15 Best Plants for North Facing Window
Not everyone gets a house flooded with sunlight. If you garden and your windows face north, you might think your plant dreams are over. I’m here to tell you they’re not.
North-facing windows skip direct sun completely, but that doesn’t mean your plants suffer. Some houseplants actually prefer this gentle, indirect light over a blazing windowsill.
I’ve filled every gloomy room I’ve ever rented with green, thriving plants. Let me show you exactly which ones will love your dark corner as much as I do.
15 Shade Plants for North Facing Window
1. ZZ Plant Barely Needs You
Meet the plant I recommend to every single beginner. Zamioculcas zamiifolia grows from a chunky underground rhizome, and that thing stores water like a camel.
You can forget to water it for weeks. Nothing bad happens. Overwatering is actually the real danger with this one, not neglect.
I’ve dragged my ZZ plant through three apartments, and it just kept growing shiny new leaves. Give the leaves a wipe now and then so they keep that glossy shine.
Also read: 15 Best Indoor Plants Safe for Cats & Dogs
2. Snake Plant Survives Almost Anything
Ever heard someone call a plant “unkillable”? That’s Sansevieria for you. Those stiff, upright leaves are basically water tanks, so drought doesn’t scare this plant one bit.
Mine sat in a corner that got maybe an hour of bounced light a day, and it thrived so much I had to divide it. Want something less common than the classic mother-in-law’s tongue?
Try Sansevieria bacularis for a sleeker look in small spaces. Just don’t drown it. Root rot is really the only way you’ll lose this plant.
Read more: Dreamy Greens: 12 Best Indoor Plants for a Better Night’s Sleep
3. Cast Iron Plant Lives Up to Its Name
You can practically abuse this plant and it’ll forgive you. Aspidistra elatior shrugs off heavy shade, weird temperature swings, and the occasional missed watering.
Growth happens slowly, so don’t expect fireworks. Some varieties even show up speckled or striped instead of plain green, which surprised me the first time I saw one.
Mix a little peat into the soil for good drainage. Then just let it sit in your north window and do its thing.
Also read: 15 Low Maintenance Indoor Hanging Plants
4. Golden Pothos Grows Almost Anywhere
I genuinely think this vine is impossible to kill. Devil’s ivy trails gorgeously from a hanging basket, or you can train it up a support if you’re feeling ambitious.
Deep shade slows it down but never stops it completely. Let the soil dry out a bit between waterings instead of keeping things soggy.
Propagating a pothos takes literally zero skill, snip a stem and toss it in water. Even a windowless room works, as long as you run some artificial light for a few hours each day.
Also read: 13 Best Shade Loving Plants for North Facing Porch
5. Chinese Evergreen Adds Color to Dark Corners
Don’t assume low light means boring green. Aglaonema comes in shades of pink, red, and silver, and it still handles deep shade like a champ.
I love the ‘Siam Red’ variety for that pop of color against dull walls. Drought doesn’t bother this plant much either.
Just don’t let the soil stay bone dry for too long. Feed it occasionally in summer, and skip fertilizer completely once fall hits.
6. Peace Lily Tells You When It’s Thirsty
Here’s a plant that basically talks to you. Peace lilies droop dramatically the second they get thirsty, so you’ll never guess wrong about watering. Give it a drink, and it perks right back up within hours.
Spathiphyllum blooms even in low light, though don’t expect nonstop flowers like you’d get in a sunny room.
Average humidity works fine for this plant. You really can’t go wrong here.
7. Heart Leaf Philodendron Grows Like Crazy
I’ve never met an easier vine to propagate. Philodendron hederaceum roots in water within a couple weeks, no rooting hormone needed.
Its heart-shaped leaves trail beautifully off a shelf or climb a small trellis if you point it that way.
Dim light barely slows this plant down. People often confuse it with pothos, but the leaves feel thinner and more heart-shaped up close. Either way, you’re getting a plant that basically grows itself.
8. Parlor Palm Brings Jungle Vibes Without the Fuss
Want that tropical look without babysitting a finicky palm? Chamaedorea elegans stays compact and handles indoor life better than most palms I’ve tried. Spider mites can show up if the air gets too dry, so give the fronds an occasional rinse in the sink.
That simple habit keeps pests away and dust off the leaves. Growth stays slow and manageable, which actually works in your favor indoors.
This palm just fits, without demanding a bright window to survive.
9. Silver Satin Pothos Lights Up Dim Rooms
I have this plant scattered all over my house now, and it all came from one single vine. Scindapsus pictus grew for three whole years about five feet from a window, and it never once complained.
Thick, silvery leaves store water well, so you can let the soil dry out between waterings.
That silver pattern stays put too, unlike other variegated plants that fade in low light. Give it a hanging basket, or let it trail off a shelf. Either way, this plant just works.
10. English Ivy Adds Cascading Charm
Ever wanted vines spilling over a shelf like something out of a cottage garden? Hedera helix delivers exactly that, even in a shady spot.
Watch out for spider mites though, since dry indoor air brings them out. I rinse mine in the shower every few weeks, and that keeps the pests away.
Water it thoroughly, then wait until the top half inch of soil dries before watering again. You’ll get gorgeous trailing foliage without needing a single ray of direct sun.
11. Prayer Plant Puts on a Show Every Night
This one genuinely surprised me the first time I owned it. Maranta leuconeura folds its leaves up like little hands each night, then opens back up in the morning.
It does this in low light too, maybe even more so while reaching for whatever light it can find. Keep the soil consistently moist though, since this plant hates drying out completely.
I water mine thoroughly, then let it drain fully before setting it back by the window. Skip tap water if you can, since these leaves get crispy edges from hard water minerals.
12. Dragon Tree Holds Onto Its Color
Most low-light plants fade to plain green eventually, but not this one. Dracaena marginata kept its red and orange leaf edges even in my darkest apartment, which honestly shocked me.
Leaf drop happens naturally as it grows, leaving neat little marks along the stem. Don’t panic when that happens, it’s just how this plant ages.
Give it slightly more humidity than your other plants, and don’t let it dry out completely either. That splash of color alone makes it worth the extra attention.
13. Bird’s Nest Fern Loves the Shade You’ve Got
Bathrooms and kitchens work perfectly for this one. Asplenium nidus grows as an epiphyte in the wild, clinging to tree trunks under thick canopy cover.
Direct sun actually stresses this fern out, so your dim room suits it just fine. Never water into that central “nest” though, or you risk rot setting in.
I keep mine near my bathtub, and the humidity there keeps it glossy and full. Just don’t let it sit bone dry for too long either.
14. Peperomia Handles Neglect Like a Pro
I’ll be honest, I forget to water this plant constantly. Peperomia leaves feel thick and juicy, almost like a succulent, and that means they store plenty of moisture.
Letting the soil dry out completely before watering again actually works in your favor here. Mine even flowered once in a dim room, though don’t expect anything showy.
So many peperomia varieties exist that you could collect a dozen and never get bored. Low light barely slows this plant down at all.
15. Rubber Plant Grows Leggy But Full of Character
Not every ficus survives low light, but this one pulls it off. Ficus elastica will stretch out and get a bit leggy without bright sun, and honestly, I think that look has personality.
Leaves might grow larger too, since the plant tries to catch as much light as it can. Give it steady water, but let the top of the soil dry between drinks.
Wipe the leaves occasionally so dust doesn’t dull that rubbery shine. Skip this plant if you want something compact, but pick it if you like a little drama.
Your North Window Isn’t a Dead End
Fifteen plants, zero excuses left for that dark corner. I’ve grown almost every plant on this list myself, in rooms that barely saw the sun.
Low light doesn’t mean no life, it just means picking the right green friends for the job. Start with something forgiving like a ZZ plant or snake plant if you’re nervous.
Then branch out once you see how much easier this is than you thought. Your north window is waiting, so go fill it up.
