Living somewhere without much natural light doesn't mean giving up on plants. A north-facing condo, a basement suite or a room at the back of the house can still be green. You just need the right plants and a slightly different routine.

An honest note first: no plant truly thrives in low light. The plants below are the ones that cope best. They stay good-looking and grow slowly where most plants would fade. Not sure how much light you have? Start with our Houseplant Lighting Guide.

Our top low-light picks

1. ZZ Plant

Glossy, architectural and nearly indestructible. ZZs store water in their thick roots, so they forgive missed waterings and are happy in dim corners. The Raven ZZ has almost-black leaves for a dramatic look. Shop ZZ Plant →

2. Snake Plant (Sansevieria)

Upright leaves that fit narrow spots, a huge range of looks, and very forgiving with water. Water only when the soil is completely dry, especially in winter. Shop snake plants →

3. Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra)

The name says it all. It handles low light, cool rooms and a bit of neglect better than almost anything. The speckled Milky Way variety adds interest. Shop Cast Iron Plant →

4. Pothos and Heartleaf Philodendron

Easy trailing plants for shelves and hanging baskets. Green varieties like Golden Pothos and Heartleaf Philodendron handle lower light best. Heavily variegated types such as Marble Queen need brighter light to keep their pattern.

5. Peace Lily

Dark green leaves and the occasional white bloom. It droops dramatically when thirsty and perks up within hours of a drink, so it tells you exactly when to water. Shop Peace Lily →

6. Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema)

Patterned leaves in silver, pink and red, and a reputation for being easy-going in moderate to low light. Shop Aglaonema →

How to care for plants in low light

• Water less. Plants in low light use water slowly. Overwatering is the number one way low-light plants die. Check the soil with your finger (or a moisture meter) and only water when the top few centimetres are dry. For snake plants and ZZs, let it dry right through.
• Use a pot with drainage. Soggy soil in a dim room stays soggy. Pop the nursery pot inside a decorative planter so extra water can drain away.
• Dust the leaves. Dust blocks what little light there is. Wipe leaves with a damp cloth every month or two.
• Rotate. Turn the pot a quarter turn every couple of weeks so the plant doesn't lean toward the window.
• Skip the fertilizer in winter. Feed lightly in spring and summer only.
• Consider a grow light. Victoria winters are long and grey. A small LED grow light on a timer for 10–12 hours a day can turn a "surviving" plant into a growing one.

Signs your plant needs more light

• New leaves are smaller than old ones, or stems are long and stretched
• Variegated leaves are turning plain green
• The soil stays wet for weeks after watering
• The whole plant leans hard toward the window

If you see these, move the plant closer to a window or add a grow light, and water less until it perks up.

Find your low-light plant

Browse everything we have in stock that handles lower light in our Low Light Plants collection, or come by the shop at 515 Chatham St #103 (open 11–5, 7 days a week). Tell us about your space and we'll point you to the plants that will actually do well there.