12 Best Low Light Plants for Your Home
Dim rooms are normal. Think of a north window, a deep living room, a hallway, or an office with only ceiling lights. Many plants sold in stores want more light than these spots can give, and they fade out over a few months. The plants on this list are the ones that hold on in dim places. Each one comes with a clear note on what it is bad at.
One thing to know before you shop. Low light is not the same as no light. If you can read a book in the spot at noon without a lamp, most of these plants can live there. If you cannot, add a small grow light or pick a brighter spot. Plants in low light also grow slower and drink less, so water them less often than you would in a sunny room.
How we picked: Each plant here is rated as shade tolerant by university extension guides and is easy enough for a beginner, with pet safety checked against the ASPCA list.
1.ZZ Plant
Zamioculcas zamiifoliaPick this one if your low light comes with long gaps between waterings. The water stored in its roots carries it through trips and busy months, and it stays neat under office lights. The trade-off is pace. In a dim room, you may wait most of a year for a new stem.
Read the full care guide →
2.Snake Plant
Dracaena trifasciataNarrow corner, little light, and an owner who forgets to water? That is this plant's room. It stands tall without spreading out, so it fits beside a dresser or a door. Just know that in low light it barely grows, and an extra splash of water hurts it more than a missed one.
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3.Cast Iron Plant
Aspidistra elatiorThe darkest spot in your home, the hallway that only gets lamp light, is where this plant earns its place. Nothing else here handles deeper shade, and it is non-toxic to pets. Be ready for very slow growth and a higher price for the bigger pots.
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4.Kentia Palm
Howea forsterianaLow light usually means small plants, but this palm gives a dim living room real height. It copes with shade, looks fullest in medium light, and is non-toxic to cats and dogs. Growth is slow, so a tall one costs real money. Keep it back from hot summer sun through south glass, which scorches the fronds.
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5.Pothos
Epipremnum aureumMost low light lists start here for a reason. Pothos keeps growing in dim rooms when other plants stall, and every trim gives you cuttings to root. In low light, though, the vines stretch out with bigger gaps between leaves. Keep it away from pets that chew.
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6.Peace Lily
SpathiphyllumThis is the only plant on the list likely to flower for you, as long as low light means a north window and not a dark corner. It also droops when thirsty, which takes the guessing out of watering. It is toxic to cats and dogs, so think about who shares the room.
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7.Chinese Evergreen
AglaonemaWant color without sun? Go for the silver or dark green types, which cope with dim offices and bedrooms. The pink and red kinds are tempting, but they fade without brighter light. Keep any of them away from cold windows in winter, since chilly glass marks the leaves.
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8.Parlor Palm
Chamaedorea elegansA palm for a shady room sounds wrong, and yet this one has filled dim sitting rooms for over a century. It is soft, fine-leaved, and listed as non-toxic for cats and dogs. The downside is dry winter air, which brings brown tips and spider mites unless you rinse it now and then.
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9.Corn Plant
Dracaena fragransTall woody canes give you a tree shape in a corner where most trees would fade. It leans more toward medium light, though. In low light the new leaves grow in narrower and the stripes can lose their color. That is a fair trade for many rooms. It is toxic if chewed, so skip it if a pet nibbles.
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10.Lucky Bamboo
Dracaena sanderianaFor a dim shelf where soil would be a nuisance, a few stalks in a vase of water do the job. In deep shade it hangs on for ages, though growth nearly stops and the green turns pale. Change the water every week. The ASPCA lists dracaenas as toxic, so keep it where a cat cannot reach.
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11.Rattlesnake Plant
Goeppertia insignisAmong the calatheas, this is the one that copes best with a darker corner, and it is pet-safe. You give up a little pattern for that, since the spots look duller in low light. It also wants humid air and evenly damp soil, so a forgetful owner should look higher up this list.
Read the full care guide →
12.Spider Plant
Chlorophytum comosumConsider this the stretch pick. A spider plant lives in lower light, but it does its best a few feet from an east window. Put it there and you get steady growth and baby plants to share. It makes the list because it is pet-friendly and so easy to pass on.
Read the full care guide →Start with one plant and one spot, and watch it for a month before you buy the next one. If it puts out a new leaf, the spot works. If it leans hard toward the window or drops leaves, move it a few feet closer to the light. That simple test tells you more than any light chart, and it costs you nothing.
Frequently asked questions
What counts as low light for a houseplant?
A spot a few feet from a north window, or deep inside a room with a bright window, is low light. If you can read there at midday without a lamp, most plants on this list can manage.
Which low light plants are safe for cats and dogs?
From this list, the ASPCA lists the spider plant, parlor palm, cast iron plant, kentia palm, and rattlesnake plant as non-toxic to cats and dogs. The others are toxic if chewed, so keep them out of reach.
Can a plant live with only lamp light?
Regular room lamps are usually too weak. A small LED grow light on a timer for 10 to 12 hours a day can keep a low light plant going in a room with no window.
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