Best South-Facing Window Plants

Choosing the right spot for your plant, or the right plant for your spot is all about the light. To select the best southwest-facing window plants, you need to understand the source, amount, and intensity of light. The number of hours of sunlight and the intensity of sunlight varies based on the direction of your window. This happens because Earth rotates on its axis and is also orbiting the sun. The North Pole is tilted toward the sun during the summer resulting in warmer temperatures and longer hours of sunlight.

Sunlight in a South-Facing Window.

Congratulations! If you live in the northern hemisphere, you hit the window direction jackpot. That is to say, many plant collectors want south-facing windows. They get direct sunlight midday. The sunlight coming in a south-facing window is the most intense because of the angle of the sun. Sciencing has a great article, Sun Intensity vs. Angle, that does a much better job of explaining this. If your window is southwest or southeast the light may be a little less intense.

Other Factors Affecting Light to Your South Facing Window Plants.

There may be trees, plants, buildings, or other structures that reduce the amount of light coming through your window. You also need to consider things obstructing the inside of your windows such as blinds or curtains. Will you remember to raise your blinds every day for your plant? Do you have a sheer curtain you want to leave hanging all the time?

You can also enhance or supplement light in your house. Some people use a mirror to reflect the sunlight coming through your window and back toward your plant. White surfaces like a dresser or a cabinet reflect light as well. It's possible to set up grow lights if you want to seriously increase the amount of light your plant gets.

What Are the Best South-Facing Window Plants?

South-facing windows get direct midday sun. In general, many plants will do well here or will at least adapt. Some shade-loving plants may get scorched though, like the plants in my North Facing Window blog. So be mindful of how close you keep some plants to your south-facing window. You want to stick with plants that characterize their light requirements as “bright light” or “direct light.” Succulents are well known for being sun lovers, so they will be the bulk of my recommendations.

String of Pearls

String of Pearls plants looks like a green version of their namesake. Provided enough sunlight, like in a south-facing window, and they will bloom cute white flowers. They grow fairly quickly. I had one over five feet long that I recently gave to a neighbor. It was never going to survive my toddler.

String of Pearls is a trailing plant. As mentioned it can grow several feet long. They are toxic to cats and dogs. The sap (or liquid present when a leaf or stem is broken) may be a mild skin irritant.

Jade Plant

Jade Plants are incredibly popular. You can find them almost anywhere. My grocery store even had some. Jade Plants have plump green leaves, but they also come variegated as well. The stems or trunk turn a woody brown color as the plant matures, which gives it a tree-like look. Jades make excellent south-facing window plants.

Jades can grow several feet tall, even indoors. They are somewhat slow growers, so don’t buy a six-inch plant if you want a two-footer any time soon. They are toxic to cats and dogs. The sap (or liquid present when a leaf or stem is broken) may be a mild skin irritant.

Euphorbia Trigona

Euphorbia Trigona, also called African Milk Tree, is often mistaken for a cactus. They grow tall vertical trunks with spikes and tiny leaves. These plants grow rapidly in the right conditions. I have seen them grow over six feet tall. I have one nearing three feet. In my opinion, it’s one of the best south-facing window plants.

Euphorbia Trigona are toxic to cats and dogs. Be care handling this plant, its sap is a known skin irritant. They are generally easy to care for and do not require large pots despite their height.

Desert Rose

The Desert Rose is a unique looking plant. It has a bulbous trunk, small green leaves, and beautiful flowers. The ones you see in the store have a bonsai type of look to them. They can get two to five feet tall though. The flowers are typically pink, but I have also seen red and purple.

Desert Roses are toxic to cats and dogs. Be careful handling this plant, its sap is a known skin irritant.

Umbrella Tree

The Umbrella Plant, or Schefflera, is big and leafy. There should be at least only leafy plant on the list. The leaves are generally green. There is a variegated version as well. Umbrella Plants do not require bright direct light, but they can adapt there. You may not want to put it directly next to the window glass though.

Umbrella Plants can grow well over six feet. They are toxic to cats and dogs. The sap (or liquid present when a leaf or stem is broken) may be a mild skin irritant.

Which house plants do you have thriving in your west-facing windows? Share in the comments. If you’re looking for plant recommendations for other window directions, check out my post on north-facing windows, east-facing windows, and west-facing windows.