• Some indoor plants thrive in dark corners.Ryan McVay/Lifesize/Getty Images
  
  Indoor conditions are difficult for many plants without the direct, high ultraviolet sunlight that feeds them. Living in shadowy corners can be particularly stressful, and many plants will languish or die in the low indoor light. There are some tough, compact plants that thrive in these conditions, making them useful for adding a splash of color to a dimly lit room.
  
  

Chinese Evergeen

• The Chinese evergreen, also known as Aglaonema, can live on little light, It is also nearly maintenance free, requiring little water or fertilizer. It is not a very good plant for extremely cold houses, since it can be damaged by temperatures below 55 degrees F. It is a slow-growing, leafy plant with leaves in dark green and silver, being either mostly green with silver highlights or the opposite, depending on the variety. There are many different varieties with different colors and patterns on the leaves. Chinese evergreens grow to 2 to 3 feet and can be kept smaller through pruning and low light.
  
  

Cast Iron Plant

• Aspidistra elatior or the cast-iron plant is named for its strong constitution, which makes it a good indoor houseplant for heavy shade. With its long, leathery green leaves and slow growth, cast iron plant is an iconic houseplant tough enough to put up with almost anything including both heat and cold, soggy soil, drought and poorly lighted places. It stand temperatures down to 28°F. Because it is so slow growing, start with a specimen plant rather than a seed or small cutting. At their greatest height, cast irons are 1 to 2 feet tall at most.
  
  

Clivia

• The African genus Clivia boasts a compact size and bell-shaped flowers in many colors aside from brown, black or blue. Clivia blooms between late winter and early spring to usher in the warm season, and has dark, striking leaves that provide an attractive backdrop the rest of the year. Clivia do well root bound in small pots.