Best plants

36 best low-light houseplants

True deep-shade plants are rare, and most "low-light" lists overpromise. These are the honest version: species that need no direct sun and hold up in a north-facing room or well back from a window, where sun-lovers slowly decline.

How this list is built: houseplants documented as needing no direct sun — the low and medium-indirect light tiers that tolerate the dimmer half of a typical home— filtered from Growli's structured plant-care library, not hand-picked, so it stays consistent and checkable.

Plant	Light	Water	Pets
African violet temp & humidity · pet safety	Medium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)	When the top of the soil feels just dry, every 5-7 days	Pet-safe
Boston fern temp & humidity · pet safety	Medium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)	When the top 1 cm of soil is just dry, every 3-5 days	Pet-safe
Button fern temp & humidity · pet safety	Medium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)	When the top 2 cm of soil is dry, every 7-10 days	Pet-safe
Calathea temp & humidity · pet safety	Medium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)	When the top 1-2 cm of soil is just dry, every 4-7 days	Pet-safe
Cast iron plant temp & humidity · pet safety	Low light (north window or shaded room)	When the top 3 cm of soil is dry, every 10-14 days	Pet-safe
Chinese evergreen temp & humidity · pet safety	Low light (north window or shaded room)	When the top 3 cm of soil is dry, every 7-10 days	Mildly toxic to pets
Corn plant temp & humidity · pet safety	Medium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)	When the top half of the soil is dry, every 10-14 days	Mildly toxic to pets
Crocodile fern temp & humidity · pet safety	Medium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)	When the top 1-2 cm of soil is dry, every 4-7 days	Pet-safe
Dieffenbachia temp & humidity · pet safety	Medium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)	When the top 3 cm of soil is dry, every 7-10 days	Toxic to pets
Dracaena temp & humidity · pet safety	Medium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)	When the top half of the soil is dry, every 10-14 days	Mildly toxic to pets
Dragon tree temp & humidity · pet safety	Medium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)	When the top half of the soil is dry, every 10-14 days	Mildly toxic to pets
Fittonia temp & humidity · pet safety	Medium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)	When the top 1 cm of soil is dry, every 3-5 days	Pet-safe
Forget-me-not temp & humidity · pet safety	Medium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)	Weekly watering	Pet-safe
Golden pothos temp & humidity · pet safety	Medium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)	When the top 2-3 cm of soil is dry, every 7-10 days	Mildly toxic to pets
Heartleaf philodendron temp & humidity · pet safety	Medium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)	When the top 2-3 cm of soil is dry, every 7-10 days	Mildly toxic to pets
Hellebore temp & humidity · pet safety	Medium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)	Weekly watering until established	Toxic to pets
Impatiens temp & humidity · pet safety	Medium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)	Twice-weekly watering	Pet-safe
Kentia palm temp & humidity · pet safety	Medium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)	When the top 2-3 cm of soil is dry, every 10-14 days	Pet-safe
Kimberly queen fern temp & humidity · pet safety	Medium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)	When the top 2 cm of soil is dry, every 5-7 days	Pet-safe
Lady palm temp & humidity · pet safety	Medium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)	When the top 2-3 cm of soil is dry, every 7-10 days	Pet-safe
Lemon button fern temp & humidity · pet safety	Medium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)	When the top 1-2 cm of soil is dry, every 4-7 days	Pet-safe
Lily of the valley temp & humidity · pet safety	Low light (north window or shaded room)	Weekly watering	Toxic to pets
Lucky bamboo temp & humidity · pet safety	Medium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)	Change water every 1-2 weeks if grown hydroponically	Mildly toxic to pets
Maidenhair fern temp & humidity · pet safety	Medium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)	Keep evenly moist — often every 2-3 days	Pet-safe
Neon pothos temp & humidity · pet safety	Medium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)	When the top 2-3 cm of soil is dry, every 7-10 days	Mildly toxic to pets
Parlor palm temp & humidity · pet safety	Medium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)	When the top 2 cm of soil is dry, every 7-10 days	Pet-safe
Peace lily temp & humidity · pet safety	Medium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)	As soon as the leaves start to droop slightly, usually every 5-7 days	Mildly toxic to pets
Peperomia temp & humidity · pet safety	Medium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)	When the soil is almost fully dry, every 10-14 days	Pet-safe
Philodendron temp & humidity · pet safety	Medium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)	When the top 3 cm of soil is dry, every 7-10 days	Mildly toxic to pets
Philodendron Brasil temp & humidity · pet safety	Medium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)	When the top 2-3 cm of soil is dry, every 7-10 days	Mildly toxic to pets
Pothos temp & humidity · pet safety	Medium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)	When the top half of the soil is dry, every 7-10 days	Toxic to pets
Prayer plant temp & humidity · pet safety	Medium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)	When the top 1 cm of soil is just dry, every 4-6 days	Pet-safe
Primrose temp & humidity · pet safety	Medium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)	Weekly watering	Pet-safe
Snake plant temp & humidity · pet safety	Medium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)	When the soil is bone dry, every 2-3 weeks	Mildly toxic to pets
Spider plant temp & humidity · pet safety	Medium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)	When the top 2 cm of soil is dry, every 7-10 days	Pet-safe
ZZ plant temp & humidity · pet safety	Low light (north window or shaded room)	When the soil is completely dry, every 2-3 weeks	Mildly toxic to pets

Best low-light houseplants — frequently asked questions

What makes a plant one of the best low-light houseplants?

This list is not hand-picked for looks. It is houseplants documented as needing no direct sun — the low and medium-indirect light tiers that tolerate the dimmer half of a typical home, drawn from Growli's structured plant-care library so the selection is consistent and checkable. 36 plants qualify today.

How many low-light houseplants are there?

Growli currently lists 36 plants that meet the criterion (houseplants documented as needing no direct sun — the low and medium-indirect light tiers that tolerate the dimmer half of a typical home). The list updates as the plant-care library grows; each entry links to a full care guide.

Are these plants safe for cats and dogs?

Not necessarily — this list is selected by houseplants documented as needing no direct sun — the low and medium-indirect light tiers that tolerate the dimmer half of a typical home, not by pet safety. Each plant is tagged with its pet-safety status below, and links to a full ASPCA-sourced pet-safety guide. If you have pets, see the dedicated best pet-safe houseplants list.

More plant shortlists

Best pet-safe houseplants — Houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats and dogs — every one verified against the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant list.
Best pet-safe low-light plants — Non-toxic to cats and dogs AND happy with no direct sun — the two hardest constraints to satisfy at once.
Best drought-tolerant houseplants — Houseplants that prefer to dry out — forgiving of forgotten watering and ideal for travel or busy weeks.
Best trailing & climbing houseplants — Vining and trailing houseplants for shelves, hanging pots, and moss poles — selected by growth habit.
Best houseplants for beginners — Forgiving of irregular light and watering — the houseplants least likely to die in a new plant parent’s first season.
Best humidity-loving houseplants — Houseplants that thrive in a bathroom, kitchen, or by a humidifier — selected by documented humidity preference.
Full pet-safe plant library — every plant, ASPCA toxicity status