12 Low-Light Houseplants at a Glance
One page, twelve plants that can live in the dim rooms most homes actually have — with the light each one needs, how to water it, and whether it is safe around cats and dogs.
One honest note first: no plant lives in total darkness forever. These plants tolerate low light, but a truly lightless room needs help — either a simple grow light, or a rotation system where plants take turns spending time in a brighter spot.
| Plant | Light | Watering | Pet-safe? (ASPCA) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snake Plant (Dracaena trifasciata) | Low to bright indirect | Let soil dry fully; every 2-4 weeks | No |
| ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) | Low; tolerates fluorescent light | About once a month in winter, more in summer | No |
| Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior) | Low to medium shade | When the top of the soil is dry | Yes |
| Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) | Low to bright indirect | When the top of the soil is dry | No |
| Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum spp.) | Low to medium; flowers better with more light | When leaves just start to droop | No |
| Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea elegans) | Low to medium indirect | Keep lightly moist | Yes |
| Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema commutatum) | Low to medium indirect | When the top of the soil is dry | No |
| Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum) | Low to bright indirect | When the soil is mostly dry | Yes |
| Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata) | Low to medium; loves humidity | Keep evenly moist | Yes |
| Calathea (Calathea spp.) | Low to medium indirect | Keep lightly moist | Yes |
| Peperomia (Peperomia spp.) | Low to bright indirect | When the soil is mostly dry | Yes |
| Bird’s Nest Fern (Asplenium nidus) | Low to medium; loves humidity | Keep evenly moist | Yes |
How we check pet safety
Every pet-safe label in the table above is checked against the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants list, using the plant’s botanical name. “Yes” means the ASPCA does not list the plant as toxic to cats and dogs — it does not mean a plant is meant to be eaten, and any plant can still upset a pet’s stomach. For the full details, see our Pet Safety Disclaimer.
A printable one-page version of this cheat sheet is coming soon with our newsletter signup — check back here to get it.