Eve Smallman
Into house plants? Same bestie. They look so cute everywhere in the house but can look particularly gorgeous as bathroom decor. Not only that, but the bathroom is actually an amazing place for them to thrive.
FYI: The first rule of caring for house plants properly is to know where they come from and help replicate that environment. While humidity, dappled light, or even full shade may seem like disastrous growing conditions for some plants, the bathroom is actually the perfect climate for most topical plant varieties.
So, I've rounded up the best plants that absolutely thrive in bathroom conditions. These babies also happen to be brilliant for general well-being, feng shui, and the aesthetic, BTW.
Have a free spot in your bathroom? Take a peep at these pretty plants...
10 plants that will work perfectly in your bathroom
Want to have plants in your house that (pretty much) look after themselves? Scroll on down for the best bathroom plants. BTW, I've also shopped out some buys, just in case you want to get on decorating ASAP.
The prices below were correct at the time of publishing this article.
1. Asparagus Fern
Actually not a fern at all, but part of the lily family, this bushy-tailed house plant is a green crowd-pleaser. Ideally, you should place it in a shady spot, or on a windowsill if you have one with not too much direct sunlight. "We are loving asparagus ferns at the moment and their fresh green foliage will look right at home in any bathroom," explains Claire Ransom, founder of Lazy Flora. "The plant is feathery and graceful, but surprisingly tough!" As a bonus, in late summer it sometimes produces pretty tiny white flowers. Totes adorbs.
$6.99
$19.99
$9.90
2. Chinese evergreen
Okay, rainforest realness, come through. The Chinese Evergreen thrives under warm temperatures (18-23 degrees ideally), dappled light, and damp (not soggy!) soil. Not only does it look lovely, but it also wards off nasty household pests. "It's disease-resistant, and bugs tend to leave it alone," explains Kate Turner, gardening guru at Miracle-Gro. "It has green or pink variegated leaves and will bear white flowers similar to a calla lily. Plus, it only needs watering once a week." FYI: It's toxic to pets, so if you have any furry friends, make sure to keep it out of their reach.
$26.06
$16.99
$53.99
3. Snake plants (Dracaena trifasciata)
Snake plants can work in bathrooms as they are native to tropical regions of West Africa, Asia, and Europe, which means they like a warm climate. These leafy greens do like light but can survive without any if needs be. "Snake plants are super low-maintenance plants," says Ransom. "In the wild, they live in rocky and dry areas of tropical climates, so the naturally humid air in a bathroom means you can get away with watering them even less." Perf if you're a loving but forgetful plant owner, like me.
$16.98
$18
$29.97
4. Bird of Paradise
Have windows and want a totally gorgeous, flowering bathroom plant? The bird of paradise is def one to consider, because of its gorgeous colors and floral form. It likes damp but not soggy soil, so be sure to monitor moisture levels. If you keep yours happy, you could see it grow to over six feet tall (basically boyfriend height). "This plant loves bright light, so keeping it on the bathroom windowsill will keep it happy," says Ransom. If you suffer from hay fever like me (achoo), it thankfully produces no airborne pollen, even when in full bloom.
$36.69
$10.99 for 2
$59.86
5. Spider plants
Spider plants are the cuties that just keep giving. They love humidity and are the perfect size to perk up a bland shady corner in your bathroom space. Cluster a few together if you have the room (I like to hang mine) to keep them really happy and feeling tropical. "Getting its name from the arachnid-like baby plants it produces during summer months, the spider plant is incredibly undemanding," says Ransom. She adds that they prefer bright, but indirect light, and are best placed anywhere in the house apart from a sunny windowsill.
$17
$7.99
$34.98
6. Guzmania Bromeliad
The flower power doesn't stop here, people. Guzmanias bloom beautifully and are super striking. They love a warm, constant temperature and misting, which is why they work well in the bathroom. "Each plant will produce a long-lasting colorful head, in bright reds, oranges, or yellows," says Ransom. "Despite their warm origins, they love a bit of dappled shade and survive best out of direct sunlight." Just take care not to overwater them, and let the soil dry out completely between watering.
$24.10
$32
$19.77
7. Peace lily
A hugely air-purifying plant, peace lilies are native to tropical Columbian rainforests and majorly love humidity, dappled light or total shade, and a warm climate. If you play your cards right, you'll enjoy distinctive white flowers all year round — just be careful not to under or overwater them as they can be a bit temperamental, JS.
$20.72
$34.99
$7.99
8. Blue Star Fern
The frilly leaves on the blue star fern make it such a gorgeous addition to any room — but it works especially well in the bathroom, because of how undemanding it is. This lively-looking plant is native to South America and therefore loves warm temperatures (16 and 24 degrees roughly) and high humidity levels. Turner says, "It only needs watering when the soil becomes slightly dry, but make sure not to overwater it — it will not be happy if you leave it standing in water!" She also recommends watering from the sides rather than directly onto the leaves — pro tip, peeps.
$16.99
$14.99
$39.99
9. Fiddle leaf fig
A ficus is a must-have plant for every apartment IMO, because its big leaves make such an impact in any room. The glossy leaves love warm stable temperatures (of about 16-24 degrees), and it thrives best in bright, indirect light. And if it does, it will grow as large as 3m tall with a spread of 1m. Take note if you have a small space to decorate, as this is one of the best bathroom plants to add serious drama.
$13.75
$44.32
$28.23
10. Sword/Boston Fern
Nephrolepis exaltata, better known as a trusty Boston or sword fern, is a humidity and indirect light-loving tropical plant. The texture is absolutely stunning and looks so chic without taking up lots of space. It's also very air-purifying and should survive in a bathroom without windows too. Oh, and if you have cats or dogs, I've got fab news for you, as it's also a pet-friendly house plant. Hang yours to brighten up a dull space (renters, I know the feel).
$18
$65.45 for 2
$12.99
FAQs
What to consider when choosing bathroom plants?
OK, so you're into the idea of having greenery in your bathroom. But when you're shopping for plants to go in there, what should you look out for? "When looking for the best plants to thrive in your bathroom, it is important to remember the conditions that they will be living in," explains Ransom. "The bathroom is usually the dampest and often the darkest room in the house, so opt for plants that like humidity and don’t mind being out of direct sunlight."
What plants thrive in the shower?
For small bathrooms where the shower is quite dominating or if you want to keep houseplants hanging in the shower (why not?!), opt for ferns and spider plants which will be more climatized to warm tropical showers. It's a great way to keep them watered and well-misted also — just take care to not overdo it.
Is it good feng shui to have plants in a bathroom?
Having houseplants around will strengthen one vital area of feng shui —wood, which promotes growth and can inspire kindness and adaptability also. Opt for bathroom plants with soft and rounded leaves for more nourishing vibes, like palms and ferns. Then, be sure to keep your collection neat and in good health for even better feng shui.
Up next: How to garden in an apartment
