Which window gives the least light?

A north-facing window. It gets no direct sun, so the light stays low all day. Many plants cope well here.

How far from a window can a plant sit?

Light fades quickly with distance. About 3 to 5 feet back gives roughly half the light at the glass, and across the room is dim. Most plants slowly struggle there.

How do I tell which way my window faces?

Stand at the window and look out: that is the direction it faces. You can also hold a phone compass flat against the glass, or use the sun, which rises in the east and sets in the west.

Light guide

What light does each window give?

The way your window faces decides how much light a plant gets. Match the plant to the window, and most of the guesswork is gone.

How to tell which way your window faces

1
Stand at the window and look out. The direction you are looking is the direction the window faces.
2
Open the Compass app on your phone and hold it flat against the glass.
3
Or use the sun: the side where it rises is east, and where it sets is west.

A brass compass and sun-angle sketch on a sunny travertine windowsill beside a potted heartleaf philodendron

This guide assumes you live in the Northern Hemisphere, in the United States. South of the equator, north and south swap.

What each window gives

The dashed line is the sun's path across the sky.

East-facing

Gentle morning sun

You get soft sun in the morning, then bright shade the rest of the day. This suits most medium-light plants, and many bright-light plants do well here too.

South-facing

The brightest light

Sun for most of the day. Sun lovers such as succulents and cacti like it. Many common houseplants do better a few feet back, because the glass can scorch their leaves. Browse bright indirect plants.

West-facing

Strong afternoon sun

The sun arrives late in the day, when it is hottest. A sheer curtain softens it for plants that dislike hot sun.

North-facing

Soft, steady light

No direct sun, so the light stays low all day. Many plants cope well here. See our low-light plants, or start with the beginner-friendly plants.

Distance from the window matters

Architectural cutaway showing room light strength at the window, 3 to 5 feet back, and across the room

At the glassThe strongest light you can give a plant.

3 to 5 feet backRoughly half as much.

Across the roomDim. Most plants will slowly struggle here.

Light fades quickly as you move away from the glass. If a plant is not happy, moving it a couple of feet is often the easiest fix. Keep leaves from touching cold glass in winter.

Is your plant getting the right light?

Too little light

Golden pothos in a terracotta pot in dim light showing elongated leggy vines and pale small leaves

Long, stretched stems with big gaps between leaves.
Small, pale new leaves.
Growth that leans hard toward the window.

Too much light

Peace lily plant showing foliage scorched and bleached by excess direct sun

Brown, crispy patches (scorch marks) on the leaves facing the glass.
Washed-out, bleached-looking leaves.
Soil that dries out much faster than usual.

Other things, such as watering, can cause some of these signs too. Check the light first, then the watering.

Low-light plants in stock

A few plants from our low-light collection. Not sure your window qualifies? Try the light calculator first.

Low light houseplant trio with snake plant, ZZ plant, and trailing pothos in neutral ceramic pots

Not sure how much light your window gives?

Use the light calculator Shop beginner-friendly plants