The best low-light houseplants (that we'd actually recommend)

First, a reframe: "low light" doesn't mean "no light." Almost every houseplant needs some daylight. What these plants tolerate is indirect, modest light — the kind a north window or a few feet back from a brighter one provides. That distinction is the whole game.

1. What “low light” really means

Hold your hand up a foot from the wall in the spot in question, mid-afternoon. A soft, fuzzy shadow means you have workable low-to-medium light. No shadow at all means it’s genuinely dark — you’ll want one of the toughest plants on this list, and even then, expect slow growth. That’s normal, not failure.

2. Our five favorite low-light plants

Snake Plant (Sansevieria)

If we could only recommend one plant to a beginner with a dark room, this is it. It tolerates low light, irregular watering, and general neglect, and still throws up those handsome architectural leaves. Water it sparingly — every two to three weeks is often plenty.

Lucky Bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana)

Not actually bamboo, and happy to grow in just a vase of water with indirect light. Great for desks and bathrooms. Change the water every couple of weeks and keep it out of direct sun.

ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas)

Glossy, waxy leaves and an almost suspiciously easy temperament. It stores water in its roots, so it shrugs off the occasional missed watering. Bright shade to low light, both fine.

Pothos

The trailing vine that forgives everything. It’ll tell you when it’s thirsty by drooping slightly, then perk right back up after a drink. Lovely on a high shelf where the vines can spill down.

Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra)

Named for its toughness, and earns it. Deep green strappy leaves, content in the dimmest corners, and slow enough that you’ll rarely need to repot. A quietly elegant choice.

"The plant that survives is always better than the plant you wish you had. Start easy — confidence grows from there." — the NoCo Clover family

3. How not to kill them (watering)

Here’s the counterintuitive part: plants in lower light use less water, because they grow more slowly. So a low-light plant needs watering less often than the same plant in a bright window. Overwatering — not darkness — is what actually kills most of these. Always check the soil first.

• Feel an inch into the soil; water only if it’s dry.
• Use a pot with drainage so roots never sit in water.
• Dust the leaves now and then — in low light, every bit of photosynthesis counts.

4. Come see them in person

Photos only get you so far. Come in, tell us how dark your spot really is, and we’ll hand you the plant we’d put in our own dim corner — or browse the low-light section on our online store and order anytime.