Top picks for shadow-loving houseplants
In search of the perfect plants to brighten up your office or home's shaded corners? Look no further! Here are some of the best indoor plants that thrive in low light conditions.
The Snake Plant, also known as Mother-in-Law's Tongue, is a popular choice. With its unique green and white striped leaves, this air-purifying plant is not only easy on the eyes but also easy to care for.
Another low-light champion is the ZZ Plant (zamioculcas). Its glossy, light green leaves can grow quite large, and it's known for its ability to thrive in low light and tolerate neglect well.
Pothos is another hardy plant that can grow up to ten feet long and does well in any humidity level. Its trailing vine with heart-shaped leaves is a great addition to any low-lit area.
Peace Lily is another low-light lover, known to flower even in low light. This plant prefers soil drying out before watering.
Chinese Evergreen is a low-maintenance plant that performs well in low light. It's available in colorful varieties and can tolerate dry air and less frequent watering.
The Cast Iron Plant is extremely tough and slow-growing, making it ideal for very low light and neglectful care.
The Ponytail Palm, or Beaucarnea recurvata, is adaptable and can grow in a variety of lighting conditions, making it a good choice for low-lit areas.
Rex Begonia, with its unique, colorful leaves, thrives in humid areas but can still tolerate lower light levels.
The Dragon Tree (dracaena marginata) is a popular low-light indoor plant that is easy to care for and looks great.
The Baby Rubber Plant does well in low light but will grow slower in these conditions.
The Corn Plant (Dracaena fragrans) can grow really tall and do fine in shady corners and also in direct sunlight in front of a window.
Red Anthurium has beautiful, red, waxy flowers and does well with minimal lighting.
Arrowhead Plant has green and white leaves and sometimes bronze colors. It grows well in low light.
Calathea has dark green leaves with silvery-like edges and a scalloped end. It does well in dark corners and low-lit areas.
Lucky Bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana) is a beautiful, easy-to-care-for plant that can go nearly anywhere in your home, even in low light.
The Zebra Cactus (hawthornia attenuata) has black and white striped leaves, requires little water, and does well in low light.
Kokedama is a Japanese moss ball that does well in medium or very little light.
Maidenhair Fern is sturdy and does well in low light areas.
Prayer Plant does well in semidarkness but not in cold temperatures.
The Nerve Plant (fittonia) is a small-leaf plant native to Peru and comes in various colors. It grows well in low light.
Bird's Nest Fern has a unique look to its leaves and tolerates low-light environments.
Creeping Fig is a plant that grows well in low light and is known for its ability to cover large surfaces.
The Oyster Plant thrives in low light and only needs water about once or twice a week.
Remember, while these plants tolerate low light, none truly thrive in complete darkness; "low light" means indirect or shaded light rather than no light at all. Some plants, like Snake Plant, can survive low light but do better with some indirect light exposure.
Regular watering based on dryness of the soil is generally key; overwatering is often a bigger risk than low light for these plants.
These plants are particularly recommended for offices, rooms with few windows, or shaded indoor corners where bright sunlight is unavailable but some ambient light exists. They also vary in appearance and size from leafy ferns and colorful foliage plants to tall, structural plants like the Rubber Plant or Snake Plant.
Lastly, if you're a gardening enthusiast like freelance writer Lisa Clark, you'll enjoy collecting these resilient indoor plants to brighten up your home or office. Happy planting!
The Snake Plant, ZZ Plant, Pothos, Peace Lily, Chinese Evergreen, Cast Iron Plant, Ponytail Palm, Rex Begonia, Dragon Tree, Baby Rubber Plant, Corn Plant, Red Anthurium, Arrowhead Plant, Calathea, Lucky Bamboo, Zebra Cactus, Kokedama, Maidenhair Fern, Prayer Plant, Nerve Plant, Bird's Nest Fern, Creeping Fig, and Oyster Plant are resilient indoor plants that thrive in low light conditions. These plants are suitable for offices, rooms with few windows, or shaded indoor corners where bright sunlight is unavailable. They vary in appearance and size, from leafy ferns and colorful foliage plants to tall, structural plants like the Rubber Plant or Snake Plant.
Remember, "low light" means indirect or shaded light rather than no light at all. While these plants can survive in low light conditions, they do better with some indirect light exposure. Regular watering based on the dryness of the soil is generally key; overwatering is often a bigger risk than low light for these plants.
If you're a gardening enthusiast like freelance writer Lisa Clark, you'll enjoy collecting these resilient indoor plants to brighten up your home or office. They are easy on the eyes, easy to care for, and improve the decor, lifestyle, and even the quality of the air in your home or office. Additionally, they can contribute to the fashion-and-beauty, food-and-drink, home-and-garden, relationships, pets, travel, cars, and shopping aspects of your life by serving as low-maintenance houseplants, brightening up dull spaces, and potentially improving mood and health. Happy planting!
