13 Top Low-Light Flowering Indoor Plants

13 Top Low-Light Flowering Indoor Plants

So you have a dim room or a windowsill that barely sees the sun, but you still want beautiful blooms. I get it. There’s something about seeing flowers indoors that makes a space feel warm and alive. To help you get there, I’ve put together a list of low light flowering indoor plants that can liven up darker corners of your home.

What “Low Light” Actually Means

“Low light” is often misunderstood. It doesn’t mean no light at all. If you can easily read something during the day in that spot without a lamp, that’s low light. If you need the lights on to see the page, that’s no light—and few to no plants will flower there.

• Low light: A north-facing window or a few feet from one. No direct sun hits the leaves.
• Medium light: Bright indirect light. Think east windows or shaded south/west windows.
• Bright light: Direct morning or filtered afternoon sun, like near a south-facing window.

For most of the plants below, the secret to flowering indoors is not just light—but consistent care, proper watering, and sometimes a little manipulation (think: seasonal rest periods or extra humidity).

If you’re working with a truly windowless, lightless room, consider leaving overhead LED lights on, adding a small grow light to the space, or even bringing your plant out of the room for a bit each week to get some extra light.

Below is your go-to list of flowering indoor plants that can tolerate low light, even if some will need a bit more to bloom.

1	Peace Lily	6	Anthurium	11	Christmas Cactus
2	Cape Primrose	7	Bromeliads	12	Florist Gloxinia
3	Flame Violet	8	Chinese Evergreen	13	Chirita
4	African Violet	9	Oxalis
5	Moth Orchid	10	Clivia

1. Peace Lily

Peace Lilies (Spathiphyllum spp.) are famous for their white spathes, which are often mistaken for flowers. They can bloom in low light, but flower better with medium light. Avoid giving them too much light though – you’ll know when you have because the spathes will be green instead of white! Keep soil lightly moist and wipe down leaves occasionally to help them breathe.

2. Cape Primrose

Cape Primrose (Streptocarpus) is related to African violets and produces orchid-like flowers in blues, pinks, and whites. It handles low to moderate light quite well and will normally flower in those conditions. Water when the top inch is dry and avoid cold drafts.

3. Flame Violet

Also known as Episcia, Flame Violet has fuzzy leaves and bright tubular flowers in red, orange, or pink. It does well in low to moderate light and enjoys humidity. Water regularly but allow the top inch of soil to dry out between waterings. Avoid direct sun, which can scorch the leaves.

4. African Violet

African Violets (Saintpaulia spp.) are small, fuzzy-leaved plants that flower in a range of soft purples, pinks, and blues. They’re often sold as low light bloomers, but while they survive in low light, you’ll only get reliable blooms with medium to bright indirect light. Keep water in the bottom of their special pots, and you’ll rarely need to do anything with them.

5. Moth Orchid

Moth Orchids (Phalaenopsis) produce long-lasting, sculptural blooms in white, pink, purple, and even striped varieties. While they tolerate low light, flowering takes a bit more—usually moderate indirect light or bright filtered artificial light. Water weekly, and let them rest between blooming cycles.

6. Anthurium

Anthuriums produce glossy, heart-shaped leaves and waxy red or pink “flowers” (actually spathes). These will grow in low light, but flower much more dependably with medium, indirect light. Water when the top inch of soil is dry, and provide humidity if the tips of leaves start browning.

7. Bromeliads

Bromeliads such as Guzmania, Vriesea, and Neoregalia are often chosen for their vibrant, long-lasting bracts rather than true flowers. They can grow in low light, but blooming usually requires moderate filtered or artificial light. Provide humidity and allow the central cup to hold water, refreshing it weekly.

8. Chinese Evergreen

While mostly grown for foliage, some varieties of Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema spp.) do produce small, greenish-white spathes. These flowers aren’t dramatic and tend to be infrequent in low light. Still, the plant is attractive and incredibly low-maintenance.

9. Oxalis

Oxalis triangularis, or False Shamrock, is a charming plant with clover-like purple leaves and tiny pink or white flowers. It does fine in low to medium light, but blooms are more prolific with a bit of filtered light. Water when the top inch dries out and don’t panic if it occasionally goes dormant.

Special Requirements to Bloom

The following will need more than just extra light, but if given proper care, they’ll reward you with blooms:

10. Clivia

Clivia’s bold orange or yellow trumpet-like flowers are worth the wait—but they do require a bit of patience. This plant tolerates low light for most of the year but needs a cool, dry dormancy (around 50°F for a few weeks) to bloom. Keep it root-bound and go easy on watering in winter.

11. Christmas and Thanksgiving Cactus

Schlumbergera spp. create beautiful blooms (generally at every time other than the holidays for us!), but getting them to flower typically requires at least 12-14 hours of darkness for several weeks. The rest of the year, they’ll tolerate low light and need only occasional watering.

12. Florist Gloxinia

Sinningia speciosa, or Florist Gloxinia, offers large, velvet-like bell blooms in vivid shades of red, purple, and pink. Though it tolerates lower light, flowering requires filtered bright light and a dormant rest period after blooming. Keep soil evenly moist while it’s active.

13. Primulina

Formerly classified as Chirita, Primulina species are compact bloomers with violet, blue, or lavender flowers. These little plants like moderate light for best flowering but can handle lower light for foliage. Keep humidity high and water when the topsoil dries slightly.

Happy Growing!

Want the most blooms in the darkest corners? Your best bet might be rotating plants into brighter spots every so often or investing in a small grow light to supplement. It doesn’t take much—just enough to mimic what Mother Nature intended.

Looking for more low light plants for specific rooms and situations? Check out low light options for bathrooms, offices, and any other room, along with low light non-toxic pet-safe plants!