Not every houseplant belongs in front of a sunny window. Leaves may scorch, lose their vibrant colors, or dry out completely.
Some species are adapted to forest understories or shaded environments, and direct exposure through glass can harm them.
If you’ve noticed browning tips or faded foliage, the culprit might be placement.
Here are ten popular indoor plants that thrive better away from direct window light, along with tips on where to keep them instead.
1. Peace Lily
- Scientific name: Spathiphyllum
- Light: Medium to low, indirect
- Watering: Keep soil moist, not soggy
- USDA Zones: 10-12
The peace lily is admired for its glossy leaves and elegant white blooms, but its delicate foliage doesn’t tolerate harsh window light.
Direct sun quickly scorches the leaves, turning them yellow or brown.
This plant naturally grows under forest canopies, making filtered or shaded conditions ideal.
Place your peace lily a few feet away from a north- or east-facing window, where it can still receive brightness without suffering burns.
See also: Trick to Make Your Peace Lily Grow Unstoppably
2. Snake Plant
- Scientific name: Dracaena trifasciata (formerly Sansevieria)
- Light: Low to bright, indirect
- Watering: Allow soil to dry fully between waterings
- USDA Zones: 9-11
The snake plant is often called indestructible, but it isn’t invincible.
Strong window light can bleach its stiff, upright leaves and leave crispy edges.
Though tolerant of many conditions, snake plants prefer stable, indirect lighting that mimics their natural habitats in dappled shade.
You should keep them slightly back from windows or in a bright corner, where their unique green-and-yellow striping remains bold and healthy without risk of sun damage.
3. ZZ Plant
- Scientific name: Zamioculcas zamiifolia
- Light: Low to moderate, indirect
- Watering: Water sparingly; drought tolerant
- USDA Zones: 9-10
ZZ plants are valued for their glossy, deep-green leaves and their ability to thrive in low light. But direct window sunlight can be too intense, leaving scorch marks and faded foliage.
These hardy plants evolved to handle shade and filtered light, not blazing exposure.
A hallway, office space, or shaded room corner suits them perfectly.
They’ll maintain their lush look with minimal care, as long as you keep them away from harsh rays.
4. Calathea
- Scientific name: Calathea spp.
- Light: Bright, indirect
- Watering: Keep soil consistently moist
- USDA Zones: 10-12
Calatheas, also called prayer plants, are prized for their bold patterns and striking leaf colors.
Unfortunately, those same patterns fade quickly under direct sun. Window exposure also crisps their leaf edges, spoiling their dramatic look.
To keep Calathea thriving, place it in bright but indirect light, such as behind sheer curtains or away from south-facing windows.
Humid bathrooms or kitchens with filtered sunlight can be the perfect home for these vibrant beauties.
5. Parlor Palm
- Scientific name: Chamaedorea elegans
- Light: Low to moderate, indirect
- Watering: Water when topsoil dries
- USDA Zones: 10-12
The parlor palm has been a staple of indoor gardening for centuries, loved for its graceful, feathery fronds.
But direct sunlight through windows dries and scorches its delicate leaves, leaving them brittle and brown.
This palm is adapted to low-light forest understories, so a shaded corner or softly lit room is more suitable.
When placed out of the direct line of windows, the parlor palm thrives and brings elegant greenery without stress.
6. Pothos
- Scientific name: Epipremnum aureum
- Light: Low to bright, indirect
- Watering: Allow soil to partly dry
- USDA Zones: 10-12
Pothos is often seen trailing from shelves or hanging baskets, admired for its fast growth and forgiving nature.
While adaptable, pothos doesn’t enjoy sitting in front of bright windows. Direct rays cause leaves to bleach, curl, or even burn.
Instead, it thrives in indirect light where variegation remains strong and growth steady.
A bookshelf near a north window or a hanging basket away from direct sun is a better placement.
See more: Watering Pothos: When, How Often, And How Much Is Needed
7. Philodendron
- Scientific name: Philodendron hederaceum and others
- Light: Low to bright, indirect
- Watering: Keep soil lightly moist
- USDA Zones: 9-11
Philodendrons are beloved for their lush, heart-shaped leaves and climbing habit, but they don’t appreciate harsh sunlight.
Placed too close to windows, their leaves grow pale, thin, and may scorch at the edges.
As tropical understory plants, they are happiest with filtered light and stable temperatures.
Moving them back from direct glass exposure keeps them leafy and full, with vines that trail or climb beautifully without stress.
8. Maidenhair Fern
- Scientific name: Adiantum raddianum
- Light: Low to medium, indirect
- Watering: Keep soil consistently damp
- USDA Zones: 10-11
The maidenhair fern is one of the most delicate indoor plants, with fine fronds that dry out quickly.
Direct sunlight through a window is too harsh, leaving the foliage crisp and lifeless.
These ferns crave humidity and protection from both heat and glare. A bathroom shelf with filtered light or a shaded nook in a bright room is far more suitable.
When kept away from direct windows, they reward you with lush, soft greenery.
9. Cast Iron Plant
- Scientific name: Aspidistra elatior
- Light: Low to moderate, indirect
- Watering: Water sparingly
- USDA Zones: 8-10
As its name suggests, the cast iron plant is nearly indestructible, thriving on neglect and poor conditions. But even this tough plant has limits.
Direct sun shining through windows leaves ugly scorched patches on its long, glossy leaves.
It does far better in dim corners or shaded hallways where it can quietly grow without fuss.
Its low-light tolerance makes it one of the easiest choices for spots where other plants would fail.
10. Dracaena
- Scientific name: Dracaena spp.
- Light: Bright, indirect
- Watering: Allow topsoil to dry between waterings
- USDA Zones: 10-12
Dracaenas, with their striped and colorful foliage, bring a tropical touch indoors.
But placed in front of strong window light, they often develop unsightly brown streaks or fading colors.
These plants do best when shielded from direct rays, enjoying bright but filtered light.
A few feet back from an east-facing window or near sheer curtains creates the perfect balance, allowing them to keep their vibrant patterns without damage.
