Watching the sunset through your west-facing windows is already enchanting in itself, but you can make it even more magical with the presence of greenery!
However, choosing the right plant for your west-facing window isn’t as easy as one, two, three. You want green companions that can handle the heat of afternoon light and complement the size of your windowsill.
In this guide, we’ll help you select the perfect plant for your sun-drenched west-facing window. From succulents to orchids, we have lots of recommendations for your sun-kissed indoor garden.
Plants Perfect for Your West-Facing Window
Jade Plant
Botanical Name: Crassula ovata
Origin: South Africa
Size: 3 to 6 feet in height, 2 to 3 feet spread
Light: Bright, indirect sunlight
Water: Water thoroughly when the first two inches of the soil is dry, usually every 2 to 3 weeks
Feeding: Fertilize with succulent fertilizer once every 2 to 4 weeks during spring and autumn
Toxicity: Toxic to both pets and humans when ingested
Jade plants are well-loved succulents known for their thick, glossy, oval leaves. They develop a thick and sturdy woody trunk as they mature and can grow up to 3 feet indoors.
Like most succulents, they’re sun-loving plants that thrive in bright, indirect light—a characteristic a plant for a west-facing window must have. Mature jade plants can also tolerate direct light longer than other houseplants.
These plants are believed to bring good luck in some cultures, so they will be a great addition to your home. You can also gift them to a loved one to wish them financial prosperity.
Ti Plant
Botanical Name: Cordyline fruticosa
Origin: Pacific Islands, Australia, and Asia
Size: 1 to 10 feet tall, 3 to 4 feet wide
Light: Bright, indirect light
Water: Water when the surface of the soil dries up, which usually happens once a week
Feeding: Fertilize with balanced houseplant fertilizer once every month during spring and summer and once every 2 months during fall and winter
Toxicity: Toxic to both pets and humans when ingested
Ti plants’ most distinctive feature is their colorful foliage, which can be deep green, bright red, pink, purple, or a combination of these colors. Some varieties also have variegated leaves, displaying leaves with stripes or streaks of various colors.
However, to fully enjoy their vibrant foliage, it’s important that you provide them with bright, indirect light. The west-facing window is a suitable location for the plants, as it typically receives bright afternoon and evening sun.
However, long exposure to harsh, direct sunlight can scorch their leaves. We advise hanging a curtain or putting blinds to filter the light and protect them from the intensity of direct sunlight.
Gold Lace Cactus
Botanical Name: Mammillaria elongata
Origin: Central Mexico
Size: 1 to 8 inches tall, 3 to 12 inches wide
Light: Bright, indirect light
Water: Water the soil only when it’s completely dry
Feeding: Fertilize with slow-release cactus fertilize once every month
Toxicity: Non-toxic to humans and pets
Native to central Mexico, gold lace cacti are well-suited for hot temperatures and bright sunlight, making them an appropriate plant choice for west-facing windows.
They have multiple cylindrical stems that are covered by white prickly hairs, forming a wooly look. They also produce brightly colored, star-shaped flowers that make them even more desirable ornamental plants.
Like other cacti, they are sensitive to overwatering and susceptible to root rot, so only water them when the soil is completely dry.
Aloe Vera Plant
Botanical Name: Aloe barbadensis miller
Origin: Arabian peninsula
Size: 2 to 3 feet tall
Light: Bright, indirect light
Water: Water only when the top two inches of soil are dry to the touch
Feeding: Fertilize with a succulent fertilizer once a month during the growing season
Toxicity: Toxic to both pets and humans when ingested
Aloe veras are probably more familiar to you as ingredients of your favorite skincare product, but they are more than just their cosmetic value. They are low-maintenance plants that can be an attractive addition to your west-facing window.
The plants’ sword-like leaves grow in a rosette form and are typically covered with soft spikes along the edges. The leaves act as storage points for water, enabling the plants to survive prolonged drought.
Aloe vera plants prefer indirect light, and they should not be exposed to direct sunlight for more than 2 to 3 hours during midday. Hang a sheer curtain to filter the light and avoid burning the leaves of the plants.
String of Pearls
Botanical Name: Curio rowleyanus
Origin: Southwestern Africa
Size: 2 to 3 feet
Light: Bright, indirect light
Water: Wait for the top 2 inches of the soil to dry before watering again
Feeding: Fertilize with liquid fertilizer at half the recommended strength from spring to fall
Toxicity: Toxic to both pets and humans when ingested
String of pearl plants, or Curio rowleyanus, are easily recognizable for their cascading, trailing stems that are adorned with bead-like leaves. The stem can grow several feet long, creating an attractive hanging or trailing effect for your west-facing window.
They prefer bright, indirect sunlight and can tolerate direct late afternoon sun. The afternoon and evening sun that west-facing windows receive is enough to keep these plants thriving.
Make sure the stems aren’t touching the glass if you decide to place these on your window. The glass is usually very hot in the afternoon, and the plants may get scorched if they come in contact with it.
Strawberry Begonia
Botanical Name: Saxifraga stolonifera
Origin: East Asia
Size: 6 to 18 inches tall, 1 to 2 feet wide
Light: Bright, indirect light
Water: Wait for the surface of the soil to dry before watering
Feeding: Feed with a weak liquid fertilizer every week from spring to summer
Toxicity: Non-toxic to humans and pets
Strawberry begonias are charming and low-growing plants that are appreciated for their easy-to-care nature. Despite being called begonia, they’re actually a member of the Saxifraga genus and are not true begonias.
They have heart-shaped leaves that are typically green with silver or white veins and pink edges. Their foliage closely resembles the leaves of strawberry plants, hence the name.
They need a lot of bright light to thrive, but avoid overexposing them to direct sunlight. They can survive some direct sunlight, but the midday sun may cause some bleaching if it’s too intense.
Snake Plant
Botanical Name: Sansevieria trifasciata
Origin: Africa
Size: 2 to 8 feet tall, 6 inches to 3 feet wide
Light: Bright, indirect sunlight
Water: Water thoroughly when the top 2 inches of the soil is dry
Toxicity: Toxic to both pets and humans when ingested
One of the most popular houseplants out there, snake plants are one of the best plants to place in your west-facing window. Their leathery, sword-shaped leaves need the bright light the west-facing window receives to remain sturdy and upright.
They can also tolerate some direct sunlight, especially if it’s not too intense. Their thick leaves protect them from the intensity of the sun and help them conserve water, allowing them to withstand periods of neglect.
These plants can also be propagated easily through leaf cuttings, so you can enjoy their beauty in multiple areas of your home, not just west-facing windows.
Lady Slipper Orchids
Botanical Name: Cypripedioideae
Origin: Asia
Size: 1 to 3 feet tall, 3 to 6 inches wide
Light: Bright, indirect light
Water: Allow for the upper two inches of the soil to dry before watering the plant
Feeding: Fertilize with a houseplant fertilizer at ¼ or ½ strength once every 2 to 4 weeks
Toxicity: Toxic to both pets and humans when ingested
Lady slipper orchids, or simply slipper orchids, are a unique type of orchid known for their slipper-like structure. They have two petals forming a pouch-like structure that serves as a trap for pollinators.
While most orchids do best in south-facing windows, west-facing windows are typically better for lady slippers since overexposure to bright light can damage their flowers. Just make sure to put a sheer curtain to protect them from direct light.
Lady slipper orchids can be challenging to grow even among other orchid varieties, so it’s not an ideal first plant for novice growers. We recommend gaining some experience with more forgiving orchids before growing a lady slipper.
Norfolk Island Pine
Botanical Name: Araucaria heterophylla
Origin: Norfolk Island
Size: 3 to 8 feet if grown indoors, 3 to 200 feet if grown outdoors
Light: Bright, indirect sunlight
Water: Only water them when the soil is slightly dry
Feeding: Fertilize with liquid fertilizer at half the recommended strength every month
Toxicity: Toxic to both pets and humans when ingested
Norfolk Island pines are known for their pyramid-like shape and tiered branches, making them the perfect Christmas trees. However, they’re also perfect houseplants that you can continue to grow even after the holidays.
They love receiving a lot of bright, indirect sunlight, which west-facing windows can perfectly provide. They can also tolerate a few hours of direct sun, so the afternoon rays your west-facing window receives won’t damage them.
Although they can reach up to 200 feet tall in their native environment, they typically stay around 3 to 8 feet when cultivated indoors. You won’t have to worry about them outgrowing your home since they’re slow growers.
Flaming Katy
Botanical Name: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana
Origin: Madagascar
Size: 6 to 24 inches tall, 6 to 24 inches wide
Light: Bright, indirect light
Water: Water thoroughly when the top of the soil is completely dry
Feeding: Fertilize with balanced houseplant fertilizer every month or with cactus fertilizer every two weeks during the growing season
Toxicity: Toxic to both pets and humans when ingested
Flaming Katy or Christmas kalanchoe plants are known for their spoon-shaped leaves and colorful flowers that can make your west-facing windowsill less boring. They typically flower during fall and through winter, making them popular Christmas plants.
Unlike most succulents that are cultivated for their leaves, kalanchoes are prized for their vibrant flowers. They produce clusters of colorful, star-shaped flowers that can last for several weeks.
These plants produce the best flowers when they receive bright sunlight, especially if the intensity of the rays is reduced by sheer curtains. This makes west-facing windows an ideal location to place them.
Factors to Consider When Selecting Plants for West-Facing Windows
Light Requirements
West-facing windows receive strong and intense sunlight during the late afternoon and early evening. Therefore, the plant placed around it should be able to flourish in strong sunlight or withstand a few hours of exposure to direct sunlight.
Drought Tolerance
West-facing windows are subjected to extreme sunlight in the afternoons, so they’re typically hotter in comparison to east or north-facing ones. This can make the soil dry faster, leading to more frequent plant watering.
That’s why we recommend choosing plants that can tolerate some periods of drought. They are forgiving when it comes to neglect and won’t die immediately if you forget to water them.
Space and Size
Selecting a plant that fits into your west-facing window is crucial. Plants that are too large can make it look cluttered, while smaller plants may not create much of an impression.
Make sure to also check the mature size and growth rate of the plant that you want. Some plants can be really small at first and then grow fast, forcing you to repot and relocate them.
