The best office plants for low light are the snake plant, ZZ plant, pothos, cast iron plant and Chinese evergreen, with peace lily, parlour palm, heartleaf philodendron and spider plant close behind. All of them cope with bright indirect light from a window across the room. None of them will live in a room with no natural light at all.
If you share your office with a dog or a cat, the pet safety column below matters as much as the light column. Several of the toughest low light plants appear on the ASPCA's list of plants toxic to cats and dogs. I've noted what that list says for each one, but please check the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant list yourself before you buy, because it's the source to trust, not me.
| Plant | Light it copes with | Watering | Pet safety (ASPCA list) | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snake plant | Low to bright indirect | Let soil dry out fully between waterings | Listed as toxic to cats and dogs | Forgetful waterers, narrow corners |
| ZZ plant | Low to bright indirect | Sparingly; it stores water in its roots | Check the ASPCA list; keep away from pets | Offices that empty out for holidays |
| Pothos | Low to medium indirect | When the top of the soil feels dry | Listed as toxic to cats and dogs | Shelves and trailing over cabinets |
| Peace lily | Low to medium indirect | Keep lightly moist; it droops when thirsty | Listed as toxic to cats and dogs | People who like a plant that tells them when it needs water |
| Cast iron plant | Low, even dim corners | When the top of the soil is dry | Listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs | The darkest spot you've got |
| Chinese evergreen | Low to medium indirect | When the top of the soil feels dry | Listed as toxic to cats and dogs | Colour without flowers |
| Parlour palm | Low to medium indirect | Keep lightly moist, never soggy | Listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs | A soft, leafy look in a pet-friendly office |
| Heartleaf philodendron | Low to medium indirect | When the top of the soil feels dry | Listed as toxic to cats and dogs | Trailing from a high shelf |
| Spider plant | Medium indirect, copes with lower | Keep lightly moist | Listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs | Pet-friendly offices and hanging pots |
A quick note on the names. Plants are sold under lots of common names, and the ASPCA list uses its own. Search it by the botanical name on the label (for example, Chlorophytum comosum for the spider plant) so you're checking the right plant.
Which low light plant suits which desk
If you want one plant and you never want to think about it again, I'd look at the snake plant or the ZZ plant. They're slow growing, upright and happy to be ignored for a while. They also stay tidy, which matters on a desk where space is tight.
If your office has pets in it, start with the cast iron plant, parlour palm or spider plant, since the ASPCA list places those on its non-toxic side. Then double-check the list for the exact variety you're buying.
If you like a bit of movement and greenery spilling over a shelf, pothos and heartleaf philodendron trail nicely. Just keep them well out of reach of pets that chew.
The three ways office plants die
In my experience, office plants rarely die of anything mysterious. It's almost always one of these three things.
1. Too much water
This is the big one. Low light plants grow slowly, so they use less water than you'd think. Water them on a schedule regardless of whether they need it and the roots sit in wet soil and rot. Push a finger into the soil before you water. If it's still damp, leave it. Use a pot with drainage holes, and tip out any water that collects in the saucer.
2. No light at all
"Low light" doesn't mean no light. A plant in an internal room with no window, lit only by office lights that go off at night and at weekends, will slowly starve. If your desk is in that kind of room, either move the plant near a window on a different floor, use a grow light on a timer, or skip living plants altogether (more on that below).
3. Heating and air con
Radiators, heaters and air conditioning vents dry the air out and blast plants with hot or cold air. Leaves go brown at the edges, curl or drop. Keep plants away from direct airflow, and don't sit them on top of a radiator or right under a vent. Draughty doors that open and close all day can cause the same problem in winter.
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A home office vs a shared office
A home office is easier. You're there most days, you control the heating and you can move things around until a plant's happy. If you're setting one up, my posts on making your home office a space you love and smart decor ideas for a home office cover the rest of the room. Plants pair well with good light and a desk set-up that suits you, whether that's sitting or a standing desk.
A shared office is harder, for practical reasons, not plant reasons:
- Decide who waters what. Plants in shared spaces die from everyone watering them or nobody watering them. Put one person in charge, or stick a simple label on each pot.
- Plan for holidays and office closures. Pick drought-tolerant plants, like the snake plant and ZZ plant, for spaces that empty out for a week or two.
- Check with your landlord or building manager. Some buildings have rules about plants, water near electrics or floor-standing pots.
- Think about pets and visitors. If people bring dogs in, stick to plants on the ASPCA non-toxic list and keep any others high up.
Fake plants: when they're the better choice
I'm not snobbish about fake plants. Sometimes they're the sensible choice:
- The room has no natural light and you don't want to run a grow light.
- Nobody will reliably water anything, and a dead plant looks worse than no plant.
- There's a pet in the office that chews everything, and you'd rather not risk it.
- Someone in the office has an allergy to soil, pollen or mould from damp pots.
If you go fake, buy fewer, better ones and dust them now and then. A dusty fake plant is the giveaway. And mix them with one or two easy living plants near the window if you can, so the space still feels alive.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best office plant for a room with no windows?
No living plant thrives without any natural light. If the room has no window, use a grow light on a timer or choose a good quality fake plant instead.
Which low light office plants are safe for cats and dogs?
The ASPCA list places the cast iron plant, parlour palm and spider plant on its non-toxic side for cats and dogs. Always check the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant list for the exact plant before you buy.
How often should I water a low light office plant?
Only when it needs it. Check the soil with your finger first. Low light plants grow slowly and are more likely to die from too much water than too little.
Is a snake plant good for an office?
It's one of the easiest. It copes with low light and irregular watering. The ASPCA lists it as toxic to cats and dogs, so keep it away from pets.
