7 Best Low-Light Houseplants for Apartments and Homes
Not every room has a bright sunny window.
That doesn’t mean you can’t grow beautiful houseplants.
Some indoor plants are much better at adapting to lower-light conditions than others, making them perfect for apartments, bedrooms, offices, hallways, and rooms with smaller windows.
If you want more greenery without rearranging your entire home around sunlight, these are some of the best low-light houseplants to start with.
1. ZZ Plant
The ZZ Plant is one of the best houseplants for lower-light rooms.
Its thick, glossy leaves and water-storing roots make it exceptionally forgiving.
ZZ Plants can tolerate less light than many popular houseplants, although they will generally grow faster when given brighter indirect light.
Why it works in low light
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Tolerates lower-light rooms
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Doesn't need frequent watering
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Attractive glossy foliage
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Great for offices and apartments
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Excellent beginner plant
If you want a plant that can handle a little neglect, the ZZ Plant is one of the safest choices.
2. Chinese Evergreen
The Chinese Evergreen 'Maria' is another excellent option for rooms that don't receive intense sunlight.
Chinese Evergreens are known for their beautiful patterned foliage and ability to adapt to typical indoor conditions.
They're a great way to add color and texture to spaces where sun-loving plants may struggle.
Why it works in low light
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Adapts well to lower light
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Attractive patterned leaves
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Easy indoor care
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Compact and manageable
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Great for bedrooms and offices
If you want something more decorative than a plain green plant, Chinese Evergreen is a great choice.
Shop Chinese Evergreen 'Maria' →
3. Heartleaf Philodendron
The Heartleaf Philodendron is one of the easiest trailing houseplants to grow indoors.
Its heart-shaped leaves grow along long vines that can hang from a shelf, trail from a planter, or climb a support.
It adapts well to a range of indoor lighting conditions, including lower-light areas.
Why it works in low light
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Adaptable to indoor light
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Beautiful trailing growth
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Easy for beginners
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Great for shelves
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Doesn't require direct sun
Heartleaf Philodendrons are especially useful if you want a plant that adds greenery vertically without taking up much floor space.
4. Parlor Palm
The Parlor Palm is a classic indoor palm that has been grown inside homes for generations.
Unlike many tropical plants, Parlor Palms can adapt to moderate and lower indoor light.
Their soft green fronds give rooms a relaxed tropical look without requiring a bright sunny window.
Why it works in low light
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Classic indoor palm
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Handles indirect light
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Soft tropical foliage
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Great decorative plant
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Works well in homes and offices
If you want something that feels lush and tropical, the Parlor Palm is one of the easiest places to start.
5. Snake Plant
The Snake Plant Laurentii is another excellent choice for lower-light rooms.
Its upright leaves make it perfect for corners, bedrooms, offices, and smaller apartments.
Snake Plants are also drought tolerant, making them ideal for people who don't want a demanding watering schedule.
Why it works in low light
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Tolerates lower-light environments
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Very drought tolerant
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Upright, space-saving shape
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Easy for beginners
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Great for bedrooms and offices
Snake Plants can survive in lower light, but they'll usually grow more quickly with brighter indirect light.
6. Pothos
The Marble Queen Pothos is a popular choice for anyone looking for an easy trailing houseplant.
Pothos plants are adaptable and can tolerate a variety of indoor environments.
They look especially good on bookshelves, cabinets, plant stands, and hanging planters.
Why it works indoors
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Adapts to different light levels
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Beautiful trailing vines
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Easy to grow
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Fast growing
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Great beginner plant
Keep in mind that highly variegated plants may produce stronger coloration when they receive brighter indirect light.
7. Spider Plant
The Spider Plant Reverse is an adaptable indoor plant that can handle a wide variety of household conditions.
Its long arching leaves work especially well in hanging baskets or on shelves.
Mature plants can also produce small baby plants that are easy to propagate.
Why beginners love it
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Adaptable indoor plant
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Easy to propagate
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Great for hanging planters
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Fast growing
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Pet-friendly
Spider Plants appreciate brighter indirect light but can still adapt to less-than-perfect indoor lighting.
What Does Low Light Mean for Houseplants?
When plant guides say a plant can tolerate low light, that does not mean complete darkness.
Plants still need light to photosynthesize and grow.
A low-light room might be:
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Several feet away from a window
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Near a north-facing window
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A room with indirect natural light
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A room with smaller windows
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A space that never receives strong direct sun
If you can comfortably read in the room during the daytime without turning on a lamp, there may be enough natural light for some low-light houseplants.
Can Houseplants Survive Without Sunlight?
Houseplants do not necessarily need direct sunlight, but they do need some form of light.
Many tropical houseplants naturally grow beneath larger trees in the wild, where they receive filtered or indirect light rather than hours of intense sun.
That is why plants like the ZZ Plant, Chinese Evergreen, and Heartleaf Philodendron can adapt well to indoor environments.
If a room receives almost no natural light, a grow light may be helpful.
What Is the Best Low-Light Plant for Beginners?
If you're new to houseplants, start with one of these:
ZZ Plant
ZZ Plants are extremely forgiving and don't need frequent watering.
Snake Plant
Snake Plants are tough, drought tolerant, and take up very little space.
Heartleaf Philodendron
Heartleaf Philodendrons are easy trailing plants that add lots of greenery without requiring a huge amount of space.
These are all excellent plants for someone building their first indoor plant collection.
How Often Should You Water Low-Light Houseplants?
Plants in lower-light environments often use water more slowly than plants sitting in bright light.
That means one of the biggest mistakes you can make is watering them too frequently.
Instead of watering on the same day every week, check the soil first.
If the soil still feels wet or damp, give the plant more time before watering again.
Plants such as ZZ Plants and Snake Plants generally prefer drying out more between waterings.
Learning to check the soil instead of following a rigid schedule can prevent many common houseplant problems.
Best Low-Light Plants for Apartments
Apartment dwellers often deal with limited windows, small rooms, and unpredictable natural light.
For smaller spaces, consider plants that stay compact or grow vertically.
Good apartment choices include:
Trailing plants are especially useful because they can grow from shelves or hanging planters without using valuable floor space.
You Don't Need Perfect Light to Grow Houseplants
One of the biggest misconceptions about houseplants is that you need huge windows and perfect sunlight.
You don't.
Choosing plants that match the conditions in your home is much more important than trying to force a sun-loving plant into a dark room.
At Ethereal Company, we make it easier to find houseplants that fit your home and your experience level.
Whether you're looking for an easy ZZ Plant, a trailing Philodendron, or a tropical Parlor Palm, there are plenty of plants that can thrive without intense direct sunlight.
Ready to Add Some Green to a Darker Room?
Explore our collection of easy indoor plants designed for real homes and everyday plant owners.
