Indoor-Friendly Blooming Plants that Thrive in Low Light Conditions
Ready to brighten up your space without the need for sunny spots? Indoor blooming plants can add a touch of color to any area and lift your spirits. Best of all, many stunning flowering houseplants flourish even in homes with dim lighting.
Embrace a garden without the hassle – these 18 flowering plants prove that magnificent flowers can bloom even in spaces with limited natural light. In some instances, these plants may even bloom better when kept away from direct sunlight.
Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)
These low-light champions boast striking white blooms that rise above glossy green foliage. Ideal for any decor, peace lilies prefer indirect light and will let you know when they need water by drooping dramatically. While they bloom most heavily in spring, they can produce flowers sporadically throughout the year. These resilient plants also work great at purifying the air, removing toxins like benzene and formaldehyde.
African Violet (Saintpaulia)
These beloved indoor bloomers have been adored for generations. Capable of producing vivid purple, pink, blue, or white flowers almost continuously with proper care, African violets thrive in moderate indirect light and regular room temperatures. The velvety leaves form a perfect rosette pattern that looks attractive even without blooms.
Flamingo Flower (Anthurium)
With their heart-shaped, brightly colored blooms and spiky green foliage, flamingo flowers add a dash of tropical flair to any home. These exotic beauties can thrive in bright indirect light but tolerate medium light conditions as well. Despite their appearance, the flower-like structure is actually made up of modified leaves called spathes. Each bloom can last for weeks or even months.
Begonias
Begonias offer an extensive array of types, each with unique leaf shapes, colors, and blooming habits. While some varieties are grown for their spectacular foliage, many flowering begonias produce abundant small flowers in shades of pink, red, orange, and white. These versatile plants perform well in medium to bright indirect light and typically bloom from spring through fall, with some varieties blooming almost year-round.
Bromeliads
Bromeliads offer vibrant color with minimal care, as their flower-like structures are actually modified leaves called bracts. These dramatic blooms come in hot pinks, fiery oranges, bright reds, and vivid purples. Each bloom can last for up to six months. Most bromeliads bloom only once in their lifetime, but the colorful bracts can last for months after. These plants thrive in medium indirect light and actually prefer filtered light.
Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera)
Unlike traditional desert cacti, Christmas cacti prefer moderate light and regular moisture. Their cascading stems divide into intricate, tubular flowers in shades of pink, red, white, or purple, typically appearing around the holiday season. With proper care, these long-lived plants can bloom reliably for decades. They perform best in medium light.
Moth Orchid (Phalaenopsis)
Moth orchids bring exotic beauty into everyday homes with their arching stems, elegant butterfly-like flowers, and minimal care requirements. These orchids bloom in a variety of colors and patterns and thrive in the same conditions most homes naturally provide. Despite their exotic appearance, moth orchids are surprisingly resilient and can bloom successfully in medium light conditions.
Flowering Maple (Abutilon)
The flowering maple's bell-shaped blooms, ranging from orange, yellow, pink, to red, dangle like tiny paper lanterns. These plants typically bloom continuously when happy, with peak flowering in spring and summer. They prefer bright indirect light but will flower reliably in medium light conditions. With proper care, these plants can be grown as compact houseplants or trained into small indoor trees.
Jasmine (Jasminum polyanthum)
Indoor jasmine offers a delightful fragrance and delicate star-shaped white flowers. Jasmine grows best in bright indirect light but will bloom with reduced flower production in medium light conditions. The vining growth habit makes it perfect for trellises or hanging baskets, and with proper care, jasmine will typically bloom in late winter through spring.
Lipstick Plant (Aeschynanthus)
The lipstick plant's red flowers emerge from dark tubular buds, bearing a resemblance to lipstick tubes. This tropical beauty thrives in medium indirect light, making it perfect for rooms that don't receive much direct sunlight. With proper care, lipstick plants can bloom multiple times throughout the year, with heaviest flowering typically in summer.
Oxalis (Oxalis triangularis)
Oxalis offers both interesting foliage and delicate flowers. The triangular purple leaves fold up at night and open again in the morning, creating a constantly changing display. Small pink or white flowers rise above the foliage on thin stems. This plant typically goes dormant and resprouts from its bulb-like rhizomes periodically. It grows well in medium to bright indirect light and will flower more abundantly with brighter conditions.
Cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum)
Cyclamen produces butterfly-like blooms in shades of pink, red, purple, and white that hover above marbled heart-shaped leaves. These plants prefer cool temperatures and bright indirect light, although they will bloom in medium light conditions. Many people discard cyclamen after flowering, but with proper care, they can rebloom year after year.
Clivia (Clivia miniata)
Clivia produces clusters of trumpet-shaped orange or yellow flowers atop thick strappy leaves. These plants are exceptionally tolerant of neglect and low light conditions, making them ideal for dimly lit areas. They prefer to be slightly root-bound and actually bloom better when not over-potted too frequently. Clivia prefers cool temperatures and winter rest periods for optimal flowering.
Cape Primrose (Streptocarpus)
Cape primrose produces trumpet-shaped flowers in vibrant purples, pinks, blues, and whites that rise above velvety elongated leaves. These African relatives of African violets prefer moderate light and temperatures. They're perfect for brightening north-facing windows or rooms with consistent medium light. The fuzzy leaves should be kept dry when watering to prevent leaf spot issues.
Crown of Thorns (Euphorbia milii)
The crown of thorns offers fascinating structure and nearly continuous blooming. The small colorful flowers are actually modified leaves called bracts, similar to poinsettias, that surround the tiny true flowers. Traditional varieties produce red bracts, but modern hybrids offer pinks, yellows, and bicolors. This succulent plant is exceptionally drought-tolerant and thrives on neglect. The thorny stems give it architectural interest even when not in bloom.
Kalanchoe (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana)
Kalanchoe brings vibrant clusters of small flowers in red, orange, yellow, pink, or white that last for weeks above thick succulent leaves. The tidy growth habit makes it perfect for windowsills and small spaces. Modern varieties offer double flowers and more intense colors than ever before. These easy-care succulents bloom primarily in winter and spring, providing color when many other plants are dormant. They prefer bright indirect light but will flower in medium light conditions. After blooming, a rest period with reduced watering helps trigger another flowering cycle.
Goldfish Plant (Columnea)
The goldfish plant produces whimsical orange or red flowers that resemble leaping goldfish. The small tubular blooms emerge from the leaf axils along trailing stems, creating a cascading effect perfect for hanging baskets. The glossy green leaves form an attractive backdrop for the distinctive flowers. Goldfish plants appreciate humidity but adapt to average home conditions. They thrive in medium to bright indirect light and will bloom multiple times throughout the year when happy.
Indulge in the diverse world of indoor blooming plants that can revitalize your lifestyle and living space, regardless of natural light. From the striking Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum) to the ornate Moth Orchid (Phalaenopsis), these plants add a touch of elegance and color to any corner.
African Violets (Saintpaulia) and Cape Primrose (Streptocarpus) thrive in moderately indirect light, while the resilient Oxalis (Oxalis triangularis) adapts to medium to bright indirect light. For those seeking a tropical flair, Flamingo Flowers (Anthurium) tolerate medium light conditions, much like the semi-tropical Lipstick Plant (Aeschynanthus).
If you're a fan of exotic smells, consider the delicate Jasmine (Jasminum polyanthum), which blooms best in bright indirect light but will continue to bloom in medium light conditions. For those who appreciate succulents, the Crown of Thorns (Euphorbia milii) and Kalanchoe (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana) are drought-tolerant choices that brighten any space with their near-continuous blooming.
Lastly, pet-lovers can enrich their relationships with pets and home-and-garden enthusiasts by taking care of the Clivia (Clivia miniata), a plant that exhibits a remarkable tolerance for low light conditions. Don't forget the Goldfish Plant (Columnea), a hanging basket marvel that brings whimsy and color with its jumping-goldfish-like blooms.
Embrace the joy of nurturing these stunning blooming plants and discover a new dimension in your food-and-drink, fashion-and-beauty, travel, cars, and shopping experiences. These indoor plants are not just companions but essential elements in your journey, opening doors to a world where every day can be enriched and brightened.
