3 Plants that will Thrive in Direct Light

Many indoor plants are chosen for their ability to thrive in the low light conditions that are found in most office spaces, homes and other indoor areas. Indoor plants often thrive best in bright, yet indirect light. However, as an interior landscaper, you are likely to run into a few situations where a plant that can tolerate hours of direct sunlight is needed. Building complexes may have floor to ceiling windows in foyers and hallways. This can be a particular challenge especially when those windows face south. The following are three interesting plants that will tolerate or even thrive in bright, direct sunlight.

1) Snake Plant 

The snake plant is a succulent that is incredibly easy to care for. It will tolerate low light, but thrive in direct light and higher temperatures of up to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. It also does not require much water. Better Homes and Gardens Plant Encyclopedia describes the plant leaves as “sword shaped” with grey-green marbling and sometimes white or yellow edging. There are several different species of snake plant that range in size, shape and color. The smallest grows only six inches tall and the largest grows up to four feet tall. Whether you have a bright windowsill in need of a small plant or a corridor requiring more height there is sure to be a variety of snake plant that can fit the requirements.

2) Croton

Croton is an indoor plant with broad colorful leaves. Bright light intensifies the color so the more light available, the more beautiful and eye-catching the plant will be. There are several different varieties of croton, but often they have a primarily bright green leaf with red or gold coloring that accentuates the lines of the veins and expands towards the rest of the leaf. According to Guide to Houseplants, crotons prefer humid environments and will drop leaves if the air becomes too dry. You can mist the leaves regularly to avoid this problem. While crotons like humidity do not confuse this with overwatering. Allow the soil to dry before adding water to the soil. Crotons can grow large and bushy even getting up to three feet tall. If you need to prune the corton you can without damaging the plant. Keep in mind that the sap of the plants can cause irritation and should be kept away from pets and children, and you may want to use gloves when handling.

3) Ponytail Palm

Ponytail palms are a unique type of palm. Long  narrow leaves grow in tufts that emerge from a thick, bulbous stem. About.com Houseplants points out that ponytail palms are adapted to arid regions making them an incredibly easy plant to grow indoors. The plant likes full sun and the stem holds water so it only needs to be watered every one to two weeks. Ponytail palms can be grown as a small desk plant or if repotted annually it can grow as tall as six feet. This palm is slow growing so don’t expect it to fill a large space fast.  Ponytail Palms require very little attention and add interest with their unique stems making them ideal for dry, sunny spaces.

These are just a few plants that will thrive on direct sunlight. Their beautiful and eye-catching foliage, the wide variety of available sizes and their ease of care make it likely that you will find a variety that fits your client’s needs.  Whether you need to fill a large sunny corridor with grand containers or a small tabletop with a long-lasting centerpiece, these three plants are sure to have a variety that will please. What is your favorite sun-loving plant?

Photo “Snake Plant in Bloom” courtesy of woodlywonderworks

Photo “Croton” courtesy of Matthew Kenrick

Photo “Ponytail Palm” courtesy of wawuschel