35 Best Houseplants for Your Bathroom

You can place plants or fake plants in the bathroom to add a touch of greenery and life to a space that can skew stark. The right houseplants absorb excess moisture and thrive in the warm temperatures and high humidity levels typical in bathrooms. Consider light exposure, high humidity, and temperature swings when choosing bathroom plants. In a windowless space, opt for a low-light plant species that can survive with less than four hours of light daily or a shade-loving variety. Plants that require indirect light will thrive near a window in a brighter space. This includes ferns, air plants, and several tropical and semi-tropical plants that come from native settings under larger tree canopies.

Keep scrolling for moisture-loving bathroom plants that will do well in average bathroom conditions.

Asparagus Fern

Airy, lacy asparagus fern loves the humidity of a bathroom. It does well in moderate or bright light, so a spot by a window is best. Asparagus fern (Asparagus densiflorus) looks soft to the touch, but the stems have thorns, so beware. It can grow to two feet tall with branches that can sprawl laterally as much as six feet. This plant is highly toxic—keep it away from small children and pets.

• Name: Asparagus Fern (Asparagus densiflorus)
• Color Varieties: Pale green foliage
• Light: Bright artificial light or window sunlight
• Soil Needs: Well-drained potting soil
• Mature Size: Up to 3 ft. tall, 4 ft. wide

Lucky Bamboo

Lucky bamboo is a popular houseplant associated with bringing good luck to the home. Growing lucky bamboo (Bambusa spp.) in containers controls its size because it's well-known as an invasive spreader when planted in the garden. But even when confined to containers, bamboo plants can become large, requiring yearly repotting.

The clumping varieties need repotting less often than those that spread through runners. During the growing season, feed bamboo weekly with diluted nitrogen fertilizer, cutting back to monthly in the winter.

• Name: Lucky Bamboo (Bambusa spp.)
• Color Varieties: Pale to dark green foliage; variegated forms available
• Lightsun : Full sun to partial shade
• Soil Needs: Prefers sandy potting mixes but tolerates most potting soil mixes
• Mature Size: 1–5 ft. tall, 1–2 ft. wide (indoors)

Begonia

Many begonias grow well in containers and enjoy the bathroom shelf's warmth and humidity. In particular, rex begonias (Begonia x rex), with their showy foliage, grow well indoors. Begonias like humid conditions but not water-logged soil, which can cause root rot. Begonias, prized for their flowers, need a bright spot in the bathroom with some direct early morning sunlight. Begonias grown for their foliage need a bright location away from direct sunlight.

• Name: Begonia (Begonia x rex)
• Color Varieties: Light-green, dark-green, bronze, or variegated foliage. Some varieties are grown for beautiful blooms, while others are grown for their distinctive and unusual foliage.
• Light: Provide some direct sunlight to encourage flowering; for varieties grown for their foliage, provide bright filtered light.
• Soil Needs: Begonias do best in general-purpose, soilless potting mix.
• Mature Size: 12-18 in. tall, similar spread

Pothos

Closely resembling the heart-leaved variety of Philodendron (P. hederaceum), pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is an almost indestructible plant. As indoor plants, it is common to see pothos specimens grow vines 6 to 10 feet or longer.

However, if you regularly prune stems back to just above a leaf, the plant will become fuller and bushy. Water whenever the soil feels dry. Pothos will thrive in low light or bright, indirect light. Note that all parts of the pothos plant are toxic.

• Name: Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
• Color Varieties: Green to marbled yellow foliage
• Light: Bright light to near-full shade
• Soil Needs: General potting mix rich in peat moss
• Mature Size: 20–40 ft. long, 3–6 ft. wide

Bromeliads

Bromeliads are unusual specimens; they readily produce long-lasting blooms in locations where most houseplants do not blossom at all. Bromeliads flower with yellow, pink, or red blossoms in winter, lasting several weeks. Bromeliads include several plant genera and dozens of species, many of which are epiphytic (drawing moisture from the air rather than from soil).

These are ideally suited to bask in the humidity of a bathroom, but they also need good air circulation, which can be provided by running the bathroom exhaust fan or a small portable fan for a few hours each day. Feed them with an orchid fertilizer. (While they're not orchids, they require the same nutrients as orchids.)

• Name: Bromeliad (Bromeliaceae)
• Color Varieties: Dark green foliage and pink or red flowers
• Light: Bright, indirect light; avoid hot afternoon sun
• Soil Needs: Soil depends on genus and species; those requiring soil do well in a succulent potting mix.
• Mature Size: Varies by genera and species

Cast-Iron Plant

Aspidistra elatior is an excellent low-maintenance houseplant. It earned its common name, the cast-iron plant because it is so hard to kill. A tropical plant growing two to three feet tall, it is one of the rare houseplants that will tolerate almost full shade. Variegated varieties need more light than solid-green specimens. It also does not require high humidity, making it suitable for unused guest bathrooms.

• Name: Cast-Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior)
• Color Varieties: Medium-green foliage; rarely flowers when grown as a houseplant
• Light: Low, indirect light; tolerates full shade
• Soil Needs: Well-drained, peaty potting mix
• Mature Size: 2–3 ft. tall, 1–2 ft. wide

Chinese Evergreen

Few plants are as forgiving and adaptable as the Chinese evergreen, comprising about 20 species within the Aglaonema genus. These large-leaved, tropical perennials will thrive even if you forget to water and feed them. While they love humidity, they will also tolerate dry air, provided you keep them out of cold drafts, which can damage the leaves.

Depending on the variety, they grow from ten inches to four feet tall; some cultivars (such as 'Silver Queen') have gray-green and even pink variegation.

• Name: Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema)
• Color Varieties: Dark green; some varieties are variegated
• Light: Low, indirect light; no direct sun
• Soil Needs: Rich, well-drained potting mix
• Mature Size: 1–3 ft. tall, 1–3 ft. wide

Croton

You will find croton plants in an assortment of brightly colored foliage, and the pictum variety has multicolored leaves. These tropical broadleaf evergreens grow slowly but can grow up to 6 feet tall and 3 feet wide, so be sure you give it enough room to spread out.

Croton plants (Codiaeum variegatum) need bright but indirect light, humidity, and moisture, although they do not like to sit in wet soil. Wait until the top two inches of soil are dry before watering. Reduce watering in late fall and winter.

• Name: Croton (Codiaeum variegatum)
• Color Varieties: Green, or combinations of yellow, pink, orange, red, bronze, purple, and green
• Light: Bright, indirect light
• Soil Needs: Well-drained potting mix with humus
• Mature Size: 3–8 ft. tall, 3–6 ft. wide

Dieffenbachia

Dieffenbachia does best with minimal care. Water them when the soil feels dry (check just a few inches below the surface). This plant requires more light during the short days of winter and dappled light in the summer. Rotate your Dieffenbachia plant every month so it grows evenly on all sides. These plants can reach several feet tall.

Dieffenbachia is highly toxic to humans, dogs, and cats, so keep these plants out of reach of children and pets.

• Name: Dieffenbachia (Dieffenbachia)
• Color Varieties: Combinations of green and yellow/white foliage
• Light: Bright, indirect light
• Soil Needs: Loose, fast-draining potting mix
• Mature Size: 3–10 ft. tall, 2–3 ft. wide

Ferns

Ferns are a unique family of shade-loving plants that reproduce through spores rather than flowers and seeds. Many ferns make great houseplants and can handle temperature fluctuations and humidity in a bathroom. Some can even be grown right in a shower stall where they are regularly soaked.

Some recommended ferns for the bathroom include Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata), maidenhair fern (Adiantum raddianum), bird's nest fern (Asplenium nidus), and button fern (Pellaea rotundifolia).

• Name: Ferns (Polypodiopsida)
• Color Varieties: Light to dark green, depending on species
• Light: Depends on the species
• Soil Needs: Depends on species; most thrive in moist, well-drained potting mix
• Mature Size: Depends on variety, 6-48 in. tall, 1-5 ft. wide

Gardenia

Gardenia jasminoides, also known as cape jasmine, is the gardenia most often grown as an indoor plant. These tropical broadleaf evergreens are not particularly easy to grow indoors because they respond poorly to cold drafts or sudden blasts of heat. However, they can grow well in the humid conditions of a bathroom, provided they receive enough bright light.

Gardenias can be large plants, growing to 6 feet tall, but they may be kept smaller with frequent pruning. Feed with an acidic fertilizer.

• Name: Cape Jasmine Gardenia (G. jasminoides)
• Color Varieties: Dark green leaves; white flowers
• Light: Needs 6 to 8 hours of sunlight for flowering
• Soil Needs: Well-drained, acidic potting mix rich with peat moss
• Mature Size: 5-6 ft. tall, 5-6 ft. wide

Orchids

Orchids comprise hundreds of species in dozens of plant genera in the Orchidaceae family. Many orchids are ideal for growing in bathrooms so long as they do not get too cold. Some species are planted in soil, while others are epiphytes (air plants) that absorb moisture from the air.

Orchids can bloom for weeks. Because some varieties are smallish plants, you can cluster several together for quite a show. Some prefer moderate light; others need bright light.

• Name: Orchid (Orchidaceae)
• Color Varieties: Pink, red, purple, white, depending on the variety
• Light: Depends on variety but needs light for blooms
• Soil Needs: Depends on type, generally requires a bark mix designed for orchids
• Mature Size: 1–3 ft. tall, 6–12 in. wide

Peace Lily

Peace lilies are elegant plants that require minimal care. They do best with regular watering and appreciate the humidity in the bathroom. Do not allow the soil to remain dry for extended periods. Peace lilies (Spathiphyllum spp.) do well in limited light; however, if your plant is not flowering, it might need a slightly brighter location. When feeding, use a very diluted fertilizer mix.

• Name: Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum spp.)
• Color Varieties: Glossy green foliage; white flowers
• Light: Bright, filtered light
• Soil Needs: Well-drained potting mix
• Mature Size: 1–4 ft. tall, 1–4 ft. wide (indoors), up to 6 ft. tall (outdoors)

Philodendron

Philodendrons are tropical plants that thrive in bathroom conditions. Some varieties produce vines as long as 20 feet, while others grow upright. Both types are relatively easy to grow. If you water this plant too much or too little, it will drop its leaves. However, it prefers consistently moist soil. Philodendrons need bright, indirect light; too much shade creates spindly stems.

• Name: Philodendron (Philodendron spp.)
• Color Varieties: Dark-green foliage; some cultivars have variegated leaves
• Light: Bright, indirect light
• Soil Needs: Soil-based potting mix
• Mature Size: 6-72 in. tall, 6-36 in. wide

Snake Plant

Snake plant is the common name for various species, but we're talking about Dracaena trifasciata. They are low-maintenance plants, and their vertical growth habit contrasts trailing and vine plants. Depending on the variety, mature plants can range from 8 inches to 4 feet tall. If the leaves start to flop, hold them together with twine to keep them growing upright.

Snake plants prefer bright light but can handle less than ideal conditions. Variegated varieties need more light, or they can revert to all-green foliage. Potted plants are often moved to shady outdoor locations in the summer. Water when the top 2 inches of soil is dry.

• Name: Snake Plant (Dracaena trifasciata)
• Color Varieties: Deep green leaves with gray-green or golden-yellow stripes
• Light: Bright, warm light; avoid direct sunlight
• Soil Needs: Soil-based potting mix
• Mature Size: 2-5 ft. tall as a houseplant

Spider Plant

Spider plants (Chlorophytum comosum) like growing in tight quarters, so do not plant them in a container that is much larger than the root ball. Mature plants regularly send out long stems that bear small, star-shaped flowers. Once the flowers fall off, tiny plantlets form in their place.

These plantlets ultimately grow their own roots and can be removed and repotted to grow more spider plants. These low-maintenance plants tolerate bright light, but the leaves will scorch in full sun. They prefer relatively cool (but not cold) temperatures.

• Name: Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
• Color Varieties: Green foliage, sometimes striped with white
• Light: Bright, indirect sunlight
• Soil Needs: Loose, fast-draining potting mix
• Mature Size: 1–2 ft. tall and wide, with trailing plantlets

Weeping Fig

If you have the space for a small tree, weeping fig can dress up a bathroom. However, it does not like sudden temperature changes. Cold drafts can cause it to drop leaves, but it should recover.

Although it likes humidity, a weeping fig does not like being overwatered or sitting in wet soil. Wait to water until the top inch or two of soil feels dry. Weeping figs (Ficus benjamina) prefer bright, indirect light and need more light indoors than when grown outdoors.

• Name: Weeping Fig (Ficus benjamina)
• Color Varieties: Glossy green leaves; some varieties are variegated
• Light: Bright light; likes some sunlight when grown indoors
• Soil Needs: Rich, fast-draining potting mix
• Mature Size: 3-6 ft. tall indoors; up to 60 ft. tall outdoors

Dragon Tree

Several types of dracaena (Dracaena spp.) or dragon trees make great bathroom plants as well. This plant thrives in high humidity. They also tolerate low light but prefer medium to bright, indirect light. This plant also performs well in average room temperatures between 65 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

• Name: Dracaena (Dracaena spp.)
• Color Varieties: Green, red, yellow
• Light: Bright, indirect light
• Soil Needs: Rich, slightly acidic, well-draining
• Mature Size: 2-10 ft. tall, 1-2 ft. wide

Anthurium

Anthuriums have unique-looking waxy, heart-shaped flowers. Anthuriums love humidity but require a lot of light to thrive. Give this plant a bright, indirect light location.

Watch this plant's leaves to judge if your plant is getting a healthy amount of moisture. If leaf tips turn yellow, it's getting too much water or humidity. Brown leaf tips mean the plant needs more humidity.

• Name: Anthurium (Anthurium spp.)
• Color Varieties: Flowers range from pink, orange, red, green, purple, black, yellow, salmon, brown, and blue
• Light: Bright, indirect light
• Soil Needs: Coarse, well-draining potting mix
• Mature Size: 12-18 in. tall, 9- to 12-inch wide

Majesty Palm

These graceful palms are indeed majestic, and if your bathroom has high ceilings, they make a lovely accent plant. Ravenea rivularis, the majesty palm likes indirect light and tolerates humidity well.

In its natural habitat, it can grow very large, but as a potted houseplant, it usually tops out at 10 to 12 feet. They can be somewhat temperamental, so they're a good choice for experienced indoor plant mavens.

• Name: Majesty Palm (Ravenea rivularis)
• Color Varieties: Medium to dark green glossy leaves
• Light: Bright, indirect light
• Soil Needs: Coarse, well-draining potting mix
  
• Mature Size: Indoors: 10-12 ft. tall, 6–20 ft. wide

Parlor Palm

These attractive small palms, native to the rainforests of South and Central America, perform very well as houseplants. The parlor palm (Chamaedorea elegans) is also known as a neanthe bella palm. It likes acidic soil, so a peat-based potting mix works well, or, if you prefer not to use peat moss, some used coffee grounds or crushed pine needles can be mixed into the soil.

They can tolerate bright sunlight but adapt very well to indirect light situations.

• Name: Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea elegans)
• Color Varieties: Most are bright green but there are some harder to find cultivars with dark green leaves
• Light: Bright, indirect light
• Soil Needs: Well-draining, acidic to neutral potting mix
  
• Mature Size: As a houseplant, 2-6 ft. tall, 2-3-ft. spread

Algerian Ivy

Although often grown as a ground cover, Algerian ivy (Hedera algeriensis) also makes an attractive and easily-maintained houseplant. It has waxy dark green leaves with lovely creamy variegation. It's sometimes called Canary Island ivy or Madeira ivy, after its native locations. It is a fast grower, so it may need repotting about once a year. Regular trimming will also help keep it neat.

• Name: Algerian ivy (Hedera algeriensis)
• Color Varieties: Dark green leaves with light green and cream variegated markings; the 'Variegata' cultivar has deeper-green leaves
• Light: Bright, indirect light
• Soil Needs: Well-draining, neutral to slightly acidic potting mix
• Mature Size: N/A, vining species

Spiderwort

Tradescantia, commonly called spiderwort, refers to many plants, some of which can become invasive in the garden. Tradescantia zebrina is a popular houseplant that thrives in high-humidity conditions, making it a great choice for a bathroom plant. Its pale and dark green striped leaves have purple undersides.

These plants put out trailing vines, making them suitable for hanging baskets or containers. They're easy to care for, needing only some occasional deadheading to keep the leaves neat. They like to be kept moist, but you can slightly reduce watering in the dormant winter season.

• Name: Spiderwort (Tradescantia)
• Color Varieties: Light green, dark green, purple, pink
• Light: Bright, indirect light
• Soil Needs: Well-draining potting mix
• Mature Size: N/A (vining species)

Kentia Palm

The Kentia palm (Howea forsteriana) makes a great bathroom plant, if you have some space. In its native habitats, this palm tree (also known as a thatch palm or a sentry palm) can grow up to 40 feet tall, but it can be kept under 6 feet as a houseplant.

Kentia palms like sandy, loamy soil and need plenty of drainage holes in their containers. Choose a good-sized pot your plant can grow into, as this palm has sensitive roots and doesn't like being repotted too often. Water regularly to moisten the soil, but be careful not to overwater.

• Name: Kentia palm (Howea forsteriana)
• Color Varieties: Bright or dark green, white flowers
• Light: Bright, indirect light
• Soil Needs: Well-draining, loamy potting soil with some sand added
• Mature Size: 2-40 ft. tall, 1–10 ft. wide

Jade Plant

Jade plants (Crassula ovata) are long-lived, very adaptable succulents that are commonly grown as houseplants. They work well in the bathroom and prefer bright, indirect light; 4 to 6 hours of indirect sunlight is perfect. These plants are drought-tolerant, but they need more watering in their active growing season (spring through late summer).

• Name: Jade plants (Crassula ovata)
• Color Varieties: Light to dark green foliage, some with variegated edges
• Light: Bright, indirect light
• Soil Needs: Well-draining potting soil suitable for succulents
• Mature Size: 3–6 ft. tall, 2–3 ft. wide

Air Plants

Air plants (Tillandsia) are epiphytes, meaning they grow on other plants and do not need soil. Air plants are often found in warm, humid regions (common in Florida), so they do well in bathrooms as long as they're not near a drafty window. They can be placed in pots or on plates or wire holders or simply put on a windowsill or other surface.

• Name: Air plant (Tillandsia)
• Color Varieties: Pale green, blue-green, silver, pink, yellow
• Light: Bright, indirect light
• Soil Needs: No soil is needed
• Mature Size: 2-12 in. tall (indoors), 5-7 ft. (outdoors)

String of Pearls

The string of pearls plant (Curio rowleyanus) is a trailing succulent with tiny bead-like leaves on long vines. It makes a great hanging plant for the bathroom as it loves bright but indirect light. These plants tend to live its best life for about five years, but can be easily propagated from cuttings to keep them going.

• Name: String of Pearls (Curio rowleyanus)
• Color Varieties: Light green, some variegated or striped varieties are available
• Light: Bright, indirect light
• Soil Needs: Well-draining potting soil suitable for succulents
• Mature Size: 1-2 ft. tall and long

Purple Shamrock

The purple shamrock (Oxalis triangularis) is an attractive, easy-care plant with vivid coloring. Its dark purple leaves have magenta-purple markings. It can be grown outside as a ground cover or indoors as a house plant. It enjoys moderate humidity and indirect light, making it a good fit for the bathroom. The unusual coloring also allows for using it as a decor accent. It puts out small pink or white flowers several times a year.

• Name: Purple Shamrock (Oxalis triangularis)
• Color Varieties: Dark purple leaves, pink or white flowers
• Light: Bright, indirect light
• Soil Needs: Well-draining potting soil, slightly acidic
• Mature Size: 0.5–1 ft. tall, 1–2 ft. wide

Staghorn Fern

The staghorn fern (Platycerium bifurcatum) is an unusual, showy plant classified as an epiphyte, so it doesn't need soil. Native to Java and New Guinea, it thrives in high humidity. It gets pretty large and can be a focal point of your bathroom decor. It can be placed in a hanging basket or displayed on the wall.

This is a hobby plant in that some growers like to find unusual ways to display it, such as with driftwood or moss. The staghorn fern (also known as elkhorn fern) has two very different shapes of leaves, giving it a unique appearance.

• Name: Staghorn fern (Platycerium bifurcatum)
• Color Varieties: Deep green glossy leaves
• Light: Bright, indirect light
• Soil Needs: No soil needed; can use moss as a growing medium
• Mature Size: 2–3 ft. tall, 2–3 ft. wide

Calathea

These colorful plants have glossy oval or elongated leaves, and depending on the cultivar, they have dramatic stripes or markings (earning them common names such as peacock plant or zebra plant).

Being native to jungle regions, calathea thrive in high humidity and indirect light that mimics the dappled forest canopy. These plants like to be kept moist but should not be overwatered.

• Name: Calathea (Calathea spp.)
• Color Varieties: Dark green, light green, pink, white, red
• Light: Bright, indirect light
• Soil Needs: A peat-rich potting soil or one made for African violets
• Mature Size: 1–2 ft. tall, 1–2 ft. wide

Polka Dot Plant

With its cheery, colorful leaves in shades of pink, the polka dot plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya) is a great choice to liven up the bathroom space. It is ideal for the bathroom, as it prefers indirect light and high-humidity environments. Its variegated leaves are usually light pink with dark green markings, although some cultivars have dark pink or white leaves.

• Name: Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya)
• Color Varieties: Green, pink, white
• Light: Bright, indirect light
• Soil Needs: Well-draining potting soil with perlite added
  
• Mature Size: 1-2 ft. tall, 1-2 ft. wide

Alocasia

Alocasia (sometimes confused with elephant ears) are tropical plants with large glossy leaves. Depending on the variety, the foliage colors range from light to dark olive green, with dramatic veining and variegation. They thrive in humid conditions and prefer bright, indirect light.

They are sometimes grown as garden or container plants outdoors; their rhizomes need to be lifted and stored indoors for winter. They can get quite large, so give them some space. They need excellent drainage to avoid tuber rot.

• Name: Alocasia (Alocasia spp.)
• Color Varieties: Light or dark green, some variegation in cultivars
• Light: Bright, indirect light
• Soil Needs: Well-draining, slightly acidic potting soil with perlite added
• Mature Size: 2–10 ft. tall, 2-10 ft. spread (depending on variety)

Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is a tropical succulent that is commonly grown as a houseplant. It's long-lived and very low maintenance. Aloe vera is a drought-tolerant plant and doesn't require high humidity, but mild humidity allows it to thrive.

• Name: Aloe Vera (A. vera)
• Color Varieties: Green
• Light: Bright, indirect light
• Soil Needs: Well-draining, sandy soil or cactus potting medium
• Mature Size: 12-36 in. tall, 6-12 in. wide

Monstera

There are many varieties of monstera, some of which get very large. They have evergreen glossy leaves and love a high-humidity environment, so they can be a striking accent for the bathroom. The Monstera deliciosa is very suitable for a bathroom because it loves humidity but does need a fair bit of space.

• Name: Monstera (Monstera deliciosa)
• Color Varieties: Dark to light green, some variegated
• Light: Bright, indirect, or dappled light
• Soil Needs: Well-draining potting mix
• Mature Size: 2-15 ft. tall, depending on variety

Radiator Plant

Radiator plants (Peperomia) have thick, fleshy leaves and absorb toxins from the air, making them valuable houseplants. The leaves are usually variegated with green and creamy white, and some cultivars have touches of red or pink. They're very hardy, easy to care for, and have a relatively slow growth rate. They love high humidity and should be kept away from drafty windows.

• Name: Radiator Plant (Peperomia)
• Color Varieties: Varies, green with variegation
• Light: Indirect bright light
• Soil Needs: Moist, well-drained soil
• Mature Size: 6–12 in. tall, 6–12 in. wide