Low-Light Indoor Plants That Are Surprisingly Hard to Kill

Low-light indoor plants are a great option when your home does not have bright windows in every room. The good news is that some of the toughest houseplants you can grow are also surprisingly tolerant of lower-light conditions.

I am not talking about plants that can live in complete darkness. Every plant needs light. But there is a big difference between a sunny windowsill and the softer natural light you might have several feet from a window.

Plants such as ZZ plants, Snake Plants, Golden Pothos, and Cast Iron Plants can handle those conditions much better than plants that demand strong light. You can even add tropical foliage and flowering plants such as Anthuriums and Peace Lilies if you understand how lower light affects their growth.

The trick is choosing a plant that matches the light you actually have instead of trying to make a high-light plant adapt to a dark corner.

Low-Light Indoor Plants at a Glance

Low-Light Indoor Plants That Are Surprisingly Hard to Kill

There is an important difference between tolerating low light and actually growing well in it. Most of these plants will grow faster, fuller, or flower more readily when you move them into brighter indirect light.

What makes them useful is their ability to handle less-than-perfect indoor conditions better than many other plants. That makes them especially practical for apartments, offices, bedrooms, and rooms where the best window space is already occupied.

ZZ Plant: One of the Toughest Low-Light Plants You Can Grow

If I had to choose one plant for someone who has both limited light and a tendency to forget about watering, the ZZ plant would be near the top of the list.

ZZ plants store water in thick underground rhizomes, which helps them handle dry periods surprisingly well. Their glossy upright foliage also stays attractive without needing constant attention.

They tolerate low light, although growth will be slower. If you have brighter indirect light available, you will usually get better growth there.

Raven ZZ gives you the same basic toughness with an added twist. Its new foliage emerges green and gradually darkens to a deep purple-black as it matures.

See my Raven ZZ Plant care guide.

Snake Plant: Tough, Upright, and Easy to Fit Almost Anywhere

Snake Plants have been popular indoor plants for a long time for good reason. Their stiff upright leaves take up relatively little floor space, they tolerate lower light, and they do not need frequent watering.

The biggest mistake is usually giving them too much water rather than too little. This becomes even more important in low light because the growing medium dries more slowly when the plant is not growing as quickly.

There are also plenty of Snake Plant varieties, so you are not limited to one look. Leaf height, pattern, shape, and coloring can vary considerably.

If you want a plant for a narrow space where a sprawling houseplant would be inconvenient, Snake Plant is one of the easiest choices.

Golden Pothos: An Easy Trailing Plant for Lower Light

Golden Pothos gives you something the upright plants cannot: long trailing or climbing vines.

It adapts well to ordinary indoor conditions and can continue growing in lower light, although you may see less variegation and slower growth than you would in brighter indirect light.

You can let the vines trail from a shelf or hanging basket, or give the plant support and let it climb. That makes Pothos particularly useful when floor space is limited.

Allow the upper portion of the growing medium to dry before watering again rather than keeping the pot constantly wet.

Heartleaf Philodendron: Easy Tropical Growth Without a Sunny Window

Heartleaf Philodendron is another dependable choice when you want trailing tropical foliage without demanding light requirements.

Its heart-shaped leaves grow along flexible vines that can trail from a shelf or climb a support. It adapts to lower indoor light reasonably well and is forgiving enough for newer indoor gardeners.

Like Pothos, it will generally grow faster and produce fuller growth in brighter indirect light. Lower light simply gives you more flexibility about where you can keep it.

Avoid treating low-light tolerance as a reason to keep the soil constantly moist. Slower growth usually means the plant uses water more slowly too.

Chinese Evergreen: Low-Light Foliage With More Color

Chinese Evergreen, or Aglaonema, is a good choice when you want something more colorful than a basic green low-light plant. Depending on the variety, the leaves may be patterned with silver, cream, pink, red, or different shades of green.

Green varieties generally tolerate lower light better than heavily colored varieties. If you choose one with lots of red or pink in the leaves, brighter indirect light usually helps maintain the stronger coloring.

Chinese Evergreens also adapt well to normal household conditions. Let the upper portion of the growing medium begin to dry before watering, especially when the plant is growing in lower light.

For a room that needs something more interesting than another plain green plant, Aglaonema gives you plenty of choices without becoming especially demanding.

Cast Iron Plant: It Earned That Name

The Cast Iron Plant has a reputation for being tough, and that is exactly why it belongs on this list. It handles lower light, does not need constant attention, and can keep going in indoor locations where fussier plants may struggle.

Its long, dark green leaves grow upright from the soil and gradually form a full clump. Growth is not particularly fast, especially in lower light, but that can be an advantage if you want a dependable plant that does not constantly need pruning or repotting.

Cast Iron Plants prefer a well-draining growing medium and should not be left sitting in wet soil. Lower light slows water use, so check the soil rather than watering automatically on a schedule.

If your priority is durability rather than rapid growth, Cast Iron Plant is one of the strongest choices in this group.

Peace Lily: Low-Light Foliage With the Bonus of Flowers

Peace Lilies are often recommended for lower-light rooms because their glossy green foliage can remain attractive without direct sun. They also give you something most of the toughest low-light plants do not: flowers.

There is a tradeoff, though. A Peace Lily may tolerate relatively low light and still produce healthy foliage, but flowering is usually better with brighter indirect light.

Peace Lilies also prefer more regular moisture than ZZ plants or Snake Plants. You do not want soggy soil, but allowing the plant to remain bone-dry for long periods is not the best approach either.

If you want a fuller foliage plant and the possibility of white flowers, Peace Lily is a good middle ground between the ultra-tough plants and more demanding flowering houseplants.

Dracaena: Tall Foliage Without a Huge Footprint

Dracaenas are useful when you want some height but do not have room for a wide, spreading plant. Many varieties grow upright on cane-like stems with clusters of foliage near the top.

They are also adaptable. Many commonly grown Dracaenas tolerate lower indoor light, although stronger indirect light generally produces better growth and helps variegated varieties maintain their coloring.

Let the upper portion of the growing medium dry before watering again. Dracaenas usually handle being slightly too dry better than sitting in constantly wet soil.

With varieties ranging from dark green to striped and colorful foliage, you have quite a few options without giving up the lower-light tolerance that makes Dracaena useful indoors.

Parlor Palm: A Tropical Look for Lower-Light Rooms

Palms usually make you think of bright tropical sunshine, but Parlor Palm is much more adaptable to indoor conditions than many other palms.

Its soft, arching fronds give you a tropical look without requiring a sunny window. It can tolerate lower light, although growth will be slower and brighter indirect light is still beneficial when available.

Parlor Palms prefer a little more consistent moisture than Snake Plants or ZZ plants, but the growing medium should still drain well. Avoid keeping the roots constantly wet.

This is a particularly useful choice when you want something softer and more tropical than the upright leaves of a Snake Plant or Cast Iron Plant.

Anthurium: Tropical Color Even Without a Sunny Window

Anthuriums add something different to this list. Their glossy foliage already has a tropical appearance, but the colorful heart-shaped spathes are what really make them stand out indoors.

They can tolerate lower light, especially if your main goal is attractive foliage. If you want an Anthurium to flower regularly, however, brighter indirect light usually gives you better results.

Anthuriums prefer a loose, well-draining growing medium and generally appreciate more humidity than a ZZ plant or Snake Plant. Still, many adapt well to ordinary indoor conditions without requiring a complicated setup.

If you have moderate rather than extremely low light and want something with both tropical foliage and color, Anthurium is worth considering.

How Low Is Too Low for an Indoor Plant?

This is where the term low light can get confusing. Low light does not mean no light. A plant tucked into a room with no window or other usable light source is not in low light. It is effectively in darkness for plant-growing purposes.

You also cannot judge indoor light only by how bright a room looks to you. Your eyes adjust remarkably well to dim conditions. Plants do not have that advantage.

Distance from the window matters too. Light intensity can drop substantially as you move farther into a room, so a plant sitting several feet from a window receives much less usable light than one sitting close to that same window.

Watch the plant rather than relying entirely on the label. Very slow growth, smaller new leaves, loss of variegation, stretched growth, or a plant leaning strongly toward the window can all suggest that more light would help.

How to Choose the Best Low-Light Plant for Your Space

Once you know that a location receives enough light to support a plant, think about how you want to use the space. The best low-light plant for a floor corner may be completely different from the one you would choose for a shelf.

• Want the easiest option? Start with a ZZ Plant, Snake Plant, or Cast Iron Plant.
• Want trailing growth? Golden Pothos or Heartleaf Philodendron works well on shelves, plant stands, and hanging displays.
• Want more colorful foliage? Look at Chinese Evergreen varieties.
• Want flowers? Peace Lily or Anthurium can provide them, but give either plant brighter indirect light if flowering is a priority.
• Want something tall and narrow? Dracaena gives you height without requiring a huge amount of floor space.
• Want a tropical look? Parlor Palm gives you classic palm foliage while tolerating lower indoor light.
• Want a plant for a small space? Snake Plants, compact Chinese Evergreens, and smaller ZZ varieties are easy to fit into tighter areas.

Common Low-Light Plant Mistakes

Low-light plants are forgiving, but that does not make them indestructible. In fact, some problems become more likely when plants are growing slowly in lower light.

Confusing Low Light With No Light

A ZZ Plant may tolerate a dim room better than many houseplants, but it still needs light for photosynthesis. Windowless rooms generally require artificial light if you want to grow healthy plants there long term.

Watering Too Often

This may be the biggest mistake with low-light houseplants. Plants growing in lower light usually grow more slowly and use water more slowly. Watering them on the same schedule as plants near a bright window can leave the growing medium wet for too long.

Expecting Fast Growth

A plant that tolerates low light may remain healthy without growing quickly. If you want faster growth, moving it into brighter indirect light may make a noticeable difference.

Expecting Variegated Plants to Keep the Same Color

Golden Pothos, colorful Chinese Evergreens, and other variegated plants may lose some of their strongest coloring in lower light. More green foliage helps the plant capture the limited light available.

Expecting Flowers in Very Low Light

Peace Lilies and Anthuriums can tolerate lower light, but that does not mean they will flower heavily there. If the foliage looks healthy but flowers are scarce, increasing the amount of bright indirect light is a good place to start.

Frequently Asked Questions About Low-Light Indoor Plants

What is the easiest low-light indoor plant to keep alive?

ZZ Plants and Snake Plants are two of the easiest choices. Both tolerate lower light, do not need frequent watering, and handle ordinary indoor conditions well. Cast Iron Plant is another excellent option if toughness is your main priority.

Can indoor plants survive in a room with no windows?

Not indefinitely without another source of usable light. A windowless room may look bright enough when the lights are on, but ordinary room lighting is often inadequate for healthy long-term plant growth. A properly positioned grow light is the easiest solution if you want plants in a windowless room.

Do low-light plants grow more slowly?

Usually. A plant may remain healthy in lower light while producing new growth much more slowly than it would in brighter indirect light. Slower growth also means the plant often uses water more slowly, so check the growing medium before watering.

What low-light indoor plant is best for a small apartment?

Snake Plants are especially useful because their upright growth takes up very little floor space. Golden Pothos and Heartleaf Philodendrons are also good choices because you can grow them vertically, trail them from a shelf, or use a hanging planter.

Can low-light indoor plants still have colorful leaves?

Yes. Chinese Evergreens are one of the best examples, with varieties that include silver, cream, pink, and red coloring. Raven ZZ develops nearly black mature foliage. Just remember that highly variegated or colorful plants may develop stronger coloring when given brighter indirect light.

What low-light plants can produce flowers indoors?

Peace Lilies and Anthuriums are two good choices if you want flowers as well as foliage. Both tolerate lower light, but neither should be expected to flower heavily in a very dim location. Brighter indirect light generally encourages better flowering.

How often should I water plants growing in low light?

There is no single watering schedule that works for every low-light plant. Check the growing medium and water according to the needs of the individual plant. Lower light usually slows growth and water use, which means you may need to water less frequently than you would in a brighter location.

Final Thoughts on Low-Light Indoor Plants

Low-light indoor plants give you a lot more freedom when deciding where to grow plants around your home. You do not have to squeeze every pot onto your brightest windowsill just to keep an indoor garden going.

If you want the most forgiving choices, I would start with a ZZ Plant, Snake Plant, or Cast Iron Plant. For trailing growth, Golden Pothos and Heartleaf Philodendron are hard to beat. Chinese Evergreen adds more interesting foliage, while Peace Lily and Anthurium give you the possibility of flowers.

The important thing is not to turn “low light” into “as little light as possible.” Give your plants the best light you reasonably can, adjust your watering to match their slower growth, and use their low-light tolerance to expand where you can successfully grow plants indoors.

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