Best plants for a bathroom
Advice on the best plants to grow in a bathroom, in our guide.
This article has been checked for horticultural accuracy by Oliver Parsons.
Bathrooms are a popular place to keep house plants as they typically provide high levels of humidity, similar to a jungle environment, in which many indoor plants thrive. By adding some greenery, your bathroom can become a lush and inviting oasis, giving your home a ‘spa-like’ atmosphere.
House plants can add colour and style to your bathroom, bringing large or variegated leaves, height and structure, and even flowers. Studies have shown that house plants can also reduce stress and boost your mood.
Choosing a house plant for your bathroom
When choosing a house plant for your bathroom, it's important to consider the specific conditions of the room. Not all bathrooms are the same in terms of size, shape, temperature, light and humidity levels, so spend some time selecting plants that will do well in the conditions you have. For example, if your bathroom gets a lot of natural light then you will want to choose plants that can handle bright light, possibly even direct sunlight. If your bathroom is dark, make sure you choose a plant that can handle limited light. If your bathroom is on the cooler side, you’ll need to select plants that can handle lower temperatures, particularly in winter. Do you use the bathroom regularly or is it reserved only for guests? This will affect humidity levels.
Best bathroom plants
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Snake plant (Sansevieria trifasciata)
Snake plant is incredibly hardy and can handle fairly low temperatures, light and humidity as well as infrequent watering, so works in many parts of the home, including bathrooms. Studies have also shown that it can help to remove harmful toxins from the air.
Height x Spread: 1m x 50cm
Best for: average-to-low temperatures, medium-to-low light levels, medium-to-low humidity, infrequent watering
ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)
With lush, glossy leaves, the ZZ plant grows quite slowly so it won't get too big too quickly. It's also extremely easy to care for, handling low temperatures, low light and low humidity, making it perfect for tricky bathrooms that are on the cold side, don't get much use, or only receive light from a small or north-facing window.
H x S: 90cm x 90cm
Best for: average-to-low humidity, low-to-high levels of indirect light, infrequent watering
Peace lily (Spathiphyllum species)
Peace lily is an attractive plant with glossy, ribbed leaves and contrasting white spathes. It's tolerant of low temperatures or fairly low light and thrives in high humidity, making it perfect for a well-used but cooler-than-average bathroom.
H x S: 60cm x 60cm
Best for: low-to-high levels of indirect light, average-to-high humidity
Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)
Boston fern thrives in bright but indirect light with good levels of humidity, making it perfect for a steamy bathroom. Like all potted ferns it does require regular watering but is otherwise easy to grow.
H x S: 90cm x 90cm
Best for: medium-to-high levels of indirect light, high humidity
Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
Spider plant is one of the easiest plants to grow, and can handle high levels of humidity. It's tolerant of cooler temperatures and lower light, although it does best in bright, indirect light.
H x S: 40cm x 60cm
Best for: medium-to-lowish temperatures, average-to-high humidity, low-to-high levels of indirect light
Philodendron xanadu
Philodendron xanadu is an easy-to-grow plant with large, dramatic leaves. It prefers high levels of humidity and plenty of indirect light, although it will cope if your bathroom is on the dry and dark side. Don't let it sit in direct light, or the leaves may scorch.
H x S: 1m x 1m
Best for: medium-to-high humidity, low-to-high levels of indirect light
Elephant ears (Colocasia esculenta)
Elephant ears has large, velvety, heart-shaped leaves in shades of lime-green, purple or black. It works well as a house plant but needs moist soil and high levels of humidity, so could work in a warm, steamy bathroom. Bear in mind that foliage is likely to die down if temperatures dip below 21°C. All parts of the plant are poisonous if eaten raw, and may cause skin irritation.
H x S: 1.5m x 1.5m
Best for: high temperatures, bright but indirect light, high humidity
Aloe vera
Aloe vera is easy to grow and is a common house plant. It thrives in direct sunlight and needs very little watering.
H x S: 60cm x 90cm
Best for: high levels of bright and mostly indirect light, low humidity
Bird's nest fern (Asplenium nidus)
Bird's nest fern has an attractive upright habit, with glossy, curly fronds. It thrives in a slightly shaded spot and at most temperature levels, but needs high levels of humidity.
H x S: 1.5m x 90cm
Best for: medium levels of indirect light, high humidity, average-to-lowish temperatures
Rubber plant (Ficus elastica)
The rubber plant is named after the rubbery white latex that runs through its stems and branches, which was once used to make rubber. Rubber plant thrives in humid environments and can handle bright, indirect sunlight. It's an excellent, low maintenance choice for a steamy bathroom.
H x S: 2m x 1.5m
Best for: most temperature levels, high humidity, medium-to-high levels of indirect sunlight
Jade plant (Crassula ovata)
The jade plant is a succulent sub-shrub with jade-green, fleshy leaves and thick stems that become woody with age. As a succulent, jade plant can handle direct sunlight and infrequent watering, making it ideal for a sunny bathroom that's not used very often.
H x S: 60cm x 30cm
Best for: most temperature levels, high levels of bright and mostly indirect light, medium-to-low humidity
Silver inch plant (Tradescantia zebrina)
Tradescantia zebrina has variegated leaves that are green, purple and silver. It has a trailing habit so looks great in a hanging planter or on a shelf. It's easy to grow and tolerant of neglect. It thrives in warmer temperatures and plenty of bright, indirect light, but can cope with average levels of both.
H x S: 60cm x 30cm
Best for: medium-to-high levels of indirect light, average-to-high temperatures, medium-to-high humidity
Air plant (Tillandsia species)
Air plants don't require soil as they are epiphytes – they attach themselves to other plants or objects using their roots. They absorb nutrients and moisture from the air and rain. In the home they thrive in a warm and humid environment in bright but indirect light. They can be hung or mounted on the wall, making them a great option for small spaces.
H x S: 20cm x 20cm (depends on variety)
Best for: high humidity, warmer temperatures, medium-to-high levels of indirect light
String of pearls (Senecio rowleyanus)
String of pearls is a trailing succulent house plant with pea-like leaves that look like beads. In spring, the plant may produce small white flowers with a cinnamon fragrance. It looks lovely hanging from a shelf or planter – it's fast-growing and the tendrils can reach 1m in length. It thrives in bright, indirect light and low humidity, so is ideal for a large, light bathroom that doesn't get too steamy.
H x S: 1m x 40cm
Best for: most temperatures, medium-to-high levels of indirect light, medium-to-low humidity
Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
Pothos is extremely easy to grow and thrives in a number of environments, including bathrooms. It can tolerate neglect and low light levels. Train it to grow up a trellis or moss pole, or place on a shelf and use as a trailing plant. Both dark green and variegated types are available.
H x S: 1m x 1m
Best for: most temperatures, low-to-high levels of indirect light, medium-to-high humidity
Lucky bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana)
Small and compact, lucky bamboo can be displayed in a variety of ways, such as in a vase or a small pot. It prefers bright, indirect light and can be watered just once a week, depending on how much light it receives and how warm conditions are.
H x S: 1.5m x 60cm
Best for: average-to-high temperatures, medium-to-high levels of indirect light, medium-to-high humidity
English Ivy (Hedera helix)
English ivy is more often found climbing walls and fences in the garden than in indoor container displays, but it lends itself well to indoor cultivation. Ivy thrives in low light levels, providing a rich, glossy green for even the shadiest corner.
H x S: up to 2m x 1m
Best for: low temperatures, lower light levels, medium humidity
Moth orchid (Phalaenopsis species)
Moth orchids thrive in warmth and humidity so are ideal for well-used bathrooms with heating to keep the temperature always above 16°C. Bright but indirect light is preferable, such as close to an east-facing window.
H x S: 50cm x 30cm
Best for: medium-to-high levels of warmth, humidity and indirect light
Flamingo flower (Anthurium species)
Anthuriums add an exotic touch to bathrooms, as they have heart-shaped, glossy leaves and bright red spathes. Native to tropical rainforests, they thrive in well-used, warm bathrooms.
H x S: up to 50cm x 50cm
Best for: medium-to-high levels of warmth and indirect light, high humidity
Adanson's monstera (Monstera adansonii)
A relative of the larger Monstera deliciosa, Monstera adansonii is well suited to growing on a shelf where its fenestrate leaves are allowed to cascade down. An undemanding plant, Monstera adansonii does best in bright light with high humidity.
H x S: up to 50cm x 50cm
Best for: medium-to-high levels of humidity and indirect sunlight, average-to-high temperatures
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