In today’s post we are focusing on houseplants that can tolerate that bright South-facing room in your space. Southern spaces are highly coveted when house-hunting, with rooms bathed in a balmy golden light for a good amount of the day in the Spring + Summer months. The light in these rooms can be strong, intense + hot which sounds lovely as I write this in Winter, but these conditions do require some careful consideration if you are building up a houseplant collection. The main advantage of a South-facing space is that of useable space for plant growing — South-facing rooms are more versatile + you can certainly ‘plant style’ your whole room rather than just cramming as many plants as possible close to or on those windowsills as can often be the case in more shaded locations!
After my post a few weeks ago about houseplants, lighting + room orientation, I’m now focusing on each of the different light exposures — North, East, South + West as we turn our attention back to the PLANTS! More specifically, which ones are going to be right at home in situ in each of these particular orientations. I started off with Plants for… North facing rooms which you can read here, followed by Let’s talk about light Part 2: Plants for… East facing rooms. I get regular questions about this so thought it would be helpful to have all the information clearly laid out + in one place here on the website + saved under the ‘a HPH guide to…’ tab on the homepage.
Over the last few years, I’ve lived in a few different spaces — from a second floor apartment with old single-glazed sash windows, surrounded by trees (which really impacted how the light came in during the Summer months) to a little cottage with latticed, draughty windows. I’m currently semi-camping in my renovation project which is an old Chapel that I’m converting into the new houseplanthouse headquarters as my live/work space. This variety of homes has not only given me experience of the full range of room-orientations, but has really taught me how to understand the spaces in which my houseplants grow best.
If you’ve not seen the first blogpost for context, I’ll link it here: Let’s talk about light: a HPH guide to understanding houseplants, lighting + orientation — I had a lot of fun making those diagrams + thanks for the kind messages on them! In this preliminary post, it’s really important to remember the points 5 (obstructions + window treatments), 6 (seasons) + 7 (moving shock) in the wider context of the question of light, + also that I’m in the Northern hemisphere for reference!
South facing windows are very desirable in the houseplant world if you enjoy growing things like cacti or succulents, as these bright positions with direct light are the perfect spot that can really make your home feel that little bit more tropical. An old work colleague had a beautiful large aloe plant on her south facing work windowsill for many years (long-time readers might remember photos of it) that became a stand out feature of the whole office!
Saying that, it’s important to understand the need to protect plants during the summer months from a suntan, or potential damage, as this orientation is the most intense light of all. This is what you will know as ‘bright, indirect light to full sun’ + isn’t suitable for all houseplants, especially those with thinner foliage. Whilst growth in these locations can be considerable when light levels + temperatures are good, you’ll need to be mindful of the pitfalls of under watering and/or inadequate care + attention that can sometimes give rise to pest issues.
Coupled with large glass panes which can also intensify the sun’s heat, you’ll want to be checking plants that are in these positions + perhaps moving them further from the window during really sunny, hot periods. In my previous place, I used a sheer net to filter the light in my brightest windows which allowed me to keep plants around 0.5metres away with no problems. I’ve talked more about window treatments in the main blogpost (linked here).
A south-facing window provides the perfect spot for growing a variety of beautiful and easy-to-care-for houseplants. With ample sunlight streaming in all day long, south-facing windows offer the light many popular indoor plants need to truly thrive.
But which plants are best suited for these bright, sunny spaces? Read on for our guide to choosing, caring for and enjoying the top 15 houseplants that prosper in south-facing windows.
Why South-Facing Windows Are Great for Houseplants
South-facing windows receive direct sunlight for much of the day as the sun traverses the sky overhead from east to west. This makes them significantly brighter than north-facing windows.
In the northern hemisphere, south-facing windows enjoy:
- Up to 6 hours of direct sun in the summer
- 2-4 hours of direct sun in the winter
This sunlight fuels photosynthesis, allowing plants to produce the energy they need to grow strong and healthy.
Many popular houseplants thrive with the bright direct light offered by south-facing windows. Just be sure to place plants that need less light further away from the window to avoid sun damage.
Monitoring soil moisture is also important, as the heat from direct sun can dry out plant soil faster. Adjust your watering schedule accordingly
15 Best Indoor Plants for South-Facing Windows
Here are 15 of the top plants that thrive in the bright light and warmth of south-facing windows:
1. Succulents
Succulents like echeveria, jade plants, aloe vera, kalanchoe, and cacti thrive with the direct sunlight of south-facing windows. Just be careful not to place them right on the sill, where intense midday sun can scorch their leaves.
2. Snake Plant
One of the toughest houseplants, snake plants tolerate all levels of light with their strappy, upright leaves. Place them nearer the window for faster growth.
3. Pothos
The vining pothos plant is another versatile option that tolerates low to bright light. Let it trail in a hanging basket to catch the sun.
4. Peace Lily
Peace lilies enjoy indirect sunlight, thriving when placed a few feet back from a south-facing window. Their white blooms brighten up the space.
5. Croton
Crotons add a splash of color with their gorgeously patterned, colorful leaves. Give them ample sunlight to maintain the best leaf color.
6. Fiddle Leaf Fig
The popular fiddle leaf fig needs bright, filtered light to grow its huge, violin-shaped leaves. Place near the window but out of direct midday sun.
7. Yucca
Yuccas, another drought-tolerant succulent, relishes the bright light of a south-facing window. Just avoid direct hot sun, which can scorch its sword-like leaves.
8. Ponytail Palm
The ponytail palm is a tropical-looking houseplant that thrives with lots of direct sun. Place it right on the windowsill and its curly leaves will flourish.
9. Birds of Paradise
Native to Africa, the exotic bird of paradise blooms beautifully with ample sunlight. Protect it from hot midday sun which can burn its leaves.
10. Rubber Plant
The rubber plant grows large, oval leaves that shine with adequate sunlight. Shelter from hot afternoon sun to prevent leaf scorch.
11. Philodendron
Philodendrons come in vining and non-vining varieties perfect for hanging or sitting near sunny windows. Just keep their soil moist.
12. Majesty Palm
Though a tropical plant, majesty palms adapt well as houseplants in bright rooms. Place them near south facing windows and mist the air regularly.
13. Monstera
Let the quirky fenestrations of monstera leaves unfurl in a south-facing window. Avoid direct hot sun which can burn the leaves.
14. Chinese Evergreen
One of the best air-purifying plants, Chinese evergreens thrive in medium to bright indirect light from southern exposures.
15. Dracaena
With corn plant, dragon plant, and more varieties, dracaena offers easy-care houseplants for bright spaces. Keep soil evenly moist.
Caring for Houseplants in South-Facing Windows
When growing houseplants in south-facing windows, follow these tips to help them flourish:
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Move plants back from the windowpane to avoid hot midday sun that can scorch leaves.
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Water more frequently, as the heat dries soil faster. Check soil before watering.
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Mist plants to boost humidity. South windows can get quite dry and hot.
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Rotate plants occasionally so all sides receive sunlight. This prevents uneven growth.
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Use sheer curtains to help filter intense direct sun.
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Avoid placing delicate plants like ferns and calathea right on the sill, where light may be too intense.
Choose the Best Plants for Your Sunny South-Facing Window
South-facing windows offer the perfect growing conditions for many popular houseplants, including succulents, palms, dracaena, philodendron, fiddle leaf figs, and more. Avoid direct hot sun and keep soil moist for the healthiest houseplants. With a diverse collection of plants suited to the bright conditions, your south-facing window will bloom all year long!
+ 3. String of Pearls/ String of Bananas
Senecio/Curio rowleyanus: otherwise known as String of Pearls, or String of Beads is a perpetually popular plant for its unusual looks + trailing growth habit. Caring for String of Pearls can feel like quite a learning curve if you are new to houseplants, particularly succulents. As with all plants, the main issues are light + watering… this plant needs lots of the former + (relatively) little of the latter. So you might imagine that the main reasons these plants don’t survive is from overwatering + lack of light! I water mine once every 2-3 weeks-ish in the growing season and lightly once a month during winter + my plant lives in the brightest location I can provide for it, which I filter with a net in high summer.
A brief note on the naming here, in the UK at least, string of beads is more commonly used to refer to the closely related ‘string of bananas’; Senecio herreianus. This has a slightly elongated oval, almost teardrop shape as opposed to these almost perfectly spherical pearls. A few years ago, we received these on a delivery instead of a string of pearls by accident and let me just say, they were nowhere near as popular as their rounded relative! BUT, if you like growing these types of plants you might fancy a bit of variety. I’ve got a post here if you want to read more about String of Pearls. Here’s a comparison photo that shows Pearls on the left + Bananas on the right:
Succulents: a general note
Stepping back from the windowsill a little — say, 0.5-1 metre + we reach a pretty favourable position for many succulents that don’t always tolerate direct sun well. Here I’m talking about your Aloes, Euphorbia trigonas, Hawortias, Echeveria etc. These succulents can enjoy a windowsill in this location but in Summer months, will likely scorch if not acclimatised or protected so I generally try to position my plants like this adjacent to a window for longer-term happiness. For succulents to really maintain their compact growth, a bright south-facing room, close to a window is quite a sweet spot for these colourful houseplants. Of course, there are loads to choose from + I know I’ve also mentioned some specific plants already in this post, but here I wanted to give an honourable mention to my Kalanchoe orgyalis ‘copper spoons’ — below right, which is a favourite of mine. Furthermore, succulent propagation is a fun activity in this area which has a good balance of light intensity + warmth that can really help your leaf propagations along (below left).
If you like a flowering houseplant, the humble Kalanchoe blossfeldiana is an option for a South-room which can help the plant to stay compact + throw out lots of pretty, colourful blooms! They are one of those plants that are traditionally given as gifts around Christmas time as a Poinsettia alternative + with good care + pruning can be a plant that lasts for many years. My mum has grown her plant into a sort of bonsai form (below right) which I actually love + it looks really cheerful on her bright windowsill. This Kalanchoe is an easy going one to look after + doesn’t need frequent watering — it prefers a thorough soak through before being allowed to start to dry out before it’s next drink. A South-facing window suits this plant well over Autumn + Winter, but in the height of summer you might need to give your plant some shelter with a net, or by moving it further away from the window if the light is very intense — watch out for the scalloped succulent leaves blushing red as a sign the plant would prefer a more softly-lit location. I’ve not had any problems growing mine in a south-west windowsill for a few years though.
15 Best Houseplants for South Facing Windows
FAQ
What plant to put on a south-facing window?
If you can keep the humidity up, and temperature down, during the day then pretty much anything except true shade lovers should do fine. We keep bromeliads, spider plants, Ficus species, Tradescantias, etc, in south-facing windows without major issues.
What is the best hanging plant for a south-facing window?
Spider plant, pothos, anthurium, succulents are all doing well in my south-facing window. The shelf is over the heat register so they never get too cold.
What plants grow best on the south side of the house?
Heat Tolerant Plants for South-Facing Wall
Plants for hot walls need to be tough, drought tolerant plants that can withstand full sun. Succulents, such as agave, aloe, yucca, bromeliad, and cactus, are some of the best plants for hot locations in the landscape. They love full sun and hardly need any water.
What plants are best for a south-facing garden?
Choose drought-tolerant plants for a south-facing garden. Some examples include roses, lavender, sunflowers, tomatoes, peppers, and woody herbs like rosemary, oregano, and thyme. How many hours of sunshine does a south-facing garden get? South-facing gardens get the most sunlight of all other garden orientations.
What are the best plants for south-facing windows?
If you live in the Northern hemisphere, unobstructed south-facing windows provide the bright light that many plants need in order to really look their best and thrive in your indoor environment. Keep reading to learn all about the best houseplants for this type of window exposure. Here are some of the best plants for south facing windows. 1. JADE
What are the best houseplants for south facing windows?
Crown of thorns (Euphorbia milii) is another of the best houseplants for south facing windows. This blooming semi-succulent produces beautiful flowers all year long when given adequate light. The flowers persist for several weeks, adding interest and color to sunny windowsills.
Can houseplants grow in south facing windows?
Some houseplants like Boston Fern and Polka Dot Plant will grow in south facing windows, but they may need the light to be filtered. You can accomplish this by hanging sheer, gauzy curtains in the window to protect them. Are you looking for a variety of plants to fill your sunny windowsills?
Can you put plants in a south-facing window?
You can certainly place plants in a south-facing window. However, before you do, you should check the growing requirements of the plants you have. You should only grow plants in south-facing windows if they are well-suited for that setting. Generally, plants that prefer full, direct sun exposure every day are best for south-facing windows.
Which cactus & succulents are best for south-facing windows?
Pincushion cactus (Mammilaria spp.) is one of the many succulent and cactus varieties that thrive in south-facing windows. These spiny desert-dwellers prefer a lot of sunshine and warmth.
Do houseplants like south-facing windows?
Many homeowners love south-facing windows, as they let in ample sunlight and warmth all year long. What’s great is this space also creates an ideal environment for many types of houseplants to truly thrive. However, it’s essential to know which plants do best in this position before letting them bathe for hours in sunlight.