Having plants in your bathroom is the ultimate way to inject personality into an otherwise drab space, but not all plants will thrive here, so it's important to look for options that are best suited to the typical conditions of most bathrooms.
Many of the best plants for bathrooms are tropical because the humidity from the shower and low or indirect light mimic their native climate, but when it comes to choosing plants for your bathroom, your options aren't limited to tropical plants.
Whether you're looking to liven up a small powder room or refresh a shared family bathroom with some greenery, there are some plants that are well suited to bathrooms, and we asked plant experts for their recommendations on those options, as well as advice on keeping plants thriving in their new home.
Succulents
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You might be surprised to learn that there are succulents that do well in the bathroom: “Succulents such as aloe vera and elephant bush are perfect for bathrooms because they require very little care and very little water, so they will thrive even if left for long periods of time without much attention,” says Fran Lauretta, owner of Fran Flowers & More Creations. This means they're particularly well suited to bathrooms that aren't used very often, such as ground-floor powder rooms.
Size: Up to 9 inches tall. Growing Conditions: Full sun to partial shade, dry, well-drained soil. Water weekly or when soil is completely dry.
Rabbit's foot fern
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Ferns love to be near a water source, making them a great addition to your bathroom: “Keep a fancy misting bottle on your vanity to mist your fern every time you brush your teeth,” says Jeanne Ha, owner of Park Florist.
Size: Up to 3 feet tall and 3 feet wide Growing conditions: Partial shade, moist loamy soil
Paphiopedilum orchid
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Bathrooms are warm with indirect sunlight, making them the perfect place to grow orchids. “Orchids are great plants for bathrooms because they're easy to care for and only need to be watered once a week with an ice cube or two, depending on the size of the plant,” says Lauretta. Paphiopedilum orchids are an especially great choice for anyone looking to add a dash of color to their bathroom.
Size: Up to 2 feet tall Growing conditions: Medium indirect light and coarse, well-drained soil
Spider Web Plant
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If you're looking for a low-maintenance option, the spider web plant is a great choice. This green plant creates a mounded effect with its long, thin leaves, and in the right conditions, it can produce “baby plants” that hang down beyond the leaves. Spider web plants require low to medium light, but will die if exposed to too much direct sunlight. “Spider web plants love a humid environment, so the bathroom is a great place for them,” says Lauretta.
Size: Up to 18 inches tall and 2 feet wide. Growing conditions: Moist, well-drained soil in sun to shade.
Lemon Button Fern
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Another great fern for the bathroom (and pretty hard to kill) is the lemon button fern, says Ha. This long-leafed fern needs minimal light and moisture to thrive, plus it has a subtle lemon scent.
Size: 1 foot tall, 1 foot wide Growing conditions: Partial shade to full shade, loamy, well-drained soil
Painted Nettle
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If you want to add some color to your bathroom but aren't a fan of flowers, try painted nettle. “These small green-and-red leaves have wavy edges and grow on tall stems,” says Ryan Waltz, CEO and founder of ēdn. It's an easy-to-grow plant that thrives in bathroom spaces regardless of light or humidity.
Size: Up to 3 feet tall, up to 3 feet wide Growing conditions: Full sun to shade, well-drained soil
Pothos
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Pothos is one of the easiest plants to grow, making it a great choice for anyone who needs a little gardening help. “It's a climbing plant, so it looks great hanging from a shower rod or entwined around a mirror or vanity,” says Bryce Yost, CEO and co-founder of Tilly. These lush green leaves grow large and add a tropical touch to your bathroom.
Size: 6-8 inches tall, 13 feet wide Growing conditions: Partial shade to full shade, loamy, occasionally dry, well-drained soil
Boston Fern
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Boston ferns are often used as accents in outdoor spaces, like covered porches or by front doors, but they also make a great addition to bathrooms. Like most ferns, this plant brightens up any bathroom. “Ferns look like they come from a pristine jungle, but when planted in a marble or gold-brushed pot to match your bathroom decor, they become very fashionable and trendy,” says Ha.
Size: 2-3 feet tall, 2-3 feet wide Growing conditions: Partial to shade, loamy, well-drained soil
Walking Iris
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Walking irises produce gorgeous mini iris flowers that can become new seedlings to give to friends, says Yost. The plant brightens up any bathroom and is fairly easy to care for, preferring moist soil and full shade.
Size: Up to 3 feet tall, 2 feet wide Growing conditions: Partial shade to full shade, moist, well-drained soil
Bird's nest fern
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If your bathroom is humid and low in light, it's the perfect home for the bird's-nest fern. “Remember, low light is not the same as no light,” says Yost. “Think about how much sky they can 'see' from that spot.” Bird's-nest ferns need at least a little light to thrive, which means windowless bathrooms aren't a good choice.
Size: 3-5 feet tall, 2-3 feet wide Growing conditions: Patchy shade to partial shade, loamy, moist, well-drained soil
Foxtail Fern
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Foxtail fern, also known as asparagus fern, thrives in bathrooms because it likes shade and moisture. Unlike the other plants on this list, foxtail fern will flower if it is healthy. This plant will produce white buds if well cared for.
Size: Up to 18 inches tall, up to 18 inches wide Growing conditions: Full sun to partial shade, moist, well-drained soil
Phalaenopsis orchid
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Despite their reputation as high-maintenance plants, Phalaenopsis orchids are easy to care for and thrive even when left unattended: “Simply soak them in the sink every few weeks and allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings,” says Yost.
Size: Flowers grow to 3-6 inches wide. Growing Conditions: Shade to sun, watered weekly.
Tillandsia
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Tillandsias, or Tillys for short, are similar to orchids and are epiphytes, meaning they use other plants for support and get moisture and nutrients from the air. “Tillies are super easy to grow and only require a light watering once a week in the sink,” says Yost. These “air plants” can easily be incorporated into your bathroom in a variety of unique ways, without having to rely on traditional flower pots.
Size: 3 inches tall, 1-2 inches wide. Growing conditions: Indirect or partial shade. Mist or soak regularly weekly.
Majesty Palm
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If your bathroom is open, airy, and gets lots of light, a Majesty palm makes a striking accent. “Majesty palms thrive in humid conditions, so you can pop one in your shower every now and then to give it a little extra cheer,” says Yost. Just remember that Majesty palms grow tall and wide, so they need plenty of space to stretch out.
Size: Up to 10 feet tall, 6-20 feet wide Growing conditions: Bright light, moist, well-drained soil
Fern
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Another great type of fern to have in your bathroom, says Ha, is the ferns. Their delicate, lacy leaves match perfectly with a variety of decors. Ferns like indirect sunlight and plenty of moisture, so be sure to give your water-hungry ferns plenty of water.
Size: 1-2 feet tall, 1-2 feet wide Growing conditions: Indirect, dappled light, occasionally moist, well-drained soil
Purple wood sorrel
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This small houseplant from the shamrock family is beautiful up close, making it the perfect addition to a vanity or next to a sink, says Yost. Its dark leaves prefer the shady areas of your bathroom; too much sun can cause the leaves' distinctive purple color to fade and look washed out.
Size: Up to 18 inches tall, 2 feet wide Growing conditions: Partial shade, dry to moist, well-drained soil
Kangaroo Paw Fern
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If your bathroom has indirect lighting, consider placing a Kangaroo Paw Fern in the space. This fern has shiny, bright green leaves. It loves the humidity of a bathroom after a shower, but doesn't like soggy soil, so be careful not to overwater it.
Size: 1 foot tall, 4 feet wide Growing conditions: Bright to medium indirect light, well-drained soil
Sansevieria
This plant is a common sight in bathrooms because it doesn't require much care or light. Sansevieria can be placed in a bathroom that is used frequently or in a bathroom that is only visited occasionally. For best results, water it once every 10 to 14 days.
Size: 1-3 feet tall, 6-36 inches wide Growing conditions: Partial shade, well-drained soil
Begonia
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Begonias thrive in humid conditions and don't like dry air, making them a great choice for bathrooms, and you should keep them out of direct sunlight if you want beautiful green foliage.
Size: 1 foot tall, 9 inches wide. Growing conditions: Full sun to partial shade, moist, well-drained soil.
Peace Lily
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A low-maintenance houseplant, the peace lily thrives indoors in warm temperatures and low or bright light. It tolerates humidity quite well, so it makes a lovely addition to the corner of your bathroom.
Size: 1 foot tall, 1 foot wide Growing conditions: Full sun or partial shade, moist, well-drained soil
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