Seven Choice Low - Light Houseplants For Beginners

These easy-going plants are perfect for new plant parents, frequent travelers, or those who haven’t had luck with plants in the past.

Maintaining a healthy plant collection requires big windows and plenty of sunlight... right? Well, not exactly. Different plant species have evolved to survive in almost every kind of environment, and many tropical plants grow far below the jungle canopy where the sun is blocked or heavily filtered.
Even if your apartment doesn’t get tons of light, or if you’re running out of room near that one good window, there’s a plant that will work for your space. Let’s dive into some low-light plant care basics, and then highlight a few of our favorite houseplant options for new plant parents.

But first... the basics:
Low-light plants do well in indirect light—like the kind you get from a northern exposure. (If you’ve got a close-up view of the building next door, that should work too.) For rooms with really low light, you’ll want to choose a plant with the darkest leaves you can find. Though many houseplants have become popular for their stunning variegated leaves, which come in different shades and colors depending on the variety, dark green leaves help plants absorb light, making it easier for them to thrive in the shade. For many of these plants, too much direct light can even be a problem, burning or browning their leaves.

When it comes to watering, you’ll want to be cautious not to show your low-light plants too much love. Because they receive less light, water evaporates slowly, and their soil stays moist for longer periods of time. You’ll have to adjust your watering schedule to match the lighting conditions: the lower the light level, the less frequently you should water.

Here are seven easy-going plants that might work for that dimly lit corner or nook in your home.

Snake Plant
Sansevieria trifasciata
Once used to make bowstrings, this herbaceous West African plant now serves more innocuous purposes. Its tall, sword-shaped foliage stands upright, giving the Snake Plant a sculptural presence that’s made it a popular choice for design-conscious plant owners. You can also find cultivars with different variegations, like the Silver Snake Plant with gray-green leaves or the Laurentii that has a bright yellow outline. Instead of stems, the Snake Plant relies on creeping rhizomes that grow underground, storing nutrients and producing new shoots. While these can help the plant survive drought-like conditions in the wild, indoors they make it more susceptible to rotting if overwatered, so be careful.

ZZ Plant
Zamioculcas zamiifolia
The ZZ Plant is another rhizomatic favorite that’s great at withstanding the occasional spell of neglect. They grow in tight columns with glossy, ovate leaves that climb upwards in a symmetrical arrangement along the length of each stalk. ZZ Plants are so hardy that they’re even able to survive without any natural light, although we wouldn’t recommend that if you want your plant to look full and healthy. Like the Snake Plant, they are sensitive to overwatering but can live on stored water for weeks at a time. If you want something bright and green in a relatively dark corner of your home, the ZZ Plant is a solid choice.

Golden Pothos
Epipremnum aureum
Also known as the Devil’s Ivy because of how difficult it is to kill and how little light it needs to stay green, the Golden Pothos is a classic beginner houseplant. This climbing plant grows hanging trails that can reach up to 10 feet long indoors. Foliage on the Golden Pothos is often variegated with splotches of white and yellow on green. Other varieties have more exaggerated contrasts like the “Marble Queen,” whose leaves are mostly white and speckled with shades of green. Although not a true Epipremnum, the Satin Pothos has a similar look—long vines with variegated, heart-shaped leaves—and pretty much the same care. What makes them unique, however, is that they cling to walls and grow almost flat on the surface, like a leafy wallpaper coming to life.

Peace Lily
Spathiphyllum wallisii
For a low-light plant with prominent flowers, look no further than the popular Peace Lily, with its elegant inflorescence. The actual buds of the flower grow in tight clusters on a spadix surrounded by a modified lily-white leaf bract. Its broad leaves have a tendency to collect dust, so a quick wipe down every once in a while will keep your Peace Lily looking great and help it better absorb sunlight.

Aloe
Aloe vera
Aloe is an extremely versatile succulent that has been used since ancient times as a moisturizing topical ointment. An attractive, useful houseplant, it also happens to be super easy to maintain. For best results when potting indoors, look for a small plant with a tight rosette and plump leaves with minimal browning. It’s important to use a well-draining soil with Aloe as too much moisture leads to root rot. Shrivelling leaves will tell you when your Aloe is thirsty, while wilting ones are caused by overwatering.

Heartleaf Philodendron
Philodendron hederaceum
The Heartleaf Philodendron is an easy-going vine that can deal with a variety of lighting conditions. Like Pothos, you can let them hang loose or train them to climb upward along a moss pole or similar support. These plants have lovely broad leaves with long, tapered tips that make them strikingly unique. The most common type of Philodendron hederaceum is a rich, consistent green, but other varieties like the Silver Stripe, with bands of creamy white, boast fascinating variegations that plant collectors love.

Chinese Evergreen
Aglaonema commutatum
Introduced to the West in the late-nineteenth century, these beautiful foliage plants have been grown for good luck in China and Asia for centuries. But it wasn’t until the twentieth century that the number of hybrids really exploded—with 29 introduced in the ‘90s alone. Now you can find them in dozens of variegations, with some in fiery crimson or sweet shades of pink and magenta. Darker green varieties will tolerate shade, while colorful ones will need a little more light. Both are sensitive to direct sunlight, which can burn their delicate leaves.

These seven low-light plants are relatively hardy and easy to care for, making them perfect for new plant parents, frequent travelers, or those who haven’t had luck with plants in the past. The main thing to remember is that with low-light plants, less is usually more—a little attention and minimal watering go a long way in supporting their growth.