The Purdue Plant and Pest Diagnostic Laboratory

Houseplants and Low Light


Question: What kind of houseplants can survive in low light situations? We are wanting to place plants in a room that has no windows. We use overhead fluorescent lights.

Answer: There are a number of plants that can survive in low light, including Sansevieria (also known as snake plant, mother-in-law's tongue, or sword plant), Philodendron, Dieffenbachia (a.k.a. dumbcane), Dracena, Syngonium (aka Nepthytis), Chaemaedorea (Neanthe bella palm) , Aglaonema (Chinese Evergreen), and pothos (aka devil's ivy). Unfortunately, many if not all of these plants are poisonous, so one must be quite careful about their use with young children.

--Rosie Lerner (May 5, 1999)

Information listed is valid only for the state of Indiana.


Purdue Plant & Pest Diagnostic Lab Purdue Cooperative Extension Service