The most reliable indoor plants that don’t need sun are the ZZ plant, snake plant, cast iron plant, and parlor palm, because each one keeps healthy leaves on the weak light of a north window or a spot deep in a room.
Pothos, heartleaf philodendron, Chinese evergreen, peace lily, and Dracaena ‘Janet Craig’ round out my list of low-light houseplants for dim rooms.
There’s a catch, though. Every plant needs some light to make food, so “no sun” really means “no direct sun.” If your room has no window at all, you’ll need a lamp or grow light to keep any of these alive for the long haul.
What Does “No Sun” Actually Mean for a Houseplant?
“No sun” means a plant can live without direct sunbeams hitting its leaves, but it still needs daylight or electric light every day. Plants that don’t need sunlight in the direct sense still run on light for photosynthesis, just less of it.
Here are the light terms I use throughout this article:
- Direct sun: a sunny south or west window where rays hit the leaves.
- Bright indirect light: near a window but out of the sun’s rays.
- Low light: a north window or a spot deep in a room.
Low-light plants tolerate that last category. A north window and a windowless closet are very different, so it helps to know which one you’re working with.
How Much Light Does a North-Facing Window Provide?
A north-facing window gives steady, soft light all day with almost no direct sun. In the US, that makes it the classic low-light window, and every plant on my list handles it well.
Light drops fast as you move away from the glass. A plant 2 feet from a north window gets far more than one 8 feet back in a corner.
My advice is to keep low-light plants within about 3 to 6 feet of the window if you can.
Season and region change things too. A north window in Seattle in December is much dimmer than one in Phoenix in June. In the Northeast and Pacific Northwest, I’d slide plants a little closer to the glass from November through February.
Can a Plant Grow in a Windowless Room?
A plant can live in a windowless room only if it gets electric light for many hours a day. ZZ plants can do fine in windowless offices as long as they get several hours of electric light daily.
At home, a ceiling fixture you switch on for an hour at night won’t cut it. Put the plant close to a lamp, or use LED grow lights on a timer for 10 to 12 hours a day.
If you’re shopping for one, my picks of grow lights for indoor plants cover options that fit on a shelf or desk.
ZZ Plant for a Dim Room and Infrequent Watering
The ZZ plant is my first pick for a dark room because it stores water in thick underground rhizomes and keeps its glossy leaves in very little light. Among low-light indoor plants, it’s the one I’d hand to someone who forgets to water.
It grows slowly in dim spots, and that’s normal. Most ZZ plants die from too much water, not too little light.
Where to Place a ZZ Plant
Put a ZZ plant within a few feet of a north or east window for the best color and steady growth. It will also live farther back in a room or under office lights, but expect few or no new stems there.
Keep it out of hot afternoon sun from a south or west window, which bleaches and scorches the leaflets. Temperatures between 60°F and 75°F suit it, and it shouldn’t sit near drafts below 45°F.
If stems lean hard toward the window, that’s your cue to move it a foot or two closer.
When to Water Its Rhizomes
Water a ZZ plant only when the soil has dried out completely. Overwatering is the main problem with this plant, because soggy soil rots the rhizomes.
In a dim room, that often means once every 3 to 4 weeks, and even less in winter. Water slowly until it runs out the drainage holes, then dump the saucer.
Yellow leaves and soft, mushy stems at the base are early warnings of rot. ZZ plant is not on the ASPCA toxic plant list, but it contains calcium oxalate crystals, so keep it away from pets that chew.
Snake Plant for Tight Spaces and Dry Soil
The snake plant (Sansevieria trifasciata, now often sold as Dracaena trifasciata) fits narrow corners and handles dim light and dry air with little fuss. Its upright leaves take up very little floor space, which makes it great beside a dresser or in a hallway.
Low light slows it way down, and water is the thing to watch.
How Low Light Changes Its Growth
In low light, a snake plant may go months without a new leaf. That’s fine, and the plant isn’t sick.
Variegated types with yellow edges can fade a bit in deep shade. Very dim spots also produce thinner, floppier leaves over time, so if leaves start bending over, move the plant closer to a window.
Why Dry Soil Matters More Than a Watering Schedule
A snake plant rots fast in wet soil, so I always check the soil instead of watering by the calendar. Push a finger down 2 inches; if there’s any moisture, wait.
In a dim room, the soil may stay damp for 3 to 6 weeks after a watering. Use a cactus mix or regular potting soil mixed with perlite, and pick a pot with a drainage hole.
The ASPCA lists snake plant as toxic to cats and dogs. It causes stomach upset if eaten.
Cast Iron Plant for a Shady Floor Spot
The cast iron plant (Aspidistra elatior) is my top floor plant for the darkest corners of a home. It earned its name in Victorian parlors that were dim and smoky, and it still shrugs off shade, cool rooms, and missed waterings.
It’s also listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs by the ASPCA.
What to Expect From Its Slow Growth
Expect only a few new leaves a year from a cast iron plant in low light. Each leaf can grow up to about 2 feet long, and the plant reaches 2 to 3 feet tall.
Because it grows so slowly, buy the size you want. A small pot won’t become a big clump anytime soon.
Keep it out of direct sun, which burns the dark green leaves. It handles rooms in the 50s°F better than most houseplants, so it’s a good fit for a cool entryway.
How to Avoid Soggy Roots
Let the top 2 inches of soil dry before you water a cast iron plant. In a shady spot, that might be every 2 to 3 weeks.
Use a pot with drainage and a loose, well-draining mix. Never leave it standing in a full saucer or a decorative cover pot that holds water.
Brown, mushy leaf bases mean the roots are staying too wet. Cut back on water and check that the drainage hole isn’t blocked.
Pothos and Heartleaf Philodendron for Trailing Greenery
Pothos and heartleaf philodendron are the two vines I trust most for trailing green in a dim room. Both have heart-shaped leaves, root easily from cuttings, and grow in light that would stall most vines.
Both are toxic to cats and dogs per the ASPCA, so hang them up high if you have pets.
Which Vine Handles Dim Light Better?
Plain green types of both vines handle dim light best, and I’d give heartleaf philodendron a slight edge in deep shade. Its thin, soft leaves stay full on less light.
Golden pothos is tougher about dry air and missed waterings. In low light, its yellow streaks fade and the vines get longer gaps between leaves.
| Trait | Golden Pothos | Heartleaf Philodendron |
|---|---|---|
| Low-light tolerance | Good | Very good |
| Growth speed | Faster | Moderate |
| Watering | Let top 2 inches dry | Top inch dry |
| Dry air | Handles it well | Prefers a bit more humidity |
| Pet safety (ASPCA) | Toxic | Toxic |
Where to Hang Them Without Losing Too Much Light
Hang vines close to the window, since light drops off fast near the ceiling and in corners. A hook 1 to 3 feet from a north window works far better than a basket in the back of the room.
A high shelf beside the window is another good option. Turn the pot every few weeks so the vines don’t all grow toward one side.
Hanging pots can drip, so water them over the sink. For more trailing picks, see my list of low-light hanging plants.
Chinese Evergreen for Color Without Direct Sun
Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema) gives you silver, pink, or red leaves in a spot that never sees direct sun. It stays a tidy 1 to 3 feet tall, so it works on a side table or floor.
It’s toxic to cats and dogs per the ASPCA.
Which Leaf Colors Hold Up Best in Low Light?
Dark green and silver-green types hold up best in low light. Classic green varieties and silver ones like ‘Silver Bay’ keep their look several feet from a north window.
Pink and red varieties need more light to keep their color. In a dark corner, they slowly turn greener and lose their punch, so I’d put those right next to a window.
Chinese evergreen hates cold. Keep it above 60°F and away from drafty doors and AC vents.
How Dry Should the Soil Get?
Let the top 1 to 2 inches of soil dry, then water thoroughly. In a dim room, that’s often every 10 to 14 days in summer and longer in winter.
Yellow lower leaves with damp soil point to overwatering. Crispy brown edges with dry soil mean it went too long.
Dry winter air brings pests, so check leaf undersides for webbing. My guide to spider mites on indoor plants walks through treatment.