Guide to best low light indoor plants for Tempe workspaces

How do I choose the best low light indoor plants for my space?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to workplace greenery. A high-traffic office near Mill Avenue might benefit from tall, sturdy snake plants in sleek containers. A coworking suite in a converted warehouse might lean toward hanging pothos plants and pet-safe Calatheas. Ultimately, the best low light indoor plants are those that enhance your workday and feel easy to manage.

Many Tempe workplaces have limited window access or dim lighting, which makes selecting the right greenery essential. Let’s take a look at the best low light indoor plants for workspaces. This guide breaks down low light office plants by category: tall, desk-friendly, shelf-ready, and pet-safe.

Tall low light indoor plants for corners and hallways

Tall, vertically growing plants make a visual impact without taking up much floor space. They’re especially helpful in Tempe spaces with high traffic:

Sansevieria ‘Laurentii’ (Snake Plant)

• Appearance: With upright, sword-like leaves edged in gold, this plant adds strong vertical lines to any office space.
• Placement: Snake plants perform well in low light, fluorescent conditions, and indirect natural light. They can be placed in corners, near shared workstations, or in offices with limited windows.
• Details: Recognized as one of the most durable low light office plants, the Snake Plant thrives with minimal care. Botanists of North Carolina Extension found that it can thrive with as little as 2–6 hours of indirect light per day. This makes it an ideal choice for Tempe offices.

ZZ Plant

• Appearance: The ZZ Plant has thick, glossy leaves and a sculptural growth pattern, adding richness and texture to modern spaces.
• Placement: This plant excels in low light environments, including windowless rooms and areas lit only by overhead fluorescents.
• Details: Tolerant of neglect and extremely low light, the ZZ plant doesn’t demand much attention. The IFAS Extension (University of Florida) confirms it “will tolerate extremely low light levels that would challenge other plants,” and calls it nearly “indestructible” in dim conditions. It is considered one of the best low light indoor plants for long-term resilience and visual appeal.

Dracaena Lisa

• Appearance: Sleek and upright, the Dracaena Lisa’s unique structural shape complements most interior styles.
• Placement: It is best suited for medium to low light conditions, but not shade. It’s important to avoid placing this plant in dark corners that rarely see any light.
• Details: According to plant care experts, this plant typically thrives with bright, indirect light, but tolerates lower light conditions very well. When adapted to low light, it rarely needs watering and grows slower. This makes it ideal for busy Tempe professionals with limited time for watering and pruning fast-growing plants.

Low light desk plants for workstations and small spaces

What are the best low light office plants for desks and cubicles? These small container plants fit neatly in compact workstations:

Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)

• Appearance: Pothos features trailing vines with heart-shaped leaves that range from deep green to light green with yellow or white patterns. They will survive healthily in low light conditions, but may lose some of their speckled patterning.
• Placement: This species performs well in low light environments that only have overhead lighting, perfect for smaller offices with inconsistent natural light.
• Details: Considered one of the best low light indoor plants for beginners, Pothos is extremely adaptable. University of Florida IFAS Extension explains it tolerates inconsistent care, although color patterns may shift in very dim spaces.

Philodendron Cordatum

• Appearance: With elegant, heart-shaped leaves and flexible vines, this philodendron adds soft texture and visual rhythm to a desk or shared table.
• Placement: Heartleaf philodendrons thrive in indirect or low light. They’re well-suited for interior offices, shaded shelving, or desktop planters that receive little direct sun.
• Details: As confirmed by Penn State Extension, this plant is easy to maintain and tolerates low light well. Its trailing growth can be trained or trimmed depending on available space. It needs only occasional watering and minimal pruning, so it’s a favorite among Tempe clients.

Aglaonema ‘Silver Bay’

• Appearance: Silver Bay is known for wide, lance-shaped leaves, which display silvery centers framed by lush green margins.
• Placement: This plant thrives in low to medium light conditions. Similar to the Dracanae Lisa, it should be kept out of deep shade and extra dark corners.
• Details: Aglaonema is commonly cited by university extension programs as one of the top-performing low light indoor plants. It grows slowly, requires minimal watering, and holds its color well even in suboptimal lighting. Its reliable nature makes it one of the best low light office plants for indoor spaces with limited time for plant care.

Shelf and divider plants for shared zones and visual breaks

These low light indoor plants work well on shelves, in containers, or across open-plan dividers. They’re some of the best low light indoor plants for adding privacy and a sense of calm.

• Dracaena Compacta: A more compact version of its taller cousin, this species brings structure and deep green foliage to bookcases and divider containers (pictured with Dracaena Lisa earlier in this article).
• Scindapsus (Satin Pothos): Known for its soft, silver-speckled leaves, this plant brings movement and visual interest to otherwise static office areas. It thrives under low light, which makes it ideal among low light office plants for Tempe workspaces.
• Anthurium: Though best known for its flowers, many anthuriums tolerate lower light and do well with regular, infrequent watering. They’re great for adding subtle color and are considered among the best low light indoor plants for visual interest.

Pet-safe low light plants for Tempe offices with furry visitors

In Tempe, many offices are pet-friendly. For teams that welcome dogs or cats, choosing non-toxic plants is important. These species are considered pet-safe and still qualify as some of the best low light indoor plants for offices:

• Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea elegans): Tolerant of low light and compact in shape, this palm brings a soft tropical feel and is safe for pets.
• Spider Plant: Spider plants tolerate a range of light conditions and are non-toxic to cats and dogs. When compared to other low light office plants, they’re among the most accessible, adaptable, and are often hung in baskets.
• Calathea: These bold, patterned plants are safe for pets and thrive in lower light with occasional misting. Their broad leaves create visual softness in clinical or high-tech spaces, earning them a place on our list of best low light indoor plants.

Why are low light indoor plants better for busy workplaces?

Each of these low light indoor plants was selected for ease of care. Tempe’s fast-moving culture leaves little bandwidth for plant care. The plants outlined in this article allow you to enjoy the benefits of reduced stress, improved focus, and better air quality, without the pressure of high-maintenance oversight. They’re our top choices among low light office plants used in commercial spaces.

Let us know if you need assistance with plant design and care. We offer indoor plant rental services for Arizona businesses. Our teams assess lighting, layout, and workflow to recommend the best mix of plants for your space. We also handle installation, watering, cleaning, fertilization, and proactive replacements.