Best Low-Light Indoor Plants to Brighten Up Your Space

July 2024 · 18 minute read

Not every home has bright floor to ceiling windows, so a low-light plant can be an ideal solution for a not-so-sunny problem. All plants need some light to live, but low-light plants can even use artificial light to survive—and some plants, like ferns and vines, can survive in the dimmest part of homes. This means you can easily brighten up a dingy bathroom, add a floral pop to a windowless kitchen, or spruce up your workspace with a small plant even if your desk is in a dark corner. For more tips on choosing a great low-light plant for your indoor space, I consulted with Romina Orozco-Encio, owner of Abbott Florist in Miami Beach. Read on for what to consider before you shop.

Our top picks for best indoor plants for low light

Best low-light plant for small spaces: Lemon Button Fern

Best low-light plant for small spaces

Lemon Button Fern

The Lemon Button Fern is a simple plant solution that’s pet-friendly and flexible enough to work in almost any environment, making it one of the best indoor plants for low light.

Set to only grow around a foot high, this plant is perfect for small spaces and requires only minimum maintenance. Native to places like Asia, Australia, and Florida, it makes for a wonderful pairing with many other tropical plants.

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With its simple beauty and easy maintenance, the Lemon Button Fern is a lovely indoor plant that’s perfect for small spaces.

Get it here: Lemon Button Fern

Best tall indoor plant for low light: Dracaena Janet Craig Compacta

Best tall indoor plant for low light

Dracaena Janet Craig Compacta

The Dracaena Janet Craig Compacta is a fantastic option for tall indoor plants that need low light. Typically growing between six to eight feet, this plant is towering in its height and dignified in its look. If purchased from Easyplant, the self-watering system simplifies the maintenance process, helping your plant drink only when it’s thirsty. The Dracaena can also grow in partially shaded outdoor environments, and in some conditions, can grow up to 15 feet tall. For a long-living plant that is good for low-light, indoor environments, the Dracaena Janet Craig Compacta is an ideal one to consider.

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If you’re looking for a tall, stately plant to bring color to a dark room, the Easyplant Dracaena Janet Craig Compacta is a great choice.

Get it here: Dracaena Janet Craig Compacta

Best low-light indoor plant for beginners: Fiddle Leaf Fig

Best low-light indoor plant for beginners

Costa Farms Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree, Ficus Lyrata Live Indoor Plant Potted in Indoor Garden Plant Pot

Orozco-Encio advises that the Fiddle Leaf Fig is a great option for low-light rooms—and is also very easy to care for. “This is a low-maintenance plant that doesn’t require too much watering and is easy to grow.” This offering from Costa Farms comes in a beautiful cream colored pot, and arrives at 3 to 4 feet in height, with the potential to grow up to ten feet tall. The lovely green leaves add a tropical splash of color to any lower-light room!

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A beautiful indoor plant that’s easy to care for and thrives in lower light conditions.

Get it here: Fiddle Leaf Fig

Best low-light indoor plant for clean air: Sansevieria Laurentii Indoor Snake Plant

Best low-light indoor plant for clean air

Live Sansevieiria Laurentii Indoor Snake Plant in 9.25 inch Grower Pot

The Snake Plant is a lovely plant that is air-purifying at night, filtering out both nitrogen oxide and formaldehyde while you sleep. This is a tropical plant in appearance but laid back in what it requires from you. If you’re searching for a plant that’s easy on the eyes and offers added benefits for the air, the Snake Plant is an excellent choice.

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Whether you’re looking for office plants, or plants for the bedroom, the Sansevieria laurentii Snake Plant is beautiful and also removes toxins from the air.

Get it here: Sansevieria Laurentii Indoor Snake Plant

Best large plant for low light: Cat Palm

Best large plant for low light

To make an impact on your space, sometimes it takes a larger investment, and the Cat Palm is one of the best large plants available. Growing up to six feet tall and approximately three feet wide, this plant is tropical in its style and impressive in its appearance. The clusters of leaves are a gorgeous green, and if purchased from Easyplant, the simple self-watering system makes watering a breeze. This plant prefers bright indirect sunlight, but is also adaptable to medium- and low-light situations.

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The Cat Palm fills your space with tropical vibes, and can survive in low-light areas.

Get it here: Cat Palm

Best low-light indoor plant for health: Mass Cane Floor Plant

Best low-light indoor plant for health

Mass Cane Floor Plant

If you’re suffering from sinus issues, this plant can help clear the air. The Mass Cane Floor Plant has been shown to filter indoor pollutants from a room, it also adds vibrancy to your space. Also known as a corn plant, it boasts large stalk-like stems, and comes with six colorful planter options.

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This plant is both visually impressive and also has huge health benefits, like its ability to remove toxins in the air.

Get it here: Mass Cane Floor Plant

Best low-light indoor plant for bathrooms: Ruby Necklace Succulent Othona Capensis

Best low-light indoor plant for bathrooms

Ruby Necklace Succulent Othona Capensis

Sometimes, even our bathrooms can use a little sprucing up. The Ruby Necklace succulent features a beautiful blend of purple and green colors that are striking. Its small size makes it a great gift and also versatile for many other indoor uses. With a height of only four inches, this little plant is perfect to pair with others or simply to help adorn an already small space. Being a succulent plant, means it has low-maintenance requirements, for water and otherwise.

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With beautiful vibrant colors, the Ruby Necklace succulent is excellent for brightening up your bathroom or any other small space in your home.

Get it here: Ruby Necklace Succulent Othona Capensis

Best small indoor tree for low-light: Dragon Tree Plant

Best small indoor tree for low-light

Dragon Tree Plant

Native to Madagascar, the bright and beautiful Dragon Tree packs a lot of color into a small size. Ideal for medium or shaded sun exposure, this low-maintenance plant can also thrive under a variety of light conditions.

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When looking for a small indoor tree that thrives in low light, the Dragon Tree is both beautiful and low-maintenance.

Get it here: Dragon Tree Plant

Best low-maintenance indoor plant for low light: Swiss Cheese Plant

Best low-maintenance indoor plant for low light

Swiss Cheese Plant (Monstera Deliciosa) in 3 Gal. Pot

The Swiss Cheese plant is a beautiful low-maintenance option great for any room in the house. With glossy, green foliage, this plant looks unique and will grow successfully almost anywhere. It only needs to be watered about once a week, and is quick to grow.

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The Swiss Cheese plant is instantly recognizable and thrives with minimal watering and attention.

Get it here: Swiss Cheese Plant

Best smelling indoor plant for low light: Mounted Orchid: Phalaenopsis Violacea

Best smelling indoor plant for low light

Mounted Orchid: Phalaenopsis Violacea

The Phalaenopsis Orchid is a beautiful plant that thrives in low light, and while many varieties have no strong scent, the P. violacea is one that’s known for having a lovely sweet, spicy smell—some say they smell like roses and cinnamon. (It’s often used as a floral note in women’s perfumes.) This particular plant is sold on a wood mount, which means it will not be blooming on arrival—but when it does, the bloom should be worth the wait.

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It’s tough to find a low-light plant with a strong floral scent, but the Phalaenopsis violacea has you covered on both fronts.

Get it here: Mounted Orchid: Phalaenopsis Violacea

Best indoor plant for dark rooms: ZZ Plant

Best indoor plant for dark rooms

The ZZ Plant is the absolute best for dark rooms, bright rooms, and everything in between. Known for its resilience, the ZZ plant is adaptable to almost any environment, even ones without natural light. For those that are forgetful, this is a very low-maintenance plant that still looks amazing. If purchased from Easyplant, their self-watering system allows up to two months between waterings. The tolerance and impressive appearance of this plant make it popular everywhere.

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Flexibility can be everything and the ZZ Plant’s ability to function in dark rooms as well as bright ones makes it an easy choice for any space.

Get it here: ZZ Plant

How I selected the best indoor plants for low light

Caring for plants is an art as well as a science, so I conducted research, spoke to experts, read user reviews, and also used my own experience shopping and caring for plants. In assessing the plants on this list, I considered three main factors.

Light conditions

If the plant requires bright, direct sunlight, it won’t be a good fit for darker or shadier spaces! In order to make the cut for this list, I selected plants that are listed as thriving under a range of lower light conditions: in indirect sunlight, in the shade, or even in artificial light. I also cross-checked the information listed on websites, with information received by experts, to ensure I selected plants recommended for lower light environments.

Size and shape

This is a list of the best indoor plants—and that means size matters. When selecting the plants to include on this list, I considered the current size and shape of the plant as well as the likelihood of expansion. I also sought expert advice on how to select plants for specific rooms in the house, based on light conditions, size, and shape of the grown plant.

Ease of care

Most of us don’t have the time or energy to spend all day catering to our houseplants, so I also considered ease of care. While some plants, like orchids, will require a higher skill level to properly care for, most of the plants on this list are relatively low-maintenance, requiring moderate watering and lower light.

What to consider when buying indoor plants for low light

Sunshine in your space

All low-light plants are not created equal. Some enjoy moderate sunshine, while others do best in shadows or even in a windowless room. Orozco-Encio says, “just because it’s an indoor plant, you can’t assume that means it’s ultra low light or that it wants sunlight. Some indoor plants need extremely low light while others will be happy in front of the window.”

For best results, Orozco-Encio suggests carefully considering the specific amount of sunlight that’s recommended for your plant, and placing it accordingly. “If you touch the window and you feel it’s warm, the sun is giving direct sunlight to the plant. So you need to make sure when you bring a plant home, look for the spot beforehand, and choose a spot that’s going to have the right sunlight level for that plant.”

Size and shape

When placing a plant in an indoor location, consider the current size of the plant and the size and shape you expect it to grow into over time. Orozco-Encio advises, “Some plants may grow in height, while others will tend to grow out to the side. So before choosing a spot for your plant, think about what shape it’s likely to grow into. If it’s going to have leaves growing out instead of up, it will need a lot of space around it.”

Humidity:

Plants are affected by more than just sunlight — they also respond to temperature and heat. Orozco-Encio says, “For some plants, you need a lot of humidity in the room. So even though the plant may do well with low light, it still may need a warmer space to thrive.” Check the instructions on the plant, or search for directions for that specific plant to learn more about the conditions it requires.

How to water and maintain indoor plants for low light

In low-light environments, plants tend to need less water overall. So, overwatering is something to watch out for, and if your plant begins to turn from green to yellow, it’s a possible warning sign that signifies you may need to pull back on the amount of water you’re providing. However, each plant has individual needs, so according to Orozco-Encio, “always check the water and care instructions for your specific plant to gain insight into how best to maintain it.”

Troubleshooting tips

When a plant's leaves start turning yellow, that often spells trouble. According to Orozco-Encio, “If it’s turning yellow, it’s a sign that the plant either is experiencing too much direct sunlight, or too much water. That’s a sign from the leaves that’s telling you, ‘Take care of me! You’re doing something incorrectly.’” For yellowing leaves, she recommends reducing the water or the sunlight, depending on what you think the culprit may be, and then keeping an eye on the plant to see how it responds.

Another important consideration is your soil type. Orozco-Encio says, “Make sure you know whether it’s a flowering plant or a green plant, because that will make a difference in terms of not just the care, but the soil. When it’s a flowering plant, it requires different soil, one with more nutrients, for the plant to flower.”

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

What indoor plants like dark rooms?

According to Orozco-Encio, the Fiddle Leaf Fig is a popular low-light choice. “The fiddle leaf fig is very low-maintenance, and it has beautiful large green leaves. I call this one ‘the queen of the plants,’ because they don’t like it when you have too many other plants around. They grow best when they’re standing alone, not clustered with other plants. It’s low-light, low-watering, and easy to take care of. Never, never direct sunlight. The leaves get burned very quickly.”

What houseplants do well in shade?

According to Orozco-Encio, the Phalaenopsis orchid is a beautiful flowering plant that does well in low light and shade. “They come in various colors from white, to purple, lavender, yellow, and more. The flower itself lasts two to three months, but the plant can last forever. When the bloom dies, continue watering it, and maybe twice a year it will bloom again. This is an indoor plant, no direct sunlight, and very easy to take care of. You can water it every ten days, and we recommend spray bottle watering versus pouring water in, because it doesn’t drink a lot of water.”

Which plants do not require sunlight?

Romina says the Zamioculcas zamirola—often nicknamed the “ZZ” plant, is one that does well in very low light conditions. “This is a beautiful plant, and this plant is also very low light. Doesn’t matter if it has humidity or not. You only have to water it once a week, so it’s very low-maintenance, and it’s a plant that’s rich and shiny.”

What's the easiest indoor plant to grow?

Orozco-Encio recommends succulents as a low-maintenance plant for shady indoor rooms. “These are some of my favorites because they’re little, they’re tiny, they do well in low light, and they’re perfect for small spaces, or rooms like a bathroom or office. Succulents are from the cactus family. They are usually from two to eight inches. This kind of plant is very grateful. They are super low-maintenance. The less you do to them, the happier they are. So you can water them about every two weeks, some customers go 20 days without watering and they still look perfect. So if you travel a lot, this is the perfect plant for you because you don’t have to take care of it or pamper it too much.”

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