of air purification and year-round beauty with low-light indoor plants.

Low-light house plants thrive in rooms with east or north-facing windows, where they receive indirect sunlight. Surprisingly, numerous indoor plants can blossom even in rooms with dim light or no windows at all. Today, we highlight the 15 best low-light indoor plants that don’t crave sunlight.

1. Prayer plant (Maranta leuconeura)
Prayer plant (Maranta leuconeura)

The prayer plant's leaves delicately fold upward at night like hands in prayer, presenting a captivating spectacle. With their striking patterns and green, red, and purple hues, these plants are a visually stunning addition to any space. They flourish in low light and high humidity, making them a perfect choice for your indoor garden.

2. Heartleaf philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum)
Heartleaf philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum)

The heartleaf philodendron is a fast-growing, vining plant that thrives in low-light conditions. Its heart-shaped leaves make it an attractive choice for hanging baskets or as a trailing plant on shelves. This resilient plant is also low-maintenance, requiring only occasional watering and fertilization.

3. Wax plant (Hoya carnosa)
Wax plant (Hoya carnosa)

The wax plant is a resilient and attractive option. Its thick, waxy leaves make it one of the best low-light house plants. Not only does it require minimal sunlight, but it also produces fragrant flowers that add a touch of elegance to your space. Even in cases of occasional neglect in watering, the plant can recover and maintain good health.

4. Peace lily (Spathiphyllum)
Peace lily (Spathiphyllum)

The peace lily is a favorite among indoor plants that don't need much sunlight. It blossoms in shaded areas and handles fluorescent light. When caring for it, water the plant with distilled water once the top 2 inches of soil feel dry. You'll often find peace lilies at garden centers around the Christmas and Easter holidays.

5. ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)
ZZ plant  (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)

The ZZ plant is another preferred choice for low or no-light environments. Its shiny, dark green leaves can survive in any lighting condition. Being drought-resistant, it can grow in various kinds of soil. These features make it one of the best low-light house plants for those who often forget to water their plants.

6. English ivy (Hedera helix)
English ivy (Hedera helix)

English ivy’s small, delicate green leaves create a charming trailing effect. It flourishes in low light and has air-purifying qualities. To keep the plant healthy, regularly mist it to ensure the humidity levels are in check. It prefers moderate temperatures ranging from 50 to 75°F.

7. Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

The spider plant is one of the easiest-to-grow low-light house plants to care for. Its arching leaves and small offshoots, known as spiderettes, add to its visual charm. These spiderettes hang from the parent plant's elongated, slender green leaves, resembling spiders on a web. The spider plant grows best in temperatures ranging from 65 to 75°F.

8. Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema commutatum)
Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema commutatum)

This slowly developing indoor plant has large, oval leaves in shades of green, pink, white, silver, and red. To keep this plant healthy, provide high humidity, warm temperatures, and consistently moist soil. Place it out of direct sunlight to avoid burning the leaves. It also tolerates bright spots and can thrive in offices with fluorescent lighting.

9. Cast iron plant (Aspidistra elatior)
Cast iron plant (Aspidistra elatior)

As its name suggests, the cast iron plant is extremely tough and can survive in various conditions, including shallow light. Its dark green, lance-shaped leaves add elegance, especially near a north-facing window. This plant tolerates neglect, but ensure you keep watering them when you feel the soil is dry.

10. Parlor palm (Chamaedorea elegans)
Parlor palm (Chamaedorea elegans)

People love the parlor palm for its graceful, arching fronds and ability to grow well in low light. It has become popular for adding a tropical ambiance to indoor spaces and accommodates various soil types and light levels. However, direct sunlight may damage its delicate leaves. To ensure its well-being, avoid overwatering and maintain consistently moist or slightly dry soil.

11. Peacock plant (Calathea Makoyana)
Peacock plant (Calathea Makoyana)

The peacock plant, known for its feather-like foliage patterns, thrives in environments with full shade and high humidity. While it isn't too picky about soil type, it does need careful monitoring of light exposure and watering. Direct sunlight could damage the intricate patterns on its leaves. Yet, this is a rewarding touch to your indoor garden.

12. Staghorn fern (Platycerium bifurcatum)
Staghorn fern (Platycerium bifurcatum)

The staghorn fern can grow on wooden boards as a houseplant, making it a beautiful natural art piece. Known for its antler-like fronds, it is a distinctive and intriguing plant that thrives in low to medium-light conditions. This epiphytic plant requires minimal soil and prefers to absorb moisture and nutrients from the air.

13. Ponytail palm (Beaucarnea recurvata)
Ponytail palm (Beaucarnea recurvata)

Despite its name, it is not a true palm but a member of the agave family. Renowned for its distinctive, swollen base that stores water, this plant is incredibly drought-tolerant and thrives in full sun or bright, indirect lights. Its long, cascading, ponytail-like leaves make it a striking focal point in any room.

14. Dwarf umbrella tree (Schefflera arboricola)
Dwarf umbrella tree (Schefflera arboricola)

The dwarf umbrella tree’s rounded leaflets radiate like umbrella spokes, adding a lush, tropical feel to any space. It blossoms in bright, indirect light and requires a consistent warm temperature above 60°F. It thrives in acidic potting soil and needs watering only when the soil dries out.

15. Snake plant (Sansevieria trifasciata)
Snake plant (Sansevieria trifasciata)

Last but not least, the snake plant, also known as mother-in-law's tongue, is a hardy plant that can thrive in almost any condition. Its erect, sword-shaped leaves are a remarkable enhancement to any room and rank among the top plants for enhancing indoor air quality.


Still, do you think transforming your home or office into a green oasis is impossible? Think again. With these 20 best low-light indoor plants, you can bring the beauty of nature indoors. These low-light houseplants thrive in dim conditions, offering year-round beauty and air-purifying benefits, even in the most shaded corners of your spaces.

When you cannot enjoy the outdoors and connect with nature, simply bring these best indoor plants for low-light into your surroundings. And enjoy the greenery and freshness they bring, even in the most shaded corners of your spaces.

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