If you're a plant lover cursed with the misfortune of having a home with low natural light or simply lack space on your window sill - we can relate. It's not always possible to select your home based on how much your indoor plant babies will flourish, but luckily for you, we've got just the solution - the best low light indoor plants.
While it's true that a great majority of plants are sun-loving, many plant varieties are tolerant to low light, making them perfect for indoors. These plants are typically tropical, meaning they're accustomed to the darkness of the jungle and - as a result - can flourish in low-light conditions.
The best low light indoor plants at a glance:
• Best for forgetful houseplant owners: Zamioculca Zamiifolia Indoor Plant - Buy now on Amazon UK
• Best low light indoor plant for hanging baskets: Golden POTHOS Scindapsus Epipremnum Aureum Devils Ivy Indoor Plant - Buy now on Amazon UK
• Best for improving indoor air quality: Dieffenbachia Camilla - Buy now on Amazon UK
• Best low light indoor plant for rapid growth: Potted Monstera Deliciosa - Buy now on Amazon UK
So, you can now breathe a sigh of relief and check out our top ten picks of the best low-light indoor plants that will transform your space into a tropical jungle. Indoor plants are known for their benefits to health, which include improved concentration and elevating your mood, so we recommend stocking up!
The best low light indoor plants
Best for forgetful houseplant owners
If you're really low on light (and we mean really low), then the ZZ plant is your best bet. Native to Africa, it's quite impressive just how low-light tolerant this species is. It produces tall stems with wide, dark green leaves and can grow to between 60-90cm over time.
Care instructions: Keep in shady area and water when soil is fully dry.
Pros
- Air purifying
- Easy to care for
Cons
- Could cause skin irritation
- Review: "Delighted with this beautiful healthy plant which quickly sprang into full glory when it recovered from transportation. It is thrilling to watch the exceptionally glossy new leaves unfurling. Simply the best houseplant I have purchased online. Thank you to the seller."
Best low light indoor plant for hanging baskets
The Pothos plant is also known by the name Devil's Ivy, given its ability to survive in very low light conditions. It hails from tropical regions and is a trailing plant, meaning it can grow very high and works wonderfully as a plant for hanging baskets due to its cascading effect.
Care instructions: Water once a week and keep in temperatures between 18-25C
Pros
- Purifies the air and removes toxins
- Low maintenance, only needs watering 7-10 days
Cons
- Toxic to humans and animals if ingested
- Review: "I was so impressed with this plant. The delivery and packaging were all superb. I can honestly say I’m beyond amazed, we live in a flat with not much sunlight at all but it’s grown so much and seems really happy and healthy. I would definitely order plants from these again!!!"
Best for improving indoor air quality
No matter what your light conditions are, this plant will adjust and flourish. The Dieffenbachia boasts unique, splotched and speckled leaves in yellow and green varieties. They can grow up to 90cm tall and are to be kept out of reach of children and pets.
Care instructions: Water when top of the soil feels dry
Pros
- Low maintenance
- Filter out pollutants
Cons
- Poisonous to humans and pets if ingested
- Review: "What a beautiful plant! I contacted the seller before buying to ask a couple of questions and I had an answer straight away. Purchasing was easy enough and delivery was quick and the plant was very well packed. I bought this as a gift and am considering buying another for myself! Thank you very much."
Best low light indoor plant for rapid growth
If you don't have at least one Monstera plant in your house, are you really a plant lover? The Monstera - otherwise known as the cheese plant - is the first plant in most people's journey to plant parenthood since they are incredibly easy to look after. They flourish in indirect sunlight and can also handle low light conditions - just don't expect as much growth!
Care instructions: Ensure the soil is never dry to touch and mist weekly.
Pros
- Purifies air and absorbs toxins
- Quick to grow
Cons
- Not suitable for cold, dry areas
- Review: "Very healthy plant which has grown very well, just be careful not to overwater as I did. Lucky the plant was so healthy on arrival that it is recovering from my mistake. Would definitely buy again. I repotted mine also to hopefully encourage more growth."
Best low light indoor plant for the bedroom
Snake plants will give you the best of both worlds: a striking, unique appearance and extremely low-maintenance growing. The snake plant's optimal lighting conditions are indirect, bright light, but you'll be happy to know that this species is also very tolerant to shady conditions. This is a great plant for the bedroom as it absorbs toxins and pumps out fresh oxygen, like a natural air filter. The dual yellow and green tones will add taste and character to your living space and cause major plant envy, which is always a plus. This is a great plant for the bedroom as it absorbs toxins and pumps out fresh oxygen, like a natural air filter.
Care instructions: Water twice a month.
Pros
- Absorb toxins and pump out fresh oxygen
- Low maintenance
Cons
- Grows at a slow rate
- Review: "A lovely feel to this plant. After reading about its air-purifying capabilities, I can unhesitatingly recommend it."
Best for families with pets
Another plant unique in appearance, the Calathea plant has bright green leaves with dark green prints that are so well-defined that they almost look artificial. Its optimal lighting conditions are low light - so perfect for your dark corners - and it grows up to 60cm tall.
Care instructions: Water when soil is dry to touch.
Pros
- Non-toxic, so safe for humans and animals
- Improves indoor air quality
Cons
- Plant sap may irritate sensitive skin
- Review: "Lovely, healthy small plant that I'm hoping will grow to a nice size.. the leaves have beautiful markings on them. Really happy :-)"
Best for gifting
Want to liven up your space with some colour? These beautiful blooms will help you do just that. The moth orchid is a great choice for low-light conditions and will bloom for around three months. This orchid comes with complimentary chocolates, making this ideal for gifting.
Care instructions: Water every one to two weeks.
Pros
- Can improve air quality, reduce stress and anxiety, and boost mood
- Non-toxic
Cons
- Blooms only for two to three months
- Review: "This arrived super quickly after ordering and was very well packed. The addition of a large bow and tissue paper [upon] opening was a nice, unexpected touch. The orchid itself is in great condition with lots of open flowers as well as buds and is very pretty. It is just as described - the flowers are mid purple (they look slightly pink in my photos). Mum is highly delighted with her gift!"
Best easy-to-propagate indoor plant
Not only is this plant easy to maintain and beautiful in appearance, but it's also known for its excellent air-purifying qualities, which will help remove harmful toxins from your environment. It does best in partial-light conditions but also thrives in low-light environments.
Care instructions: Water twice a month in the summer or when the leaves start to look faded and wilted, and once a month in the winter.
Pros
- Non-toxic, so safe around children and pets
- Have air-purifying qualities
Cons
- Overwatering can lead to root rot
- Review: "An absolutely beautiful, healthy plant exceptionally well packed for shipping. I must admit I was a bit hesitant ordering live plants online but I would highly recommend this seller"
Best for boosting mental health
Another air-purifying beauty, this elegant plant blooms white flowers on tall stems, surrounded by shiny green foliage which is slightly speckled. It'll endure low light, but fewer blooms are to be expected under these conditions.
Care instructions: Water when the soil feels dry.
Pros
- Absorb airborne pollutants to help keep indoor air fresh and clean
- Naturally regulate humidity levels
Cons
- Sensitive to chemicals found in tap and rainwater. Best to use filtered water
- Review: "I got this just to see how it would turn out and I have to say, I am very impressed with this plant. Indeed, I did not expect that it would be so full and to have 6 flowers! Leaves are all green and shiny as the plant was very well packaged so that it sustained no damage at all during the transportation process. Indeed, there was no damage to the leaves or even displacement of soil. Excellent service. My only disappointment is that I did not buy two. Excellent value, well worth the price."
Best for growing in a variety of conditions
The English Ivy is ideal for those on the lookout for a climbing plant that thrives in low light conditions. Hang this from a hanging basket or tall bookshelf ladder for an elegant, cascading effect of the leaves. It's sure to brighten up any dark corners, and we love the striped pattern on this variety.
Care instructions: Spray the leaves regularly and keep in a high humid environment
Pros
- Air purifying plants
- Versatile and hardy plant
Cons
- Plants can cause a skin rash
- Review: "Absolutely lovely plant nice & healthy & very well established. Quite big already was expecting a smaller one than this so getting it this big was a lovely nice surprise. Packaged extremely well. Thank you so much couldn’t ask for better plant & service."
How often should you water a houseplant?
Many low-maintenance plants, such as the Monstera and the snake plant, will only need to be watered once or twice per month, depending on the season, while cacti and succulents only need to be watered when the compost feels completely dry. Always check the instructions for individual plants, as some may need watering multiple times per week.
How do you take care of houseplants?
If you're new to plant parenthood - welcome! It's an exciting journey, but we understand that taking care of plants can sometimes be daunting.
The first rule in plant parenting is simple: do not overwater your plants. This is a common mistake many plant newbies make and is actually one of the most common reasons plants die a premature death.
For those just starting out, we recommend low-maintenance plants such as the ZZ plant, the Monstera or a snake plant, which are happy to be watered twice a month, can tolerate all types of light conditions and are, overall, super hard to kill.
What type of soil you use is also another key factor in caring for your plants. Our advice? Use a good form of potting soil that has a good mixture of minerals that your plant will need.
Make sure you read the care instructions for every plant you buy, and you'll do great - we promise!