Liven up a dim corner with these low-light indoor plants.
Adanson’s Monstera
Create a tropical getaway in your living room withMonstera adansonii.
Also called Swiss cheese plant, this vining tropical plant produces bright green, attractively cut leaves.
Credit: Blaine Moats
Its long, trailing stems make it a good choice for a hanging basket.
If you want to keep the plant compact, simply prune back the vining branches.
These gorgeous plants develop bright green, arching fronds that look great in urns or baskets.
Credit: Jacob Fox
Boston ferns thrive in partial shade locations away from cold drafts or heat ducts.
Flat-leavedHoyaalso comes in solid green or variegated cream-and-green leaves.
This fast-growing vine workswell in hanging basketsor can be trained to climb a small trellis or totem.
Credit: Brie Passano
Two newer varieties offer colorful foliage.
It grows 4 feet tall andmakes a bold statementin any room.
Check outZZ plant(Zamioculcas zamiifolia).
Credit: Dean Schoeppner
This African native will do fine even if it only gets fluorescent light in an office or shop.
It also tolerates dry conditions, so it’s ideal for someone who travels frequently.
Dieffenbachia
When it comes to colorful leaves, few houseplants offer as many options asDieffenbachia.
Credit: Kindra Clineff
Note that dieffenbachia is toxic to humansand pets.
A close relative ofAfrican violet,Gloxiniadevelops large velvety, trumpet-like flowers in a variety of jewel-tone colors.
Use warm water and avoid getting the foliage wet.
Credit: Jacob Fox
Feed once a month with aliquid houseplant fertilizerwhile the plants are in bloom.
Cast iron plant (Aspidistra elatior) is a low-light indoor houseplant that thrives on neglect.
It lives happily in dark rooms with only occasional watering.
Credit: Jacob Fox
Plus, this ruggedlow-maintenance houseplantspreads slowly, so it rarely needsrepotting.
Aglaonema
Aglaonemahas taken the houseplant world by storm.
In addition,Aglaonemadoesn’t mind dry soil, so it’s a great gift for forgetful gardeners.
Credit: Mike Jensen
Originally calledChinese evergreen,Aglaonemais almost foolproof.
Water:Water when the soil is dry to the touch
Aglaonema is toxic to humans and petswhen ingested.
Peace Lily
Easy and elegant: That’s the best way to describepeace lily.
Credit: Kindra Clineff
This low-light indoor plant sends up purewhite flowerspathes on tall, graceful stems.
Peace lily also has shiny green foliage that looks great even when the plants aren’t blooming.
Often sold under its botanic name,Spathiphyllum, peace lily makes a relatively undemanding houseplant.
Credit: Jacob Fox
The leaves and flowers of peace lilies are considered toxic to humans, cats and dogs.
This easy-care charmer sports variegated green-and-cream leaves with bright red veins.
It gets its name because the leaves fold up at night.
Credit: Denny Schrock
English ivy is a low-light indoor plant that comes in a wide variety of leaf colors and shapes.
It’s the perfect plant to grow on a cool, north-facing windowsill.
You also can train English ivy into a variety of topiary shapes.
Credit: Denny Schrock
Size:Up to 6 feet tall indoors
Corn plant is toxic to pets.
Its handsome foliage can be bright green, bronze, or variegated.
Pinch your plants if they start to get too leggy.
Credit: Jacob Fox
These easy-care beauties hold their blooms for up to four months and are among the best low-light indoor plants.
Moth orchids grow in bark or moss andshould only be wateredwhen that material feels dry.
However, they’ll grow more and look more vibrant in brighter, indirect light.
Credit: Blaine Moats
During the winter, mist the plants frequently to helpprevent the leaf tips from turning brown.
Spineless Yucca
When you think ofyucca plants, sunnydesert conditionsprobably come to mind.
Growing only a few inches tall, rex begonias can alsobe used in terrariumsor dish gardens.
Credit: Scott Little
Rex begonias do best in soil that’s always kept slightly moist.
Begonias are toxic to pets.
Ponytail Palm
Ponytail palm(Beaucarnea recurvata) is virtually indestructible for any room in your house.
Credit: Jacob Fox
Ponytail palms are sold in various heights, from tabletop to tree-size.
have made it a popular houseplant.
It enjoys a warm, humid environment of 65F or warmer and lots of filtered light.
Credit: Jacob Fox
Calatheas prefer the soil to remain moist but don’t tolerate saturated soil.
Light:Bright indirect light
Schefflera
Dean Schoeppner
Schefflera(Scheffleraspp.)
is a classic low-maintenance houseplant that has been a favorite in homes and offices for years.
Credit: Jacob Fox
This plant prefers bright light but grows in medium light, just more slowly.
It doesn’t tolerate cool breezes, so position it away from air conditioning vents.
Schefflera tolerates direct sun and is happy to spend the summer outdoors.
Credit: Jacob Fox
Its shiny green, arching leaves brighten the dark corners of any room.
It requires little water and doesn’t tolerate soggy conditions.
As it grows, the plant develops a cane-like stem with a cluster of leaves at the top.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
It doesn’t grow in soil.
Instead, it is usually mounted on a board and hung on the wall.
Treat it like anair plantand mist it daily or soak it in water once a week.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
It prefers a high-humidity setting.
is a humidity-loving plant that adapts well to a range of indoor conditions.
However, it needs a home kept at 65F or warmer.
Credit: Jacob Fox
Fittonia
Fittonia(Fittonia spp.
), commonly callednerve plant, is a tiny plant equally at home in a terrarium or pot.
Size:Up to 6 inches tall
Ficus Tree
Ficus tree(Ficusspp.)
Credit:BHG / Juli Lopez-Castillo
is a tropical plant that prefers indoor temperatures of 75F during the day and 65F at night.
The container size and judicious winter pruning of the glossy foliage keep the tree houseplant size.
North Carolina State University
Dieffenbachia.
Credit: Dean Schoeppner
Aglaonema commutatum - plant finder.
Accessed July 31, 2024. https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=276174.
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/spathiphyllum/
English Ivy.
Credit: Justin Hancock
North Carolina State University
https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/arrow-head-vine
Anthurium.
North Carolina State University
Anthurium.
Pet Poison Hotline
Can You Eat Yucca.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Pet Poison Hotline
Begonia.
North Carolina State University
Schefflera.
Credit: Denny Schrock
Credit:Dean Schoeppner
Credit: Jay Wilde
Credit: Brie Passano
Credit:Brie Passano
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Credit: Dean Schoeppner
