10+ Most Hearty Shade Plants To Liven Up Your Home 1

If you’ve been hanging out with us at construction2style for a while, you know we’re plant people. Whether it’s filling up our indoor spaces with easy houseplants or getting our hands dirty in the outdoor garden, we love how greenery adds life and good vibes to a home. But let’s be real — high-maintenance plants aren’t our thing. We’re all about the hearty ones that don’t need babysitting.

That’s why today we’re diving into the best low-light shade plants that thrive in darker corners, perfect for those long Minnesota winters or any space that just doesn’t get much sun. These plants are low-fuss, look amazing, and bring your home to life, even when the sun doesn’t. If you missed our recent post on low-maintenance indoor plants, that’s a great one to bookmark too.

P.S. Want even more plant inspo? We love the plant care tips over at The Sill and Bloomscape.

Adding greenery to your home instantly makes it feel more vibrant, alive, and inviting. When we gave our home office a mini refresh, one of the first things we did was add a few shade-loving plants by the window overlooking the Mississippi River – and wow, what a difference! Not only did it brighten the space, but it also gave us an unexpected boost in creativity and focus.

Not ready to go full jungle mode? Start small. A compact desk plant or trailing vine can totally transform your workspace. (Psst… this guide on decorating with plants has some great tips if you’re just getting started.)

According to BioAdvanced plant product company, indoor plants can help you breathe easier; they release water and purify the air, improve your health, and sharpen your focus. When people are in the hospital, plants in the room can help patients recover sooner and be released earlier. According to NASA research, they remove toxins from air –up to 87% of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) every 24 hours. Who wouldn’t want plants in their home when they can do so much?!

So, let’s get to these plants that do well in the shade and where you can find them…

Table of Contents

1. Ivy

Ivies do well in low to moderate light. They like being on the dry side, so make sure to let your soil dry out before watering the plant again. Having proper drainage with a hole in the bottom of the pot helps as well.

2. ZZ Plant

The ZZ plant is one of our faves! Known for its glossy, dark green leaves, the ZZ Plant thrives in low-light conditions and requires minimal watering. It’s perfect for those who might forget to water their plants regularly.

Care Tips: Place in indirect light and water every 2-3 weeks.

These plants do very well with low-light conditions and not very much water, which makes them perfect for people who often neglect or forget about their plants, because they can still thrive. They also grow more slowly than other plants, so you do not constantly have to get bigger pots. It’s a great air purifier as well, which makes it a good one for the home.

3. Snake Plant

Also known as Mother-in-Law’s Tongue, this plant is nearly indestructible. It tolerates low light and infrequent watering, making it ideal for beginners.

Care Tips: Allow the soil to dry between waterings and keep in indirect light.

Snake plants are great because they prefer indirect sunlight and low amounts of water, especially during dry seasons, like the winter. I’ve had this one for almost a year and water it maybe every two weeks and it keeps on growing. If you start to notice the leaves splitting on the top, it’s getting too much water and needs to dry out. There are different types of snake plants as well that have various looks and shapes to them.

4. Palms

Most palms do best with light from a south or west-facing window. They like direct sunlight at times, but too much direct sunlight will make their leaves turn yellow-green. Putting them in a spot in your home where the light shines brightly but is more indirect works well for these plants.

5. Chinese Evergreen

With its variegated leaves, the Chinese Evergreen adds color to dim corners. It’s tolerant of low light and infrequent watering.

Care Tips: Water when the top inch of soil is dry and place in low to medium light.

These plants thrive in medium to low light conditions or indirect sunlight. An average temperature of 70-72 degrees is perfect for the Chinese Evergreen, and fertilizing them one to two times a year helps them be their best.

6. Maidenhair Fern

These plants love when they are placed in a location that gets indirect morning or afternoon sun. A spot next to a northern window, with no drafts, is a great place for them. Since they like humidity, misting them every so often will help them thrive and continue to grow. Keep the soil moist, but don’t overwater these plants because they won’t do well.

7. Peacock Plant

To keep the humidity up in the peacock plant, give it a “shower” from your sink or shower with lukewarm water to allow it to get the humidity it needs. A regular water schedule is best for the Peacock Plant, since it is not drought resistant, nor does it like being soggy or too watered. If this plant is in direct sunlight, it will get sunburned, so keep it in low to medium light areas.

8. Heartleaf Philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum)

Often mistaken for Pothos, the Heartleaf Philodendron is another beautiful trailing plant that thrives in low-light conditions. With soft, velvety, heart-shaped leaves and flexible vines, it’s perfect for bookshelves, hanging baskets, or climbing a moss pole.

Quick tip: Not sure if you have a Philodendron or a Pothos? Philodendrons have thinner, more matte leaves and a more delicate vine, while Pothos leaves are thicker and glossier.

10+ Most Hearty Shade Plants To Liven Up Your Home 3 — Construction2Style – 5330 St Albans Bay Rd, Excelsior, MN 55331

Care Tips: Water when the top inch of soil is dry. Place in indirect light. This one’s also forgiving if you occasionally forget to water it.

Pet Warning: Philodendrons are toxic if ingested by pets, so keep out of reach if you have curious animals around. For a full list of pet-safe options, check out ASPCA’s list of toxic and non-toxic plants.

According to Gardening Know How, Philodendron’s care is easy because if you watch for the signals, the plant will tell you exactly what it needs. These plants do well when placed in bright, but indirect sunlight, where the sun’s rays never actually touch the leaves. The top layer of soil should be dry before you water the plant again.

9. Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)

With its trailing vines and heart-shaped leaves, Pothos adds a touch of elegance to any room. It’s adaptable to various lighting conditions, including low light.

Care Tips: Water when the top inch of soil feels dry and place in indirect light.

10. Spider Plants

Spider Plants are easy to care for and produce “babies” that can be propagated. They tolerate low light and are non-toxic to pets.

Care Tips: Water when the soil is dry and place in indirect light.

This plant is considered to be a very easy to maintain house plant since it can grow in a variety of conditions. To make sure they don’t get root rot, allow the soil to dry out between waterings and place your Spider Plant in bright, but indirect sunlight.

11. Prayer Plant

The Prayer Plant requires a bit more maintenance but can do well in indirect and low-light situations. This plant needs “food” every couple of weeks, so an all-purpose fertilizer can help, especially during the spring, summer, and fall months. In the winter, this plant likes to be drier, but still maintain moisture, so a daily misting with warm water will do the trick.

12. Cast Iron Plant

True to its name, the Cast Iron Plant is tough and can survive neglect, low light, and irregular watering.

Care Tips: Water when the soil is dry and place in low to moderate light.

14. Parlor Palm

This plant brings a tropical feel to your space and does well in low light. It’s also non-toxic to pets, making it a safe choice for pet owners.

Care Tips: Keep the soil evenly moist and place in indirect light.

15. Dracaena

Dracaenas are known for their striking foliage and can adapt to low light conditions. They’re also effective at removing toxins from the air.

Care Tips: Allow the soil to dry between waterings and place in indirect light.

16. Bird’s Nest Fern (Asplenium nidus)

This fern has wavy, bright green fronds that add texture to your space. It prefers low light and high humidity, making it perfect for bathrooms.

Care Tips: Keep the soil moist and place in low to medium light.

Shop These Plants

If you’re ready to bring some greenery and life into your home and want to shop these shade plants, we’ve got you covered. Shop the links below to buy these plants and add them to your house.