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Low-Light Indoor Plants

Chair and table topped with a plant.

Ten houseplants that don’t need direct sun

Nothing adds a soothing vibe to a room like a houseplant, whether it blooms or simply has eye-catching foliage. And while many houseplants thrive in the bountiful sunlight of south-facing windows, there are plenty that also do well in the medium/indirect light of east- or west-facing windows or even in the low light from north-facing windows. Don’t have much of a green thumb? No problem! The following roundup of 10 low- or indirect-light-loving plants demand little, while enhancing the look of any room.

Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)

The bright green, arching fronds of Boston ferns are perfect for adding a design element to a living room or bedroom. These foliage plants can grow up to 3 feet tall and love humidity, so make sure to mist them regularly in the winter. 

Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior)

Like its name suggests, this houseplant, which grows up to 3 feet tall, doesn’t require much attention—which is a bonus if you occasionally forget to water it. (It also grows slowly, so you won’t need to repot it too often.) Use its narrow green leaves to add a little pizazz to a dim corner.

Boston fern potted. Add texture with a Boston fern.
A cast iron plant on table. A cast iron plant can take a bit of neglect.

Prayer Plant (Maranta leuconeura)

Often grown in hanging baskets, this low, spreading plant sports variegated green and cream leaves with bright red veins. Like the cast iron plant, prayer plant is easy to grow, though it prefers to stay relatively moist. Its leaves tend to fold together at night—which is how it got its common name. Prayer plant only grows about 6 to 8 inches tall; its compact size makes it ideal for an end table, bookshelf or a kitchen nook.

Peperomia (Peperomia) 

If you like options, then you’ll find them with Peperomia, which boasts over a thousand species in its genus. One popular variety, the radiator plant, loves high humidity levels. Reaching 2 to 24 inches high, radiator plant is perfect for dressing up a bathroom.

Prayer plant potted. Easy to grow prayer plant needs room to spread.
Peperomia plant. Charming Peperomia is perfect for dressing up a space.

Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

A houseplant favorite, spider plant sends out runners with baby plants at the tips, making it a great addition to a hanging basket or a shelf.  Spider plant grows up to 12 inches tall and is super easy to propagate. 

Gloxinia (Sinnigia speciosa hybrids)

For a low-light-lover that will gift you with colorful blooms, look to Gloxinia. This compact (6 to 10 inches tall) houseplant has thick, ruffled-edged leaves with white, red, pink, lavender, purple or blue flowers. Gloxinia needs moist soil; if you let the soil dry out, the plant will go dormant. Add this beauty to a space where you want a pop of pizazz.

Spider plant. Jazz up a shelf with a spider plant.
Gloxinia plant. Welcome in pops of color with Gloxinia.

Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea elegans)

If your décor aesthetic skews tropical, consider adding a parlor palm. This easy-growing rainforest native with lush green fronds requires water only when the soil feels dry to the touch. It can reach heights of 2 to 6 feet indoors, but is slow growing.

Bird’s Nest Fern (Asplenium nidus) 

Another slow-grower, bird’s nest fern features distinctive, wavy, long narrow fronds and can grow up to 2 feet tall. It thrives in high humidity, making it a unique addition to a bathroom or sunroom.

A parlor palm plant. A parlor palm is the spot-on accent for tropical décor.
A bird’s nest fern. Distinctive-looking bird’s nest fern loves humidity.

Haworthia (Haworthia) 

Unlike many other succulents, Haworthia can do well in low light. And with over 100 species, there’s no shortage of varieties to choose from. One interesting variety, often called the zebra plant, has thick, dark green spiky foliage with bumps of white stripes. Slow growing and small (4 to 8 inches), place a zebra plant anywhere that could use a hint of texture.

Friendship Plant (Pilea involucrata)

The eye-catching hairy, crinkled leaves of this tropical houseplant are bright green with brown-red veins, making it a stunner on its own or in a terrarium. While friendship plant isn’t particularly fussy—it does best in bright to moderate indirect light (avoid direct light)—it requires high humidity. Like many of the plants on this list, this easy-care plant doesn’t need a lot of room, as it generally grows about 6 inches tall.

Zebra Haworthia plant. Zebra plant, a type of Haworthia, is small in stature.
Friendship plant. Use humidity-loving friendship plant in a terrarium.

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