Low Light Indoor Plants

What low light actually means

No plant grows in darkness. Low light means a spot where you could comfortably read at midday without a lamp: a room with a south facing window, a hallway a few metres from natural light, or a desk under office lighting. If a room fails the reading test, choose a plant for somewhere else. Good low light indoor plants keep their colour and shape where most others slowly starve.

Choosing the right plant for the job

For a spot you want to ignore, start with the two toughest. The Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior) thrives in deep shade at about 70cm tall and shrugs off missed watering, and Mother in Law's Tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata) holds its 1m upright blades on almost no care. For softness and movement, the Dragon Tail Plant climbs a totem to 3m indoors, and Golden Pothos trails 2m from a shelf or basket. If you want flowers, the compact Peace Lily 'Chico' produces white spathes at just 40cm, and cyclamen add colour through the cooler months in a bright, cool room.

Households with cats or dogs should note that peace lilies, pothos, Mother in Law's Tongue and cyclamen are all toxic if chewed. The pet safe picks are the Cast Iron Plant, Bird's Nest Fern 'Victoria', the native Kangaroo Fern and the little nerve plants, all listed as non toxic to cats and dogs. Our pet friendly plant collection gathers more options.

Where these plants earn their keep

Bathrooms suit the ferns, which enjoy the humidity, while entry halls and stairwells favour the sculptural growers that hold their shape without reaching for light. Indoors they are as happy in Hobart as Cairns, though most are frost tender, so in cooler southern cities keep them off cold windowsills and out of winter draughts. The Cast Iron Plant and Kangaroo Fern are the exceptions, handling unheated rooms and shaded verandas even in cool temperate areas.

Caring for plants in dim rooms

Overwatering kills more shade grown plants than anything else, because water use drops sharply with the light. Water only when the top few centimetres of mix are dry, and always let pots drain. Feed sparingly, at half strength once a month through spring and summer, and not at all in winter. Wipe dust off the leaves every month or two, and give each pot a quarter turn at watering so growth stays even.

Common questions

Which indoor plant survives the least light?

The Cast Iron Plant is the benchmark, thriving in deep shade that defeats nearly everything else. Mother in Law's Tongue and the Dragon Tail Plant are close behind.

Are these plants safe for cats and dogs?

Some are, many are not. The Cast Iron Plant, Bird's Nest Fern, Kangaroo Fern and nerve plants are listed as non toxic to pets; peace lilies, pothos and cyclamen are not. Check each product page before buying for a pet household.

How often should I water a plant in low light?

Check the mix weekly and water only when the top few centimetres are dry. In winter that can stretch to a fortnight or longer between drinks.

Why is my plant leaning and stretching?

It is reaching for light, which means the spot is darker than the plant can handle. Move it closer to a window for a few weeks to recover, or swap in a tougher species for that position.

For brighter rooms, the full indoor plant range opens up far more choice, and our guide to pet friendly indoor plants helps animal households shortlist safely.