Indoor plants for Different Light levels

When selecting plants for the home, selection should be made based on the preferred light exposure level of each plant. Use the following descriptions for recommended levels of light exposure to guide you in your indoor plant choices. Light levels vary greatly from one spot to the next, so try using a light meter to assess the light levels of your space.

LOW LIGHT
Nobody likes to sit in the dark and, in an ideal world, these plants would still prefer bright, indirect light. However, these plants tolerate low light conditions better than most. “Low light” is loosely defined as within 5 ft. of a North or East window.

• Bird’s Next Fern - Asplenium
• Boston Fern - Nephrolepsis
• Cast Iron Plant - Aspidistra
• Chamaedorea Palms (Bamboo palm, neanthe bella palm, parlor palm, cat palm)
• Chinese Evergreen - Aglaonema
• Dracaena (most varieties except ‘Marginata’)
• Kentia Palm - Howea
• Peace Lilly - Spathiphyllum
• Philodendron (all varieties)
• Pothos - Epipremnum (all varieties)
• Snake Plant - Sansevieria (all varieties)
• ZZ Plant

MEDIUM TO BRIGHT INDIRECT LIGHT
These plants grow best in (or will tolerate) bright to medium indirect light. They should be protected from hot afternoon sun from May to September as they can burn. Bright, indirect light is usually within 5 ft. of a large, unobstructed south or west window, or right in an east window.

• Bird of Paradise - Strelitzia
• Croton - Codiaeum
• Dieffenbachia (all varieties)
• Ficus (all varieties)
• Flamingo Flower - Anthurium (all varieties)
• Haworthia (all varieties)
• Money Tree - Pachira
• Prayer Plant (Maranta, Calathea, Stromanthe, Cteanthe)
• Sago Palm - Cycas
• Spider Plant - Chlorophytum
• Umbrella Tree - Schefflera (all varieties)

HIGH LIGHT (SOME DIRECT SUN)
High light plants require four to six hours of direct sunlight. High light will occur in direct sun from a south or west window with no obstructions from trees, buildings, or curtains.

• Aloe - Aloe vera
• Bird of Paradise - Strelitzia
• Cacti (all types)
• Cactus-like & succulent Euphorbia
• Citrus plants
• Ponytail Palm - Beaucarnea
• Sago Palm - Cycas
• Succulents (all types except Haworthia)
• Yucca