It is a hurtful thing being a plant lover who somehow manages to murder every leafy arrival that crosses your threshold.
It’s natural to point the blame inwardly. Is it something you did, something you said? Something you didn’t say?
While certain personal behaviours can be analysed - not enough water, a constricted pot, a lack of growth liquid - the environment you’re working with could be at fault.
North-facing homes get little direct sunlight, but that doesn’t mean they’re a non-starter for your internal jungle fantasies. While few would up sticks for the sake of a houseplant or two, picking the right plants that flourish in shady spots can make your green nursery dreams come true.
What plants do well in low light?
Banish all thoughts of moss and ivy crawling up your four walls - there are plenty of species around that adore shady spits. Top of the tree is the peace lily but snake and spider plants are happy in low light too. If your houseplant choices are heavily influenced by your social media feed, you’ll be pleased to learn that Monstera deliciosa, the cheese plant with big, glossy green leaves, can also take low light in its stride (they can often be found growing under rainforest trees where the sun’s rays are hardly able to penetrate).
What these plants do need though is water, and in Monstera’s case, humidity.
What are the benefits of houseplants?
If you have the room, adding a houseplant to your home will reward you in more ways than one.
Not only do their organic forms add balance and bring in nature (especially needed for gardenless urban dwellings), but they help oxygenate your space, leaving air feeling fresher. Tending to them and watching them grow is also great for mental well-being - anything that pulls your eyes away from a screen is bound to be - giving you something practical to focus on and growth to root for.
If you’re fed up with watching the leaves of your new garden centre purchase wither and die, it’s time to make a switch and try shade-loving plants. We’ve rounded up the best of them below to make shopping for them easier.
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M&S Large Monstera (Swiss Cheese Plant)
It is the poster leaf for houseplant-owning in 2024. The Monstera, or Swiss cheese plant, is on every Millennial and Gen Z’s perfect home bingo card.
It’s popular for a host of reasons, but the top for us is that it’s easy-going - it won’t punish you by curling its edges brown if you stick it in the corner. What it loves though is water (you can take the plant out of the rainforest etc) so find the wettest spot in your house and it’ll be as happy as Larry.
A bathroom or kitchen sink side is perfect and ideally by some ventilation so it can get fresh air when it needs it. M&S delivers its plant in a plain pot but you can upgrade to something fancier like a weaved basket or a patterned ceramic planter.
Buy now £28.00, M&S
Gardener's Dream Snake Plant Sansevieria
Dark leaves framed by lighter borders, the snake plant adores sitting in hot and humid environments. The variety is naturally air purifying, so perfect for keeping in homes close to busy roads and traffic hot spots.
The good news is that they do well in a spectrum of light brightnesses. They don’t like being overwatered though, so easy does it with the watering can - a light misting will be just fine. This plant will stand at a maximum height of 40cm, but if you’re after a taller fella, Amazon sells versions that can go up to 80cm.
Buy now £14.99, Amazon
Maranta Fascinator Tricolour Prayer Plant
This is one of the hardest grafters in removing carbon dioxide from your home. Also known as Calathea, the Prayer Plant nickname comes from the way that the leaves fold together at night like hands in prayer - it’s a real treat to see them unfold if you’re an early riser.
Easy to care for, the plants enjoy indirect or medium light, and regular watering making them ideal for the bathroom or kitchen, helping to elevate the space. They have beautifully patterned leaves and come in a variety of colours, from green to purple, but keep away from sunny windows as this may cause them to fade.
Buy now £14.99, Amazon
Patch Plants Rapunzel
Also known as Devil’s Ivy, the Pothos makes an excellent bathroom plant. They’re famous for being super low maintenance (no herbicide guilt here), doing well in bright conditions as well as low light.
They tend to be on the smaller side too, so you won’t have to navigate around one when you’re drying yourself off from the shower. Pothos are also very good at removing common toxins from the air, purifying your space.
Place on a high shelf adjacent to your shower’s spray path for light misting when you have your morning bath.
Buy from Patch Plants and you can add a pot to house your new arrival in style.
Buy now £15.00, Patch Plants
Waitrose Florist Peace Lily
For calm and tranquillity, a Peace Lily is an excellent addition to your plant collection.
The pretty plant with white flowers helps to create a serene, spa-like ambience and is easy to care for, thriving best in high moisture, low-light conditions - ideal for bathrooms without a window (well, there had to be some sort of silver lining).
Waitrose’s flowering version comes ready to place in a woven basket and is also an excellent option if you’re looking for a foolproof housewarming gift.
Buy now £40.00, Waitrose
The Little Botanical Purifying Plant Bundle
Purify the air in your home with these three de-toxifying plants, easy to care for and guaranteed to bring a fresh aura to your space.
The sansevieria punk (mother-in-law’s tongue) and snakey sansevieria (snake plant) need watering only every two weeks; the ficus benjamina (weeping fig) once a week, and all are content positioned in light or shady spots.
Presented in rustic grey ceramic pots, they’ll add instant style while bringing nature inside and benefitting your breathing.
Buy now £55.00, John Lewis
Patch Plants Snake Plant
Ideal for first-time plant buyers, the snake plant is a super chilled, easy-going option which thrives on being left alone. Place in low-lit or brighter spots and water every few weeks (when the soil feels dry) to help it keep its vivid green colour and tall stems. Pop it in your bedroom to purify the room with its stored-up oxygen, ready to be released at night.
Buy now £10.00, Patch Plants
Patch Plants Starter Set
This is the perfect trio set to kick-start your indoor garden. Easy to look after – suitable for all light conditions and only requiring a little water every now and then – these low-maintenance plants are super chilled, pretty difficult to kill and will add some calming natural aesthetics to your home. Patch Plants provide quick facts and care instructions for each plant, regarding the water, light and humidity they like, and give them each a quirky name – a unique feature we love.
Pippa the peace lily will fill your space with its green luscious full leaves and will sprout pretty white flowers in spring. Susie snake plant’s long build will bring a stylish edge to your interiors, and Rapunzel the golden pothos will look great draped over a table or shelf with its molten quick-growing stems. Pay a little extra to have the chic pots included.
Buy now £37.00, Patch Plants
Prickle Plants Cast Iron Plant
A more affordable pick for those revamping on a budget, Prickle Plants’ decorative piece comes complete with a pot of your choosing, meaning less stress and less mess. Keep this one out of the sun and water regularly.
Buy now £22.00, Prickle Plants
Crocus Buxus sempervirens
For year-round green smartness, head to Crocus where you can pick up these tightly clipped box spheres in a variety of sizes to best suit your space. The manicured looks come in pots that range from 3 - 10 litres. They’ll do best in partially shaded areas and flanking doorways for ultimate impact.
From £39.99.
Buy now £39.99, Crocus
Moyses Stevens Peace Lily
Peace lilies are not only a pretty, eye-catching addition to your home with tropical vibes but they’re a natural air purifier too, scrubbing your O2 clean by absorbing mould spores.
Set this beauty in a dry place as the plant absorbs its own water before releasing it back into its surroundings: soil should be damp, not soggy, and it’s happiest with misted leaves.
It will flourish best in indirect morning light. A word of warning to parents and pet-owners: they are poisonous if eaten so keep out of reach of curious little ones.
Buy now £25.00, Selfridges
