38 Low-Light Houseplants That Absolutely Thrive in the Shade

Water: Once a week

Boasting expansive, T-shaped leaves, the blue star fern is an excellent choice for plant parents looking for a new challenge. While this variety is low-light friendly, it needs a lot of moisture and humidity to stay happy. Digital editor Kate McGregor noticed that misting every day or grouping her fern with other houseplants helped tremendously and kept leaves from drying out.

Water: Every two weeks or so

In shades of white, pink, and green, this colorful specimen has large, variegated leaves. We love this low-light houseplant for its minimal water and light requirements, which make it the ideal choice for houseplant beginners. Plant in a container slightly larger than its nursery pot to allow the roots to spread out.

Water: Every 10 days or when soil is dry.

Named for its angular leaves with white centers, the arrowhead plant is relatively low-maintenance. It thrives best in indirect light with plenty of moisture, and we recommend misting this plant once a day in addition to watering to keep it happy and healthy.

Water: Once a week with distilled water (or tap water that has sat out overnight)

With leaves that open and close with the sun's rise and fall, calathea musaica thrives with plenty of indirect light. Ideal for sitting far from the window (or on a north-facing windowsill), this plant prefers distilled water and lots of humidity to prevent the leaves from scorching.

Water: When the soil is dry, or about once a week

A begonia rex plant is an unexpected way to bring color into your indoor garden scheme. This low-light indoor plant loves bright, indirect sunlight, but know that direct sunlight will scald the leaves. It thrives in room-temperature conditions (around 70 degrees) and prefers humid environments, especially in the cooler months.

How to Care for a Begonia Rex Plant

Water: Every two to three days

If you’re looking for a dash of color in your home, a red anthurium is the perfect choice! The flamingo flower, as this low-light houseplant is sometimes called, has blooms that can last up to eight weeks.

Water: Every 10 days to two weeks

This type of philodendron has leaves that mimic the colors of a stunning sunset, and as it ages, they'll slowly transform into a rich green or copper hue. Best for indirect light or north-facing windowsills, you'll know if this low-light houseplant needs more sun if new leaves are growing without colorful pigmentation.

How to Grow and Care for a Philodendron Plant

Water: Once every seven to 10 days

Since this is one of the most durable indoor plants out there—it does well in low light and needs to be fertilized only once or twice a year—it’s ideal for beginner gardeners. In fact, these plants don’t even need natural light to grow; they’ll survive just as well under artificial light. They also do best in dry air, so this is one plant you may not want to display in your bathroom. Sadly, the aglaonema is toxic to cats, dogs, and horses, so keep it away from your pets.

Water: When the soil is dry, or about once a week

This low-light indoor plant can actually survive on fluorescent light alone and thrives in humid locations, like bathrooms. That’s not why we love bromeliads, though. They can grow on the ground, on rocks, or other plants and trees. How cool is that? They’re also nontoxic to cats and dogs, making them one of our favorite plants around.

10 Best Types of Bromeliads to Grow

Water: Once a week

This low-light indoor plant holds a secret: It’ll bloom green flower spikes and white flowers throughout the spring. Just be sure to keep it out of bright, direct light, as too much light will cause the leaves to scorch and burn. This is a tropical plant, so the warmer (and less drafty) your environment, the better.

Water: Once a week to every 10 days

Whereas most houseplants require ample sunlight to thrive, this Hoya variety prefers high humidity instead. Group it with your other houseplants or place it on a tray filled with water and pebbles to keep it moist. Use plant food or fertilizer once a month to encourage strong new leaves.

Water: Once a week

Ideal for bathrooms and other high-humidity environments, English ivy is a low-maintenance plant that doesn't require bright sunlight to thrive. Because this plant grows wild and fast, we recommend placing it in a hanging planter or using vine supports to help guide the new growth.

15 Indoor Climbing Plants to Make Your Home Look Lush

Water: Once a week

House Beautiful’s digital editor, Kate McGregor, opted for a Boston Fern because she knew it had a chance at surviving in her north-facing apartment that gets no direct light. So far, so good: “As long as I remember to mist it to add humidity, this low-light indoor plant does great in my low-light space,” she says. “I prune every few months to keep the fronds from getting unruly.”

Water: Once or twice a week

With stunning variegated leaves and trailing vines, this pothos variety is a great way to break up the many shades of green in your houseplant collection. Provide this low-light indoor plant with indirect sunlight and hang it up high to let the vines really show off.

How to Grow and Care for Pothos Plants

Water: Every two to three weeks, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings

House Beautiful associate editor Jessica Cherner got a snake plant back in July 2020, and it's still thriving. “I got a plant because I wanted to add a little bit of color and life to my apartment, but I didn’t want to spend more than a few minutes here and there taking care of it,” she says. “I literally water it every six to eight weeks, and that’s more than enough.”

How to Care for a Snake Plant

Water: Once a week

With fronds that resemble the shape of a rabbit’s foot (a well-known good-luck charm), the rabbit foot fern thrives in indirect light with plenty of humidity. If you have a window in your bathroom, that’s the ideal spot for this low-light indoor plant, but be sure to keep it off the windowsill since direct sun will scald its leaves.

Water: Every two weeks or when the top quarter of soil is dry

Available in a variety of sizes, the prayer plant is named for its leaves that open and close as the sun rises and sets. While the changing leaves may seem finicky, this resilient, low-light houseplant is surprisingly easy to care for. Plus, it acts as a natural air purifier.

Water: Every one to two weeks

This low-light houseplant, also known as the Victorian parlor palm, is famously resilient. Plus, who wouldn’t love those pretty, feathery leaves that liven up any bland corner of your home? It does well in medium light but can survive in lower light areas as well. Though this palm likes humidity and extra moisture, you can water it sparingly. It’s also nontoxic for your cats and dogs.

Water: Once a week

Said to bring good luck and fortune, lucky bamboo plants crave some light but can fully thrive in shady areas. Its best feature, however, is its ability to remove benzene, trichloroethylene, and formaldehyde from the air while also acting as a natural humidifier. Just know that this low-light indoor plant is toxic to cats and dogs.

Water: Two to three times a week

This quick-growing tree adds life to any room in the house. Place it in a deep planter filled with well-draining soil, and give it a big drink when the top several inches of soil are dry. It does well in indirect light, so instead of placing it by a window, opt for a corner that gets plenty of diffuse light. The ficus tree is toxic to cats and dogs.

Water: One cup of water per week

The devil’s ivy golden pothos plant (also known as pothos, which is Greek for “longing”) gets its name from its unique ability to grow vines even under the worst conditions. Because of this superpower, we suggest keeping this low-light indoor plant on its own inside rather than among other plants outdoors, where it can basically strangle the rest of your greenery. Keep it in bright, indirect sunlight and away from your cats and dogs, because it can be fatal if ingested.

Water: Once a week

Maranta red prayer plants prefer brighter light, but they can handle low light just as well. The only downside to receiving minimal light is lackluster leaves, which isn’t indicative of any issues; it’s just a side effect of low-light conditions. These plants are a bit on the temperamental side because they require a lot of humidity to thrive. However, they're safe to have around cats and dogs.

Water: Once a week

Spiky leaves that grow upward and have prominent red outlines make these plants pretty striking, but too much direct sunlight can damage them. Keep their leaves healthy by placing them far from the window that gets the most sun; this low-light houseplant will do best in a spot that gets plenty of bright indirect sunlight. Though Madagascar dragon trees aren't known to cause any issues in dogs, they can induce drooling, vomiting, weakness, incoordination, and dilated pupils in cats.

Water: Once a week

The spider plant’s adaptability makes it super easy to grow and, therefore, one of the most popular houseplants. Place your spider plant in bright to moderate light in a room that’s a comfortable temperature for everyone, including you. Any temperature that feels too hot or too cold could lead to an early death for your spider plant. Be sure to keep the soil slightly moist at all times—you may even want to invest in a spray bottle to occasionally mist the leaves.

Water: Once a week

Hoyas, also known as wax plants, are not picky low-light indoor plants. They’ll thrive in bright light but do just fine in lower light conditions, too. They’re also super low maintenance and can bounce back if you forget to water them for a little while. One word of advice: Allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings. Soil that’s too wet will cause the leaves to drop.

Water: Every one to two weeks

You might not think the tropical monstera plant can handle anything less than bright, direct sunlight, but these beauties can actually tolerate even the lowest light conditions. They just won’t grow as quickly or as dramatically as they would in a brighter space. They’re also equally as toxic to humans as they are to cats and dogs, so this isn't a green you'd want to mix into your salads.

How to Grow and Care for a Monstera Plant

Water: One cup of water every two weeks

If you’ve ever dreamed of having a palm tree as part of your indoor jungle, here’s your chance. A sago palm might not be quite as tall as the ones you’ve seen on the beach, but it’s just as beautiful. Like most tropical plants, it grows best in bright, direct light but can certainly survive in darker nooks of the home. It’s a bit pickier about water, though. Only give your sago palm a drink when the top inch of soil has dried out.

Water: Once a week, less during colder months

Staghorn ferns thrive in high-humidity environments with indirect light. They’re not quite as low-maintenance as some of their tropical cousins on this list, but they’re still worth the investment. To keep yours healthy, be sure to offer good air circulation, warm temperatures, lots of humidity, and consistent moisture. Not only are they pretty, but they can also purify the air, so they’re ideal for bedrooms and bathrooms.

Water: Every one to two weeks

The sweetheart plant (a nickname it earned because of the shape of its glossy leaves) can handle dim rooms but requires pinching to prevent it from growing in long, single stems. To keep this low-light indoor plant healthy, prune it regularly and repot it every few years.

Water: Once every two weeks

Filtered light is ideal for dieffenbachias, so try using a curtain as a barrier between your lush leaves and the sun’s sometimes harsh rays, especially during the spring and summer. Avoid watering it until the top two inches of soil are completely dry, then pour enough water into the pot to soak the soil.

Water: Every two to three days

With pink and red flecks, the colorful calathea adds an extra punch to your indoor plant collection. It likes bright light so much that it could spend up to eight hours in the sun daily. That said, it’s perfectly happy in the shade. This low-light indoor plant is nontoxic and pet-safe.

Water: Once every 10 days

Variegated Schefflera plants, which are native to Taiwan and South China, are a great low-light choice because they grow slowly, so you don’t have to worry about them overpowering a small space. The only problem? They’re not pet-friendly, so if you have a cat or dog, it may not be the best plant for you because you can’t really put it anywhere other than the ground.

Water: Every one to two weeks

This cute low-light indoor plant boasts thick, spoon-shaped leaves and is both pet-friendly and shade-loving. In fact, too much intense sunlight can hurt the waxy leaves. Speaking of the leaves: Dust will show immediately on the dark green, shiny surface, so you'll want to wipe this plant down once a week or so.

Water: Every one to two weeks; more if in brighter light

Rippled edges give the bird’s nest fern a unique, fun look. The bird’s nest fern is also a pet-friendly plant that thrives in indirect light. As is the case with similar low-light indoor plants, it won’t grow nearly as fast in a darker room, but it won’t be any less healthy, especially if it’s getting the right amount of water.

Water: Once every two weeks

This whimsical plant, which is also called the Dr. Seuss tree, can grow to fit perfectly on a tabletop or into a full-on tree. Plus, it’s adaptable enough to survive in just about any light level. These palms grow best in fairly dry soil. They’re also nontoxic to your cats and dogs, making them an easy choice for anyone looking to add a touch of greenery to their space.

Water: Six to eight ounces every three weeks

If you want a larger indoor plant that can tolerate indirect light, opt for a money tree, which is nontoxic to cats and dogs. The braided trunk is an instant eye-catcher and it's pretty easy to care for—just be sure to plant it in a well-draining potting mix and place it a few feet away from a window that gets a lot of light. Rotate this low-light indoor plant now and then to keep it growing straight instead of reaching toward the window.

Water: Once a week

The Philodendron Brasil can grow to between three and six inches tall from the soil line to the top of the foliage, so if you’re looking to infuse an empty wall or windowsill with a pop of bright color, it’ll get the job done. It thrives in bright, indirect light but can certainly handle medium to low indirect light.

Water: Every two to three weeks

Unlike most plants, the ZZ plant requires water only every few weeks, making it an ideal get for new plant parents. It does best in medium to bright indirect light, but it can tolerate low indirect light too. If you’re keeping it in bright light, just be sure to water it when you notice the soil has completely dried out. Most importantly, keep this toxic low-light indoor plant away from cats and dogs.