16 Indoor Plants That Thrive In Direct Sunlight
Finding the perfect spot in your house for your houseplants is part of what it’s like to be an enthusiastic plant parent. If you want to grow plants that thrive in low-light spaces, you should choose species that prefer dark surroundings. However, there are plants that will thrive in as much light as possible.
This plant will thrive if you have a full-sun window that’s bright and airy. It’s best to position your indoor garden on the sill of a south-facing window, as it gets the most light throughout the day-but windows on the west side of your home, where the afternoon sun shines strong, are also great choices. You can save the other sills for plants that prefer indirect light, and you can watch your sunny houseplants flourish.
We’ve rounded up 16 houseplants that thrive in direct sunlight to soak up the sunshine in your home.
Aloe Vera
- Botanical Name: Aloe barbadensis Miller
- Sun Exposure: Direct sunlight
- Soil Type: Well-draining succulent or cacti soil
- Soil pH: 7.0 to 8.5
Enjoy the fresh desert vibe with these rosette-shaped succulents that enjoy a dry, sunny environment. In a happy situation, it will produce pups and even offsets, which can be replanted on its own if they are happy. Aloe vera comes in many varieties but this species is known for the cooling and soothing properties of its sap.
Jade Plant
- Botanical Name: Crassula ovata
- Sun Exposure: Direct sunlight
- Soil Type: Well-draining succulent or cacti soil
- Soil pH: 6.0 to 6.5
The succulents in this category are low-maintenance and easy to care for. The species although usually found with green, paddle-shaped leaves, they are also available with smaller leaves, variegated colors, and even pink flowers with a star-like shape. The red edge of the jade leaves is a characteristic of many jade varieties when grown in sufficiently sunny conditions.
Echeveria
- Botanical Name: Echeveria
- Sun Exposure: Direct or bright, indirect sunlight
- Soil Type: Well-draining succulent or cacti soil
- Soil pH: 6.0 to 6.5
If you want this trendy flower-shaped succulent to grow properly, its rosette should sit flat against the soil, and the leaves should twitch with surprising color, you will need lots of bright sunlight. If the plants are not exposed to sufficient sunlight, the echeveria will still grow, but the plants could become leggy and etiolated. You should move your echeveria away from your window if you notice signs of sunburn on the leaves. Because these plants can be sensitive to harsh afternoon sun, do so as soon as you notice it. You can select different shades of green, blue, gray, or purple in this species. You can also select variegated types.
Snake Plant
- Botanical Name: Dracaena trifasciata
- Sun Exposure: Direct or bright, indirect sunlight
- Soil Type: Well-draining succulent or cacti soil
- Soil pH: 4.5 to 8.5
Are you looking for a houseplant that you can ignore for weeks on end? It is ideal for you to grow snake plants. In addition to being known as mother-in-law’s tongue or sansevieria, this succulent is resilient and easy to grow. These plants typically have attractive, lance-shaped leaves with a variety of patterns, and even if you forget to water them for a while, they will still grow lush and healthy. Plants like bright indirect sunlight, and they do well in some full sun, as well. So a west-facing window would be an ideal place to keep this plant. Low-light environments are also tolerant of snake plants.
Geranium
- Botanical Name: Pelargonium
- Sun Exposure: Direct sunlight
- Soil Type: Standard potting soil
- Soil pH: 6.0 to 6.5
Planting the same geraniums you’d plant outdoors can also succeed (and bloom) indoors, provided they receive enough light. Geraniums are available in a wide range of colors, including vibrant red, pink, white, orange, and purple. If your plants enjoy the additional sun in the summer, you can take them outside, but when temperatures drop below 50 degrees, you can bring them back inside.
Sweet Basil
- Botanical Name: Ocimum basilicum
- Sun Exposure: Direct sunlight
- Soil Type: Standard potting soil
- Soil pH: 5.5 to 7.5
An aromatic indoor herb garden is a wonderful thing to enjoy in spring, summer, and fall, as long as there is enough light. Herbs such as basil (as well as parsley, chives, and cilantro) grow well in direct sunlight. Basil grows well in well-draining potting soil, in a bright, south-facing window, and you can snip off a sprig whenever you need one for a recipe. Bringing your herbs outdoors during the peak of summer will help them grow bushier and stronger, and bringing them indoors during the fall will extend their season.
Money Tree
- Botanical Name: Pachira aquatica
- Sun Exposure: Bright, indirect light
- Soil Type: Well-draining succulent or cacti soil
- Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.5
Plants like this low-maintenance, easy-to-grow houseplant are often sold in the form of bonsai trees, with several braided stems ending in lush, palm-shaped green leaves. The money tree is also a favorite in feng shui, in which the plants are said to bring fortune if placed in the southeast part of the home. This puts them at the perfect vantage point to place at the corner of a south-facing window. During the growing season, keep a close eye on its leaves as they can become sunburnt in the strong light of midsummer (and move it away if necessary).
Croton
- Botanical Name: Codiaeum variegatum
- Sun Exposure: Direct sunlight
- Soil Type: Well-draining potting soil
- Soil pH: 4.5 to 6.5
Crotons are the perfect way to add some colorful plants to your collection without waiting for flowers to bloom. Sun-loving houseplants such as this come in various color combinations, including shades of red, yellow, green, orange, purple, and brown. They have attractive patterns that contrast with the greenery of your other indoor plants.
String of Pearls
- Botanical Name: Senecio rowleyanus
- Sun Exposure: Bright, indirect light
- Soil Type: Well-draining succulent or cacti soil
- Soil pH: 6.6 to 7.5
An orb-shaped leaf bobs up and down along the trailing stems of this beautiful succulent. Different types of string of pearls have different shapes, such as string of bananas or string of dolphins. If you have a bright, sunny window, you can display this plant in a basket or on a high shelf. A west-facing window, which will provide enough nutrients without causing burns, will be ideal for this species because it thrives in bright, indirect light.
Hen and Chicks
- Botanical Name: Echeveria elegans
- Sun Exposure: Direct sunlight
- Soil Type: Well-draining succulent or cacti soil
- Soil pH: 6.6 to 7.5
Despite their small size and rosette-shaped growth, succulents are relatively hardy plants. Hens and chicks flourish in dry, rocky areas of the desert in their natural habitat. Its name comes from the fact that it propagates itself readily in good conditions. You can make another plant from the mother of your hen and chicks by taking one chick and planting it in succulent soil.
Dragon Tree
- Botanical Name: Dracaena draco
- Sun Exposure: Direct sunlight
- Soil Type: Well-draining mix of loam and standard potting soil
- Soil pH: 6.0 to 6.5
Adding a dragon tree to your home will provide a tropical-looking statement plant that will grow tall and lush by your south-facing windows. Plants of this species normally grow between 6 and 8 feet high indoors, and will grow faster in the presence of more light. As far as growing dragon trees goes, they are relatively easy—you only have to water them if the soil is getting too dry, and fertilize them every six months. The offsets of this plant can be propagated easily once it reaches maturity, so it can provide many new plants.
Yucca Plant
- Botanical Name: Yucca gigantea
- Sun Exposure: Direct sunlight
- Soil Type: Well-draining potting soil
- Soil pH: 5.5 to 7.5
You can also choose to plant yucca, which requires very little maintenance. When grown outdoors, dragon trees can reach tall heights (up to ten feet), however, yuccas usually reach full maturity at about three feet indoors. Despite its ability to withstand varying temperatures, this desert species grows best in direct sunlight. Make sure your yucca is facing a window with a south or west orientation, and ensure it gets watered about once a week if you want it to flourish.
Bird of Paradise
- Botanical Name: Strelitzia
- Sun Exposure: Direct sunlight
- Soil Type: Well-draining potting soil
- Soil pH: 5.5 to 7.5
The flowers on this unique plant grow best in areas with good sunlight. The birds of paradise flower is shaped like the head of a tropical bird. There are bright petals in its green bloom that resemble feathers. You’ll want your sunniest window to grow this plant: Bird of paradise loves full, direct sunlight. You can also propagate this species once your plant has reached maturity, so you can propagate new plants from offsets. Although your bird of paradise can survive in lower-light conditions, it won’t bloom its signature flowers without plenty of direct sunlight, so if you’re looking for an eye-catching plant for a south-facing window, this tropical species is a good choice.
Fiddle-Leaf Fig
- Botanical Name: Ficus lyrata
- Sun Exposure: Direct or bright, indirect sunlight
- Soil Type: Well-draining potting soil
- Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.0
Interior designers frequently use fiddle-leaf figs as beautiful accents in sunny rooms to add a touch of green to any decor. In its natural habitat, this high-growing tree can grow to a height of 30-50 feet, but it usually reaches about six feet indoors. It might require a bit more care than other common houseplants, but with the right conditions you can see your fig thrive. A consistent supply of moisture and exposure to the sun are both essential for this plant to thrive. If you use the right potting mix, water regularly, and place your fiddle-leaf fig near a south-facing window, your plant will thrive.
Ponytail Palm
- Botanical Name: Beaucarnea recurvata
- Sun Exposure: Direct sunlight
- Soil Type: Well-draining succulent or cacti soil
- Soil pH: 6.5 to 7.5
The ponytail palm doesn’t need much attention from its owner: just enough sunlight and occasional waterings will make your home feel tropical. The ponytail palm is named for its long-and-thin trunk and tightly-gathered leaves, which resemble the classic hair-do. The species can be grown outdoors in the summer or by your south-facing windows all year long. Considering that you’ll want to let the soil completely dry out between waterings, you’ll only need to tend to your ponytail palm every few weeks. In addition to being non-toxic to pets as well as humans, this species is a great indoor option for keeping your furry friends safe.
Gardenia
- Botanical Name: Gardenia jasminoides
- Sun Exposure: Direct sunlight
- Soil Type: Standard potting soil
- Soil pH: 5.0 to 6.5
An outdoor gardener’s favorite, this plant is also a great candidate to add greenery and blooming flowers to any space. A native of subtropical climates, Gardenia can bring beautifully floral scents to your home during spring and summer. Considering this species needs plenty of sunlight, it grows best in south- and west-facing windows. During the growing season, gardenia requires regular waterings without allowing water to collect at the bottom of the pot. It is a plant that requires medium to high amounts of water in the winter and a warm, bright location inside your home to stay healthy.