It is a no-brainer that plants, big or small, need some degree of sunlight to survive and develop properly. However, the non-availability of bright light in your home should not discourage you.
There are so many plants that naturally love the shade and can very well thrive under indirect light or, worse still, artificial light from fluorescent.
Knowledge is the key, they say. We are bringing to your doorstep the knowledge you need to give your home a touch of nature regardless of low light conditions.
In this article, we will be talking about some of the most beautiful small houseplants and succulents that thrive in low light!
Jump to:
- 25 Small Houseplants/Succulents That Thrive In Low Light
- 1. ZZ Plant ‘Zamioculcas Zamiifolia’
- 2. Chinese Evergreen Plant
- 3. Cast Iron Plant
- 4. Pinwheel Desert Rose ‘Aeonium arboreum’
- 5. Lucky Bamboo Plant
- 6. Monstera Plant
- 7. Chandelier Plant ‘Kalanchoe blossfeldiana’
- 8. Bear Paws ‘Cotyledon tomentosa.’
- 9. Christmas Cactus ‘Schlumbergera x buckleyi’
- 10. Snake Aloe ‘Aloe broomii’
- 11. Cylindrical Snake Plant ‘Sansevieria cylindrica’
- 12. Heart-Leaf Philodendron
- 13. Ice plant ‘Delosperma spp., Lampranthus spp.
- 14. Mistletoe Cactus ‘Rhipsalis baccifera.’
- 15. Ox Tongue ‘Gasteria spp.’
- 16. Ponytail Palm ‘Beaucarnea recurvata.’
- 17. Calathea Peacock
- 18. Purple Wood Spurge Euphorbia amygdaloides ‘Purpurea.’
- 19. String of buttons ‘Crassula perforata.’
- 20. Windowpane Plant ‘Haworthia turgida suberecta.’
- 21. Bromeliad
- 22. Spider Plant
- 23. Schefflera Arboricola
- 24. Philodendron Brasil
- 25. Bird’s Nest Fern
- Conclusion
25 Small Houseplants/Succulents That Thrive In Low Light
1. ZZ Plant ‘Zamioculcas Zamiifolia’
The ZZ plant is precisely the opposite of what it looks like. It has shiny, waxy tender-looking leaves but, in reality, rugged and almost indestructible.
The plant is tolerant of low light conditions and can survive with a minimal supply of artificial light.
They also thrive in dry environments and require intense watering to grow well.
ZZ plants, also known as Zanzibar Gems, have a height range of 3 - 4ft.
2. Chinese Evergreen Plant
Looking for a houseplant that can thrive under low light while requiring less attention? This plant is what you need.
The Chinese Evergreen detests the sun, and too much of it will make their leaves wilt. They can get by with light from just a bulb.
When mature, they spot bright white blooms that can almost be mistaken for callalilies.
Do note that the specie in question here is those with very dark leaves as variegated species that spot cream or silver markings require more light.
Water this plant once every 7 - 10 days and apply fertilizer at least twice a year.
3. Cast Iron Plant
The name of this plant gives you a hint of what it is all about. Cast Irons are very sturdy plants that do not require too much attention. They can thrive with just a minimal supply of light.
Key points to note when growing this plant is to avoid overwatering or repotting unnecessarily, as that can damage or even kill the plant.
4. Pinwheel Desert Rose ‘Aeonium arboreum’
This is a perennial succulent with a compact size of 4ft. It has got a fleshy rosette in different variegated colors.
Pinwheel Desert Rose is tolerant of diverse lighting conditions and can thrive well in low light.
5. Lucky Bamboo Plant
These plants are low-maintenance ones that are very well-content, grown in a container or vase filled with water and under very low light.
It would be best to carefully water the plant only with distilled water, as they are sensitive and react adversely to chemicals like chlorine usually found in tap water.
Fun Fact: the lucky Bamboo plant is said to bring good fortune to its owners.
6. Monstera Plant
This plant has big, bold, and bright leaves that surprisingly get stunning holes as they develop. This plant gives your space an exquisite touch.
Monsteras are natural climbers but can be controlled with a moss-coated stick or trellis.
They will fare well with any level of light, including low light.
7. Chandelier Plant ‘Kalanchoe blossfeldiana’
This perennial succulent is closely related to the Jade plant.
Chandeliers are small. They grow no taller and broader than 18 inches, but they give you quite a show with their lovely scallop-shaped leaves and unique foliage.
Chandeliers are low-maintenance plants that bloom for quite a long time.
They do very well in partial shade and are available in different colors.
8. Bear Paws ‘Cotyledon tomentosa.’
This perennial succulent grows just about 1 foot only. Their size and low-light tolerant features make them perfect houseplants.
The name ‘Bear paws’ was inspired by its thick leaves with dark red colored edges that look just like Bear Paws.
Avoid overwatering with this plant by watering only when the top two inches of soil feels dry.
9. Christmas Cactus ‘Schlumbergera x buckleyi’
With a compact size range of 6-12 inches in height and 12-24 inches spread, the low-light tolerant Christmas Cactus deserves a spot on this list.
Christmas Cactus can thrive indoors all season long. They detest sunlight as it makes their colors fade.
Water this perennial succulent only when the top 2 inches of soil feel dry.
10. Snake Aloe ‘Aloe broomii’
This is a perennial succulent with a height and width size range of 2-4ft. They have got beautiful spiky leaves that come in a rosette shape.
Snake Aloe is a highly shade-tolerant succulent, and on no account should they be moved to sunny spots in the home as that may hurt them.
11. Cylindrical Snake Plant ‘Sansevieria cylindrica’
This plant has cylindrical, grayish-green striped leaves, hence its name.
The perennial succulent has a height range of 4-6ft tall and 1-2ft wide.
The Cylindrical Snake Plant requires very minimal light and, as such, is perfect for those without much sunlight in their homes.
Feel the top 2 inches of the soil and water only if dry.
12. Heart-Leaf Philodendron
This plant spots beautiful heart-shaped, glossy leaves that add a spark to your space. However, regular pruning must be carried out for them to grow uniformly and not in long single stems.
Water sparingly about once every one or two weeks. This is because overwatering can turn its vibrant leaves yellow and stems black.
13. Ice plant ‘Delosperma spp., Lampranthus spp.
Ice plants are perennial succulents that grow no higher than 6 inches tall and 24 inches wide.
This plant has foliage with little hairs on them, looking just like ice crystals under the reflection of light.
The lush leaves of this plant add a unique touch to your indoor space.
The full sun, no doubt, helps in fostering the speedy growth of this plant, but they are sturdy enough to thrive still under low light.
Water only when the soil feels dry to the touch.
14. Mistletoe Cactus ‘Rhipsalis baccifera.’
We love how the stems of this plant trail arch down the sides of hanging baskets. This plant thrives effortlessly in low-light areas and detests harsh sunlight.
It has a height size of 6ft, and a 2ft spread when planted indoors.
15. Ox Tongue ‘Gasteria spp.’
This perennial succulent feature leaves as long as an Ox’s tongue with rough textures. Variants of this plant abound in stunning colors and patterns that add beauty to your home.
This native South African plant tolerates shade comfortably and can quickly grow in low-light areas.
They have a height range of 4-24 inches and 12 inches spread.
16. Ponytail Palm ‘Beaucarnea recurvata.’
Ponytail palms are perennial succulents with strappy leaves that introduce a tropical feel to your indoor space.
Even though the plant can get as big as 6ft, they are slow-growing and doubtful to grow that big when planted indoors.
Ponytail palms are low-maintenance succulents that prefer bright light but can comfortably thrive in medium and low-light areas.
17. Calathea Peacock
Many benefits are attached to growing this medium/low light-loving houseplant.
They purify the air, are non-toxic to humans and pets, and provide stunning aesthetics with red and pink dots that make a difference in your home.
Have the Calathea Peacock plant watered at most every three days.
18. Purple Wood Spurge Euphorbia amygdaloides ‘Purpurea.’
This adorable perennial succulent offers fascinating visual delight. They are compact plants with a 3ft height and 1ft spread.
Its leaves are dark green with a brilliant dash of purple. When they bloom, they feature sunny yellow flowers that combine beautifully with their strappy purple foliage.
Purple Wood Spurge are shade-loving succulents and would have no problem thriving in low-light areas.
Avoid overwatering the plant, as that may lead to root rot.
19. String of buttons ‘Crassula perforata.’
This is a perennial succulent that is low-maintenance in every sense of the word. They are tolerant of most lighting, temperature, and water conditions—a typical example of an easy-care plant that anyone, including novices, can grow.
The string of buttons requires some light but can make do with the artificial ones provided.
They have a mature height size of about 18 inches.
20. Windowpane Plant ‘Haworthia turgida suberecta.’
These perennial succulents form an attractive rosette of triangular-shaped translucent leaves.
Their triangle-shaped delicate leaves stand as the feature that distinguishes them from other variants.
Windowpane Plants are shade-loving plants, perfect for low-light areas.
They have a height and width size range of 3-5 inches.
21. Bromeliad
This houseplant turns your home into the tropics!
Bromeliads are low-maintenance plants; they are only to be watered about once a week when the soil is likely to be dry, thrive in humid conditions, and so, can very well be placed in bathrooms, and they can survive comfortably with artificial lighting too.
For best results, plant in rich soil in pots with suitable drainage holes. You should touch the first 2 inches of soil to confirm if it is dry before you water it.
22. Spider Plant
Spider plants are non-problematic houseplants that can be left unattended sometimes and still manage quite well.
They are super sturdy plants that are easy to grow and maintain. They adjust well to most conditions and thrive well in low-light conditions.
For best results, plant in evenly moist soil and water sparingly, like once weekly.
23. Schefflera Arboricola
This is a tremendous low-light plant. They are slow-growing plants which makes them perfect for houseplant lovers with small spaces.
Schefflera Arboricola is nicknamed ‘dwarf umbrella plant,’ they detest bright light and does not crave to be watered so often.
At least watering once every ten days is ideal. They have a mature height size of 4ft.
24. Philodendron Brasil
Philodendron Brasils naturally thrive in bright indirect sunlight, but they can very well succeed in medium and low indirect light.
This plant can be found available in different colors and require watering at least once a week.
They grow from the soil line to the tip of the foliage and have a mature size range of 3 - 6 inches.
Philodendron Brasil has been proven toxic to pets, so keep them away from ingesting it.
25. Bird’s Nest Fern
The distinct shape of this plant's leaves and unusual rippled edges is one striking feature of this plant. Not to mention its crispy, sturdy foliage.
Bird’s Nest Fern are small houseplants that prefer medium indirect light but thrive under low light conditions.
Have them watered every one to two weeks. As an added advantage, the plant is non-toxic to pets.
Conclusion
The popularity of houseplants and succulents among gardeners increases by the day. They are mostly known to be drought-tolerant, but the knowledge that many shade-loving ones exist too is unknown to many.
Well, say goodbye to your days of ignorance, as you must have read up on our list of small houseplants and succulents that comfortably thrive in low light.
Go ahead and light up dark areas of your space with the fantastic plants above.
