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Houseplants for shady rooms

Love houseplants but worried your indoor space is too dark? Never fear, there are plenty of plants that will green up even the gloomiest room

Houseplants bring colour and life into a home – and this is especially valuable in darker rooms, such as those that face north or have small windows. But how do you find plants that will thrive in lower light levels? Luckily many popular houseplants originate in shady forest floors and can take shade in their stride. Here's a selection of the best plants for darker spots. 

Ivy – tough and versatile

Brightly-coloured ivies such as 'Midas Touch' can light up dark corners
Ivy can be grown as an upright plant, attached to a pole
You might think of ivy (Hedera helix) as an outdoor plant but there are many reasons to grow it indoors too. Firstly it's a tough plant that tolerates shade and neglect very well. Also, there are many smaller varieties with attractive coloured and textured leaves that are perfect for adding contrast to houseplant displays. Their trailing habit works well in hanging pots or on shelves. Ivies are also known for their ability to remove pollutants from the air. 

Cast iron plant – made of stern stuff

As tough as it sounds, the cast iron plant (Aspidistra) is hard to kill
An old favourite, and for good reason, Aspidistras were Victorian houseplant staples as they could cope admirably with dark rooms and indoor pollution from coal fires and gas lighting. While the coal and gas may have gone, many of us still have shady rooms and cast-iron plants (as they are also known) are undergoing something of a revival. Look out for varieties with spotted or striped leaves for added interest.

Boston fern – a pleasing contrast

Ferns are classic plants for shady spots, both indoors and out
With its fresh lime-green arching fronds, the Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Bostoniensis’) is a very popular houseplant. Its intricate foliage contrasts nicely with dark green leathery leaves of aspidistras and many other indoor plants. Water regularly as the compost starts to dry out – if you miss a watering and some leaves begin to drop, don’t worry, the plant will re-grow.

Begonias – bold and beautiful

Indoor begonias come in an impressive array of leaf shapes and patterns
Hailing from dimly-lit forest floors, there are many varieties of begonia with incredibly coloured and patterned leaves that will grow well in darker rooms. Most are forms of the angel-wing begonia (Begonia rex), featuring brilliant swirls and streaks of purple, pewter and green. The polka-dot begonia (B. maculata) is larger, with spotted leaves and white flowers in summer. 

Slipper orchids – demure beauties

If you love orchids but lack sunshine, try Paphiopedilum 
One of the most shade-tolerant of indoor orchids, paphiopedilums or slipper orchids come in a range of colours including green, purple, white and pink. Their unusual flowers make quite a statement and look good in both traditional and modern settings. Some have attractive mottled leaves too. While they need shade in summer, it's best to move them to a bright windowsill in winter. 

Golden pothos – shining bright

Grow a ray of sunshine with this brilliant scrambler
An almost luminous plant, golden pothos (Epipremnum pinnatum ‘Golden Pothos’) is sure to brighten up sunless spaces. While not quite as shade-tolerant as aspidistras or ivies, it still makes its mark though its vibrant leaves, which make a wonderful contrast to many other plants. It can be grown as a trailing plant in a basket, or train it up a moss pole. 

A mind-bending cactus

Rhipsalis is one of the weirdest cacti out there. Grow it to confuse your friends! [Seen here in an installation at RHS Garden Wisley]
A shade-loving cactus? It might sound like a contradiction in terms but there really are some cacti that prefer life out of the limelight. Rhipsalis is a type of cactus that hails from shady rainforests and makes a tough houseplant that can tolerate a fair degree of shade. Most varieties are spineless too, making them one of the least cactus-like cacti out there. Grow it in a hanging pot to best appreciate its delicate, pendent form. 

 
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More recommended plants

Philodendron scandens
ivy-leaved philodendron
  • 4–8 metres
  • 1.5–2.5 metres
<em>Philodendron</em> <em>scandens</em>
Hedera helix 'Midas Touch' (v)
ivy 'Midas Touch'
  • 0.5–1 metres
  • 0.1–0.5 metres
<em>Hedera</em> <em>helix</em> 'Midas Touch' (v)
Rhipsalis teres
quill-like wickerware cactus
  • 0.1–0.5 metres
  • 0.1–0.5 metres
<em>Rhipsalis</em> <em>teres</em>
Philodendron scandens
ivy-leaved philodendron
  • 4–8 metres
  • 1.5–2.5 metres
<em>Philodendron</em> <em>scandens</em>
Hedera helix 'Midas Touch' (v)
ivy 'Midas Touch'
  • 0.5–1 metres
  • 0.1–0.5 metres
<em>Hedera</em> <em>helix</em> 'Midas Touch' (v)
Rhipsalis teres
quill-like wickerware cactus
  • 0.1–0.5 metres
  • 0.1–0.5 metres
<em>Rhipsalis</em> <em>teres</em>
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