30 Best Plants for a Spa-Like Bathroom

Turn your space into an oasis.

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A spa-like bathroom is key to a stress-free morning routine and a restful winddown. While intricate tile, a large soaking tub, and patterned wallpaper are all elements that can bring you closer to having the bathroom of your dreams, we have a budget-friendly solution for how to spruce up your space. Incorporating plants into your bathroom does more than just elevate your aesthetic. Some bathroom plants, like English Ivy, can even extract moisture from the air, acting as a natural dehumidifier.

Sunlight and water are the two most important elements to consider when growing houseplants, but the third (often forgotten) one is humidity. This makes bathrooms a secretly perfect place for your tropical, fern, and air plants to thrive. If your bathroom doesn’t receive a lot of sunlight, focus on utilizing low-light-friendly plants like trailing pothos or a variety of philodendrons. The best bathroom plants thrive in warm, moist air. If you mimic the bathroom plant’s natural environment, they’ll be easier to care for, so you can achieve the relaxing, spa-like vibe you want without the stress. Other solid bathroom plant options, like eucalyptus and aloe, have leaves you can use for medicinal purposes.

You can even grow plants in the shower. No, really, a few plant varieties thrive in the confines of your steamy shower stall. You just need to pick plants that value water and humidity more than light. However, if your space does get natural light, you have a lot more options to choose from, including majesty palm and aloe plants. Bathrooms are also great spaces for hanging plants and trailing vines, adding a decor element to the often bare walls. Ahead, we’re highlighting the best plants for bathrooms, no matter the amount of light your space gets.

A Mediterranean tree may seem like an odd choice for a bathroom plant, but the olive tree is secretly low-maintenance. It loves humidity and warmth but is low-light tolerant. This tree is ideal for filling that empty corner and providing some vertical interest. Keep watering to a minimum, only adding more when the soil is completely dried out.

Size: Medium to Large

A popular, humidity-loving variety, the peace lily boasts beautiful white blooms when grown with enough natural light. Peace lily plants also help to purify the air, great for bathrooms after a deep clean. Just beware that this plant is toxic to both humans and pets, so keep out of reach of curious critters.

Size: Medium

Related: How to Care for a Peace Lily

A larger version of the traditional, table-top bamboo houseplant, this iteration won't take up any of your precious counter space. This plant is extremely fast-growing and is cold-hardy, perfect for older homes or for those who prefer to keep the bathroom window open. This tree may require some winter pruning to remove dead growth.

Size: Large

For a pop of color, we recommend this bright pink tropical plant. Arriving in a 2-inch planter, this bathroom plant is ideal for small spaces. This variety is also air purifying, helping to rid your bathroom of mold, mildew, and other airborne toxins.

Size: Small

Related: The Best Indoor Plants

In order to flower, the Anthurium requires bright, indirect light. Place it on your bathroom windowsill for best results. However, if you have a low-light environment, the glossy leaves are beautiful on their own as well. This plant has tropical origins which means it prefers warm and humid spaces.

Size: Small

While this coffee plant won't produce edible beans, the ruffled leaves make for a beautiful bathroom shelf companion. This plant can thrive in both indirect and low-light conditions, but just be sure to water it more when sunlight is brighter. High humidity can help with the leaves' glossy appearance.

Size: Small

English ivy is a classic bathroom plant that cleans the air and thrives in low light. Hang it up high to let the trailing vines do their thing and create a showstopping look. This plant can quickly become unruly due to its fast-growing nature, so keep an eye on it and help direct its growth with plant hooks or indoor trellises.

Size: Medium to Large

Related: How to Grow English Ivy Indoors

Unlike other ferns, the blue star prefers less humidity and more consistent watering. You can expect the dramatic leaves to fill in for a lush and tropical look. Place yours in bright indirect sunlight—perhaps on a windowsill—for the best results. I’ve noticed that this plant crisps up quite quickly, so I recommend using a self-watering planter or watering stake to ensure it gets enough moisture.

Size: Medium to Large

Related: The Best Self-Watering Containers for Your Plants

Low-light tolerant and nontoxic to pets, the kangaroo fern prefers the ample mist and humidity of the forest floor. It’s used to growing side to side rather than upward, so it’s a great option for high coverage. Be sure to place this plant on its own or with plenty of space to allow the leaves to fully spread out.

Size: Medium

Related: 15 Best Pet-Friendly Plants to Keep in Your Home

A classic fern, the Boston appreciates a lot of mist and humidity—like in your bathroom after a lengthy shower. It’s ideal for filling sparse corners, so hang this plant up high to make the most of its spreading and draping leaves. It needs occasional sunlight, so if your bathroom doesn’t have a window, move it into a brighter spot for a bit or set it under a grow light.

Size: Medium to large

Related: 20 Best Plant Grow Lights

Low-light cutie-pie pothos plants are great for windowless or basement bathrooms. They’re incredibly easy to care for and need water only when the soil is completely dry. Their low-maintenance care requirements make them ideal for beginner plant parents.

Size: Small

Related: The Ultimate Pothos Plant Care and Growing Guide

Drought tolerant and nearly indestructible, the ZZ plant is great for people who are just getting into gardening. When cared for properly (meaning you water it when the soil is completely dry to the touch and give it low to medium light), it can grow up to three feet tall, making it the perfect accent for a large walk-in shower.

Size: Small to medium

Related: How to Grow and Care for a ZZ Plant

Mimicking praying hands, this plant curls up at night and then reopens with the sunrise. That means it’s happy, we promise! Its unique striped leaves love low to bright indirect light and filtered water, which helps them avoid developing scorched-looking edges. In my experience, normal tap water has been completely fine for my prayer plant, but I’ve noticed the color become more vibrant when I use distilled water.

Size: Small to medium

Related: 30 Best Indoor Plants That Are Easy to Grow

The self-propagating pilea, aka pancake plant, UFO plant or Chinese money plant, thrives in tropical environments, making it the perfect bathroom plant candidate. However, it does best in bathrooms that get bright indirect light. It has flat, round leaves that make it look cute and playful display, and you can pull off the “pups” it produces to give to friends and family.

Size: Small

Related: How to Care for a Chinese Money Plant

If you can’t resist a trailing plant, go for a golden pothos, It’ll make itself and all its vines at home in your bathroom. It can handle low to bright sunlight so long as the light is indirect, but the tips of its leaves will turn brown if the air is too dry. Focus on misting and adding humidity wherever possible.

Size: Small to medium

Related: The Ultimate Pothos Plant Care and Growing Guide

Majesty palms love humidity, so your bathroom is the perfect spot for them—so long as you have space for a bigger plant. They love the occasional misting, and while they can handle lower light, they do best in sunny locations—a south- or east-facing window is best. If you notice the leaves crisping up or turning brown, give your plant less sun and more water.

Size: Large

Related: 20 Best Indoor Trees for Every Kind of Plant Parent

Sometimes the best bathroom plants are the ones that require zero effort. If you’re looking for a decorative plant to liven up your bathroom wall, opt for a “living wall.” This vibrant green moss has been preserved in its prime so you won’t have to do anything to keep it in tip-top shape. Simply hang it up.

Size: Small

The aloe plant is a low-key succulent that’s perfect for a first-time plant owner or anyone with a busy lifestyle. All it really needs is access to bright light (indirect is fine, though direct sunlight will be better and might even make your plant yield coral-hued flowers), so just place it in a sunny spot. Its leaves are filled with gel that’s great for soothing sunburns and skin irritations.

Size: Small to medium

Related: The Essential Guide to Aloe Vera Plant Care

Beloved by everyone from beginners to plant pros due to its stunning good looks and easy care requirements—the ever-popular snake plant (aka sansevieria) is a great option because it can live in any humidity level and tolerate low or bright indirect light. I own one that’s still thriving in spite of years of subpar plant parenting.

Size: Small to Medium

Related: How to Care for a Snake Plant

Keep the stunning calathea in medium indirect light with moderate to more humid environment, and it’s sure to do well. Think of it as a symbiotic relationship: Your bathroom’s environment will help it live a healthy life, and its beautiful foliage will give your bathroom new life too. It’s a great choice for your bedroom too.

Size: Small to medium

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