Low-light houseplants
Compared side by side
| Plant | Light | Cats | Dogs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Devil's TongueAmorphophallus konjac | Low light; tolerates medium light | Not documented | Not documented |
| Flamingo-lilyAnthurium andraeanum | Bright, indirect light; tolerates low light | Toxic | Toxic |
| Norfolk Island PineAraucaria heterophylla | Direct sun; tolerates bright, indirect light and low light | Non-toxic | Non-toxic |
| Parlor PalmChamaedorea elegans | Bright, indirect light; tolerates low light | Non-toxic | Non-toxic |
| Spider PlantChlorophytum comosum | Medium light; tolerates low light and bright, indirect light | Non-toxic | Non-toxic |
| Dracaena angolensisDracaena angolensis | Bright, indirect light; tolerates low light | Toxic (1 source) | Toxic (1 source) |
| Fragrant DracaenaDracaena fragrans | Bright, indirect light; tolerates medium light and low light | Toxic (1 source) | Toxic (1 source) |
| Dracaena masonianaDracaena masoniana | Bright, indirect light; tolerates low light | Toxic (1 source) | Toxic (1 source) |
| Snake PlantDracaena trifasciata | Bright, indirect light; tolerates low light | Toxic | Toxic |
| PothosEpipremnum aureum | Bright, indirect light; tolerates low light | Toxic | Toxic |
| Rubber PlantFicus elastica | Bright, indirect light; tolerates low light and medium light | Toxic | Toxic |
| Octopus TreeHeptapleurum actinophyllum | Bright, indirect light; tolerates medium light and low light | Toxic (1 source) | Toxic (1 source) |
| Dwarf Umbrella TreeHeptapleurum arboricola | Bright, indirect light; tolerates medium light and low light | Toxic | Toxic |
| ShoeblackplantHibiscus × rosa-sinensis | Direct sun; tolerates low light | Not documented | Not documented |
| PrayerplantMaranta leuconeura | Bright, indirect light; tolerates low light and medium light | Not documented | Not documented |
| Baby RubberplantPeperomia obtusifolia | Bright, indirect light; tolerates low light | Non-toxic | Non-toxic |
| VilevinePhilodendron hederaceum | Medium light; tolerates low light | Toxic | Toxic |
| Peace LilySpathiphyllum wallisii | Bright, indirect light; tolerates low light | Toxic (1 source) | Toxic (1 source) |
| American EvergreenSyngonium podophyllum | Medium light; tolerates low light and bright, indirect light | Toxic (1 source) | Toxic (1 source) |
| Zamioculcas zamiifoliaZamioculcas zamiifolia | Bright, indirect light; tolerates low light | Toxic (1 source) | Toxic (1 source) |
This page lists houseplants chosen for one trait: the ability to grow in low indoor light. Low light here means a spot several feet from any window, a room with only north-facing glass, or a corner lit mainly by lamps rather than direct sun. Every plant on this list tolerates that kind of dim, indirect light better than most houseplants sold for bright rooms. That does not mean these plants thrive in total darkness, and it does not mean they need no light at all. It means each one can hold up, grow, and stay healthy in a spot where a sun-loving plant would struggle. Pet safety is marked separately on each plant's own page, based on sources cited there. A plant on this list is not automatically safe for cats or dogs, and a mark on a plant's page reflects what the cited sources say, not a guess. If your cat or dog eats part of any plant, contact your vet or a pet poison line right away. This list is not ranked, and it is not a complete record of every low-light houseplant that exists. It is a working set of plants that meet this one criterion, drawn from the plants already covered on this site. New plants are added as they are reviewed against the same low-light standard. Use this list as a starting point for a dim room, a windowless office, or a hallway with no direct sun. Check each plant's own page for its specific light range, watering needs, and toxicity status before you bring it home.
The 20 plants
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Devil's Tongue
Amorphophallus konjac
Low light; tolerates medium light
Amorphophallus konjac is included here as a plant known for coping with low indoor light. For its full care needs, including water and temperature, check its own plant page.
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Norfolk Island Pine
Araucaria heterophylla
Direct sun; tolerates bright, indirect light and low light
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Parlor Palm
Chamaedorea elegans
Bright, indirect light; tolerates low light
Chamaedorea elegans appears on this list because it is grown indoors in spots that get little direct sun. This note covers only why it made the list; its care page holds the rest.
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Spider Plant
Chlorophytum comosum
Medium light; tolerates low light and bright, indirect light
This list includes Chlorophytum comosum for the same reason as the others: it can grow in a dim corner. Its specific water, light, and toxicity details live on its own page, not here.
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Dracaena angolensis
Dracaena angolensis
Bright, indirect light; tolerates low light
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Snake Plant
Dracaena trifasciata
Bright, indirect light; tolerates low light
Dracaena trifasciata earns a spot on this list by holding up well away from any window. Everything past that single trait, from watering to pet safety, sits on its own plant page.
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Pothos
Epipremnum aureum
Bright, indirect light; tolerates low light
Epipremnum aureum rounds out this list because it keeps growing in rooms with little natural light. Look to its own plant page for care steps and any toxicity marking.
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Dwarf Umbrella Tree
Heptapleurum arboricola
Bright, indirect light; tolerates medium light and low light
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Shoeblackplant
Hibiscus × rosa-sinensis
Direct sun; tolerates low light
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American Evergreen
Syngonium podophyllum
Medium light; tolerates low light and bright, indirect light
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How we chose
Tolerates low indoor light
Photo credits
- Devil's Tongue photo by kiwa dokokano, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
- Flamingo-lily photo by Agnes Monkelbaan, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
- Parlor Palm photo by Yercaud-elango, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
- Spider Plant photo by Daderot, CC0 via Wikimedia Commons
- Dracaena angolensis photo by Bernard Ladenthin, CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
- Fragrant Dracaena photo by Tournasol7, CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
- Dracaena masoniana photo by Hannes wilms, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
- Snake Plant photo by Ujlak, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
- Pothos photo by Marek Argent (Abrimaal), CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
- Rubber Plant photo by IsakMarija, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
- Octopus Tree photo by twan3253, CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
- Dwarf Umbrella Tree photo by M108t, CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
- Prayerplant photo by Yercaud-elango, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
- Baby Rubberplant photo by Wikimedia Commons contributor, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
- Vilevine photo by Wikimedia Commons contributor, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
- Peace Lily photo by W.carter, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
- American Evergreen photo by Forest & Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
- Zamioculcas zamiifolia photo by Mishary94, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
How this page was made
- Written with AI assistance from the sources listed on this page. AI is never the source of a fact.