Living in a north-facing apartment doesn’t mean you have to give up on having houseplants. These windows usually provide softer, indirect light rather than the strong sunlight that comes through south-facing windows, but plenty of indoor plants can manage just fine in those conditions.

The amount of light your plants receive depends on more than window direction. Nearby buildings, trees, the season, and how far the plant sits from the glass can all make a difference.

The best thing you can do is choose plants that suit your home’s lighting instead of bringing home varieties that need several hours of direct sunshine. If you’ve struggled to keep houseplants alive before, these 12 options are worth considering, although a few need a brighter spot than others.

Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata)

Snake plants are a good choice if you tend to forget about watering your houseplants. They tolerate low light, need water only after their soil has dried out, and grow upright, making them a practical option for apartments with limited floor space.

Place one in an empty corner, beside the sofa, or near a north-facing window. Start with a live snake plant and pair it with modern indoor plant pots for a neat look.

ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)

The ZZ plant is another good option for people who don’t want a plant that needs constant attention. Its thick underground rhizomes store water, allowing it to go longer between waterings than many other houseplants.

It can tolerate low light and has glossy green leaves that look good in almost any room. Let the soil dry before watering again, and avoid leaving it sitting in excess water. A self-watering planter may help with watering, but check the soil so it doesn’t stay too wet.

Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)

Pothos plants are popular with apartment dwellers because they’re easy to grow and can tolerate a range of indoor conditions. They can survive in lower light, although their leaves may lose some variegation and their growth may slow down.

Their long vines look especially nice hanging from shelves or planters. If you don’t have much floor space, try a hanging planter basket.

Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior)

The cast iron plant lives up to its name because it can tolerate conditions that many houseplants struggle with. It handles low light, dry indoor air, and occasional lapses in care.

It also grows slowly, so you won’t have to worry about it taking over a small apartment. A minimalist ceramic planter pairs nicely with its broad green leaves.

Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema)

The Chinese Evergreen is a nice choice if you want something with more color than an ordinary green houseplant. Its leaves come in different patterns and shades, depending on the variety.

Many Aglaonemas tolerate lower light, although varieties with pink or red markings often need brighter indirect light to maintain their coloring. They also tend to stay fairly full without requiring constant care. Try decorative indoor plant pots to complement the leaf patterns.

Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

Spider plants do well in indirect light and are fairly easy to care for. Mature plants produce small offshoots that hang from long stems, giving them a distinctive look.

A north-facing room can work, especially if the plant sits close to the window. A wall-mounted plant hanger lets the leaves and trailing stems hang freely without taking up table space.

Heartleaf Philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum)

The Heartleaf Philodendron is a good fit for apartments with limited natural light. Its heart-shaped leaves grow along trailing vines, making it a nice addition to bookshelves, floating shelves, or hanging planters.

It can tolerate lower light, though growth may slow down in a particularly dim room. Let the soil dry slightly between waterings, and give the vines room to hang from a floating shelf set.

Lucky Bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana)

If you don’t have much room for a large plant, lucky bamboo is worth considering. Despite its name, it’s actually a type of Dracaena and can grow in water rather than soil.

It does well in bright indirect light and can tolerate lower-light spots. If you keep it in water, clean the container and replace the water regularly to prevent buildup. It’s a simple choice for a desk, bathroom shelf, or kitchen counter.

Dracaena (Dracaena fragrans or marginata)

Dracaenas come in several varieties, and many are well suited to indoor growing. They can tolerate lower light and prefer soil that has had a chance to dry somewhat between waterings.

Their upright growth makes them useful for filling an empty corner without spreading across the floor. If you choose a larger variety, a tall indoor planter pot can give it a little extra height.

Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)

Peace lilies can grow in lower light than many other flowering houseplants. They may produce fewer flowers in a dim room, but their green foliage can still look full with proper care.

They’re also known for drooping when they need water, which can help remind forgetful owners to check the soil. A watering can with a narrow spout makes it easier to water around the base of the plant.

Jade Plant (Crassula ovata)

Jade plants are a little different from most of the plants on this list because they need plenty of bright light. A very dim north-facing room probably won’t provide enough light for one to grow well.

If your window gets good daylight or you have a brighter spot elsewhere in the apartment, a jade plant may work. Let the soil dry completely between waterings, and use a succulent soil mix to help water drain away from the roots.

Ponytail Palm (Beaucarnea recurvata)

Despite its name, the Ponytail Palm isn’t a true palm. Its thick, swollen base stores water, allowing it to handle dry conditions and occasional missed waterings.

Like the jade plant, it prefers bright light, so it isn’t the best choice for a dark corner or a room with very little daylight. If you have a brighter window available, let the soil dry between waterings and use a well-draining planter pot.

A Few Simple Tips for North-Facing Windows

Choosing the right plant is only part of keeping it healthy. Where you put it and how often you water it can make a big difference in a room with limited sunlight.

Keep plants near the window. Light levels drop as you move farther from the glass, so a plant beside the window will usually receive more light than one across the room.
Watch how the light changes. Nearby trees and buildings can block daylight, and the amount of light coming through your windows may change with the seasons.
Check the soil before watering. Plants in lower light often use water more slowly, so watering on a fixed schedule can leave their roots sitting in damp soil for too long.
Give brighter-light plants another spot. Jade plants and ponytail palms need more light than snake plants or ZZ plants, so place them near your brightest available window.

You don’t need a sun-filled apartment to enjoy indoor greenery. With plants that suit your rooms and a little care with watering and placement, even a north-facing home can have plenty of healthy houseplants.