Plants that don't need light

Ferns are plants that want little light

What are the plants that do not need light, or not much? When we have, for example, a garden that has matured, and in which there are only shady corners left, we must think very well what species we will use to fill those areas, since there are not many who can live in these conditions.

And it is that all plants, to a greater or lesser extent, need sunlight. Some require direct exposure to the sun, others prefer that it reaches them in a filtered way, and others instead require protection from the sun. But even the latter would have serious problems if placed in dark areas. Light is key for them to photosynthesize and grow. So that, Let's see which are the plants that do not need (direct) light.

Aecmea (Aechmea fasciata)

Aecmea is a bromeliad that wants little light

Image - Wikimedia / Yercaud-elango

The aecmea, especially the Aechmea fasciata, is a bromeliad that despite its tropical origin is not as delicate as you might think. It forms a rosette of green tapered leaves with whitish stripes, and a pink inflorescence sprouts from its center. Grows up to 30-35 centimeters tall, and its leaves are 40-45 centimeters long. It lives beautifully in the shade of trees, as well as indoors. It does not support sub-zero temperatures, but if it is very sheltered it can withstand occasional and weak frosts of up to -1,5ºC.

Aspidistra (Aspidistra elatior)

Aspidistra is a perennial plant

Image - Flickr / Phillip Merritt

La aspidistra It is a herbaceous that reaches a height of 40-50 centimeters tall at most. It develops stems with green leaves, although depending on the cultivar it may have white edges. It is an ideal species for shady corners or indoors with little light, as it also withstands drought and frost down to -7ºC.

Begonia (maculata begonia)

Begonia maculata wants little light

Image - Wikimedia / GCornelis

La maculata begonia It is a tropical herb that reaches a height of 40 centimeters. The leaves are approximately 20 centimeters long by 4-5 centimeters wide, and have a green upper surface with white spots and a red underside. It is a plant that requires little light to grow, but requires high humidity and protection against the cold.

Headband (Chlorophytum comosum)

La tape is a herbaceous plant that reaches 30 centimeters in height, but its leaves do not grow straight, but curl downwards. They grow to about 35-40 centimeters long, and are green or variegated (green with white edges). Much loved both indoors and in gardens, where it will quickly form groups of ribbons as it produces stolons. Withstands cold and weak frosts down to -2ºC.

Sword fernnephrolepis high)

Nephrolepis is a shadow fern

Image - Wikimedia / Mokkie

The sword fern or nephrolepis is a very adaptable variety of fern. DeIt develops green fronds (leaves) that are up to 1 meter long. Like all gymnosperms, it lacks flowers, but that doesn't matter: it grows fast, and it is very adaptable. It is a plant that does not need direct light or much attention. It supports light frosts of up to -2ºC.

Hypoestes (Hypoestes phyllostachya)

The hypoestes is a tropical shade plant

Image - Wikimediia / Sanjay Acharya

La hypoestes It is a small plant that does not need direct light reaches 10 centimeters in height at most, and that it has very beautiful colored leaves, such as red or white. It is interesting since it does not need a lot of light, but you should know that it is delicate: you have to be careful with watering because it does not support flooding, and with the cold, since it only supports up to 10ºC.

Mother-in-law's tongueSansevieria trifasciata)

The sword of St. George is a plant that lives in low light

Image - Wikimedia / Mokkie

La mother-in-law's tongue or sanseviera is a plant with wide and elongated, fleshy, green leaves, sometimes with a yellow margin. Depending on the variety, it can measure between 30 and 50 centimeters. Its flowers arise from a flower stalk, and are white. Of course, it needs a soil or a substrate with good drainage, since its roots do not support waterlogging. Supports up to -2ºC.

Elephant ear (Alocasia macrorrhizos)

The elephant ear does not need much light, and is one meter high

Image - Flickr / International Institute of Tropical Agriculture

The plant known as elephant ear or alocasia is a plant that does not need direct light reaches a height of up to 1 meter. It has large leaves, about 50 centimeters long by 15-20 centimeters wide, and green in color. Its growth rate is fast, as long as the humidity is high and the climate is warm. It can withstand up to -2ºC.

Lounge palm tree (Chamaedorea elegans)

The living room palm is a plant that does not need direct light

Image - Wikimedia / David J. Stang

La living room palm tree is a herbaceous plant (a megaphorbia, to be more exact) that it can be about 2 meters tall. It develops a single trunk just 2 centimeters thick, and a crown of pinnate green leaves that are 1-1,5 meters long. It is a kind of small plant, which is grown both in pots and in gardens. It needs shade, as well as protection if the temperature drops below -2ºC.

Pothos (aureum)

The pothos is a perennial climber

El pothos is an evergreen climber that it can reach ten meters if it has support. It is very resistant, in fact, it can be had as a low-watering indoor plant, as well as in a shaded garden. It grows fast, and does not need you to be very aware of it. But you have to keep in mind that it does not resist frost.

Do you know other plants that don't need direct light to grow?


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