These Low Light Indoor Plants Thrive in Dark Rooms—and Are So Easy to Care For

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Let’s face it: Even if you want to fill your home with as much greenery as possible, taking care of houseplants is not always an easy task. That’s especially true when you don’t exactly have the ideal conditions for plants to thrive—for example, if your home doesn’t get a lot of sun. But don’t give up on your dreams of a lush home garden just quite yet: There’s still hope for those darker corners, thanks to the best low-light indoor plants.

That’s right: Some plants don’t always need tons of light to grow—in fact, there are lots of shade-loving plants that can thrive even in low-light conditions. But when it comes to choosing your indoor plant for low light, you’ll need to consider a few things. First, determine how much time and energy you want to put into a plant. Some plants require some regular maintenance and dusting to keep the plant shiny. Others (like succulents and snake plants!) sit quietly in the corner and only require a touch of water every couple of weeks. You’ll also want to consider the size of your plant—do you prefer a small one that can sit on a desk or windowsill, or will it be a centerpiece on a coffee table or the focal point of an entryway so it can grow a few feet tall?

Lastly, of course, you’ll want to determine how much light you really have. Thankfully, all of the plants on our list below can survive under low-light conditions—and many are low-maintenance and easy to care for in general, making them great for beginners or those who don’t quite have a green thumb. (And if you’re looking for pet-friendly picks, there are also plenty of houseplants that are safe for cats and dogs on our list, too!) Ahead, find the best low-light indoor plants that can thrive in minimal sunlight.

Snake Plant (Sansevieria)

With leaves that snake upward in green, gray, silver, and gold hues, the stunning plant will add life to your home, patio, or office space. Though you can place this plant near a sunny window for indirect light, it does tolerate low light and requires very little maintenance overall.

• Water: 1/2 cup about once a week

• Light: Partial shade

• Pet-friendly: No
  

Stromanthe Triostar

The Stromanthe Triostar is a vibrant plant with gorgeous leaves that are colored green, pink, cream, and magenta. It thrives in bright, indirect light and high humidity climates, but it’s not well suited for direct sun and can tolerate low light conditions. Bonus: It’s also safe for pets!

• Water: Every 1-2 weeks, allowing soil to dry out about halfway between waterings

• Light: Thrives in medium to bright indirect light and can tolerate low light conditions

• Pet-friendly: Yes

Chinese Money Plant (Pilea Peperomioides)

Distinguished by its playful coin-shaped leaves, the charming Chinese money plant isn’t just pleasing to the eye: It’s fairly easy to care for. It’s not finicky when it comes to light, being able to tolerate low-light conditions—and it’s non-toxic for pets, too.

• Water: Once a week when the top 2 inches of soil is dry

• Light: Partial shade

• Pet-friendly: Yes

Dracaena Fragrans Green

Liven up your space with this gorgeous tree plant, which fittingly takes is name from a Greek word meaning “female dragon.” Boasting long, slender bright green leaves, this versatile, low-maintenance plant can tolerate medium to low indirect light.

• Water: Every 1-2 weeks, allowing soil to dry out between waterings

• Light: Thrives in bright indirect light but can tolerate medium to low indirect light

• Pet-friendly: No

Umbrella Tree Plant (Schefflera Gold Capella)

This beginner-friendly plant has unique umbrella-shaped leaves that will bring energy into any space. Great for rooms with medium indirect light, these trees are not only easy to care for but also grow quickly—in fact, they can reach heights of six feet and over!

• Water: Requires low water; allow the soil to dry out between each watering

• Light: Prefers medium levels of indirect light

• Pet-friendly: No

English Ivy House Plant

The English Ivy is well-known for a reason: Its trailing, winding leaves makes for a dreamy plant to keep indoors. But it’s also a great no-fuss plant—it’s happy in indirect light and partial shade with medium-level waterings.

• Water: Keep soil moist

• Light: Place in partial to full shade outdoors or indoors in bright indirect or filtered light

• Pet-friendly: No

Succulents

Succulents are well known for thriving in low light conditions and this pack of three is a great option for adding some greenery in multiple spots in a home. Each trio includes a cactus plant and a variety of other succulent plants that require very little light and water to brighten up the darkest of places.

• Water: Every other week

• Light: Partially shaded area out of direct sunlight

• Pet-friendly: No
  

Boston Fern

This plant comes with a nifty hook attached to the pot so you can hang it just about anywhere. They do require quite a bit of misting and watering, but they love indoor lighting. Plus, a fern can grow quite lush and create a vibrant, lively look in your indoor space.

• Water: 2-3 cups of water about once a week

• Light: Partial shade; bright, indirect sunlight

• Pet-friendly: Yes

Red Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema)

Perfect for beginners, this no-fuss plant is incredibly easy to maintain. Not only does it grow in almost any light condition, but it’s also drought-tolerant if you’re looking for something low-maintenance. We especially love the plant’s bright pink and red edges that add an extra pop of color to indoor spaces.

• Water: Approximately 1 cup of water about once a week

• Light: Partial sun; medium, indirect light

• Pet-friendly: No

Bamboo Palm

This lush bamboo palm plant is adaptable to low light conditions and brings a ton of greenery and life to your home. The plant grows dense, lush foliage and is perfect for the corner of your office, bedroom, or living room.

• Water: Not listed

• Light: Thrives in both low light and indirect sunlight

• Pet-friendly: Yes

Peperomia Obtusifolia

This pet-friendly indoor plant is perfect for those looking to add a little green to your indoor spaces. It thrives in bright indirect to low light and only requires water every one to two weeks for easy care, anywhere in the house. Bonus: You may even see a small white flower bloom once a year.

• Water: Every 1-2 weeks, allowing soil to dry out between waterings

• Light: Thrives in medium to bright indirect light, but can tolerate low indirect light

• Pet-friendly: Yes

Money Tree

Legend says this plant brings prosperity and good luck to the owners, so this is a great pick or gift for new homeowners looking to spread positive energy in their space. It’s perfect for a lightly shaded space that gets a touch of light every so often but doesn’t get direct light that could harm the plant.

• Water: 2-3 cups of water about once a week

• Light: Partial sun

• Pet-friendly: Yes

Air Plants Ionantha Mexican

Air plants thrive on just about anything, including very low light conditions and very little water. They’re also fantastic for someone who wants to DIY their space, allowing for you to move them from a terrarium to a hanger to a table pot in seconds because they don’t need to be planted in any kind of soil.

• Water: Soak in water for 20 minutes once a week and let them dry out

• Light: Partial sun

• Pet-friendly: Yes

Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus Lyrata)

The large, leathery leaves make this a stunning focal point of any room. It requires some indirect light to flourish but does quite well inside once it has adapted to the environment. It can grow up to 10 inches wide and is perfect for a tabletop or corner of an office for some color and life.

• Water: At least once a week

• Light: Indirect light

• Pet-friendly: No

Philodendron Green

Perfect for bright indirect to low light conditions, the philodendron green is the most popular plant that The Sill sells year after year. The heart-shaped leaves grow in a gorgeous green quicker than many other plants, and it is ideal for darker areas and winter months to bring a little life to a room.

• Water: Every 1-2 weeks, allowing soil to dry out between waterings

• Light: Thrives in medium to bright indirect light, but can tolerate low indirect light

• Pet-friendly: No

ZZ Plant (Zamioculas Zamiifolia)

Low to moderate light and some water when soil is dry is all this beautiful plant needs to stay alive. We love that it’s not aggressively large, but adds a little extra something to a room that some of the smaller plants don’t.

• Water: Water when top 1 inch of soil is dry to the touch

• Light: Low to moderate light; indirect sunlight

• Pet-friendly: No

Dieffenbachia Plant (Dumb Cane)

Though bright indirect light is typically recommended, the dumb cane can definitely tolerate lower light conditions and once-a-week watering. The medium-sized green leaves have creamy yellow centers that add flair to your indoor space.

• Water: Once a week, when top soil is dry

• Light: Bright, indirect light; will tolerate low light

• Pet-friendly: No

Parlor Palm Plant (Neanthe Bella Palm)

Tolerating weekly watering and lower light conditions, this plant has feathery fronds at the top that feel like a tropical vacation. Plus, it has multiple stems so it feels extra lush without a ton of extra work.

• Water: In general, weekly; water more often during growing season, but keep it light during the winter

• Light: Thrives in bright, indirect light; can tolerate low light

• Pet-friendly: Yes

Marble Queen Pothos Plant

Glossy, heart-shaped leaves make this marble-toned plant an extra beautiful pick for your tabletop. It can tolerate shady spots but also enjoys some indirect sunlight and a touch of water when the soil feels dry.

• Water: When top of soil is dry

• Light: Can tolerate shade but grows best in indirect light

• Pet-friendly: No

Mass Cane

Featuring a thick, woody trunk and dark green leaves that fade toward the center, this tree will be the centerpiece of your home. It can handle low light levels but also enjoys some bright indirect light if possible.

• Water: When top half-inch of soil is dry to the touch

• Light: Bright, indirect light but can handle low light levels

• Pet-friendly: No

Spider Plant

Easy to care for and adaptable to almost any spot in the home, this picturesque plant has long spider-like leaves that drape down in shades of green, yellow, and cream. It’ll make a statement on any tabletop, mantel, or hanging in a shaded patio.

• Water: When top of soil is dry

• Light: Can tolerate shade but grows best in indirect light

• Pet-friendly: Yes

Prayer Plant

There’s something about the leaves of this plant that feels almost like a piece of art. Each leaf fades to the center with green, yellow, and pink stripes throughout that add great texture. It grows best in indirect sunlight but can tolerate lighter conditions.

• Water: Keep soil evenly moist; do not let it sit in water or dry out

• Light: Grows best in indirect sunlight

• Pet-friendly: Yes

Monstera Deliciosa

The cutout leaves and deep green color of this plant add a ton of character to your indoor space. It grows faster in lighter conditions, but this plant can thrive and look lush even in dimly lit areas.

• Water: Water it enough to keep the soil from drying out completely, but it is semi drought tolerant

• Light: Grows faster in a bright, indirect sunlight spot but can tolerate low light

• Pet-friendly: No

Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)

You’ll feel extra lucky if your plant sprouts white calla lily flowers from the center. Otherwise, the broad, dark green leaves are shiny and stand out in any indoor space. The more light the plant gets, the more likely you are to get flowers to bloom, but the plant can survive beautifully in lower light levels.

• Water: When top 1 inch of soil is dry to touch; leaves can tolerate less watering

• Light: Medium to bright light; no direct sunlight

• Pet-friendly: Yes

Bird’s Nest Fern

The texture of these leaves makes for an extra interesting visual to add to your home. The tropical plant adds a vibrant green pop to inside spaces, thrives in indirect and low light conditions, and it only needs to be watered every week or two.

• Water: Water every 1-2 weeks, allowing soil to dry out half way down between waterings

• Light: Thrives in medium to bright indirect light, but can tolerate low indirect light

• Pet-friendly: Yes

Peacock Plant (Calathea Maokoyana)

Hues of green, red, and yellow make this plant extra interesting and give it its “peacock” name. Because it comes from the rainforest, it thrives in shaded, lower light to bright indirect light throughout the day.

• Water: When the top layer of the soil becomes dry

• Light: Thrives in medium to bright indirect light.

• Pet-friendly: Yes

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