Realise that most plants recommended for low light TOLERATE low light, not thrive in it, and this does include some Snake Plants (Sansevieria). Another plant that does better than most and is often overlooked: Aspidistra. Answer from phytomanic on reddit.com
Proven Winners
provenwinners.com › learn › houseplants › low-light
14 Low-Light Houseplants That Thrive in Dim Indoor Spaces
Try these Proven Winners® leafjoy™ ... in low light. Some of the best low-light indoor plants include calathea, cast iron plant, monstera, philodendron, pothos, prayer plant, snake plant, spider plant and zz plant....
Reddit
reddit.com › r/botany › discussion: what are some actually low light plants?
r/botany on Reddit: Discussion: What are some ACTUALLY low light plants?
August 24, 2022 -
Tired of seeing snake plants being listed as low light plants. What are some plants that prefer or thrive in strikingly low light? E.g. Selaginella Uncinata (bonus points if it's viable as a house plant, but not by any means a requirement)
Top answer 1 of 21
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Realise that most plants recommended for low light TOLERATE low light, not thrive in it, and this does include some Snake Plants (Sansevieria). Another plant that does better than most and is often overlooked: Aspidistra.
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You can easily determine this by thinking about the plants ecologically. The only plants that are adapted to low light conditions are those that occur primarily on the forest floor during times when that area is shaded by leaves. So for example many people consider spring ephemerals such as trilliums, Virginia bluebells, and columbine shade adapted because they only occur in forests, but their entire life history is to do almost all their growing early in the spring before forest leaves overhead shade them out. This ends up meaning that they actually prefer sunlight and only occur in forests because they are outcompeted in open areas. If you're talking about houseplants, you need to go further still because most temperate plants are inherently seasonal; they require a cold dormant period to stay healthy and being inside does not provide that. This is the reason why most house plants are tropical plants: things like monsterras and diffenbachias are all native to the forest floors of tropical regions where there is constant shade and relatively consistent temperatures. Lastly, as many others have said, even plants adapted to low light environments often perform better with more light and simply tolerate low light. It's why many leafy tropical plants can be grown as houseplants, but will rarely, if ever flower when grown as such.
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House Beautiful
housebeautiful.com › lifestyle › gardening › 38 low-light indoor plants that will keep thriving all winter long
Experts Say These Are the BEST Low-Light Plants for Even the Darkest Days of Winter
December 2, 2025 - Most low-light indoor plants originate from tropical rainforests or dense woodlands, where they've adapted to survive under tree canopies and in dappled light. That makes them perfect for areas with limited sunlight, like north-facing windows or shadowy corners where other plants might struggle.
Logee's Plants
logees.com › blogs › plant-lists › best-low-light-plants
Best Low-Light Plants ~ 15 Amazing Houseplants for Low Light! – Logee's Plants
July 18, 2025 - Its resilience in low light makes it a staple for both beginners and seasoned plant lovers. Large, bold, and architectural, Anthurium magnificum is grown for its oversized leaves. Mature foliage develops a leathery texture, dark green coloring, and strong white veining that stands out against the surface. Native to Colombia’s humid rainforests, it does best in warm, moist conditions.
Epic Gardening
epicgardening.com › home › 21 tropical plants that grow well in the shade
21 Tropical Plants That Grow Well in the Shade
July 6, 2024 - This palm is also great for indoor plantings, known for its resilience in low-light conditions. Spreading via rhizome, the lady palm spreads to form dense thickets. These thickets are perfect for forming a privacy screen, hedge, foundation planting, or adding height to a tropical shade garden.
HGTV
hgtv.com › home › outdoors › flowers and plants › houseplants
Best Low Light Indoor Plants for Home or Office | HGTV
September 19, 2025 - Dieffenbachia will grow best in bright, filtered light but can tolerate low light, including flourescent light such as those found in offices. Ths native to Central and South America comes in a variety of heights and shapes — some feature bushy growth while others grow more upright. Grow It ... Monstera, also known as the Swiss cheese plant, is a show stopper. This plant is perfect for adding a big, bold, tropical ...
Easyplant
easyplant.com › blog › home design › 8 best low light indoor plants to spruce up your home
8 Low-Light Houseplants For Your Home | easyplant
A temperate environment with high humidity is best for this plant. ... Like the Pothos, the Philodendron adds a tropical vibe to any space with its bright green, heart-shaped leaves on long green vines. This fast-growing plant's foliage can grow up to 10 to 20 feet tall and spread 3 to 6 feet wide. Though Philodendrons can tolerate a low-light ...
Plant Perfect
plantperfect.com › home › houseplants › 5 low-light tropical houseplants that are hard to kill
The Best Low-Light Tropical Houseplants | Plant Perfect
May 1, 2022 - The lush Jade Pothos is another gorgeous tropical houseplant we love, which is often confused with Philodendron. There are a few varieties of Pothos, but we recommend Jade Pothos as the variegated and golden varieties tend to revert to green in truly low-light conditions. Native to the French Polynesian Islands, Jade Pothos have waxy, heart-shaped, brilliant green leaves that look brilliant when cascading from plant hangers or trailing off shelves.
Young House Love
younghouselove.com › young house love › plants › 9 easy low-light indoor plants
9 Easy Low-Light Indoor Plants | Young House Love
September 22, 2025 - English Ivy (Hedera helix) is another vining indoor plant that isn’t picky about its lighting. Like the pothos or heartleaf philodendron, you can train it to climb or let it drape off the side of a cabinet or shelf. We prefer the tropical look of a pothos, but if you want a more traditional vibe, English Ivy is a great option. Sometimes called a Chinese Evergreen, plants in the genus Aglaonema are shockingly low-light tolerant considering how lush and tropical they look.
REWILD
rewilddc.com › home › low light plants
Low Light Plants
These plants will survive in darker spots than most other house plants. This does not mean they will live in a dark closet. Plants need some light so do your best to give them a bit of sun! ... Featured Best selling Alphabetically, A-Z Alphabetically, Z-A Price, low to high Price, high to low Date, old to new Date, new to old
Tropical Plants of Florida
tropicalplantsofflorida.com › home › shop › low light
Low Light Archives | Tropical Plants of Florida
Low light plants better for indoors
Veranda
veranda.com › gardens › 30 low-light houseplants that refuse to die in dim conditions
The 30 Best Low-Light Houseplants for Dim Spaces
April 22, 2025 - Care tip: Parlor palms prefer moderate to low light and slightly moist soil. Water when the top inch of soil feels dry, and keep the plant out of direct sunlight to avoid unsightly leaf burn. Fun fact: Pretty and good for your home's health? Yes and yes. Parlor palms are one of the best plants for removing formaldehyde from indoor air. ... For some tropical vibes for your low light needs, the dreamy homalomena is just the ticket.
UF/IFAS
sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu › media › sfylifasufledu › orange › hort-res › docs › pdf › 013-Plants-for-Tropical-Shade.pdf pdf
Fact Sheet Horticulture - 009 Creating a Tropical Shade Garden
Light to Full · Shade · 3 · Leopard Plant · (Farfugium sp.) 2-3’ · Slow · Large, tropical leaves · Partial to Full · Shade · Kaffir Lily – Clivia · (Clivia miniata) 2’ · Evergreen bulb · Orange flowers with · large strap leaves · Partial Shade · Peacock Ginger · (Kaempferia sp.) 6”-3’ · Spreading, low ·
Brite Labs
brite-labs.com › blogs › articles › 16-low-light-plants-you-can-grow-almost-anywhere
16 Low-Light Plants You Can Grow (Almost) Anywhere – Brite Labs
June 25, 2021 - Also known as Devil’s Ivy, Pothos are some of the best low-light houseplants for beginner gardeners due to their ability to survive in almost any environment. Pothos feature heart-shaped leaves and often boast unique variegated patterns. The most popular Pothos cultivars include Golden, Silver, Neon, and Marble Queen. Bromeliads are a unique family of flowering tropical plants ...
Gardenia
gardenia.net › home › guides › 40 tropical plants for your outdoor garden
40 Tropical Plants for Your Outdoor Garden
October 9, 2025 - Sansevieria trifasciata var. laurentii, ... Snake Plant, is prized for its ease of care and striking, upright leaves edged in yellow. Thriving in low light, it purifies indoor air and prefers shade outdoors. Ideal for both indoor and outdoor settings, it demands minimal care, making it a perfect choice for enhancing any space with its vibrant foliage. ... Mandevilla splendens (Shining Mandevilla) is a woody-stemmed, twining tropical vine boasting ...