A little care. A lot of green.
Explore all 86 settingsBalconies, windows, and light

The north facing window

Which plants can use soft daylight without a direct sunbeam?

6 individually potted plants. Select any photograph to open that plant's existing guide.

Placement and growing conditions

Why this group works here.

Assess actual daylight at the leaves because nearby buildings, hemisphere, latitude, and season matter more than the compass label alone. Keep the group close enough to receive useful light and observe new growth. A deeply shaded window may still require appropriate supplemental lighting.

The message behind the grouping

Meaning, with a little thought.

Fine, upright, rounded, and flowering forms create variety within a restrained palette. The meaning is attentive use of the conditions available, not a claim that these plants need no light.

Parlor Palm
In this design: quiet welcome.
Use its fine divided fronds as a softer middle layer, with room to inspect every small stem.
Corn Plant
In this design: steady progress.
A cane and leaf rosette supply a vertical accent without requiring a broad branching crown.
Metallic Palm
In this design: understated character.
The broad dark palm leaves give a quieter shape than the finely divided fronds of many palms.
Dwarf Peace Lily
In this design: a considerate welcome.
White spathes make a light accent against green foliage; check its own mix rather than sharing a watering schedule.
Shield Aralia
In this design: a sense of shelter.
The rounded foliage adds a sheltered, enclosed feeling to a small display without implying a protective power.
Small Flowered Moth Orchid
In this design: careful celebration.
An airy flower stem adds detail without a heavy pot, provided its bark medium is watered independently.

Another place to begin.