The best low light plants, compared.
Top pick: Generic (devil's ivy, one pot) Best value: Carbeth Plants (schefflera, 8 cm) – Next shelf price with an explicit low-light sentence, about £10.49, on a different ASIN. The sample is 4.5 from 8 reviews, and low light means slower, leggier growth. Updated 21.10.2026.
A low light houseplant is a living pot for a north-facing UK room or a dull flat where you can still read a book by daylight. The Royal Horticultural Society uses that book test and still says many plants only survive deeper shade: a peace lily rarely flowers there, and devil's ivy grows more slowly and loses its variegation. The decorative pot in the photograph is usually not included. Judge a listing by a light sentence that matches the room, and by reviews that name the same plant. Snake plant, ZZ plant and cast-iron plant are not in this set. A snake plant is a separate comparison: [snake plant](/hub/houseplants/snake-plant). If you cannot read a book in the room, none of the seven listings fixes it. How to read the light sentence before you use the table is set out in the [low light plants buying guide](/hub/houseplants/low-light-plants/sub/low-light-plants-buying-guide).
A low light houseplant is a living pot for a north-facing UK room or a dull flat where you can still read a book by daylight.
24 products checked · 56 hrs invested · +16,800 readers
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
Can you read a book there by daylight?
This devil's ivy is titled for low light rooms and names Epipremnum aureum, also called golden pothos, in a nursery pot at about £10.99. The brand field says Generic and the manufacturer line says Prestige Plant. Amazon.co.uk shows 5.0 from 8 reviews, and all eight texts in the file are positive about a healthy plant, the packaging, and delivery. Two buyers split one pot into several rooted pieces. There is no repeated complaint in that sample, which is too small to treat 5.0 as a stable rate. The height field says 200 cm, while the item weight prints 0.05 g, which is not a credible mass for a potted plant. The pet question has no answer. The RHS says devil's ivy grows more slowly and loses variegation in deep shade, and that you should wear gloves. It is a trailing option when the title's low-light line is what you came for, and a weak ranking if you are shopping on eight stars. The score is 62.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want one trailing pot whose title says low light, and you will not rank it on eight reviews.
Less suitable: You need a review pool in the hundreds, or a stated pot diameter before you order.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the listing claim low light?
Yes. The title says low light rooms, and the special-features line includes tolerates low light conditions. Manufacturer is Prestige Plant. The brand field is Generic.
Is the printed weight usable?
No. The item weight field says 0.05 g. That figure is copied as printed and is not a credible weight for a potted plant.
What do the eight reviews say?
All eight are positive: healthy plants, packaging, and quick delivery. Two buyers split one pot into several rooted pieces. There is no repeated complaint in the file.
Carbeth's Monstera deliciosa is listed in a 12 cm pot at about £13.99, with a bullet that puts the plant at about 40–50 cm on delivery. A separate height field says 2 metres, so those figures are not the same size. A bullet calls it a shade lover that tolerates shade and low humidity, while the care line says bright, indirect light. The listing line is 4.5 from 622 reviews, but the review text names spider plant far more often than monstera. Two blocks that do name a monstera mention packaging and fast growth, and one says the leaves go light without a window. The decorative pot in the picture is not included, and the pet question has no answer. The RHS says very low light tends to mean fewer holes, and that monstera is poisonous. Buy it when you want a stated 12 cm pot and you can check the light yourself, not when you are using the star line as proof it thrives in a dark corner. The score is 48.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You have daylight you can read by and you want a climbing monstera in a stated 12 cm pot.
Less suitable: You are choosing from the star rating, or a pet can reach the leaves.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the listing say it likes shade?
A bullet calls it a shade lover that will tolerate shade and low humidity. The care line says place it in bright, indirect light. Both sentences are in the file.
How tall is it on the listing?
The bullet says about 40–50 cm in a 12 cm pot. A separate height field says 2 metres. Those figures are not the same.
Can the star rating be read as monstera-only?
The listing line is 4.5 from 622. In the saved review text, spider plant is named more often than monstera. Two blocks clearly name a monstera.
Carbeth's Schefflera arboricola 'Janine' arrives in an 8 cm plastic pot at about £10.49. The growing-conditions bullet says it will thrive in low light, with slower and leggier growth, and also that it wants bright indirect light rather than full sun. The same bullet gives a potential size of about 4 metres tall and 3 metres across, which is not the plant in the parcel. Amazon.co.uk shows 4.5 from 8 reviews. Five texts in the file call it healthy, compact, and well packed, and one buyer found it a bit smaller than expected. There is no repeated damage theme in that sample. Watering on the listing is when the top is dry, then a soak and a drain. The Horticultural Trades Association lists schefflera as a human skin allergen, and the pet line is absent. It is the other listing with an explicit low-light sentence. The eight-review sample is why it sits behind the peace lily. On this page it is best value, because the top pick already holds the lowest price and the badges sit on different plants. The peace lily at about £9.99 is still cheaper. The score is 64.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want an upright umbrella plant, you have read the leggy caveat, and eight reviews are enough for you.
Less suitable: You need a review pool in the hundreds, or you want the plant to stay compact in a dark corner.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the seller say it copes with low light?
Yes. The growing-conditions bullet says it will thrive in low light, with slower and leggier growth. It also says bright indirect light, not full sun.
What size arrives?
An 8 cm plastic growing pot. The same bullet gives a potential size of about 4 metres tall and 3 metres spread. That is not the size in the parcel.
What do the reviews say?
Five reviews are in the file, against a listing line of 4.5 from 8. They call it healthy, compact, and well packed. One buyer found it a bit smaller than expected and was still happy. No damage theme repeats.
Carbeth's Tradescantia Nanouk is a 7 cm pot at about £10.99, and amazon.co.uk shows 4.4 from 629 reviews that match the pink stripes and the trailing habit. The care line and a bullet say bright, indirect light. Partial shade appears only as the sunlight field, and there is no sentence that it thrives in low light. The height field says 30 cm. Reviewers praise the colour, healthy roots, and packaging. Others say the plant was very small, arrived battered, or browned where leaves sat on wet compost. The pet line is not in the file. It is a colour plant for a bright windowsill in this comparison, and a weak fit if the room is the dim one you are trying to furnish. The score is 36.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You have a bright windowsill and you want the pink stripes.
Less suitable: The room is dim enough that you are shopping for a low light plant.
Specifications
Common questions
Does this listing say low light?
No. The care line and a bullet say bright, indirect light. The sunlight field says partial shade. There is no sentence that it thrives in low light.
What size is stated?
The title says a 7 cm pot. The height field says 30 cm. The model number is NANOUK.
What do the reviews repeat?
Reviewers praise the pink colour and healthy roots. Others say the plant was very small, arrived battered, or browned where leaves sat on wet compost.
Carbeth's peace lily arrives in a 9 cm nursery pot at about £9.99, and the amazon.co.uk line is 4.3 from 1,377 reviews whose text matches a peace lily. A bullet says it thrives in low to medium light and also tolerates shade, while the same listing says it grows best in bright, indirect light. The height field prints 50 cm, which is a catalogue figure rather than a measured plant in the parcel. Reviewers often praise a healthy plant and the packaging, and some already have flowers. Others mention yellow leaves on arrival, a smaller plant than expected, or transit damage. The decorative pot in the pictures is not included. The pet question on the listing has no answer, and the Royal Horticultural Society treats peace lilies as poisonous, so this is a poor match if a cat or dog chews. In this set it is the top pick, because the light sentence is explicit and the review pool is the large one, not because a 9 cm plant will flower in a windowless hall. The score is 90. It is also the lowest price. Best value is the schefflera, a different listing.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You can read a book by the window and you want an upright plant with a large matching review pool.
Less suitable: A cat or dog can chew the leaves, or the room has no daylight you can read by.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the listing say it can live in low light?
Yes. A bullet says it thrives in low to medium light and also tolerates shade. The same listing says it grows best in bright, indirect light. The pet and watering questions have no answer text.
Is a decorative pot included?
No. The bullet says the plant is delivered in a 9 cm nursery pot and that decorative pots in the pictures are not included.
What do the reviews repeat?
Reviewers often praise a healthy plant and the packaging. Others mention yellow leaves on arrival, a smaller plant than expected, or transit damage.
Carbeth sells two Scindapsus aureus plants, also called golden pothos and devil's ivy, at about £19.99, with 4.3 from 516 reviews. The title says 12 cm pots and a bullet says 13 cm, and the height field also says 13 cm, so the pot size is not settled in the file. The bullet says they prefer good light and should be kept away from strong direct sun. The low-light question has no answer. Reviewers often say the plants arrived healthy and well packed. Others mention yellow leaves, heat in the post, sparse compost, or a smashed pot. The RHS watering note for this species is to let the top dry, while this listing only says moderate watering. It is the two-plant option when you want a larger review pool than the single generic pot, and a poor match if you needed the listing itself to say low light. The score is 58.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want two devil's ivy plants and you can accept the 12 cm versus 13 cm clash.
Less suitable: You need an explicit low-light sentence, or one plant at about £11.
Specifications
Common questions
Are the pots 12 cm or 13 cm?
The title says 12 cm pots. A bullet says two plants in 13 cm pots. The height field says 13 cm. The file does not resolve that.
Does this listing say low light?
No. The bullet says they prefer good light and should be kept away from strong direct sun. The question about low light has no answer text.
What do the reviews repeat?
Reviewers often say the plants arrived healthy and well packed. Others mention yellow leaves, heat in the post, sparse compost, or a smashed pot.
Carbeth's Boston fern, Nephrolepis exaltata, is a 9 cm pot at about £10.99, and the amazon.co.uk line is 4.1 from 722 reviews. The care line says bright, indirect light, keep the compost evenly moist, and mist often or use a humidifier. The sunlight field says partial shade, which is not a sentence that the plant thrives in low light. The height field of 9 cm matches the pot rather than a full frond span. Reviewers praise plants that arrive alive. Others say the fern is very small for the price, that a pictured decorative pot was not included, or that leaves were broken. This is the plant in the set that must not bake dry. A bathroom question on the listing has no answer. It suits a bright, humid spot where you will keep the compost moist, and it is a weak order if the room is dim and you water it on a pothos schedule. The score is 55.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You have bright filtered light and you will keep the compost moist.
Less suitable: You wanted a listing that says the plant thrives in low light, or you let compost dry out between waterings.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the listing say low light?
It does not use those words. The care line says bright, indirect light. The sunlight field says partial shade. A bathroom question has no answer text.
How does the listing say to water it?
Keep the soil evenly moist and avoid letting it dry out completely. Mist the foliage often or use a humidifier.
What do the reviews repeat?
Reviewers praise plants that arrive alive and healthy. Others say the fern is very small for the price, that a pictured decorative pot was not included, or that leaves were broken.
Scores use the seven amazon.co.uk listings kept in this comparison, the light sentence on each page, whether the review text names that plant, and the shelf price in GBP. Shelf figures are the lines in the files. This is not a laboratory test and not an RHS award. Weights sum to 100. The peace lily scores 90, the highest, and it is also the lowest price, so the sort would put both badges on one ASIN. This page keeps one badge per listing. The top pick stays on the peace lily. Best value moves to the schefflera, the next listing whose own text says low light, at about £10.49. That is not a claim that £10.49 undercuts £9.99.
Light sentence
40%The light block is capped at 40. A bullet that says low to medium light, or that the plant will thrive in low light, scores higher than a sunlight field that only says partial shade. A care line that asks for bright, indirect light pulls the score down. The peace lily and the schefflera have an explicit low-light sentence. The single devil's ivy puts low light in the title. The two-pack says prefer good light. Nanouk and the Boston fern ask for bright, indirect light.
Review evidence
30%The review block is capped at 30. Stars only count when the review text names this plant. The peace lily is 4.3 from 1,377 reviews that match a peace lily. The monstera page prints 4.5 from 622, but the raw text also discusses spider plants, so that line is not a clean sample. A 5.0 or 4.5 from 8 reviews is too small to treat as a stable rate. Eight reviews are why the schefflera and the single devil's ivy sit behind the peace lily.
Listing consistency
15%Consistency is capped at 15. A stated pot in centimetres, and a line that the decorative pot is not included, score higher than a height field that disagrees with the bullet. The monstera bullet says about 40–50 cm and another field says 2 m. The two-pack title says 12 cm and a bullet says 13 cm. The single devil's ivy prints a weight of 0.05 g, which is not a credible mass for a potted plant. An unanswered pet question is not scored as a yes.
Price beside the top pick
15%Price is capped at 15. It is not a prize for the cheapest title alone, because that title is already the top pick. Among the other listings whose own words say low light, the schefflera at about £10.49 is the next shelf price. The single devil's ivy is £10.99 with the same thin sample of 8 reviews. The two-pack is £19.99. Best value is the schefflera ASIN, which is not the top pick.
Start with the daylight you actually have, then the light sentence on the listing. A partial-shade field is not the same claim as a bullet that says the plant thrives in low light.
A low light houseplant, for a UK shopper, is a living pot for a north-facing room or a dull flat where you can still read a book by daylight. The Royal Horticultural Society uses that book test and still says many plants only survive deeper shade. A peace lily rarely flowers there. Devil's ivy grows more slowly and loses variegation. If you cannot read a book in the room, none of the seven listings on this page fixes it. There is no lux cutoff here.
The peace lily and the monstera say the decorative pot is not included. Boston fern reviewers say a pictured pot was missing. Order the centimetre pot that is written down, and budget for a planter if you want one.
If you cannot read a book by daylight, none of these listings fixes the room. The RHS says a peace lily rarely flowers in deeper shade, and devil's ivy grows more slowly and loses variegation. A 9 cm plant is not a hall display.
The monstera page prints 4.5 from 622, and the saved review text also discusses spider plants. The single devil's ivy is 5.0 from 8, and the schefflera is 4.5 from 8. Do not rank eight reviews above the peace lily's 1,377.
The first check is daylight, then the words on the listing. The Royal Horticultural Society shady-rooms page uses a book test: if you can read a book by the window in daytime, the room is the sort of shade many houseplants can use. If you cannot, none of these seven pots repairs that.
A star line only helps if the review text names this plant. The peace lily is 4.3 from 1,377 reviews whose text matches a peace lily. That is the large sample in this set, and it is why the peace lily is the top pick. The Boston fern is 4.1 from 722, Nanouk is 4.4 from 629, and the devil's ivy two-pack is 4.3 from 516. Those files are large enough to show a repeated complaint: yellow leaves, a small plant, a missing decorative pot, or transit damage.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You can read by the window, you want an upright plant, and you will not treat a 9 cm peace lily as a plant that flowers in a hall with no daylight. The Carbeth peace lily is the top pick: about £9.99, a stated 9 cm nursery pot, and 4.3 from 1,377 reviews that match a peace lily.
You want one trailing pot whose title says low light, and you will let the top 2–3 cm of compost dry. The generic devil's ivy is about £10.99. The 5.0 is from 8 reviews, so do not rank it on the stars. The Carbeth two-pack has 516 reviews, and its bullet says the plants prefer good light.
You want an upright umbrella plant, you have read the leggy caveat, and eight reviews are enough. The Carbeth schefflera is best value on this page: about £10.49, an 8 cm plastic pot, and a bullet that says low light means slower and leggier growth. The peace lily is still cheaper.
The top pick is the Carbeth peace lily at about £9.99. It scores 90, the highest here, with a low-to-medium-light bullet and 4.3 from 1,377 reviews that name a peace lily. The same listing says it grows best in bright, indirect light, and a 9 cm plant will not flower in a windowless hall. Best value is a different ASIN, the Carbeth schefflera at about £10.49, the next shelf price with an explicit low-light sentence. The seller says that light means slower and leggier growth, and the sample is 4.5 from 8 reviews. Skip the peace lily if a cat or dog can chew the leaves. Skip the schefflera if you need a review pool in the hundreds. The peace lily is the cheaper of the two.
Carbeth Plants (schefflera, 8 cm)
Next shelf price with an explicit low-light sentence, about £10.49, on a different ASIN. The sample is 4.5 from 8 reviews, and low light means slower, leggier growth.
Editorial
Peter F. is the editor for DIY & tools at productscompared.co.uk. Comparisons in this category are checked against amazon.co.uk listings, review evidence and public UK sources.
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Public UK sources named below. amazon.co.uk prices, stars and review counts on these seven listings are the figures used for this comparison. Page updated 21 October 2026.
This page contains affiliate links to amazon.co.uk (tag pcuk26-21). If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, stars and review counts are taken from those listings. We did not run a lab test.
