30 Best Low-Light Plants That Will Brighten up the Dim Corners of Your Home

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For those less bright, sunny rooms in your home — like a dark office, bedroom, or bathroom — add color and beauty to the space with these low-light indoor plants. While many houseplants, such as air plants and most tropical plants, need high light levels from an east, south, or west-facing window, plenty of plants will tolerate and adapt to low-light levels while also being easy to take care of and providing air-purifying benefits.

The most important thing to remember is that all indoor plants — even low-light plants — need some sort of light. But how do you know what kind of light your room has? Basically, if your hand doesn’t cast a shadow at any time of day in the spot where you want to place your plant, you have low-light conditions. Also, north-facing rooms generally are considered low-light spaces.

Another important low-light plant care tip: Most plants do not like to stay soggy. Make sure your container has a drainage hole so excess water can drain out, and always check the soil before watering. The best way to do this is to poke your finger into the soil. If it sticks to your fingers, the soil still is fairly moist and you may not need to water yet. Overall, it’s better to err on the side of letting a plant get a bit too dry (though not bone dry!) rather than staying wet and soggy.

I regularly trial new varieties of houseplants, and with more than 60 currently in my collection, I've chosen the ones best for low light and that require little fussing (because no one has time for that!). Whether you're prioritizing low-maintenance plants, pet-safe plants, or plants to add style to your home, there's definitely a pick on here for you.

Peace Lily

Peace lily (Spathiphyllum spp.) is a low-maintenance plant that can live for a decade or more in the right conditions. The shiny upright foliage adds vertical interest to any room. Its creamy white spoon-shaped flowers, or spathes, add extra style. Although peace lily flowers thrive best in bright, indirect light, they will adapt to low light levels.

Light: Low to medium indirect light
Water: When the soil feels dry to the touch
Size: 2 to 3 feet tall

Red Aglaonema

Aglaonema, also known as Chinese evergreen, is a colorful, easy-care plant you absolutely need. The plant comes in varieties that are solid green, variegated with white, or with pink splotches. It's one of the easiest houseplants to grow, so it's ideal for new plant parents. It's also extremely forgiving if you, ahem, forget to water it occasionally.

Light: Low to medium indirect light
Water: When the top few inches of soil feel dry
Size: 1 to 3 feet tall

Cast Iron Plant

Like its namesake, this plant is super tough! The cast iron plant (Aspidistra elatior) seemingly thrives on neglect, tolerating very low light levels. It will also put up with the occasional forgetful watering schedule. Best of all, it's one of the few low-light plants that is pet-safe. Some types have white-speckled foliage.

Light: Low to bright indirect light
Water: When mostly dry
Size: 2 to 3 feet tall

ZZ Plant

ZZ plant (Zamioculcus zamiiofolia) is nearly indestructible, so it's a great plant for novices or low light levels. The striking upright form provides architectural interest, while the glossy foliage adds a brilliant splash of dark green. Other new varieties have nearly black or golden foliage.

Light: Low to medium indirect light
Water: When the top few inches of soil feel dry
Height: 2 to 3 feet tall

Swiss Cheese Plant

The popular Swiss cheese plant (Monstera deliciosa) is surprisingly forgiving about light conditions. Although it's happiest in bright, indirect light, it will adapt fine to low light. The leaves split as the plant matures. Give it a moss pole to climb for a real showstopper!

Light: Low to bright indirect light
Water: When the top few inches of soil feel dry
Size: 3 to 15 feet tall

Money Tree

Money tree (Pachira aquatica) adapts to a variety of indoor environments and can become quite tall over time. While it grows faster in medium to high indirect light levels, it will do just fine in low light levels. The plant is often sold with a braided trunk. Money tree also is thought to bring good luck, which is always a good thing! Rotate the pot every few weeks to keep it growing evenly.

Light: Low to bright indirect light
Water: Water when mostly dry
Size: 6 to 8 feet tall

Golden Pothos

One of the easiest plants to grow, pothos (Epipremnum aureum) will tolerate a lot of neglect. It does just fine in low light levels, though it will not grow as quickly and tends to get a little leggy. No worries! Simply snip off long pieces here and there to stimulate new, bushier growth.

Light: Low to bright indirect light
Water: When the top few inches of soil feel dry
Size: 20+ feet long

Green Snake Plant

Snake plants (Dracaena trifasciata) are ideal for new plant parent beginners because they're not fussy. With upright foliage that comes in a variety of colors ranging from solid green to yellow stripes, this low-light houseplant needs little care. Water occasionally, and it's happy.

Light: Low to medium indirect light
Water: When mostly dry
Height: 2 to 4 feet tall

Marble Pothos

This type of pothos is just as easy to care for as golden pothos, but it has creamy white variegations instead of gold. The vining form makes it a pretty addition to end tables where it will do just fine with low light or even the light from a table lamp.

Light: Low to bright indirect light
Water: When the top few inches feel dry
Size: 10+ feet long

Cylindrical Snake Plant, set of 3

Many snake plants have flat, sword-like foliage but cylindrical varieties have interesting rounded foliage. It's quite striking! These are just as easy to grow as other types of snake plants and are just the right size for desks and tabletops.

Light: Low to medium indirect light
Water: Water when mostly dry
Size: 1 to 2 feet tall

Janet Craig Dracaena

Dracaena (Dracaena spp.) are available in a large number of varieties. This one, known as Janet Craig, has been around forever, with good reason: It's nearly indestructible. Although these plants do better with medium light levels, they will tolerate low light though they'll grow more slowly.

Light: Low to medium indirect light
Water: Keep very lightly moist
Size: 2 to 10 feet tall

Ponytail Palm

Resembling a messy ponytail, this whimsical plant will make you smile! Ponytail palm (Beaucarnea recurvata) stores water in its bulbous stem, so you won't need to water much — only about every two weeks or more. It honestly prefers bright, indirect light but it will tolerate low light.

Light: Low to bright indirect light
Water: When the soil feels mostly dry
Size: 6 to 8 feet tall

Heart Leaf Philodendron

Heart leaf philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum) is one of the easiest plants for beginners to grow. Its glossy, heart-shaped foliage and vining form make it a great addition to end tables or bookshelves. Give it a moss pole and it will climb. It's also inexpensive and sold almost everywhere.

Light: Low to bright indirect light
Water: When the top few inches of soil feel dry
Size: 3 to 15 feet long

Parlor Palm

Parlor palm (Chamaedorea elegans) is one of the few palms that will tolerate low-light conditions. If you're looking for a palm to bring a tropical vibe indoors, this is your best bet! Popular since Victorian times, this elegant-looking palm is a lovely addition to any room with its delicate fronds.

Light: Low to bright indirect light
Water: Water when the top inch or two of soil feels dry
Size: 3 to 4 feet tall

Dragon Tree

This type of dracaena (Dracaena marginata) is known as dragon tree. With long, strappy leaves, it makes a great plant for filling corners or adding instant drama to a space. It prefers medium light, but it can tolerate low light levels.

Light: Low to bright indirect light
Water: When mostly dry
Size: 2 to 10 feet tall

Red Prayer Plant

Red prayer plant (Maranta leuconeura) has beautiful red veins and neon green markings on dark green foliage. It loves bright, indirect light and will grow super-fast in these conditions. But it's also surprisingly accepting of low-light spaces and north-facing windows. The plant gets its name because the leaves close at night as if hands folded in prayer.

Light: Low to bright indirect light
Water: When the top of the soil feels dry
Size: 6 to 12 inches tall

Velvet Philodendron

This variety of heartleaf philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum var. hederaceum), also known as Philodendron micans, has velvety leaves with a reddish caste. It's equally attractive when left to vine or it will climb if given a moss pole. It's a fast grower, even in low-light conditions.

Light: Low to bright indirect light
Water: When the top few inches of soil feel dry
Size: 2 to 3 feet long

Pothos 'N Joy

Another beautiful pothos variety, this one has creamy white margins and splotches. N'Joy (Epipremnum aureum 'N'joy') is a lovely easy-care plant that will look amazing on a table or bookshelf. FYI, the only sure way to kill any pothos variety is to overwater, so make sure to give it a drink only when the top few inches of soil are dry.

Light: Low to bright indirect light
Water: When the top few inches of soil are dry
Size: 10 feet long

Corn Plant

Corn plant (Dracaena fragrans) is yet another example of an easy-care dracaena. The strong canes are topped by foliage that resembles, well, a corn plant! It's a handsome floor plant for corners where you need some color. It does best in moderate light but can tolerate low light, though it will grow more slowly.

Light: Low to bright indirect light
Water: Keep the soil lightly moist
Size: 3 to 6 feet tall

Brasil Philodenron

Brasil Philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum ‘Brasil’) is a pretty vining plant with heart-shaped leaves and beautiful pale green and dark green foliage. It's really one of the easiest plants to grow, tolerating low light levels better than you'd imagine. Just don't overwater it; like all philodendrons, it doesn't want to stay soaking wet.

Light: Low to bright indirect light
Water: When the top few inches of soil feel dry
Size: 4 to 6 feet long

Rojo Congo Philodendron

Rojo Congo philodendron (Philodendron tatei ‘Rojo Congo’) is a handsome large-leafed plant with splashes of red as the new foliage emerges. It's happiest in bright indirect light and will grow like a weed in those conditions. But it will adapt fine to lower light levels.

Light: Low to bright indirect light
Water: When the soil feels mostly dry
Size: 2 to 3 feet tall

Lemon Lime Prayer Plant

Lemon Lime Prayer Plant (Maranta leuconeura 'Lemon Lime') is just as easy to grow as the Red Prayer Plant and will add cheery color to any room. This variety of prayer plant has pretty, bright lime green veining and splotches. Although it prefers moderate to bright, indirect light, it can adapt.

Light: Low to bright, indirect light
Water: When the top of the soil feels dry
Size: 6 to 12 inches tall

Arrowhead Vine

Arrowhead vine (Syngonium podophyllum) is a handsome, trailing plant with — you guessed it! — arrowhead-shaped leaves. It prefers bright light but will adapt to low light levels. One thing to be careful about is overwatering; this plant will not tolerate soggy roots.

Light: Low to moderate indirect light
Water: When mostly dry
Size: 1 to 3 feet tall

Spider Plant

Spider Plant (Chlorophytum Comosum) has long, strappy leaves and pretty green and white foliage. It looks best in a hanging basket. There are several varieties, but 'Bonnie' has slightly curvy leaves for more visual interest. Bonus: When the plant makes baby plantlets, snip them off and pot them to make new plants.

Light: Low to bright indirect light
Water: Keep lightly moist, not soggy
Size: 1 to 2 feet tall

Lucky Bamboo

Not actually bamboo, this plant is a type of dracaena (Dracaena sanderiana) with its lower leaves stripped off to resemble bamboo. But it's tough as can be and will tolerate very low light. You may see it rooted in either soil or water; both methods make it easy to grow.

Light: Low to bright indirect light
Water: If grown in soil, keep it moist; if grown in water, change water weekly
Size: 1 to 3 feet tall

Green Aglaonema

This variety of aglaonema is just as pretty as the red type. Its silvery markings make it a great addition to dark corners of your room, and it's super forgiving of inconsistent watering. It's one of the easiest plants for newbie plant parents to grow.

Light: Low to medium indirect
Water: When the top few inches of soil feel dry
Size: 1 to 3 feet tall

Silver Pothos

You'll love the silvery streaks on this plant's foliage. Although this plant is commonly called silver or satin pothos (Scindapsus pictus), it's actually a totally different plant. More accurately, it's a scindapsus, which resembles a pothos. But because they look alike and require similar care, pothos and scindapsus are often lumped into one category together.

Light: Low to bright indirect light
Water: When the top few inches of soil feel dry
Size: 3 to 10 feet

Rattlesnake Plant

Often mistaken for a prayer plant because its leaves also close at night, the rattlesnake plant (Goeppertia insignis) is also known as calathea. Its gorgeous foliage makes it a must-have for any room. Although it prefers bright indirect light, it will do okay in low light.

Light: Low to bright indirect light
Water: When the soil surface feels dry
Size: 10 to 20 inches tall

Global Green Pothos

This somewhat rare pothos is just as easy to care for as all of its relatives. It boasts pretty pale green splotches instead of white or gold on its heart-shaped foliage. Global Green (Epipremnum aureum 'Global Green') is especially pretty spilling out over the edges of an end table.

Light: Low to bright indirect light
Water: When the top few inches of soil feel dry
Size: 10 to 20 inches tall

Best Indoor Plant Care Tips

• Don't overwater! More plants die of overwatering rather than under-watering. Avoid watering on a schedule — instead, poke a finger into the soil to test for moisture levels first before giving your plant a drink.

• Feed your plants for stronger growth. But remember that it's not entirely necessary. Plants make their own food through photosynthesis.

• Reassess light levels if a plant seems to be struggling. If your plant is starting to droop (and you know you're not overwatering), consider moving it to a brighter spot. Even plants that tolerate low light don't always do well in all low-light situations.

• Watch for pests. The most common indoor pests are aphids, spider mites, and scale. If you see anything weird, use a sink sprayer hose to blast them off. Then recheck in a few days. If that doesn't work, you may want to consider treating with horticultural oil or insecticidal soap — but always ID the pest before spraying so you know you're using the right product.

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