The Best Houseplants for Low Light

Plants need light to live, but some far less than others. If you want to keep houseplants in a room or home without lots of natural light, there are options that will thrive in any environment. Here are some of the best low-light-tolerant houseplants to consider:

Pothos

Pothos are commonly on lists of houseplants that are hard to kill, and for good reason. These beautiful vine plants are so low-maintenance that they tend to thrive on neglect. While some varieties of pothos need lots of sun to maintain special coloring, the deep green jade pothos will flourish in any low-light environment.

Snake Plants

Snake plants are another excellent choice for areas with low light. These plants have tall, sword-shaped leaves that help purify the air in your home. They come in several different interesting leaf patterns and can add a bit of greenery to any room in your home regardless of natural light exposure.

Ferns

Ferns are understory plants in the wild, meaning they'll grow perfectly well in lower-light environments. However, ferns also require high humidity to flourish. Ferns make great bathroom or kitchen plants, as they can benefit from the extra steam and moisture. Otherwise, you may want to use a small humidifier to keep your ferns lush and happy.

ZZ Plants

ZZ Plants are another frequent addition to "hard to kill" houseplant lists. Not only do ZZ plants thrive in low light, they can actually flourish in only artificial light. They're a common choice for office buildings and other locations without windows, as they can use fluorescent and LED light to photosynthesize. ZZ plants are highly toxic if eaten by humans or animals, however, so keep them away from pets and children if you choose to grow them at home.

Maranta

Maranta are also called "prayer plants" because of their changing leaf position throughout the day. An incredibly efficient plant, marantas will lower their leaves to absorb the maximum amount of light during the day and then fold upright at night to conserve energy. In addition to being interesting living decor, prayer plants are wonderful for lower light environments. Similarly to ferns, they like high humidity, so consider keeping one in your bathroom or close to a humidifier.