Best Indoor Plants for Low Light: 8 for Irish Homes
Eight hardy houseplants that genuinely thrive in the low light of Irish homes — north-facing rooms, short winters and all. Florist-picked, with simple care tips.
Tommy Kearney
Floral Designer
If your home has a north-facing sitting room, a hallway that never sees the sun, or a bathroom with one small window, you'll know the feeling. You fall for a gorgeous houseplant, bring it home, and watch it sulk. Here's the reassuring part: some of the loveliest indoor plants actually prefer a shadier spot, and they're among the easiest to keep alive.
This article is for anyone trying to green up a darker Irish home. We've grown and sold these plants here at Kearney's Gardens for years, so every pick below is one we'd happily send home with you. Here are the eight best indoor plants for low light, with honest care notes for our climate.
The short version:
- The hardiest picks for a dark room are the ZZ plant, snake plant and pothos. They cope with deep shade and need watering only every 2–3 weeks.
- For colour or flowers in low light, try a peace lily or Chinese evergreen.
- Overwatering, not lack of light, is what kills most houseplants in a dim room, so always use a pot with drainage.
- Keep them above 15°C and away from cold draughts over an Irish winter.
What counts as "low light" in an Irish home?
Low light still means some light. Think of a spot a metre or two back from a window, a north- or east-facing room, or anywhere you'd reach for a lamp to read during the day. It matters more here than in most places. In December, much of Ireland gets only about 7.5 hours of daylight, and a fair bit of that is grey. A plant that copes with low light keeps its leaves firm and green through a dull Roscommon winter. One that struggles will drop leaves and stretch toward the glass.
A quick test: if you can read a book in the corner at midday without switching on a light, that's low-to-medium light, which suits everything on this list. If it's darker than that, stick to the first three plants below.
The 8 best indoor plants for low light
1. ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)
If we could pick only one plant for a dark corner, this is it. The ZZ plant has glossy, almost waxy leaves that cope easily with shade, and it forgives a forgetful waterer. It stores water in thick underground rhizomes, so it only needs a drink every 2–3 weeks, and less in winter. Hard to kill, and it looks smart in a plain pot.
2. Snake Plant (Dracaena trifasciata)
Also called mother-in-law's tongue, the snake plant sends up stiff, upright leaves that suit a narrow hallway or landing. It handles low light and dry air without fuss, and it's happiest watered only once the soil has gone fully dry. One of the toughest houseplants you can buy.
3. Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
Often sold as devil's ivy, pothos trails happily from a shelf or the top of a wardrobe. Its heart-shaped leaves keep their colour in shade, and trailing stems can reach well over a metre indoors. Let the top few centimetres of compost dry out between waterings and it will reward you for years.
4. Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)
The peace lily is the one plant here that also flowers, sending up white blooms even in a dim room. It's refreshingly honest: when it's thirsty the leaves droop, then perk back up within hours of a water. Keep it away from cold draughts and it'll flower on and off through the year.
5. Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior)
Named for its toughness, the cast iron plant earned its keep in chilly Victorian halls long before central heating, which tells you how well it copes with low light and cool rooms. Slow-growing and very forgiving, it's ideal for that awkward dark spot by the front door.
6. Heartleaf Philodendron
A gentle, leafy trailer with soft heart-shaped leaves, the heartleaf philodendron puts up with both shade and the odd missed watering. Train it up a small moss pole or let it cascade. Either way it stays full in light that would crisp up a fern.
7. Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema)
For a bit of colour without the sun, the Chinese evergreen is a favourite of ours. Its patterned leaves come in silver, cream and deep green, and the green-leaved varieties handle low light best. Keep it above 15°C and off cold windowsills.
8. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
A proper old reliable. The spider plant copes with low-to-medium light, dry air and busy households, and it produces baby plantlets you can pot up and pass on. Hang it or stand it on a shelf where its arching leaves have room to spill over.
Want something a little bigger? Step up to medium light
If your room is brighter than you first thought, with a window a few metres off or a touch of morning sun, you can be more ambitious. A Monstera will tolerate medium light, though in all honesty it grows fastest and makes those famous split leaves in bright, indirect light rather than deep shade. It's a statement plant, and a good next step once you've had some success with the eight above.
Whatever you choose, the right pot makes the difference. A pot with a drainage hole stops roots sitting in water, which is the most common reason a houseplant dies in a low-light room, where compost stays wet for longer. Have a look through our planters and pots to find one that fits your plant and your room.
Five simple rules for low-light houseplants
- Water less, not more. Plants in shade use water slowly. Most of the plants above want watering only every 1–3 weeks, so when in doubt, wait.
- Always use a pot with drainage. Soggy compost is the number-one killer in dim rooms.
- Dust the leaves. A plant in low light needs every bit of brightness going, so wipe the leaves with a damp cloth every few weeks.
- Keep them warm. Aim for 15–24°C, away from cold draughts and unheated porches over winter.
- Feed lightly in spring and summer. A weak houseplant feed every few weeks from April to September is plenty. Rest them over winter.
For deeper, plant-by-plant guidance, the Royal Horticultural Society has excellent free houseplant advice that's well worth a read.
Come and see them in person
Photos only tell you so much — it's much easier to choose a plant when you can see its size and leaf colour for yourself. Pop into Kearney's Gardens in Cloonfad, Co. Roscommon and we'll help you match a plant to your room, or reserve online for in-store collection. We're always happy to talk through which plant will be happiest in your particular corner.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best indoor plant for a room with no natural light?
For a room with very little natural light, the ZZ plant and the snake plant are your safest choices. Both tolerate deep shade, need watering only every two to three weeks, and survive happily under artificial light alone, making them ideal for inner hallways and bathrooms.
Can houseplants survive in low light over an Irish winter?
Yes. The plants on this list are chosen specifically for short, grey Irish winters. Keep them above 15°C, away from cold draughts, and water far less than in summer — most need a drink only every two to three weeks once growth slows in the colder months.
How often should I water low-light houseplants?
Much less than you'd think. Plants in shade use water slowly, so the soil stays wet for longer. Most low-light houseplants want watering only when the top few centimetres of compost feel dry — typically every one to three weeks. Overwatering is the most common cause of failure.
Do low-light plants still clean the air?
Houseplants do filter small amounts of indoor air, and shade-tolerant favourites like the peace lily, snake plant and pothos are among the most popular choices for bedrooms and living rooms. Their bigger benefit, though, is simply making a dim room feel greener and calmer.
