Back

Best bathroom plants

14 of the best houseplants to transform your bathroom into a lush oasis

When choosing houseplants to bring your home to life, greening up your bathroom might not be top of your list. However, a bathroom can actually provide a unique opportunity for a range of popular houseplants to thrive.

While some rooms in a modern, centrally heated home can be a little dry for leafy houseplants, the humid conditions in a bathroom replicate the jungle habitat of many of our favourite indoor plants. The closer a plant’s growing conditions are to what it experiences in the wild, the healthier and happier it will be – the key concept of ‘right plant, right place’ applies to indoor plants, too.

But putting plants in your bathroom won’t just benefit the plants. Research has shown that even just the visual presence of houseplants has tangible benefits for our wellbeing, so adding some carefully chosen greenery will help you to destress, too.

Take your pick from our selection of the best large plants and best small plants for bathrooms to help to bring this often overlooked room to life and transform it into a relaxing oasis of calm.

Do houseplants do well in a bathroom?

As long as your bathroom receives plenty of natural light, it can be an ideal environment for houseplants. Frosted glass in bathrooms can also help diffuse light, making it less harsh. Whatever size your bathroom, it’s likely to be more humid than other rooms in the home, which means a main bathroom can be a good habitat for leafy tropical plants. It’s important to remember though that humidity will vary depending on how much it’s used: guest bathrooms may be much less humid, so plant choice should be considered accordingly.

Many plants also enjoy the warmth of a bathroom. Just remember that underfloor heating, if you’re lucky enough to have it, will cause any potted plants standing on the floor to dry out more quickly, so keep a close eye on watering.

Plants need natural light to thrive, so bathrooms that have no windows aren’t suitable for growing live plants.

Seven of the best small bathroom houseplants

1. Spider plant (Chlorophytum)

This traditional favourite is one of the best known houseplants for how easy it is to grow and propagate.  Try Chlorophytum comosum ‘Variegatum’ (v) AGM and C. comosum ‘Vittatum’ (v) AGM.

2. Maidenhair fern (Adiantum)

Maidenhair ferns are loved for their delicate, lacy fronds. They thrive in humid environments, so a bright bathroom out of direct sunlight is the best place for this elegant houseplant. 

Adiantum hispidulum AGM
Pteris nipponica, often sold under Pteris cretica var. albolineata

3. Cretan brake fern (Pteris cretica/nipponica AGM)

One of the easiest indoor ferns to grow, Cretan brake fern likes to be kept moist and in bright but indirect light. While Pteris cretica has glossy dark green fronds made up of narrow, strap-like leaflets, the closely related white-striped Cretan brake, Pteris nipponica AGM is also popular.

4. Umbrella plant (Cyperus)

Umbrella plant (Cyperus involucratus AGM) and dwarf umbrella plant (Cyperus albostriatus) are related to papyrus and love damp conditions. To keep umbrella plants thriving, keep their pots standing in 1cm of water all the time.

Cyperus involucratus

5. Clubmosses (Selaginella)

These cute and compact plants are an unusual choice and with their love of humidity, a great option for a reguarly used bathroom. Try Krau’s clubmoss (Selaginella kraussiana AGM), Marten’s club moss (S. martensii AGM) or peacock moss (S. uncinata AGM).

6. Mind-your-own-business (Soleirolia soleirolii)

You might have seen mind-your-own-business spreading over damp borders or moist, shady patios. However, its love of moisture means it makes a great bathroom plant. Try growing it in a hanging pot, where its delicate stems of tiny round leaves can trail over the sides for a cascading effect. Note that it can become invasive if grown outdoors.

7. Pink quill (Tillandsia cyanea AGM)

Tillandsia are known as air plants since in their natural jungle habitat they grow on trees and absorb moisture from the air. Pink quill is so called because if the plant flowers, the violet blooms are held on flattened pink bracts rising from a rosette of strap-like, deep green leaves.


Seven of the best large bathroom houseplants

Ficus benjamina ‘Twilight’

1. Weeping fig (Ficus benjamina AGM)

Weeping fig forms an elegant small tree with small, sometimes variegated leaves, which makes a perfect feature standing in a bright bathroom. Ficus bejamina dislikes changes in its environment, so position it away from any draughts or heaters and it will reward you with beautiful tresses of delicate, pointed little leaves.
 

2. ZZ plant (Zamioculcas-zamiifolia AGM)

This popular and easy-to-grow houseplant demands little but packs a punch with its glossy dark green leaves arranged in pairs up tall stems. Growing up to 3ft tall, this unique-looking plant will add a touch of tropical standing in the corner of a bathroom. Unfussy and forgiving, ZZ plant is a perfect choice for beginners.

Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Bostoniensis’

3. Sword fern (Nephrolepis exaltata AGM)

Also known as Boston fern, this air-purifying houseplant loves warmth and humidity. Its perfect for displaying on a stand or in a hanging basket, where its gracefully arching, ruffled-looking fronds can cascade over the side. If you can find it, ‘Elegantissima’ AGM is a particularly spectacular cultivar.
 

4. Umbrella tree (Heptapleurum)

Umbrella trees are undemanding houseplants with leathery leaves held on long stalks. Each leaf consists of 7-9 leaflets joined at the centre. Formerly known as Schefflera, Heptapleurum grow into small trees that will bring a bathroom to life.

We recommend Heptapleurum actinophyllum AGM (Queensland umbrella tree) and Heptapleurum arboricola ‘Gold Capella’ AGM (dwarf umbrella tree).

5. Peace lily (Spathiphyllum wallisii)

Peace lilies are one of the most popular houseplants, with distinctive white flower-like spathes rising above glossy, lush deep green foliage. Easy to grow and happy in a warm position with plenty of indirect light, they make elegant additions to a bathroom (but prefer to drink rainwater themselves). 
 

6. Swiss cheese plant (Monstera deliciosa AGM)

With an architectural look, Monstera is another ideal statement plant for a bathroom with enough space to accommodate it. Swiss cheese plant is famed for its large, glossy, deep green tropical leaves with irregular holes, which are held high on gracefully arching stems, creating a luxurious tropical feel. Vigorous and long-lived, Monstera are easy to look after, thriving in indirect light and warm, humid conditions.
 

Asplenium nidus with Philodendron hederaceum var. hederaceum and Platycerium bifurcatum

7. Bird’s nest fern (Asplenium nidus AGM)

Bird’s nest fern is native to tropical southeast Asia, where it grows on trees as an epiphyte, absorbing moisture from the air. This means it loves the warm, steamy environment of a bathroom and also enjoys being misted. This long-lived, low-maintenance houseplant forms a rosette of lush, glossy bright green leaves that will eventually grow to around 60cm high by 45cm wide.
 

Should I put a plant in my bathroom?

Putting plants in your bathroom will help soften its stark, hard surfaces while providing a haven for relaxation. Just imagine being surrounded by greenery (proven to lower stress) while reclining in a hot bubble bath. Choosing the right plant for the right place and caring for it appropriately will ensure you have a healthy houseplant that maximises these benefits, so take your pick from our choices above and check out our houseplant care guide.
Save to My scrapbook

You might also like

Houseplants for dark and shady rooms

Houseplants for dark and shady rooms

Choosing the best houseplants

Choosing the best houseplants

Love gardening

Sign up to receive regular gardening tips, inspiration, offers and more

View our Privacy Policy

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.