Best Plants for Dark Rooms

Inadequate lighting can make any room feel dull and uninviting. However, with the right selection of plants, you can transform even the darkest corners of your home into lively and vibrant spaces. To help you bring life and freshness to your home, I’ve put together a comprehensive list of the 50 best plants for dark rooms that can thrive in low-light conditions. Not only will this list include the names of the plants, but it will also provide you with valuable information on how to care for them and position them for maximum effect. With these tips and tricks, you can easily turn your dimly lit spaces into verdant, thriving corners of your home.

Best Plants for Dark Rooms

Flowering plants add a welcome pop of color and vibrancy to dark spaces. Here are some of the best low-light bloomers to brighten your home.

1. Orchids

These elegant blooms are one of the most popular houseplants for a reason – their showy, delicate flowers thrive in shady spots and add a touch of class to any decor. Go for phalaenopsis or moth orchids, which do best in low light. Display them in hanging baskets or on plant stands near windows.

2. Peace Lilies

Peace lilies add a tranquil, refreshing vibe with their graceful white flowers and lush green leaves. They flourish in low light and are easy to care for – let the soil dry out between waterings. Place peace lilies on side tables or any dim corner.

3. Chinese Evergreens

These plants produce a year-round show of colorful leaves in red, pink, white, and green hues, needing only moderate indirect light. Their shiny foliage packs a punch in darker rooms – situate them anywhere from mantels to shelves.

4. Lucky Bamboo

Technically a type of Dracaena, lucky bamboo branches bring a relaxed, Zen vibe with minimal care. Display the slender, upright canes in vases of water or soil. Lucky bamboo adapts well to low light spots, creating a soothing accent.

5. Anthurium

Make a bold statement with the glossy, heart-shaped blooms of anthuriums. These tropical beauties thrive in diffused light indoors. Place them on sideboards or as dining table centerpieces to liven up dim rooms with their rich reds and pinks.

6. Calathea

The eye-catching striped and spotted leaves of calathea plants earn them the nickname “peacock plant.” Their colorful foliage is ideal for adding interest to shady corners and tables. Water these tropicals regularly and mist their leaves occasionally.

7. Bromeliads

From urn plants to air plants, bromeliads come in stunning varieties that produce vivid bracts and flowers in low to moderate light. Use their architectural forms and pink, purple, red, and orange hues to accent shelves, tabletops, and wall niches.

8. Hoyas

Trailing wax plants produce clusters of lovely waxy blooms and thrive in partial shade. Hang these vining epiphytes near windows where they can filter light through their cascading stems and vines. Their nectar-rich flowers also attract pollinators.

9. Gardenias

While gardenias require bright light to bloom, they will still grow and flower occasionally in lower light. Place potted gardenias in shady spots and sometimes enjoy their luminous white blooms and sweet scent.

10. Begonias

Few plants can brighten a dark corner better than begonias. From bold rex begonias with colorful leaves to angel wing varieties with drooping clusters of blooms, these shade-loving plants light up rooms with minimal light.

Best Low Light Foliage Plants

Beyond flowers, plants with stunning or striking foliage make living works of art. These varieties not only survive but thrive in dim interiors.

11. Snake Plant

Snake plants make a dramatic statement with upright, sword-like leaves in shades of green with yellow or white edges. These succulents tolerate meager light yet remain excellent and elegant. Use them as floor plants or place them on shelves as edgy accents.

12. ZZ Plant

Similarly, ZZ plants shine in even nearly dark spots, producing lush, glossy leaves that give rooms a modern edge. Their waxy foliage stays perky even with occasional neglect. Show off ZZ plants on plant stands or windowsills.

13. Pothos

No list of low-light plants is complete without pothos. Their trailing vines and heart-shaped leaves quickly adapt to become lush curtain-like accents over shelves, side tables, and other surfaces. Just be sure to provide some indirect light for best results.

14. Philodendrons

Like pothos, philodendrons are almost indestructible in indoor environments with low light. Their trailing stems, with deeply lobed leaves, flow freely over bookshelves, media consoles, and elsewhere. They purify the air, too!

15. Ferns

With their delicate, lacy fronds, ferns create an earthy yet elegant appeal indoors. Boston ferns and other varieties thrive in indirect lighting, creating a tropical, peaceful atmosphere. Mist ferns daily and allow their soil to dry out somewhat between waterings.

16. Peperomias

Available in various foliage colors and patterns, such as watermelon and ruby red, peperomias add personality and decor to shelves and tabletops. These compact perennials tolerate neglect but do best with moderate light from a north or east-facing window.

17. Nerve Plants

Marked by prominent veins, the nerve plant’s rippled leaves look painted! The pink-green-red color combos add marvelous texture that pops in lower-light interiors. Keep nerve plants humid and allow their soil to dry out before rewatering.

18. Cast Iron Plants

As their name suggests, cast iron plants are nearly indestructible in dark corners and shady areas. These hardy plants need almost no light yet produce attractive foliage nearly indefinitely, making them perfect low-maintenance additions.

19. Rubber Trees

With their showy, solid leaves in hues ranging from burgundy to lime green, rubber trees pack decorative punches in dim environments. Allow their soil to partially dry out between waterings and mist the leaves to imitate their tropical origins.

20. Dracaenas

From spiky leaves to corn-like foliage, dracaenas offer incredible variety, perfect for low-light spaces. These durable plants tolerate nearly any indoor condition. Allow their soil to dry before rewatering to prevent root rot.

Best Vining or Trailing Light Plants

Vining plants naturally showcase their trailing stems and foliage, adding movement and a looser, flowing feel to the decor. Try these trailing options in dim interior spaces:

21. Devil’s Ivy

Also called pothos, devil’s ivy is arguably the best vining plant for low light. Their vines can reach up to 10 feet long, cascading beautifully over bookshelves, banisters, cabinets, and more. Devil’s ivy filters toxins from the air, too.

22. Heartleaf Philodendron

This smaller, more delicate philodendron variety has lacy, heart-shaped leaves that gracefully spill over shelving and counters. Keep soil slightly moist, but allow it to dry out between waterings. It is ideal for hanging baskets in shady kitchens or bathrooms.

23. Wandering Jew

The vibrant purple and silver leaves of wandering Jews create a striking, flowing effect in lower-light rooms. Limit water to moisten their soil enough without becoming soggy or waterlogged. Trailing over tables and sideboards, they make a colorful statement.

24. Swedish Ivy

Although not a true ivy, Swedish ivy’s dangling stems look elegant, draping over urns and banisters or as hanging accents in shadier indoor garden rooms. Provide average humidity and moderate water for these beauties.

25. Creeping Fig

Clinging via aerial roots, creeping Fig makes an attractive shingled curtain covering unattractive spots like walls or cabinets in dimmer environments. Avoid overwatering for best results and pruning to control its spread.

26. Spider Plant

Spider plants generate creeping plantlets that resemble spiders! Allow these easy-care trailing beauties to overflow from hanging baskets or high shelves where the cascading leaves and stems make mesmerizing silhouettes.

Best Hanging Low Light Plants

You can easily display trailing plants at various heights by hanging them around your home. Here are some top choices for suspended plants in low light:

27. Air Plants

Requiring no soil and minimal watering, air plants like tillandsias attach to seashells, driftwood, and other decorative holders for unique living art. Mist air plants 2-3 times per week and soak occasionally. Hang near bright but indirect light.

28. English Ivy

English ivy features lobed leaves on gorgeous long tendrils, pouring over the edges of hanging pots and baskets. Keep soil moderately moist but not wet. Prune occasionally to promote fuller growth.

29. Burro’s Tail

Named for their trailing stems covered in plump leaves resembling a donkey’s tail, these succulents make exotic accents in hanging containers. Avoid overwatering and situate out of direct sun for best results.

30. Lipstick Plant

Resembling tubes of bright red lipstick, the dangling stems and foliage of these aeschynanthus plants add brilliant pops of color in darker rooms. Water when the top inch of soil becomes dry and mist regularly.

31. String of Pearls

As the name suggests, this unique succulent produces strings of pearl-like balls along trailing stems. For dim locations, opt for solid green varieties over variegated types. Allow soil to dry between thorough waterings.

32. Variegated Wax Plant

This Hoya relative’s splashy cream and green leaves brighten up any shady spot when suspended. As a succulent, water only after the soil dries out to prevent rot in lower light. Mist occasionally to increase humidity.

33. Cathedral Bells

Bearing unique, bell-shaped purple or white flowers, these showy bloomers tolerate partial shade. Hang cathedral bell plants close to eye level, where you can enjoy their orchid-like blossoms.

34. False Shamrock

This charming plant has leaves resembling four-leaf clovers that add cheerful accents to hanging baskets in low-light environments. Native to rainforests, keep False Shamrock’s soil moist by watering regularly. Trim back overgrown trails occasionally.

Best Low Light Succulents & Cacti

Succulents store water in their leaves and stems, making them ideal for darker, dry locations. Here are some top picks:

35. Aloe Vera

Aloe vera plants thrive indoors in low to bright indirect light, producing succulent spiky leaves full of healing gel. Allow the soil to dry between waterings. Aloe removes toxins from indoor air and decorates windowsills and tabletops.

36. Zebra Cactus

Named for its ridges and gray-green stripes, the zebra cactus is a compact, low-maintenance succulent perfect for shallow containers on shelves and sills in dimmer rooms. Water every 2-3 weeks and provide very well-draining soil.

37. Bunny Ear Cactus

Resembling a cute rabbit, the rounded, furry pads of bunny ear cactus perk up dark corners or desktops with minimal care needed. Water every few weeks and situate out of intense light sources.

38. Jade Plant

Also called friendship or money plants, jade plants produce smooth, rounded, succulent leaves resembling lucky jade stones. Their lush appearance thrives with occasional watering and very well-draining soil mix.

39. Crown of Thorns

This spiky succulent lives up to its name – use thick gloves to handle it! But with proper care and infrequent watering, the crown of thorns produces stunning colorful bracts even in low-light environments.

40. Haworthia

From zebra-striped to spiky varieties, haworthias offer diversity perfect for accenting shady tabletops and shelves with their rosette shapes and textures. Limit water to keep these succulents happy in dim conditions.

Best Tropical Low Light Plants

Native to the shady forest floors of the tropics, many tropical plants adapt well to low light indoors. Here are some top picks:

41. Umbrella Tree

This small tree or shrub’s glossy, umbrella-shaped leaves make a living sculpture indoors. Mist umbrella plants regularly mimic humid tropical environments and keep the soil moist but not wet.

42. Croton

Crotons flaunt vividly colored and patterned leaves in red, orange, yellow, pink, and green hues that pop in darker spaces. Provide average room humidity and temperatures between 65-75 F for best results.

43. Dwarf Umbrella Tree

A miniature version of umbrella trees, the dwarf tree’s dense leaves look like a green pom. Their compact size – under three ft. tall – suits shelves and tabletops. Allow soil to partially dry out before watering.

44. Arrowhead Plant

Also called Syngonium, arrowhead vine produces arrow-shaped leaves that trail or climb over shelving, side tables, and other surfaces indoors. Keep soil consistently moist for these fast-growing tropical beauties.

45. Chinese Money Plant

Also called pilea peperomioides, these tropical plants generate baby “pups” like pancakes, earning them the nickname “UFO plant.” Their vibrant green disks thrive in shady indoor conditions with average water and humidity.

Best Flowering Low Light Plants

While flowering houseplants often require ample sunlight to bloom, here are some exceptions that will flower in dimmer indoor conditions:

46. Goldfish Plant

Dangling orange and yellow blossoms resembling goldfish give this low-light bloomer its name. The arching stems and flowers thrive in partial shade, especially when misted regularly—display goldfish plants on mantels, cabinets, and shelves.

47. Polka Dot Plant

These playful plants produce spotted foliage in white, pink, and red shades that contrast beautifully with the green leaves, even in lower light. Polka dot plants flower occasionally with small blooms in the same colors.

48. Hypoestes phyllostachya

Better known as polka dot plants, these houseplants’ brightly speckled leaves in shades of white, pink, red, and green add color to shadier spots—blooms occasionally in the same hues. Keep soil consistently moist.

49. Persian Shield

Grown for its vibrant, iridescent purple foliage, the Persian shield also blooms with tiny purple or white flowers in partial shade conditions indoors. Allow soil to dry out between waterings for this colorful accent plant partially.

50. Impatiens

Available in a rainbow of colors, busy Lizzie impatiens produce abundant blooms even with minimal natural light indoors. Display impatiens in hanging baskets or pots placed in bright, indirect light for best results. Keep soil moderately moist.

Caring for Low Light Plants

To help your plants not just survive but truly thrive in dimmer indoor environments, follow these tips for success:

• Light: Even low-light plants need some ambient brightness. Avoid dark corners or rooms without windows. Nearby lamps can provide supplementary lighting. Rotate plants occasionally so all sides get exposure.
• Water: Check soil moisture frequently, watering when the top layers dry. Overwatering is a common killer in low light! Use your finger to test the soil.
• Soil: Use a premium potting mix, not garden soil. Incorporate perlite or vermiculite to improve drainage and prevent compaction.
• Fertilizer: Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer monthly during spring and summer when plants are actively growing. Dilute to half-strength.
• Humidity: Mist plants, use a humidifier, or place pots on pebble trays to provide needed humidity that prevents leaf tip burn and dryness.
• Temperature: Avoid drafty areas and maintain temperatures between 65-80°F for most indoor plants to thrive.
• Air Circulation: Place plants away from AC vents and use fans to prevent stagnant air around leaves.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How much light do indoor plants need?

Most houseplants need at least some moderate, indirect sunlight from a north or east-facing window. Low-light plants can survive with very little natural light but will do best with low to medium ambient light. Even shade plants need some brightness to grow and flourish.

2. What causes leggy, sparse growth in low light?

When plants don’t get adequate light, they start stretching and spreading out in search of more sun. This results in leggy growth with fewer leaves that are weaker and more spaced out. Providing proper fertilizer and rotating plants helps prevent stretching.

3. Should I use grow lights for my low-light plants?

Grow lights are beneficial for giving plants added illumination. LED plant bulbs that provide full spectrum light work best. Use grow lights to supplement what filtered natural light your plants receive for 12-16 hours daily.

4. How often should I water low-light plants?

Check soil moisture frequently, watering only once the top inch becomes dry. Low light conditions mean plants transpire and dry out more slowly. Overwatering is a common cause of decline in dim rooms. Continually assess the soil before adding more water.

5. Why are my low-light plants turning brown or yellow?

Discolored, dying leaves often result from overwatering, which suffocates roots and leads to infections. However, insufficient light can also cause yellowing or browning. Try moving plants closer to a light source and letting the soil dry out more before watering.

Conclusion

Even in the dimmest, darkest indoor spaces, you can bring life, freshness, and vitality with the right low-light plants. Pay attention to proper watering, humidity, air circulation, temperatures, and supplementary lighting to help these botanical beauties thrive. With the appropriate care, the 50 plants for dark rooms on this list can transform any shady corner, from your bathroom to your bedroom and beyond, into a lush indoor oasis.

Low-light plants cleanse indoor air, provide soothing nature views, and bring much-needed greenery to refresh rooms without abundant natural illumination. Their lush leaves and tropical forms offer striking silhouettes and textures to play up your interior design. And nothing beats the joy of seeing vibrant blooms and cascading trails emerge in surprisingly low-light locations.

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