Low-light directory
Low-Light Houseplants — Species That Tolerate Shade
Plants tagged as low-light tolerate north-facing rooms, deeper interiors, or rooms with one small window. Every guide here cites primary extension sources for light tolerance ranges.
7 cited care guides match this filter.
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- Direct sun for part of the day
- Bright, indirect light
- Low light or shade
Boston fern
Nephrolepis exaltata- Bright indirect
- Never let dry out
- Non-toxic (ASPCA)
Parlor palm
Chamaedorea elegans- Bright indirect / shade
- Moist, not soggy
- Non-toxic (ASPCA)
Peace lily
Spathiphyllum wallisii- Part to full shade
- Evenly moist
- Toxic (ASPCA)
Prayer plant
Maranta leuconeura- Bright indirect
- Keep evenly moist
- Not listed by ASPCA
Snake plant
Dracaena trifasciata- Low to bright indirect
- Sparingly — let dry
- Toxic (ASPCA)
Spider plant
Chlorophytum comosum- Bright indirect
- Dry slightly between
- Non-toxic (ASPCA)
ZZ plant
Zamioculcas zamiifolia- Part to full shade
- Dry between
- Toxic (NC State)
How this list is built
Each species below appears because its care guide already cites primary sources (NC State Extension, Missouri Botanical Garden, ASPCA, UC IPM, Kew, or Iowa State Extension) for the trait this filter selects on. Toxicity classifications come from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants directory, or from NC State Extension or another named source where the ASPCA has no entry. No species is added to a filter without a citation on its guide page. See full source list
Maintained by Thomas Joseph.