low-light plants

Written by Kala Regan | March 12th 2026

If you live in a place that doesn’t get much natural sunlight, I have some recommendations for you!

sCIENCE BEHIND pHOTOSYNTHESIS

When looking for plants best suited to a low light environment, we should first look at the science behind photosynthesis. So, photosynthesis is a chemical process that occurs in plants, algae, and some types of bacteria, when they are exposed to sunlight. Plants leaves have chlorophyll in them, which is the main light absorbing agent used in photosynthesis. Chlorophyll is what makes plants green! Knowing this information now, I can explain to you why it matters.

The more chlorophyll in a plant, the less light it needs. Plants with more chlorophyll, like a rubber tree, have darker leaves. The more chlorophyll, the better the plant is at converting light into food! We can also consider how light colours reflect light, and dark colours absorb light; like when you wear a black shirt on a sunny day, you heat up much quicker! With all of this in mind, we can conclude that plants with darker leaves are best suited to low-light environments, as they can survive with less light.

Reccomendations

I’ve been caring for houseplants for over 5 years now, and a fair share of them have sadly shriveled up and died. A large reason for this is because I buy plants without considering their light needs. Knowing what I know now, I can recommend some low-light and relatively low-maintenance houseplants to you.

Low light plant list

Best low-light plants:

• Snake Plant
• Peace Lily
• ZZ Plant
• Rubber Tree
• Philodendron (many variations)
• Pothos (many variations)
• Succulents
• Bamboo
• Monstera

These are plants that have consistently survived my low-light basement space. I have had many plants with lighter leaves that have just struggled and failed to survive, and I don’t want that to happen to anyone else!

Variegation

I would recommend especially avoiding plants that have variegation on their leaves. Variegation is something that can happen in plants due to a chlorophyll deficiency, genetic mutation, or in some cases, a viral infection (it is usually a genetic mutation though). If you’ve ever seen leaves with stripes or speckles of white and wondered, “what’s going on with THAT plant?” I can tell you, it’s variegation! Many species of houseplants have been specifically bred to have these variegations, as they add visual interest and overall aesthetic to whatever space they are placed in. My personal favourite variegated plant is referred to as a monstera thai constellation

As you can see in the photo, it is a beautiful plant, but I would never keep one in my space. Why, you ask? Well, all of the white spots on the leaves do NOT contribute to photosynthesis! These parts are white because they contain no chlorophyll, so they don’t absorb any light. Having low-light conditions already, I know this plant would hate to live in my space! As much as I love this glorious plant, I have made the educated decision to admire it from afar.

conclusion

At the end of the day, when buying plants for spaces with little light, you should keep leaf chlorophyll levels in mind to find the most success. There are ways to keep plants that are more needy, but the plants recommended here are the most low-maintenance and cost effective options.

sources

Jones, A. (2022, August 14). How to grow rubber plant (Rubber tree). MyDomaine. https://www.mydomaine.com/how-to-grow-and-propagate-a-rubber-plant-4707869

Bawden-Davis, J. (2025, May 28). Thai Constellation Monstera care guide: Tips for this stunning variegated plant 🌟. Healthy Houseplants. https://www.healthyhouseplants.com/indoor-houseplants/thai-constellation-monstera-care-guide-tips-for-this-stunning-variegated-plant/