20 Low Light Indoor Trees To Liven Up Your Living Space
It’s no secret that having some greenery in your home not only enhances your overall decor but can also increase your creativity, boost your mood, and reduce stress.
If you have a big space or corner to fill in your home, consider putting one of the best indoor trees in it. If the area doesn’t get a lot of direct sunlight, there are still plenty of low light trees to pick from.
Madagascar Dragon Tree
The Madagascar Dragon Tree is a great low light house tree, and not just because its name is awesome.
It’s relatively low maintenance and will only grow to six feet, maximum. Also, it’s great for a dark space because direct sunlight will literally damage the leaves.
Best Low Light Indoor Trees You Can Grow Easily by The Self-Sufficient Living
Parlor Palm
Chances are good that you’ve seen this tree in several homes throughout your life because it’s not only beautiful, but also very easy to maintain.
You can basically neglect this plant and it will still thrive. It can grow in a dark room and only needs to be watered now and then. Perfect for anyone without a green thumb.
Best Indoor Trees from Good Housekeeping
Areca Palm
So, this tree won’t necessarily grow its best in a dark room, but it doesn’t need a ton of light to thrive, just some filtered light now and then will be just fine.
Depending on your preference, you can limit its size or give it free rein to grow up to six or seven feet tall (with flowers!). Just make sure you pick the right pot for whatever size you want.
Best Indoor Plants That Actually Thrive in Low Light by House Plant Help
Dwarf Banana Tree
Do not, I repeat – DO NOT, try to get a regular banana tree for inside your home. It won’t go well. Get the dwarf (small) size one.
This tree grows fast when you properly care for it (filtered light and fertilizer) and can ultimately reach 10 feet tall. There are even some variations that will produce fruit you can eat.
Most Popular Indoor Trees from The Spruce
Alii Ficus
This tree grows the long palmy leaves you would normally associate with lounging by the pool – but it’s an indoor tree (so it’s good for anyone in a cold climate who dreams of tropical vacations).
It will still thrive in low light and can get up to anywhere from six to 10 feet tall! Just note, it’s not a great choice for homes with pets or small kids because it’s poisonous if ingested.
Best Indoor Trees for Low Light from Hunker
Lady Palm
The Lady Palm looks like a mini palm tree, and it’s beautiful! At its most mature it will only reach up to six feet tall, so it’s pretty low risk for inside the house.
It also does great with indirect light and only needs watering when the top of the soil its planted in is dry.
The Best Indoor Trees and How to Care for Them from You Had Me At Gardening
Kenita Palm
The Kenita Palm will only grow to be about five or six feet tall in your home, but its long leaves can extend out to eight feet!
It does not do well with direct sunlight (the beautiful leaves will burn) so a space with low light is best. It also only likes to be watered occasionally.
Best Low Light Indoor Trees You Can Grow Easily by The Self-Sufficient Living
Weeping Fig
Don’t worry, despite its name, this tree is not sad and its branches and leaves don’t look sad either (think weeping willow trees).
It’s a ficus with a long trunk with leaves only coming out of the top of branches. It doesn’t need much light and can survive off sporadic watering.
Best Indoor Trees from Good Housekeeping
Rubber Plant
If you’re away a lot or just can’t seem to remember to water your plants (no judgment) the Rubber Plant is a great option because it doesn’t require much love to look good.
It does great with low or indirect light and is sturdy enough to withstand a few days without water. Just keep your eye on it because it can grow up to 10 feet tall.
Best Indoor Plants That Actually Thrive in Low Light by House Plant Help
Norfolk Island Pine
It’s like a mini Christmas tree in a planter that you can have around your house all year long (whether or not you choose to decorate it for every holiday is entirely up to you, but we think you should).
It does best in rooms with low light and a bit of humidity. It also doesn’t need much watering, just a mist every few days will do.
Best Indoor Trees for Low Light from Hunker
Majesty Palm
Another palm tree variation, but that’s because they do great in low light conditions! Plus, they bring a little whimsy to your space.
Outside, the Majesty Palm can reach about nine feet tall, but it won’t reach that height in your home. Keep it close to a room that has a bit of humidity (like a bathroom) and be sure to water it occasionally to keep it healthy.
The Best Indoor Trees and How to Care for Them from You Had Me At Gardening
Fiddleleaf Fig
If you want an indoor tree that will make a statement, get a fiddleleaf fig! Its leaves are giant and the tree itself can grow up to 10 feet tall (but don’t worry, you can maintain it).
In terms of helping it grow, it doesn’t need much! Keep it watered enough so the soil is moist, put it in a low-light spot, and give the leaves a quick mist a few times a week.
Indoor Trees That Spruce Up Any Space by Better Home & Garden
Rhapis Palm
You may know this plant from its more common name, “finger palm” which refers to the long thin leaves that sprout from it.
The Rhapis Palm has a thick trunk and looks great in a tall planter. All it needs to thrive is a spot in the house that gets indirect sunlight.
Best Indoor Trees and Tropical Plants To Grow In Your House from Architectural Digest
Ponytail Palm
This plant gets its name from the appearance of the long drapey leaves. It has a thicker trunk (under all those leaves) and is a slow grower so you don’t have to worry about it taking over your home.
To help this tree thrive, put it somewhere in the house with indirect or low light, water it on occasion (HGTV says it stores water in its trunk), and put some plant fertilizer on it twice a year.
Great Indoor Plants by HGTV
Money Tree
Remember when you were growing up your parents would say “money doesn’t grow on trees”? Well, that’s still true but you can still have a money tree, and that’s almost the same thing, right?
The money tree grows tall with a windy trunk and large green leaves. It thrives in indirect (but bright) light and needs to be watered only when the top of the soil is dry.
The Best Indoor Trees and How to Care for Them from You Had Me At Gardening
Corn Plant
Sorry, you won’t be getting any actual corn from this plant. But, you will get a gorgeous plant to brighten up your home – and that’s almost as good, right?
This tree grows any which way it wants, does best in rooms with indirect or low light, and when it’s only watered every few days – just enough to keep the top of the soil moist.
Best Low Light Indoor Trees You Can Grow Easily by The Self-Sufficient Living
Janet Craig Dracena
Another common name for this indoor tree is Striped Dracena and it loves a good dark corner. In fact, direct sun will damage it.
According to House Plant Help, it can grow up to 10 feet tall, but it’s a slow grower and you can maintain its size by cutting off the tops now and then.
Best Indoor Plants That Actually Thrive in Low Light by House Plant Help
Yucca
Grow this in your home with caution, because it can get tall. But, it looks really good as it’s growing!
According to Architectural Digest, this plant is drought tolerant, so it doesn’t need a lot of water (you can leave for a vacation and not worry about it). Just put it in a spot in the house that gets indirect sunlight and watch it grow!
Best Indoor Trees and Tropical Plants To Grow In Your House from Architectural Digest
Lucky Bamboo
This bamboo (which isn’t actually bamboo at all) thrives indoors and is very easy to maintain. In terms of small tree plants, this may be considered one since it will only get up to 4ft tall indoors (which is small compared to a lot of others!).
The lucky bamboo tree only needs low to moderate light and can grow in water. Plus, it has “lucky” in the name, so it can’t be a bad thing to have around.
The Best Indoor Trees and How to Care for Them from You Had Me At Gardening
Umbrella Tree
The Umbrella Tree is considered one of the few small indoor trees because it only gets up to about five feet tall. You can also manage that height based on the pot you plant it in.
It’s fast-growing and will need to be pruned regularly, but only needs watering now and then (and a light mist a few times a week). It’s relatively low maintenance.
Best Low Light Indoor Trees You Can Grow Easily by The Self-Sufficient Living
Conconclusion
If the only reason you’ve been hesitant to add an indoor tree to your home is that you don’t have a ton of light, rest assured there are plenty of plants that can thrive in darker rooms.
There are so many benefits of having fresh (real) plants in your home that you just can’t get from artificial knock-offs. A little greenery will brighten even the darkest corner, help filter the air, and make your guests think you’re a pro at keeping plants alive (even if you’re not).
