These versatile plants range in color and variegation including: neon green ("Limelight"), white and green striped ("Warneckii"), and even bright pink with white and green stripes ("Colorama"). Dracaena "marginata" sport unusual spiky thin leaves and and the "mass cane" dracaena looks tropical, with palm-like canes and variegated plumes of foliage. You may recognize the common "corn plant" dracaena because it is frequently used in commercial areas.ĭracaena can be tall and narrow or low and dense. However, they have in common their ability to thrive in darker places with much less water and attention than conventional houseplants. The genus dracaena is huge and contains plants that range wildly in color, size, and shape. However, there are tons of interesting varieties and cultivars of hardy houseplants that are not only low-light but low-maintenance as well.
Lower light plants that just remind you of the mall or boring office buildings are no fun at all. If it's winter, remember that come summer any nearby trees will be covered in leaves that may shade your desired window. Before you go houseplant shopping, take some time to observe your light, keeping in mind that's what determines what plants will do well there. Very few houseplants can grow without any natural light (except the ZZ plant and the Snake plant discussed below). Dark spots are spots with no natural light at all.
Flowers that grow in darkness windows#
Northern windows offer the least amount of light, followed by eastern which is usually good, and western which is considered ideal for most houseplants. Low light spots, alternatively, are areas farther than five feet from a good window, or near a window that may be frosted, obscured by trees or a patio outside, small or dim, or often covered by blinds. Only a few plants will be able to thrive here including cactus, citrus, jasmine, and croton. If you do have direct light, you'll find that most houseplants scald and burn there quite easily. Direct indoor light is hard to find and really only exists within three feet of an unobscured south facing window. Too much light can cause problems for certain plants as well.
A Good Rule of Thumb - If you can comfortably read the newspaper at noon without having to flick on a light, you have enough light to grow plenty of houseplants.