Thereâs often a misconception about what âlow-lightâ really means for people and plants. Low light doesnât mean near-dark, after all, light is important for every plant to thrive. Keep in mind that even though some of the plants on this list will tolerate low light for a prolonged time, itâs not ideal, and they wonât exactly thrive and look their best. So if you can, give them a few hours of brighter light every other week or try to place them closer to a filtered light source. Without further ado, here are the top contenders for the âlow-lightâ award:
ZZ Plant
Out of all the houseplants that could truly be called âlow-light,â Zamioculcas comes the closest to that title. This tough guy stores most of its nutrients and moisture in its potato-like roots (tuberous rhizomes), which makes it perfect for forgetful owners. Its tough foliage will tolerate low light just fine, but if you want it to thrive, diffused light is best.
Boston Fern
If your bathroom has a small window, this fluffy fern will feel right at home. Boston ferns thrive in shaded, high-humidity spots away from direct sun. Just keep the soil consistently moist, as they dislike drying out.
Cast-Iron Plant
True to its name, this plant is nearly indestructible indoors. It will tolerate several missed watering sessions and needs to be shielded from direct sunlight to prevent burns. A north-facing window would be best for this tough plant.
Snake Plant
The snake plant’s sword-shaped, stern-looking foliage wonât require any pampering. A native of West Africa, this plant prefers warmer temperatures, but it’s slow to grow, which means inconveniences like low light and mild droughts wonât do much harm.
Peace Lily
The peace lily is a popular houseplant due to its lush foliage and pretty white flowers. It can overcome mild droughts and is generally pretty hardy. The plant does well in partial shade, but itâs unlikely to bloom in such conditions.
Chinese Evergreen
This plant is celebrated for its colorful, patterned leaves and forgiving nature. Varieties with darker green foliage excel in low-light corners, while maintaining their lush appearance with minimal effort.
Jewel Orchid
This is sort of the ugly duckling of orchids. Its blooms arenât as colorful, and its foliage is usually pretty dark, but it makes up for it with low-light tolerance. Just make sure to mist and give it a drink since this is still a tropical plant.
We hope these plants will make a wonderful addition to your interior. If you live in a cooler climate or have only north-facing windows that receive the least amount of sunlight, these plants will make great companions.
