Houseplantdex

Houseplants for bright indirect light

Thrive a few feet from a sunny window — the most useful light tier.

46 plants in this cluster

Bright indirect light is the most productive light tier for houseplants and the most common in real homes: a metre or two back from a bright window, or directly beside one with a sheer curtain. Sunlight reaches the leaves, but not the direct, leaf-scorching kind.

Most popular houseplants land in this tier. If you have the spot, you have the widest catalogue to choose from.

Each card shows water needs, difficulty, and pet safety. Open any plant to see the full care profile.

Plants

Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema commutatum) Toxic
Chinese evergreen
Aglaonema commutatum
  • ☀ Low
  • 💧 Mod
  • ★ Easy
Aloe vera (Aloe vera) Toxic
Aloe vera
Aloe vera
  • ☀ Bright
  • 💧 Low
  • ★ Easy
Flamingo lily (Anthurium andraeanum) Toxic
Flamingo lily
Anthurium andraeanum
  • ☀ Bright
  • 💧 High
  • ★ Moderate
Velvet cardboard anthurium (Anthurium clarinervium) Toxic
Velvet cardboard anthurium
Anthurium clarinervium
  • ☀ Bright
  • 💧 Mod
  • ★ Difficult
Norfolk Island pine (Araucaria heterophylla) Pet-safe
Norfolk Island pine
Araucaria heterophylla
  • ☀ Medium
  • 💧 Mod
  • ★ Moderate
Bird's nest fern (Asplenium nidus) Pet-safe
Bird's nest fern
Asplenium nidus
  • ☀ Medium
  • 💧 High
  • ★ Moderate
Polka dot begonia (Begonia maculata) Toxic
Polka dot begonia
Begonia maculata
  • ☀ Medium
  • 💧 Mod
  • ★ Moderate
Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum) Pet-safe
Spider Plant
Chlorophytum comosum
  • ☀ Medium
  • 💧 Mod
  • ★ Easy
Croton (Codiaeum variegatum) Toxic
Croton
Codiaeum variegatum
  • ☀ Bright
  • 💧 High
  • ★ Difficult
Jade plant (Crassula ovata) Toxic
Jade plant
Crassula ovata
  • ☀ Bright
  • 💧 Low
  • ★ Easy
String of pearls (Curio rowleyanus) Toxic
String of pearls
Curio rowleyanus
  • ☀ Bright
  • 💧 Low
  • ★ Moderate
Dieffenbachia (Dieffenbachia seguine) Toxic
Dieffenbachia
Dieffenbachia seguine
  • ☀ Medium
  • 💧 Mod
  • ★ Easy
Corn plant (Dracaena fragrans) Toxic
Corn plant
Dracaena fragrans
  • ☀ Low
  • 💧 Mod
  • ★ Easy
Madagascar dragon tree (Dracaena marginata) Toxic
Madagascar dragon tree
Dracaena marginata
  • ☀ Medium
  • 💧 Mod
  • ★ Easy
Lucky bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana) Toxic
Lucky bamboo
Dracaena sanderiana
  • ☀ Low
  • 💧 High
  • ★ Easy
Snake Plant (Dracaena trifasciata) Toxic
Snake Plant
Dracaena trifasciata
  • ☀ Low
  • 💧 Low
  • ★ Easy
Areca palm (Dypsis lutescens) Pet-safe
Areca palm
Dypsis lutescens
  • ☀ Medium
  • 💧 Mod
  • ★ Moderate
Mexican snowball (Echeveria elegans) Pet-safe
Mexican snowball
Echeveria elegans
  • ☀ Bright
  • 💧 Low
  • ★ Easy
Golden Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) Toxic
Golden Pothos
Epipremnum aureum
  • ☀ Low
  • 💧 Mod
  • ★ Easy
Weeping fig (Ficus benjamina) Toxic
Weeping fig
Ficus benjamina
  • ☀ Bright
  • 💧 High
  • ★ Moderate
India Rubber Tree (Ficus elastica) Toxic
India Rubber Tree
Ficus elastica
  • ☀ Medium
  • 💧 Mod
  • ★ Easy
Fiddle-leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata) Toxic
Fiddle-leaf Fig
Ficus lyrata
  • ☀ Bright
  • 💧 Mod
  • ★ Difficult
Creeping fig (Ficus pumila) Toxic
Creeping fig
Ficus pumila
  • ☀ Medium
  • 💧 Mod
  • ★ Moderate
Rattlesnake plant (Goeppertia lancifolia) Pet-safe
Rattlesnake plant
Goeppertia lancifolia
  • ☀ Medium
  • 💧 High
  • ★ Difficult
Goeppertia orbifolia (Goeppertia orbifolia) Pet-safe
Goeppertia orbifolia
Goeppertia orbifolia
  • ☀ Medium
  • 💧 High
  • ★ Difficult
Zebra haworthia (Haworthiopsis fasciata) Pet-safe
Zebra haworthia
Haworthiopsis fasciata
  • ☀ Medium
  • 💧 Low
  • ★ Easy
English Ivy (Hedera helix) Toxic
English Ivy
Hedera helix
  • ☀ Medium
  • 💧 Mod
  • ★ Moderate
Wax plant (Hoya carnosa) Pet-safe
Wax plant
Hoya carnosa
  • ☀ Medium
  • 💧 Mod
  • ★ Easy
Polka dot plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya) Pet-safe
Polka dot plant
Hypoestes phyllostachya
  • ☀ Medium
  • 💧 High
  • ★ Moderate
Prayer plant (Maranta leuconeura) Pet-safe
Prayer plant
Maranta leuconeura
  • ☀ Medium
  • 💧 High
  • ★ Moderate
Swiss cheese vine (Monstera adansonii) Toxic
Swiss cheese vine
Monstera adansonii
  • ☀ Medium
  • 💧 Mod
  • ★ Easy
Swiss Cheese Plant (Monstera deliciosa) Toxic
Swiss Cheese Plant
Monstera deliciosa
  • ☀ Medium
  • 💧 Mod
  • ★ Easy
Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata) Pet-safe
Boston fern
Nephrolepis exaltata
  • ☀ Medium
  • 💧 High
  • ★ Moderate
Money tree (Pachira aquatica) Pet-safe
Money tree
Pachira aquatica
  • ☀ Medium
  • 💧 Mod
  • ★ Easy
Moth orchid (Phalaenopsis amabilis) Pet-safe
Moth orchid
Phalaenopsis amabilis
  • ☀ Low
  • 💧 High
  • ★ Moderate
Heartleaf Philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum) Toxic
Heartleaf Philodendron
Philodendron hederaceum
  • ☀ Low
  • 💧 Mod
  • ★ Easy
Chinese money plant (Pilea peperomioides) Pet-safe
Chinese money plant
Pilea peperomioides
  • ☀ Medium
  • 💧 Mod
  • ★ Easy
Umbrella plant (Schefflera arboricola) Toxic
Umbrella plant
Schefflera arboricola
  • ☀ Medium
  • 💧 Mod
  • ★ Easy
Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera russeliana) Pet-safe
Christmas cactus
Schlumbergera russeliana
  • ☀ Medium
  • 💧 Mod
  • ★ Easy
Burro's tail (Sedum morganianum) Pet-safe
Burro's tail
Sedum morganianum
  • ☀ Bright
  • 💧 Low
  • ★ Moderate
Bird of paradise (Strelitzia reginae) Toxic
Bird of paradise
Strelitzia reginae
  • ☀ Bright
  • 💧 Mod
  • ★ Moderate
African violet (Streptocarpus ionanthus) Pet-safe
African violet
Streptocarpus ionanthus
  • ☀ Medium
  • 💧 High
  • ★ Moderate
Arrowhead vine (Syngonium podophyllum) Toxic
Arrowhead vine
Syngonium podophyllum
  • ☀ Medium
  • 💧 Mod
  • ★ Easy
Silver inch plant (Tradescantia zebrina) Toxic
Silver inch plant
Tradescantia zebrina
  • ☀ Medium
  • 💧 Mod
  • ★ Easy
Spineless yucca (Yucca gigantea) Toxic
Spineless yucca
Yucca gigantea
  • ☀ Bright
  • 💧 Low
  • ★ Easy
ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) Toxic
ZZ Plant
Zamioculcas zamiifolia
  • ☀ Low
  • 💧 Low
  • ★ Easy