Low-Light Plant Finder

Quick answer

Choose the light you have, optionally limit the care level, and tick non-toxic to cats and dogs if you have pets. The finder lists matching plants from 22 common houseplants, each with a short care note and its ASPCA toxicity status.

What counts as "low light"?

"Low light" is one of the most misunderstood phrases in houseplant care. It usually means a spot a few metres from a window, in a north-facing room, or behind sheer curtains. It doesn't mean a dark hallway or a windowless bathroom. A useful rule of thumb, measured with a phone light meter at midday:

These ranges are approximate and are commonly used by growers. Check your spot with the light meter converter.

Low-light plants in the list

Tolerating vs thriving

Most "low-light plants" are really shade-tolerant. They survive with little light, but they grow slowly and may lose variegation. Many of them would grow faster in medium light. In low light, expect to:

• water less often, because plants use water more slowly. The watering schedule builder lengthens intervals for low light;
• fertilise lightly or not at all, because slow growth needs little feed;
• wipe the leaves, because dust blocks what little light there is;
• rotate the pot every few weeks so growth stays even.

Pet safety

The toxicity labels follow the ASPCA's Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants list for cats and dogs. Many of the most popular low-light plants, including pothos, philodendron, snake plant, ZZ and peace lily, are listed as toxic. If your pets chew plants, either choose non-toxic species or keep plants completely out of reach. Even non-toxic plants can cause vomiting if eaten in quantity. If you think a pet has eaten a toxic plant, contact your vet or an animal poison control service immediately.

Worked example

Amira (a made-up example) has a north-facing living room and a curious cat. Her phone light meter reads about 1,500 lux on the bookshelf, which is "low light". She selects Low, ticks non-toxic, and leaves care level on Any. The finder suggests cast iron plant, parlor palm and bird's nest fern. Bird's nest fern likes humidity, so she chooses it for the bathroom and puts a parlor palm on the bookshelf.

Low light with a grow light

If your spot reads under about 50 foot-candles, add a grow light. A simple LED grow bulb on a timer for 10 to 12 hours a day can turn a dark corner into usable medium light. The converter tool also calculates daily light integral (DLI) for grow lights.

For full plant suggestions and placement ideas, read the best low-light houseplants.

Every result the finder can return

The finder filters 22 plants by three things: the light you choose, the care level, and whether to show only plants listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs. With the care level left on "Any", these are the exact lists it returns:

The numbers at the start are the counts shown above the results ("9 plants match", and so on).

A plant appears under every light level it tolerates. Snake plant and golden pothos appear under all three, because they cope with low light and with brighter spots. Boston fern, prayer plant and African violet appear only under medium light. Aloe vera, fiddle leaf fig and ponytail palm only appear under bright light.

How the care level filter works

Each plant has one care rating: easy, moderate or fussy. Combined with light, the counts look like this:

The only "moderate" plant for low light is bird's nest fern, because it wants steady moisture and humidity. The only "fussy" plant in the list is fiddle leaf fig, and it only appears under bright light. If you choose "Fussy" with low light, the finder shows "0 plants match", which is the honest answer.

Worked example: a cat-safe plant for a dim bedroom

Your bedroom has a small north-facing window and you have a cat.

1. Set Light available to "Low (north window, far from glass)".
2. Leave Care level on "Any".
3. Tick Only non-toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA).

The finder shows "3 plants match": cast iron plant, parlor palm and bird's nest fern. If you want the easiest option, change care level to "Easy" and bird's nest fern drops out, leaving cast iron plant and parlor palm. Both are good choices. Our low light plants safe for cats guide adds a few more pet-safe options that aren't in the tool's list.

Worked example: a beginner plant for a bright office

The office has a large window but you'll be away at weekends.

1. Set light to "Bright with some direct sun".
2. Set care level to "Easy".
3. Leave the pet filter unticked.

The finder returns snake plant, golden pothos, spider plant, monstera, baby rubber plant, haworthia, aloe vera, dragon tree and ponytail palm. For long weekends, pick the ones whose note mentions storing water or drying out (snake plant, aloe, ponytail palm, haworthia). For an office without any window, see plants for an office with no windows.

How to measure your light first

The finder trusts the light level you choose, so it's worth checking. A phone light meter app at midday, held where the leaves will be, is enough. Enter the reading in the plant light meter converter. It uses these bands:

If your reading is under 50 foot-candles, every plant will struggle. Our very low light plants guide explains what survives there and when to add light.

Why the toxic plants are still shown

With the pet filter off, the finder still says "Toxic to cats/dogs" next to every plant the ASPCA lists as toxic. Many people without pets still want to know, because visiting animals and small children chew plants too. Toxicity doesn't mean a plant is dangerous to keep. It means it shouldn't be eaten. A pothos on a high shelf is fine in most homes.

The pet safety data follows the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants list. ZZ plant is marked toxic because it contains calcium oxalate crystals like other aroids. If your vet tells you something different about a specific plant, follow your vet.

What the finder doesn't consider

• Size. A parlor palm and a haworthia are very different sizes. Check the plant's mature size before buying.
• Temperature. All 22 plants are typical indoor plants, but cold windowsills and hot radiators still matter.
• Your watering habits. If you tend to overwater, prefer plants whose note says they like to dry out. If you forget, avoid ferns.
• Availability. Not every plant is sold everywhere.

Once you've picked a plant, use the watering schedule builder to set check reminders and the plant care card to print a summary.

Low light plants by type

The 9 plants the finder returns for low light fall into a few practical groups. Pick by the shape you want for the space:

Choosing between the low-light plants

If you're still deciding, these comparisons cover the questions readers ask most:

• Snake plant or ZZ plant? Both handle low light and missed waterings. Snake plant is taller and more upright. ZZ plant is glossier and bushier. Both are toxic to pets. See snake plant care and ZZ plant care.
• Pothos or heartleaf philodendron? Very similar care. Pothos has thicker, often variegated leaves. Philodendron has softer, heart-shaped leaves and copes slightly better with lower light. See the pothos care guide.
• Peace lily or Chinese evergreen? Peace lily flowers in better light and wilts to show thirst. Chinese evergreen has patterned leaves and is steadier, but dislikes cold.
• Cast iron plant or parlor palm for pets? Cast iron plant is tougher and slower. Parlor palm is softer and adds more height over time. Both are non-toxic.

Common reasons a "low light" plant still struggles

Being on the finder's low-light list means a plant tolerates low light, not that any dim spot will do. If a plant from the list is declining:

1. It's overwatered. By far the most common cause. Low light means slow drying.
2. It's below "low". Under about 50 foot-candles, even these plants run down. Measure the spot.
3. It's cold. Dim spots are often by external walls or doors.
4. It's newly moved. Plants grown in bright nurseries can drop a few leaves while adjusting.

The very low light plants guide explains each of these in more detail.