So many houseplants to love, so many places we want to keep them – but not every space has that bright, indirect light that many houseplants need to thrive. Fortunately, there’s a whole crew of obliging houseplants willing to forgo the bright life so our bookshelves, office desks, and darker corners aren’t left leafless. Here we share a few of our favorites.
But First. What is Low Light?
Indoor light can be a hard thing to describe or measure – especially since our eyes naturally compensate for varying light levels. A common trick for evaluating light is to take a look at the shadows in the space during the brightest time of day. By placing your hand about a foot above a flat surface, you’ll know that you have low light if the shadow is indistinct – whereas a crisp, dark shadow shows that you have high light. North-facing rooms, hallway shelves, tops of cabinets, office cubicles – these are all places where you might have low light. And if there’s no shadow at all, your light might be too little for even low-light plants to thrive.
For a more accurate measurement, you can use a photometer, or there are some helpful apps – such as the one described by Greenery NYC – that measure light using the camera on your phone. Keep in mind that many low-light plants need at least 50 foot candles of light for healthy growth.
Sansevieria
If low-light plants have a standard-bearer, it’s probably the beautiful and highly variable group of plants in the genus Sansevieria. With so many cultivars in different sizes, shapes, colors, and variegation patterns, sansevieria is the go-to plant for all kinds of low-light situations.
ZZ Plant
Unlike sansevieria, Zamioculcas zamifolia – ZZ plant for short – usually only comes in one style, but it’s a handsome one. This drought-tolerant plant grows to about two or three feet tall with glossy, dark-green leaves appearing opposite each other along fleshy, slightly arching stems. And it takes low light like a champ.
Pothos
If you want something that trails in your low-light space, then pothos is a perfect choice. Glossy, heart-shaped foliage, an interesting selection of colors and variegations, and a tolerance for neglect have earned pothos a respected spot in almost every plant collector’s home.
Dracaena ‘Janet Craig’
Long, glossy, dark green foliage and a height range from two- to four-feet-tall make Dracaena ‘Janet Craig’ a beautiful way to bring life to low-light areas all over the home and office – including those dim corners. And they’re so undemanding too. As gorgeous as they are, you’d think they’d ask for more in the way of water, fertilizer, or something, but they don’t.
Bamboo Palm
Like ‘Janet Craig,’ bamboo palm is a great choice for bringing tropical green life to the darker corners in your home and office. Bamboo palm gets its common name from the dense clumps of bamboo-like stems that form its base. But like most indoor palms, they’re really known for their loads of feathery, slender foliage at the top.
Natal Mahogany
Like the others, natal mahogany is a tropical plant, but something about its branching and large, almond-shaped foliage brings to mind a Midwest forest setting too. This tall and deep-green beauty does tolerate low light, but unlike a lot of other low-light plants, natal mahogany still likes its water. Consistently moist soil is a must – even leaving a little in the drain tray is appreciated. If you love to water, natal mahogany will love you right back.
Peace Lily
The peace lily earns its status as a classic because it combines some of the best qualities many of us look for in houseplants – ease of care, glossy green foliage, and interesting blooms on the regular. While it’s not a true lily, its blooms are a fascinating combination of spath and spadix that resemble flowers in the genus Anthurium.
Schefflera arboricola
Everything about Schefflera arboricola exudes friendliness. It lives happily just about anywhere in the home, including spaces with low light. And it loves to dry out quite a bit between waterings, so it’s easy to care for too. Even its foliage seems cheerful – bright green and made up of hundreds of little palm-shaped “hands.” Most scheffleras are pleasantly rounded and bush-shaped, but lately we’ve had some spectacular columnar specimens that keep flying out of the Greenhouse too.
A Plant for Every Space
Not every plant needs to be bathed in light to be happy. Come take a look at our collection of these shaded beauties to find the one that’s perfect for that low-light shelf, desk, or corner in your office or home. And if you have any questions, we’re always glad to help.
