Best Houseplants for Dark Rooms: 10 Easy Low-Light Plants

Not every room is blessed with a big, bright window. Hallways, north-facing rooms, bathrooms and corners a few metres from the glass can all feel too dark for houseplants, especially in winter.

The good news is that some houseplants cope with lower light far better than others. No plant can grow in complete darkness, but these ten will keep looking good in a dimmer spot, as long as they get some natural daylight.

Here are the best houseplants for dark rooms, and how to keep them happy. For more plants that suit a darker spot, see our low-light houseplants collection.

What Does "Low Light" Mean?

Low light means a spot that gets daylight but no direct sun, such as a north-facing room, a hallway, or a few metres back from a window. If you can comfortably read a book there in the daytime without a lamp, most of the plants below will cope.

1. ZZ Plant

The ZZ plant copes with low light better than almost any other houseplant. Its glossy, dark green leaves look smart all year, and it stores water in its thick roots, so it's very forgiving if you forget to water.

Good to know: Overwatering is the most common way to lose a ZZ plant. Let the compost dry out between waterings, and keep it above about 10°C.

2. Snake Plant

With its upright, sword-shaped leaves, the snake plant adds strong shape to a room and is happy in low, medium or bright light. It's tough, slow-growing and needs very little attention.

Good to know: Let the compost dry right out between waterings, especially in winter, and keep it above about 10°C.

3. Peace Lily

The peace lily is one of the few flowering houseplants that copes with lower light, with glossy leaves and elegant white flowers. It's also very good at telling you when it needs a drink.

Good to know: When it's dry, a peace lily wilts dramatically, then perks up within hours of watering. Keep it in a warm room, above about 12°C.

4. Pothos

Pothos is one of the easiest trailing plants you can grow. Let it tumble from a shelf or hanging pot, or train it up a moss pole. It copes with a wide range of light, including low light.

Good to know: The golden and white markings fade towards plain green in a very dim spot, so give variegated kinds a little more light. Satin pothos (Scindapsus) behaves the same way.

5. Spider Plant

The spider plant is a classic for good reason. It's very tough, copes with low, medium or bright light, and sends out little baby plants on long stems that look lovely trailing from a shelf.

Good to know: Brown leaf tips usually come from the minerals in tap water, so use rainwater or filtered water if you can. It's one of the hardiest houseplants, coping down to about 5°C.

6. Dracaena

Dracaenas, or dragon trees, bring height and a striking shape to a room, with narrow leaves on woody stems. They tolerate low light indoors, though they grow best in good light out of hot sun.

Good to know: Like spider plants, dracaenas can get brown tips from hard tap water. Keep them above about 10°C and away from cold draughts.

7. Philodendron

Philodendrons have glossy, often heart-shaped leaves and come in both trailing and upright forms. They cope well with lower light and grow quickly when they're happy.

Good to know: Philodendrons like a warm room, above about 15°C. Climbing kinds appreciate a moss pole to grow up.

8. Parlour Palm

The parlour palm brings a soft, feathery look to a room and is one of the few palms that's happy away from a bright window.

Good to know: Brown leaf tips on palms come from dry air and hard water rather than underwatering. Keep it above about 12°C and away from radiators and draughts.

9. Dieffenbachia

Dieffenbachia has big, boldly patterned leaves in green and cream that brighten a dim corner. It tolerates low light, though it does best in bright, filtered light.

Good to know: It needs a warm room, above about 15°C, and likes humid air. The sap is a strong irritant, so wear gloves if you trim it and keep it away from pets and children.

10. Prayer Plant (Maranta)

Prayer plants have beautifully patterned leaves that fold up at night, which is where the name comes from. They actually prefer medium or low light, as direct sun scorches the leaves.

Good to know: Prayer plants need a warm room all year, above about 15°C, plus humid air and soft water. A bright bathroom can suit them well.

How to Look After Plants in Low Light

• Water less. Plants in low light grow more slowly and use less water, so let the compost dry out more between waterings.
• Clean the leaves. Wipe dust off the leaves with a damp cloth so they can make the most of the light they get.
• Turn the pot. Give it a quarter turn every week or two so it grows evenly rather than leaning towards the window.
• Move closer in winter. If a plant starts to stretch or lose colour, move it nearer the window for the darkest months.
• Don't overfeed. Slow-growing plants need little feed. A light feed in spring and summer is plenty.

For more winter tips, see our guide to houseplant care in winter.

A Note for Pet Owners

Many houseplants are harmful if eaten by cats and dogs, including ZZ plants, snake plants, peace lilies, pothos, dracaenas, philodendrons and Dieffenbachia. Keep them out of reach of curious pets, especially trailing plants that hang down low.

Houseplants for Dark Rooms: Your Questions Answered

What is the best houseplant for a dark room?

The ZZ plant copes with low light better than almost any other houseplant. Snake plants, peace lilies and pothos are also excellent choices.

Can houseplants live with no natural light?

No. Every plant needs some daylight. Low-light plants cope with a dim spot, but they still need a window somewhere in the room.

Which houseplants are good for a north-facing room?

ZZ plants, snake plants, peace lilies, pothos, spider plants, philodendrons and parlour palms all cope well in a north-facing room.

Why is my low-light plant getting leggy?

Long, stretched stems and small leaves are a sign it needs more light. Move it closer to a window.

Bring Life to Darker Rooms

With the right choice of plant, even the darkest corner can be green and welcoming. Browse our low-light houseplants, or our full range of houseplants, to find the right one for your space.

We pick every grower ourselves, and every plant is checked by hand before it's packed.