When purchasing a houseplant, it’s essential to consider three things: light, water, and soil type. We often overlook the fourth consideration, humidity. The best bathroom plants thrive in abundant amounts of moisture. Among them are ferns, air plants, and other indigenous household plants found in jungle environments. Bathrooms often lack abundant light or fresh air, so when selecting the best plants for your bathroom, opt for species that tolerate low light and aid in air purification. These choices will be easy for you to care for and enhance your bathroom with a comfortable, spa-like environment.

Many plants are excellent for bathrooms. Some, like English ivy, thrive in low light and help to reduce excess moisture from the air. According to Health News Hub, this means it can remove up to 78% of airborne mold, helping to combat mildew and mold resistance. Other bathroom plants have leaves that can be used for medicinal purposes, such as eucalyptus and aloe.

How to Grow Plants in the Shower

It might seem strange or unconventional to think that some plants can thrive within the confines of your shower, but it’s true, they can! Focusing on plants that value water and humidity more than light is crucial. If your shower or bathroom lacks windows, consider ferns and philodendrons as excellent alternatives. However, if you have a window in your space, you can opt for more tropical varieties like Majesty Palm or Aloe Plant.

Where Should I Place Plants in My Shower?

The size of your shower will likely limit the size of plants you can accommodate. Many showers are cramped spaces where hanging plants that dangle from a hook or sit on a shelf can be a viable option. Use hanging planters from the ceiling or select a series of small planters for your window sill. If you have a walk-in or open shower, why not go for larger plants and mix in some smaller ones?

Bathrooms may also have limited counter space and flat surfaces, so instead of numerous planters and pots, look for hanging plants and climbers that can thrive in small spaces. Below, we highlight the top 30 plants for the bathroom. Whether it’s the amount of light or your green-thumb abilities, you’re sure to find a bathroom plant that suits your style and space.

1.Williams-Sonoma English Ivy House Plant, 6″

English Ivy is a specialist bathroom plant that purifies the air and thrives in low light. Give it a height boost by hanging it to let its trailing vines do their job and create a charming curtain effect.

2.Rooted

Unlike other ferns, it prefers less moisture and appreciates more moderate watering. You can expect the dramatic leaves to fill a bright and tropical space. For best results, keep it in bright indirect sunlight – perhaps on a windowsill.

3.Bloomscape Kangaroo Fern

Tolerant of low light and pet-friendly, the Kangaroo Fern enjoys plenty of humidity and prefers to grow outward rather than upward, making it a fantastic option for high coverage.

4.Hey Rooted Boston Fern

A classic fern, the Boston Fern thrives on plenty of humidity and shade – just like your steamy bathroom after a long shower. Hang it to fill in empty corners, allowing its spreading and gracefully fringed leaves to shine.

5.Easy Plant Marble Pothos

These cute-as-a-button Pothos plants are perfect for windowless or basement bathrooms. They’re incredibly low-maintenance and only need watering when the soil is completely dry.

6.Bloomscape ZZ Plant

Tough and nearly indestructible, the ZZ Plant is ideal for those who are just starting out with indoor plants and gardens. With proper care, this plant can grow up to three feet tall.

7.Hey Rooted Lemon Lime Prayer Plant

Taking a cue from prayers, this plant loves to dance in the moonlight. (It’s a joy, we promise!) Its unique dappled leaves prefer bright indirect light and filtered water, aiding in the growth of the prayerful edges.

8.UrbanStems The Claude Pilea Plant

The self-promoter Pilea Peperomioides thrives in a tropical environment, making it a perfect fit for your bathroom plant squad. Nevertheless, it’ll thrive even better in a bathroom with bright to indirect light and a window nearby. Mentioned as a pancake or UFO plant, its flat, round leaves make for a beautiful, whimsical display—it’ll look especially stunning against a polka-dot towel or wallpaper backdrop.

9.Costa Farms Devil’s Ivy Golden Pothos

If you can’t resist a good trailing plant, then the golden pothos will make itself at home in your bathroom, creating its own vines and trails. Note: If the air gets too dry, its leaf edges might turn brown, but it can tolerate low to bright indirect light until then.

10.Costa Farms Majesty Palm

Regal palms favor humidity, so your bathroom is the perfect spot for them—as long as you have space for a big plant nearby. They enjoy occasional showers, and when they get less light, they do best in a bright, humid location.

11.The Sill Mini Preserved Living Wall

Arguably, the best bathroom plant pals are those that require minimal effort. So if you’re looking to spruce up your bathroom border with a decorative plant, then opt for a “Living Wall.” This evergreen moss is preserved to its prime, so no maintenance required—it silently thrives.

12.Bloomscape Hedgehog Aloe

Aloe plants are a low-maintenance delight, perfect for first-time plant parents or those leading busy lives. All it really needs is access to bright light (indirect is fine, though direct sunlight would be even better and could even induce robust flowering), so keep it only in a moderately lit spot. It’s great for soothing burns and as a skin salve too.

13.Costa Farms Snake

A favorite of plant enthusiasts from novices to pros—the wonder of its face and the ease of its care—this perennially popular snake plant is an excellent option because it can thrive at any level of humidity and can tolerate low to bright indirect light. One of our editors owns one that’s flourishing year after year despite neglect.

14.The Sill Calathea Rattlesnake

Keep the amazing calathea in moderate indirect light and an even more humid environment, and it’ll surely do well. Think of it as a symbiotic relationship: its presence benefits your bathroom’s healthy living while its beautiful leaves breathe new life into your bathroom.

15.Plant Gem Algerian Ivy Plants

If you’re a fan of ivies, why not bring that charm indoors? With its classic rural appeal, the potted ivy is versatile and can grow quite large wherever it finds itself. The plant prefers moderate light and humidity. Hang them in a basket for maximum grapevine effect.

16.Plants for Pets Air Plant Pack

Don’t let the name fool you; these unique plants need more than just air to thrive. Soak them in water for air plant pal refreshment, and they’ll prefer moderate to high humidity and bright indirect light. They’re perfect for your bathroom if you have a window.

17.American Plant Exchange Monstera Deliciosa Plant

With its iconic leaves, the monstera plant is always a shining star, and it’s an excellent houseplant because it can adapt to various environments including your bathroom. It can handle low light, though it’ll do better in bright indirect light, and any level of humidity suits it just fine.

18. Hey Rooted Watermelon Peperomia

Rooted Watermelon Peperomia loves moisture, warmth, plenty of humidity, and moderate to bright indirect light. It’s one you’ll want to water regularly, and it’ll thrive happily in your bathroom, becoming quite the happy camper there.

19 .Costa Farms Lucky Bamboo Indoor Tabletop Plant

Lucky Bamboo, as the name suggests, thrives in water and is a low-maintenance pick that will also give your bathroom a touch of spa-like ambiance. It’s a fantastic plant for low-light areas, so if your bathroom isn’t flooded with sunlight, worry not—Bamboo will still flourish there.

20.Bloomscape Philodendron Heartleaf

Philodendron isn’t just a favorite among newcomers; it’s also an ideal pick for bathrooms due to its tolerance for high humidity. Plus, it’s a trailing plant—so if you’re up for a bit of drama, it’s got you covered.

21. Bloomscape Tradescantia Zebrina
    

This purple Tradescantia isn’t just eye-catching; it’s a plant that ensures your bathroom stays thriving. With a high tolerance for humidity, it’ll keep things both happy and lush. When its leaves start turning brown, you’ll know it’s either too dry or too wet.

22. Hirt’s Gardens Store Ocean Spider Plant

Like snake plants, spider plants enjoy bright light but will also fare well in lower light. They can handle less humidity but prefer a moderate moist environment. Keep yours on a shelf or hanging from the ceiling and wait for it to produce babies to share with your own collection or friends.

23. Costa Farms Blooming Anthurium Live Indoor Plant

Dark, glossy, heart-shaped blooms are what an Anthurium is known for, making it another smart addition to your bathroom—as long as it’s well-lit. With a high humidity tolerance, this plant will thrive in bright, indirect light locations. You’ll be able to tell whether it’s too wet or too dry based on its leaf tips: yellow tips mean it’s too soggy, and brown tips mean it’s too dry.

24. American Plant Exchange Birds Nest Fern Japanese Live Plant

Ferns, especially ones like the Birds Nest variety, come in various types. They do well in low light conditions, so if you want to brighten up a slightly dim bathroom with a touch of green, this trick’s for you.

25. American Plant Exchange Dracaena Madagascar Dragon Tree

Dracaena is a fantastic bathroom plant, and there are various types to choose from (Lemon-Lime is a fun one, or Dracena Marginata). With a high humidity tolerance, they’re perfect for your bathroom’s environment. They can handle less light but will do even better in moderate to bright indirect light.

26. Costa Farms Peace Lily Spathiphyllum Live Indoor Plant

This beautiful flowering plant is tropical, making it perfect for your humid bathroom. Ensure it gets plenty of indirect light, keep it well-watered, but not overly soggy, and you’ll have a serene peace lily in your hands. If the soil gets too dry, peace lilies will wilt quickly, but give them a drink, and they’ll bounce back.