30 Hard-to-Kill Plants That Don’t Need Much Sunlight

Snake Plant

Incredibly tolerant of neglect, snake plants do well tucked into that awkward corner that’s far from a window. Their cool, modern pointed leaves with variegated colors look beautiful in a small pot or a large planter. “Water when the top layer of the soil is completely dry, which usually takes about two to three weeks,” explains Poole.

Bird of Paradise

Might we introduce you to the future replacement for your fiddle leaf fig plant? Lower maintenance than the previously mentioned greenery, a bird of paradise has a tropical look but doesn’t need a ton of care. You want the soil to be damp, but never soggy, so make sure there’s proper drainage in place. Water it when the soil on top looks dry.

This low-light indoor plant will take five or more years to bloom, but in the meantime, its oversized leaves will add a tropical vibe to your space.

Cast Iron Plant

This aptly named plant is pretty much black thumb proof, if you’re looking for indoor plants that don’t need a lot of sun (or a lot of TLC). (In fact, you have to keep it out of direct sunlight.) It can tolerate a bit of neglect—just keep the plant’s soil moist to keep it thriving.

Parlor Palm

If you want a palm tree where you don’t have a lot of sunlight, you’re in luck. This sweet palm will thrive in low-light situations, is perfect for beginners, and look super cute.

Pothos

Going overboard trying to care for a pothos (or any of the several pothos varieties) can actually kill it—seriously. If they get too much real sunlight, it can do them in. “They almost want to be starved a little bit, so let them really dry out between waterings. I think one of the reasons they do so well in office settings is that people forget to water them!” says Poole. To check, stick a finger into the soil to tell if it’s dry, or lift the pot to see how heavy it is; a plant that needs water will feel pretty light.

If your pothos is in need of a trim, you can create new little plants by placing the clippings in a cup of water on a windowsill until new roots start.

Ivy

Popular for outdoor gardens and the sides of buildings, ivy is also a great low-light indoor plant. There are tons of varieties of ivy; some are pure green, while others have white-and-green variegation. Their cascading waves of leaves are very tolerant of neglect and you only need to water them when they’ve dried out completely. You never want them to be soggy.

“While you don’t need to trim them, if you want something bushier, you can cut them back. This is another plant that’s easy to take cuttings from to grow new plants. Take the clippings and put them in a glass of water until roots form,” says Poole.

Prayer Plant

The prayer plant is a tropical plant that needs low light to thrive—though it needs humidity and warmth (making it a perfect plant to live in your bathroom). You have to water this plant weekly to keep it happy.

Nerve Plant

The nerve plant’s pretty veined leaves can come in shades of silver, pink, red, or white, to add a punch of color to a dark corner. Too much sunlight can actually burn the leaves, so you’ll definitely want to keep it well away from direct light. This is one of the more high-maintenance plants on the list, as it requires high humidity to thrive. It’s perfect for a bathroom, or you can put it on a tray of stones with a thin layer of water or use a terrarium to help it maintain the moisture it needs.

Maidenhair Fern

Beautiful but complicated to care for, ferns can always be a little persnickety. “The tricky thing here is that they can’t be over or under-watered. These plants really want to be humid, not wet,” says Poole. “You’ll want to put them in a clay pot (they breathe better) and don’t water from the top. Instead, put small stones in the saucer underneath the pot. Place water directly in the saucer so that it’s hitting just the bottom of the pot. It creates its own humidity dome around the plant.” Keeping ferns in a room that gets some humidity, like a bathroom, is always a safe bet, too!

Lucky Bamboo

This easy-to-grow plant is thought to bring good luck to your home, where it thrives in low light. You can grow lucky bamboo in soil or directly in water—but you will need to ensure that it’s watered regularly if you do keep it in soil.

Note: If you’re a pet parent, you’ll want to ensure the lucky bamboo is out of reach of your cats and dogs. Here are some cat-safe plants you can grow instead.

ZZ Plant

A ZZ plant doesn’t need a lot of sun—you can even keep it in a room without any natural light. If you’re the type who neglects plants, a ZZ plant can survive (and thrive) without water. They get an A+ for resilience.

Monstera

It’s no surprise that one of the trendiest plants is also one of the plants that’s relatively easy to care for (yay!). It the wild, monstera plants grow in the shade of larger tropical plants, so it’s used to getting minimal light. It also loves a warm and humid environment, so they’ll do great in bathrooms and other cozy spots in your home.

Peace Lily

This perennial houseplant favorite thrives on low light and benign neglect—it only needs watering every few weeks, so it’s basically foolproof. Just note that a Peace Lily may flower less if it has less exposure to sunlight.

Dragon Tree

This tall plant isn’t a tall order when it comes to care. In fact, it’s quite the opposite! These plants are native to Madagascar and are drought-tolerant. They can also grow in a variety of light conditions, though bright indirect light is best. Note: These are poisonous to pets, so keep them away from Fido!

Spider Plant

You’ve probably seen this low-light hanging plant’s green or green-and-white variegated leaves in many office settings. “Spider plants grow like weeds if you keep them trimmed, and you don’t let them rot,” Poole says. “Keep a saucer underneath a pot with drainage to avoid that.”

You’ll also want to pull dead bits and leaves out of the pot. “It’s better to cut off a dying leaf or tendril because then the plant puts more energy into new growth instead of trying to keep that leaf alive,” she says.

Wax Plant

Also known as the hoya, the wax plant is regularly touted as a great low-maintenance plant—it can go weeks without watering when you’re on vacation (or just forget!). The thick, waxy leaves can hold on to water for drier times. They do best in indirect light, maybe just a couple of hours in the morning.

Watermelon Peperomia

Who wouldn’t love a plant that’s leaves have the same pattern as a watermelon rind? Watermelon Peperomia can grow just fine in low light (or even artificial light)—and it stays petite if you’re short on space, too. The one place you do have to be a on your A-game is with watering- the soil should remain moist.

Staghorn Fern

Staghorn ferns got their name because they sort of resemble antlers. They have a root ball structure that the leaves pop out of, and they don’t need a lot of light—or even soil—to thrive. You can mount it on a wall if you’ve run out of shelf space for all of your plants.

Money Tree

The money tree is thought to bring good luck and prosperity wherever you place it. As a tropical plant, it needs to be kept moist (though don’t let it sit in too much water). It can grow up to eight feet tall—so if you’re looking for a larger low-light plant, this might be your ideal pick.

Heartleaf Philodendron

Philodendrons have become incredibly popular, and you don’t have to miss out on the trend if you’re dealing with low light. The heart-leaf philodendron is one of the varieties that can thrive in low light conditions (it just needs partial sun exposure).

Aglaonema Wishes

This speckled houseplant is also known as a Chinese evergreen, and is a feng shui favorite for bringing prosperity into your home. It can handle low light and some watering neglect—but place it in a more humid area of the house to help it thrive.

Bromeliads

The vibrant colors and tropical vibe of bromeliads may make you think they need sunny spots, but this super easy-care plant actually thrives in low light—and can even be grown without soil. Look for a warm spot in your home, and water when the soil is completely dry—or just pour a little water into the top of the plant if you’re growing one without soil.

Stromanthe Triostar

This pretty plant requires a bit more care—so if you typically struggle with plants, you may want to steer clear. It thrives in a warm and humid area of the home, and needs its soil to be kept moist, but not waterlogged. Follow those instructions and ensure that it’s kept out of direct light, and you’ll have a pretty tropical plant that’ll thrive in your home.

Dieffenbachia

One of the most lauded easy-care plants is the dieffenbachia (also known as dumb cane). As a tropical plant, it prefers low, filtered light, and does better with under watering than over watering. (You should try to keep the soil moist during the spring and summer months, then cut back as you head toward winter.)

The dumb cane plant is toxic to people and pets, so keep them away from it.

Rabbit Foot Fern

This charming fern gets its common name from its growth habit, as its roots are covered in soft, furry hairs that lay along the soil. Like most ferns, it’s commonly found under trees and on forest floors, so it thrives in shady, moist spots. It does best in humid areas, and will need daily misting to keep it thriving. The plant is dormant in October through March, so you can water a little less during that time period.

Yucca Cane

Yucca cane is a low-maintenance plant that can do well in shady spots—though it will grow faster if you place it in a well-lit area. If you’re an infrequent waterer, this is the plant for you—it doesn’t need more water until its pot is completely dry.

Calathea

The vibrant, striped foliage of the calathea plant will make it a welcome addition to your plant collection—and its easy-care reputation will help you ensure it thrives. It also comes in a few varieties. While it will grow better with some sunlight, it can tolerate low-light conditions, and only needs to be watered every week or two to thrive.

Bird’s Nest Fern

Ferns generally tend to do well in lower light conditions—and the bird’s nest fern is a great plant for a darker corner in your room. They prefer a more humid environment—so go ahead and pop them in the bathroom where they can enjoy the steam. Keep their soil moist (but not waterlogged) to help them thrive.

Anthurium

These pretty waxy red plants are actually susceptible to sunburn, so they definitely don’t need a whole lot of light. They do best in a warm room and indirect sunlight, so bathrooms are an ideal spot.

Goldfish Plant

Could there be a more fun plant name? No fish are involved, but the orange blooms do look a bit like swimming fishies. It’s also called Columnea. They require low light, or bright but indirect sunlight (yay!) and you only need to water them when the soil is dry to the touch.