Plants for Low Light Spaces

A realistic guide to finding houseplants that match your actual light levels.

đź“Š Based on real light meter readings Data sourced from House Plant Journal, by Darryl Cheng

This page was inspired by reading Darryl Cheng’s guide to indirect light requirements at House Plant Journal. While standing in the garden centre trying to use his chart, I found that I didn’t know what half the plant names even were. I kept needing to open up new tabs with Google image search, then by the time I got further down the list I’d forget what I’d already looked at 🤯. Anyways, long story short—I made this page for myself but I figured enough other people would find it useful that I might as well publish it!

The data is all sourced the from the chart in the original guide, and I’ve taken the time to source multiple images for each of the 44 plants listed there. Use the carousel buttons to scroll through them, or click on the image to bring up a full screen slideshow.

I won’t duplicate all of Darryl’s work here, so I suggest you first go and read his article to understand the background for these lighting measurements. He explains why "bright indirect light" is an entirely useless guideline; the truth behind the “green thumb” myth (spoiler: it’s not you); and how to actually measure the light your plant is getting.

Once you’ve read his article, come back here to browse the plant list complete with lighting requirements, identifying photos, and additional care tips.

~Tim

Understanding Light Levels

Interior light levels form the growth potential of your plant. The term "bright indirect light" fails to convey anything concrete. Use these foot-candle (FC) ranges to understand what your plants actually need:

To measure light levels, use a dedicated light meter (like Darryl's LTH Meter!) or a smartphone app (search "light meter" or "lux meter"). Most apps measure in lux—divide by 10.76 to get foot-candles.

Under 100 FC

<1,100 lux

Very low light. Most plants will slowly decline at this level.

Low Light

100 – 200 FC

1,100–2,200 lux

Low-medium light. Survival zone for low-light tolerant plants.

Medium Light

200 – 400 FC

2,200–4,300 lux

Medium light. Acceptable growth for most houseplants.

Bright Light

400+ FC

4,300+ lux

Bright indirect light. Good to excellent growth potential.

Find Your Plant

100 FC minimum (Low light tolerant)
200 FC minimum (Medium light)
400 FC minimum (Bright light)
Medium Light
African Violets
Saintpaulia
Direct Sun Tolerance 2-3 hours
Minimum Light 200 FC / 2,200 lux
Good Growth 400 FC / 4,300 lux
Low Light
Aglaonema
Chinese Evergreen
Direct Sun Tolerance 1-2 hours
Minimum Light 100 FC / 1,100 lux
Good Growth 200 FC / 2,200 lux
Classical “low light” tolerant houseplant. Plant dies slowly below 100 FC and will look ugly after a year or two.
Medium Light
Air Plants
Tillandsia (many species)
Direct Sun Tolerance 3-4 hours
Minimum Light 200 FC / 2,200 lux
Good Growth 400 FC / 4,300 lux
Medium Light
Alocasia
Several species
Direct Sun Tolerance 3-4 hours
Minimum Light 200 FC / 2,200 lux
Good Growth 400 FC / 4,300 lux
Leaves will very likely die back. Calmly repot the base into fresh soil and new leaves may sprout.
Low Light
Anthurium
Several species
Direct Sun Tolerance 1-2 hours
Minimum Light 100 FC / 1,100 lux
Good Growth 200 FC / 2,200 lux
Medium Light
Areca Palm
Dypsis lutescens
Direct Sun Tolerance 3-4 hours
Minimum Light 200 FC / 2,200 lux
Good Growth 400 FC / 4,300 lux
Low Light
Arrowhead Vine
Syngonium podophyllum
Direct Sun Tolerance 2-3 hours
Minimum Light 100 FC / 1,100 lux
Good Growth 200 FC / 2,200 lux
Low Light
Aspidistra
Cast-Iron Plant
Direct Sun Tolerance 1-2 hours
Minimum Light 100 FC / 1,100 lux
Good Growth 200 FC / 2,200 lux
Classical "low light" tolerant houseplant. Plant dies slowly below 100 FC but will look fine for many months, possibly years.
Medium Light
Begonia
Several species
Direct Sun Tolerance 1-2 hours
Minimum Light 200 FC / 2,200 lux
Good Growth 400 FC / 4,300 lux
Bright Light
Bird-Of-Paradise
Strelitzia
Direct Sun Tolerance 4-5 hours
Minimum Light 400 FC / 4,300 lux
Good Growth 800 FC / 8,600 lux
Medium Light
Calathea
Several species
Direct Sun Tolerance 1-2 hours
Minimum Light 200 FC / 2,200 lux
Good Growth 400 FC / 4,300 lux
Medium Light
Cordyline
Ti Plant
Direct Sun Tolerance 3-4 hours
Minimum Light 200 FC / 2,200 lux
Good Growth 400 FC / 4,300 lux
Bright Light
Croton
Several species
Direct Sun Tolerance 4-5 hours
Minimum Light 400 FC / 4,300 lux
Good Growth 800 FC / 8,600 lux
Low Light
Dieffenbachia
Dumb Cane
Direct Sun Tolerance 3-4 hours
Minimum Light 100 FC / 1,100 lux
Good Growth 200 FC / 2,200 lux
Low Light
Dracaena
Several species
Direct Sun Tolerance 3-4 hours
Minimum Light 100 FC / 1,100 lux
Good Growth 200 FC / 2,200 lux
Very low-light tolerant – I’ve seen one last for years at 30-50 FC. It had very long, thin and dark green spindly foliage but it was alive.
Medium Light
English Ivy
Hedera helix
Direct Sun Tolerance 2-3 hours
Minimum Light 200 FC / 2,200 lux
Good Growth 400 FC / 4,300 lux
Lower leaves will drop off – generally doesn’t look nice after a year.
Low Light
Ferns
Boston, Bird's Nest, Maidenhair
Direct Sun Tolerance 1-2 hours
Minimum Light 100 FC / 1,100 lux
Good Growth 200 FC / 2,200 lux
Bird's nest/maidenhair fern – must keep soil evenly moist when receiving direct sun.
Bright Light
Ficus
Rubber Plant, Fiddle Leaf Fig, Benjamina
Direct Sun Tolerance 3-4 hours
Minimum Light 400 FC / 4,300 lux
Good Growth 800 FC / 8,600 lux
If you don't have at least 400 FC of indirect light, your fiddle leaf fig will lose most of its lower leaves. If you have small windows, save your money.
Low Light
Fittonia
Nerve Plant
Direct Sun Tolerance 1-2 hours
Minimum Light 100 FC / 1,100 lux
Good Growth 200 FC / 2,200 lux
Must keep soil evenly moist when receiving direct sun.
Medium Light
Haworthia
Haworthia / Haworthiopsis
Direct Sun Tolerance 3-4 hours
Minimum Light 200 FC / 2,200 lux
Good Growth 400 FC / 4,300 lux
Medium Light
Holiday Cactus
Schlumbergera / Rhipsalidopsis
Direct Sun Tolerance 3-4 hours
Minimum Light 200 FC / 2,200 lux
Good Growth 400 FC / 4,300 lux
Low Light
Hoya
Several species
Direct Sun Tolerance 3-4 hours
Minimum Light 100 FC / 1,100 lux
Good Growth 200 FC / 2,200 lux
Medium Light
Jade Plant
Crassula ovata
Direct Sun Tolerance 3-4 hours
Minimum Light 200 FC / 2,200 lux
Good Growth 400 FC / 4,300 lux
Low Light
Maranta
Prayer Plant
Direct Sun Tolerance 2-3 hours
Minimum Light 100 FC / 1,100 lux
Good Growth 200 FC / 2,200 lux
Low Light
Money Tree
Pachira aquatica
Direct Sun Tolerance 2-3 hours
Minimum Light 100 FC / 1,100 lux
Good Growth 200 FC / 2,200 lux
Money trees will become leggy in lower light conditions, which will require pruning sooner.
Low Light
Monstera deliciosa
Swiss Cheese Plant
Direct Sun Tolerance 2-3 hours
Minimum Light 100 FC / 1,100 lux
Good Growth 200 FC / 2,200 lux
Medium Light
Norfolk Island Pine
Araucaria heterophylla
Direct Sun Tolerance 2-3 hours
Minimum Light 200 FC / 2,200 lux
Good Growth 400 FC / 4,300 lux
Low Light
Parlour Palm
Chamaedorea
Direct Sun Tolerance 1-2 hours
Minimum Light 100 FC / 1,100 lux
Good Growth 200 FC / 2,200 lux
Low Light
Peace Lily
Spathiphyllum
Direct Sun Tolerance 1-2 hours
Minimum Light 100 FC / 1,100 lux
Good Growth 200 FC / 2,200 lux
Very “low light” tolerant – down to 50 FC, but will just barely survive and have high risk of root rot. Overall plant will gradually lose leaves and become thinner in low light.
Low Light
Peperomia
Many species
Direct Sun Tolerance 2-3 hours
Minimum Light 100 FC / 1,100 lux
Good Growth 200 FC / 2,200 lux
Medium Light
Phalaenopsis
Moth Orchid
Direct Sun Tolerance 2-3 hours
Minimum Light 200 FC / 2,200 lux
Good Growth 400 FC / 4,300 lux
Low Light
Philodendron Vines
Heart-leaf, Brasil, etc.
Direct Sun Tolerance 2-3 hours
Minimum Light 100 FC / 1,100 lux
Good Growth 200 FC / 2,200 lux
Very “low light” tolerant – down to 50 FC, but will just barely survive. Leaves may lose color with direct sun.
Medium Light
Philodendrons
Moonlight, Imperial Red, Prince of Orange, Pink Princess
Direct Sun Tolerance 2-3 hours
Minimum Light 200 FC / 2,200 lux
Good Growth 400 FC / 4,300 lux
Medium Light
Pilea
Aluminum plant, cadierei and others
Direct Sun Tolerance 2-3 hours
Minimum Light 200 FC / 2,200 lux
Good Growth 400 FC / 4,300 lux
Medium Light
Polka Dot Plant
Hypoestes
Direct Sun Tolerance 2-3 hours
Minimum Light 200 FC / 2,200 lux
Good Growth 400 FC / 4,300 lux
Should be cut back every few months to keep bushy, otherwise will grow leggy.
Low Light
Pothos
Epipremnum aureum, Scindapsus pictus
Direct Sun Tolerance 3-4 hours
Minimum Light 100 FC / 1,100 lux
Good Growth 200 FC / 2,200 lux
Very “low light” tolerant – down to 50 FC, but will just barely survive.
Low Light
Sansevieria
Snake Plant, Mother-in-law’s Tongue
Direct Sun Tolerance 5-6 hours
Minimum Light 100 FC / 1,100 lux
Good Growth 200 FC / 2,200 lux
Very “low light” tolerant – down to 50 FC, but will just barely survive and be at high risk of root rot. New leaves grown at low light levels will be long, thin and floppy.
Low Light
Schefflera
Mini Umbrella Tree, Umbrella Tree
Direct Sun Tolerance 2-3 hours
Minimum Light 100 FC / 1,100 lux
Good Growth 200 FC / 2,200 lux
Medium Light
Spider Plant
Chlorophytum
Direct Sun Tolerance 2-3 hours
Minimum Light 200 FC / 2,200 lux
Good Growth 400 FC / 4,300 lux
Medium Light
Staghorn Fern
Platycerium
Direct Sun Tolerance 3-4 hours
Minimum Light 200 FC / 2,200 lux
Good Growth 400 FC / 4,300 lux
Medium Light
String of Hearts
Ceropegia woodii
Direct Sun Tolerance 1-2 hours
Minimum Light 200 FC / 2,200 lux
Good Growth 400 FC / 4,300 lux
Leaves get bigger with nicer variegation with higher light.
Bright Light
Succulents
Aloe, Echeveria, Euphorbia, etc.
Direct Sun Tolerance 5-6 hours
Minimum Light 400 FC / 4,300 lux
Good Growth 800 FC / 8,600 lux
Aloe and Euphorbia can stay looking mostly the same down to 200 FC; Echeveria will stretch when grown indoors after several months – it’s inevitable. They simply do not stay compact and cute forever.
Bright Light
Yucca
Yucca
Direct Sun Tolerance 3-4 hours
Minimum Light 400 FC / 4,300 lux
Good Growth 800 FC / 8,600 lux
Often confused with Dracaena fragrans (Corn Plant), which is far more low-light tolerant. Yucca will not perform well below 400 FC.
Low Light
ZZ Plant
Zamioculcas zamiifolia
Direct Sun Tolerance 3-4 hours
Minimum Light 100 FC / 1,100 lux
Good Growth 200 FC / 2,200 lux
Often classified low-light tolerant, ZZ plant will survive with 50 FC but will be at high risk of root rot.

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