A north-facing window suits ferns, calathea, prayer plant, peace lily, pothos, and Chinese evergreen. Set them on the sill or within 60 cm (2 ft) of the glass.
In the Northern Hemisphere, a north window gets no direct sun for most of the year. The light is soft and even from morning to evening. Leaves do not scorch there. The catch is that there is less light in total, and it drops fast as you step back into the room.
If you live in the Southern Hemisphere, flip this. Your south windows are the gentle ones.
How much light a north window gives
| Where the plant sits | Light level | What grows there |
|---|---|---|
| On the sill, or within 30 cm (1 ft) of the glass | Medium | Ferns, calathea, prayer plant, peace lily, peperomia |
| 30 cm to 1 m (1 to 3 ft) back | Low to medium | Pothos, philodendron, Chinese evergreen, dracaena, parlor palm |
| 1 to 2 m (3 to 6 ft) back | Low | ZZ plant, snake plant, cast iron plant |
| More than 2 m (6 ft) back | Too dim for most plants | Add a grow light |
Three things change these numbers.
- Window size. A floor-to-ceiling window lights a room far deeper than a small one.
- What is outside. A tree, a porch roof, or the building next door cuts the light. A pale wall or snow outside bounces more in.
- The season. Winter days are short and the sun sits low. A spot that works in June can be too dim in December.
Plants for the sill of a north window
These want medium light and no direct sun. A north sill is their best spot in the house.
| Plant | Pet safe | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Bird’s nest fern | Yes | Easy |
| Blue star fern | Yes | Easy |
| Maidenhair fern | Yes | Fussy |
| Calathea | Yes | Fussy |
| Prayer plant | Yes | Moderate |
| Never never plant | Yes | Moderate |
| Nerve plant | Yes | Moderate |
| Peperomia | Yes | Easy |
| Jewel orchid | Yes | Easy |
| Peace lily | No | Easy |
| Arrowhead plant | No | Easy |
| Dieffenbachia | No | Easy |
Calathea and prayer plant fade and burn in direct sun, so the soft light of a north window keeps their patterns sharp.
Plants for the room near a north window
These tolerate less light. Set them beside the window or a step back from it.
| Plant | Pet safe | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Pothos | No | Easy |
| Heartleaf philodendron | No | Easy |
| Chinese evergreen | No | Easy |
| Dracaena | No | Easy |
| ZZ plant | No | Easy |
| Snake plant | No | Easy |
| Cast iron plant | Yes | Easy |
| Parlor palm | Yes | Easy |
| Kentia palm | Yes | Easy |
| Lady palm | Yes | Easy |
For a tall plant by a north window, pick a kentia palm, a lady palm, or a dracaena.
Plants that struggle in a north window
These need direct sun or bright light for hours a day.
- Succulents and cacti, such as jade plant, aloe vera, and echeveria. They stretch and lean.
- Croton. It loses its color.
- Fiddle leaf fig and bird of paradise. They stall and drop leaves.
- String of pearls. It thins out at the top.
- Most flowering plants. They grow leaves but few flowers.
Variegated plants are a maybe. A ‘Marble Queen’ pothos on a north sill will live, but new leaves come in greener. Plain green types hold up better.
What changes in winter
Winter is the hard season for a north window, and harder the farther north you live.
- Move plants closer. Shift everything toward the glass in late fall. A plant that sat a meter (3 ft) back in summer may need the sill in winter.
- Mind the cold glass. Leaves that touch a cold window get damaged. Leave a gap of a few centimeters. On the coldest nights, pull plants back or close a curtain between the plant and the glass.
- Watch for drafts. An old window leaks cold air. Hold your hand near the frame. If you feel a draft, calathea and other tropical plants will too.
- Water less. Low light and cool air slow drying. Read how often to water houseplants in winter.
- Clean the window. Dirt on the glass blocks light the plants cannot spare. Wipe dust off the leaves as well.
- Stop feeding. Wait until growth starts again in spring.
How to get more from a north window
Use the whole sill. A shelf across the window, or a plant stand at sill height, puts more leaves in the best light.
Paint and mirrors help. White walls and a mirror across from the window bounce light back onto the plants.
Skip the heavy curtains. Sheers cut light too. Leave a north window bare if you can.
Add a grow light. A full-spectrum bulb in a lamp, on a timer for 10 to 12 hours a day, turns a north window into a spot for almost any plant.
Turn the pots. Give each pot a quarter turn when you water. Plants lean hard toward a single window.
Signs the spot is too dim
- Stems stretch toward the glass, with long gaps between leaves.
- New leaves are small and pale.
- The plant makes no new growth from spring to fall.
- The soil stays wet for more than two weeks.
- A prayer plant or calathea stops folding its leaves at night.
Move the plant closer to the glass first. If it is on the sill and still shows these signs, it needs a brighter window or a lamp.
Quick answers
Is a north-facing window good for plants? Yes, for plants that like medium or low light. It is too dim for succulents and most flowering plants.
Does a north window count as low light? At the glass, it is medium light. A meter (3 ft) back, it is low light.
Can pothos grow in a north window? Yes. Keep it close to the glass, and trim vines that go bare.
Can succulents grow in a north window? Not well. Zebra haworthia copes best. Most others stretch and fade without a grow light.
What is the best pet-safe plant for a north window? A bird’s nest fern on the sill, or a parlor palm beside it.
For more plants that cope with dim rooms, read indoor plants for minimal light.