Top 21 Plants That Loves The Shade
Even though plants are one of the easiest ways to brighten up a dark room..
..low light conditions don’t always work for them.
As a matter of fact..
..most plants bloom when their light levels are medium to bright.
The good news is that there are a lot of outlaws who love to snooze in the shade.
So, you want to add some brightness to a dark room or shady corner?
Find out which plants you can pick for a light-deficient indoor space in our list of the best shade plants!
Let us hear Kadek’s story
Ella was a little girl who loved plants.
She had just been given the task of taking care of her grandmother’s garden..
while she was gone on vacation for two weeks and she decided to ask her friends..
..for help with picking out what plants would be good in the shady area.
They all pitched ideas and some were weird..
..but eventually they agreed on 21 different plants that love the shade..
..African Violet, Anthurium Plant, Hoya Plant, Philodendron Plant, Ivy Plants (Hedera Cliffs), Pothos Plant (Epipremnum Aureum), etc
Golden Pothos
Golden Pothos is one of the plants known as indestructible houseplants..
..because it can survive even the most horrific abuse, including not drinking, moving frequently, and not getting enough light.
Light is essential for the growth of this species.
It can thrive in artificial light inside darkened areas such as offices and lobbies..
.. as well as cramped dorm rooms lacking natural light.
Spider Plant
The following plant will tolerate shade like a champ and requires little maintenance.
As a matter of fact..
.if the Spider plant has been exposed to night light (including artificial light) for more than a year..
..flowering may be delayed, if not completely blocked.
It has come up multiple times on here, but for the record..
..it is one of the most common and hardy house plants out there that also purifies the air (yes, according to NASA studies)
..in your office or living room, depending on where you place it in the shade.
Peace Lily
The next shade-loving houseplant is this one. In dark rooms, offices, and lobbies..
..the Peace Lily is commonly found since it can bloom even in conditions that have very low lighting.
Its ability to purify the air also makes it a great pick for offices and homes, since it also works as an air purifier.
This is a very tough plant, as we have discussed on previous occasions.
The best advice we can give you is to keep it as far away from your cat as you can.
The reverse could also be true. Despite its nonpoisonous nature, the pollen may annoy pets and children.
In addition, some sensitive or allergy-prone adults might be immune to the Peace Lily..
..so remember not to position it next to your bed if you choose this plant from our list of the best plants for shade.
Heart-Leaf Philodendron
It is well known that philodendrons can adapt very well to indoor conditions..
..unlike very few other plants.
Hanging baskets or high spots, with their elegant stems spilling down..
..are ideal for growing these plants.
This plant likes humidity..
..so it should be misted regularly.
Because it is tolerant of low light, it won’t mind when you keep it there.
Chinese Evergreen
Those cultivars with bright, plain foliage can thrive in the shade..
..while those with variegated leaves require medium light to bright, indirect light.
Always keep a Chinese Evergreen out of direct sunlight.
You can also call it the Ten Commandments plant.
This evergreen is also a great air purifier..
..so it’s a great addition to any bedroom or office.
Prayer Plant
Prayer plants get their name because of their habit of folding their leaves before bedtime..
..as if they were praying.
Despite preferring low light conditions, prayer plants can become leggy if they are fully shaded.
Fortunately, these plants do not grow too large, and as a result..
..are a perfect fit for small office desks, shelves, and coffee tables.
Prayer Plants are also called Ten Commandments plants (because of their ten stripes on their leaves)..
..and make great office plants to encourage a positive atmosphere.
Snake Plant
Snake plants have been a low-light indoor garden favorite for years..
..and this year they are on our list of the best shade plants to consider for your indoor garden.
Plants like Snake Plants refuse to die despite neglect and are capable of surviving for years without water.
A variegated cultivar makes a great air purifier (which matches almost any interior)..
..and it is generally an incredibly forgiving plant.
No matter how much shade you give it, it won’t mind.
Peacock Plant
There’s a good chance you might mistake the peacock plant for the prayer plant.
However, their maintenance is vastly different.
The Peacock plant is a beautiful tropical plant that enjoys some shade..
..but it needs a lot of humidity, so mist it every day or keep water in the tray to keep it happy.
A peacock plant is a very showy and decorative plant, just like the bird.
Although the foliage does not reflect the exact colors of the peacock, it displays vivid green..
..and maroon tones along with being carried very proudly just like the tail of the peacock.
ZZ Plant
It’s no secret that we are huge fans of the ZZ plant and talk about it every chance we get.
The best part is that this beauty is not only one of the most common houseplants and easy to look after even for those with no green thumbs..
..but is also one of the best shade plants available as well!
ZZ plants are considered the king of indestructible houseplants because they are capable of adapting to everything nature or careless owners can throw at them..
..including shady locations and infrequent watering.
Despite the fact that it can go weeks without water..
..this beautiful plant has an underground potato-shaped rhizome that acts as a water source in emergencies.
Cast Iron Plant
Cast-iron plants are nearly indestructible simply like ZZ plants.
The plant thrives in shade, does well in dry conditions, and does not suffer if you move it frequently.
There is only one drawback to this Asian beauty..
..it is slow growing, so it is considerably more expensive than certain other plants on our best shade plants list.
Dracaena Lemon Lime
A lot of shade plants like Dracaena Lemon Lime struggle to tolerate shady spots..
..so this is an excellent choice.
In spite of the fact that low light conditions are not an issue for this dracaena type..
..do not expect it to thrive in full shade.
Make sure you don’t place it in direct sunlight or complete darkness.
Japanese Sago Palm
The bizarre slow-growing palm requires high humidity, low light, and warm temperatures to flourish.
The Japanese Sago Palm is a tough and durable houseplant, just like the ZZ plant.
There’s a resemblance between a palm and a fern, but it’s not.
It comes from a prehistoric family of plants called the cycads, and was first discovered in prehistoric times.
Just a warning, though.
The plant is poisonous, so keep pets and young children away from it without proper supervision.
In addition to that, the Japanese Sago Palm is one of the most amazing trees to grow indoors..
..and it can be the centerpiece of a shade indoor garden.
The cycad is a distant relative of cone-bearing conifers, a reason why we casually call it a tree.
Swedish Ivy
It is neither Swedish nor an ivy, despite its name.
It mainly grows on the ground because it cannot climb or grasp onto a support like vines can.
We included it in our list of the best shade plants because it is extremely tolerant to low light conditions.
Who knows, you might be able to create a hanging plant-based indoor garden with and around it!
Ferns
When it comes to lighting conditions, Ferns are highly adaptable.
There are three kinds of ferns that are suitable for rooms lacking natural light: Boston Fern, Kimberley Queen Fern, and Asparagus Fern.
In addition to growing well in humid environments, ferns are also very suitable for your bathroom.
Yucca Cane
A spineless yucca plant, also known as a yucca cane..
..is the type of tree that is popular for houseplants because it lacks spines.
The reason for its popularity with shade gardeners is that the plant requires very little maintenance..
..and will tolerate low light well even though it would do better in medium or full sun.
Rex Begonia
Natural light is not necessary for the growth of the Rex begonia.
It is a beautiful plant with breathtaking foliage that changes depending on which plant it is.
Overwatering is the Achilles’ heel of this plant.
Rubber Tree Plant
Low-maintenance Rubber tree loves the shade and doesn’t require a lot of care.
You should be aware, however, that this potted plant can grow up to 12 feet tall.
You should therefore let it grow as much as possible.
Also, it is drought-resistant and doesn’t thrive when overwatered.
Nerve Plant
A creeping plant with beautiful dark olive-green foliage adorned with white, pink, or red veins.
..the Nerve plant is easy to identify.
Plants in the shade can grow, but if kept for an extended period of time, the vein patterns are lost.
A high level of humidity, including the soil, is ideal for it.
As one of the most amazing, best office plants to spice up your workspace..
..we made sure to include it in our list.
Dumb Cane
Shade plants like this one are excellent for homes and offices..
..because they are extremely tolerant, affordable, pretty, and extremely easy to care for.
This plant gets its name because its sap, which irritates the skin, may temporarily lead to loss of speech.
Houseplants like this one adapt gracefully to all lighting conditions.
Lady’s Slipper
Lady’s slipper plants are shade-tolerant, high-humidity plants that require little maintenance.
It is one of the easiest orchids to grow at home because it requires little maintenance and can easily re-bloom for many years to come.
However, if you want it to produce flowers, give it a bit more light for a few weeks.
Split-Leaf Philodendron
The Split-leaf Philodendron..
..the last, but certainly not the least..
..ranks highly on our list of best shade plants for low-lit rooms and corners.
Taking advantage of the tropical climate and warm temperatures..
..this broadleaf evergreen thrives in shade and warmth, making it a preferred plant for dark locations.
Ideally, you should provide it with medium light, though full shade is also acceptable..
..if you do not mind that the plant becomes leggy and the leaves do not develop trademark slits.
Sums Up
In dappled shade..
..the sunlight is spotted consistently across an area and could be sunny if not for the leaves and branches of a tree that cover it.
On the other hand..
..partial shade refers to any area that stays in the shade for most of the day..
..but gets direct sunlight for a few hours (usually in the morning or in the afternoon).
Lastly, there is full shade, which is when something (usually a man-made structure) completely blocks out the sun.
Now that you know about shade, what’s next?
Find out which shade-loving plants will thrive in your garden-here are fifteen to consider.
Conclusion
Plants that thrive in low light aren’t that difficult to find, are they?
In addition to being low maintenance..
..most of the best shade plants on our list are also ideal for absolute beginners.
Can you suggest additional shade-loving plants we should add?
Let us know what you think in the comments!