• Parlor palms were popular indoor plants in the gas-lit Victorian home.palm image by Dave from Fotolia.com
  
  All indoor plants need some light for photosynthesis. But if your home or office has only low light due to surrounding trees, other buildings or small windows, some houseplants will still flourish. Cast-iron, Chinese evergreen, fatsia, heart ivy, parlor palm and pothos plants prove resilient and provide beauty in low-light locations.
  
  

Cast-Iron Plants (Apsidistra elatior)

• The cast-iron has wide, dark leaves that measure up to 24 inches and have an acute endpoint. Cream or purple 1-inch flowers bloom in the springtime, but they're hard to see due to all the leaves. Because of its ability to survive in low light, this plant became popular during the Victorian Age when people had gas-lit homes. Place it near a north- or east-facing window.
  
  

Chinese Evergreen (Aaglaonema commutatum)

• The slow-growing Chinese evergreen occasionally blooms with pale green flowers and berries. You'll often see it in malls, dimly lit restaurants, and hotel and office lobbies. If your place lacks sunny windows, no problem. Just put the Chinese evergreen in an east- or north-facing window.
  
  

Fatsia (Fatsia japonica)

• This large, tropical evergreen shrub originates from Japan and has glossy green, leathery leaves that resemble maple leaves. The leaves turn lighter when grown indoors, and creamy white flowers occasionally bloom on mature plants grown in cool conditions. It grows over 5 feet tall, so give it plenty of room to spread. Place it where it won't receive a lot of light, such as an east- or west-facing window.
  
  

Heart Ivy (Philodendron scandens oxycardium)

• Also called heart-leaf philodendron, the heart ivy is a vine-like plant that doesn't need a lot of light or water. It spreads fast and produces glossy green, heart-shaped leaves. The heart ivy feels at home at a north-, east- or west-facing window or even no window at all, which makes it a good choice for the office.
  
  

Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea elegans)

• The parlor palm is another popular Victorian-era plant that once sat in gas-lit parlors. It has arching, glossy green leaves resembling feather-like fronds that measure up to 24 inches long. Mature plants sometimes produce small yellow flowers and the leaves will turn from medium to dark green. Sit it near an east- or north-facing window.
  
  

Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)

• This woody, vine-like plant is also called devil's ivy--likely because it spreads quickly. Glossy, heart-shaped leaves come striped with white or yellow and grow 6 to 12 inches long. You can position your pothos plant almost anywhere, including low-light areas, and it will still grow to maturity.