15 Best Bathroom Plants That Love Humidity and Low Light

There is something deeply relaxing about stepping into a bathroom filled with lush greenery. Plants soften hard surfaces, add life and color, and create a sense of connection with nature that transforms daily routines into moments of calm. The bathroom, with its naturally humid environment, offers conditions that many houseplants dream of, especially those tropical species that typically struggle with the dry air of heated or air-conditioned homes.

Whether your bathroom has a sunny window or relies entirely on artificial light, whether it is spacious or compact, there are perfect plant options waiting to thrive. This guide will help you select the right plants for your specific bathroom conditions and show you how to style them for maximum impact.

Why Bathroom Plants Thrive: Understanding the Environment

To choose the right plants for your bathroom, it helps to understand what makes this room unique from a plant's perspective. The bathroom environment has several distinctive characteristics that influence plant selection.

Natural Humidity Boosts

Every time you shower or bathe, you release significant moisture into the air. A typical ten-minute shower can add several pints of water vapor to the bathroom atmosphere. This regular humidity boost mimics the tropical environments where many popular houseplants evolved. Plants that develop brown, crispy leaf edges in dry living rooms often flourish in bathrooms where humidity naturally fluctuates between 50 and 80 percent.

For detailed information on plant humidity needs, see our comprehensive indoor plant humidity guide.

Warm, Stable Temperatures

Bathrooms tend to stay warm due to heated floors, radiant heating, and steam from showers. This warmth, combined with relatively stable temperatures, creates comfortable conditions for tropical plants that suffer in drafty or chilly rooms. Most bathroom temperatures fall within the 65 to 80 degree Fahrenheit range that tropical houseplants prefer.

Variable Light Conditions

Light is the most variable factor in bathroom plant selection. Some bathrooms have large windows that provide excellent natural light, while others have small frosted windows or no windows at all. Understanding your bathroom's light level is crucial for choosing plants that will thrive rather than merely survive.

Assessing Your Bathroom Environment

Before selecting plants, take stock of your bathroom's specific conditions. This assessment will guide your plant choices and placement decisions.

Light Level Assessment

Bright light: A bathroom with a large, clear window that receives several hours of direct or bright indirect sunlight. South or west-facing windows typically provide the brightest light.

Medium light: A bathroom with a moderate-sized window or frosted glass that filters light. East-facing windows or windows partially blocked by neighboring buildings fall into this category.

Low light: A bathroom with a small window, heavily frosted glass, or north-facing exposure. Light is present but limited.

No natural light: Interior bathrooms with no windows rely entirely on artificial light. While challenging, some plants can survive and even thrive with adequate artificial lighting. For low light solutions, see our guide on best low light indoor plants.

Space and Placement Options

Consider where plants can physically go in your bathroom. Available spots might include windowsills, countertops, floating shelves, hanging positions from the ceiling or shower rod, corners on the floor, or the top of cabinets or toilet tanks. Vertical space is often underutilized in bathrooms and perfect for trailing plants.

The 15 Best Bathroom Plants

These plants have been selected for their ability to thrive in bathroom conditions, including tolerance for humidity, variable light, and occasional temperature fluctuations. They are organized by light requirements to help you find the perfect matches for your space.

Best Low-Light Bathroom Plants

These plants thrive even in bathrooms with minimal natural light, making them perfect for interior bathrooms or those with small, frosted windows.

1. Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)

Pothos is perhaps the ultimate bathroom plant, tolerating low light and thriving in humidity while being nearly impossible to kill. Its heart-shaped leaves trail elegantly from shelves or hanging baskets, and it comes in several stunning varieties including golden pothos with yellow variegation, marble queen with white marbling, and neon pothos with bright chartreuse leaves. Pothos is remarkably forgiving, bouncing back from neglect and adapting to a wide range of conditions. In a humid bathroom, it often grows faster and produces larger leaves than in drier rooms. Water when the top inch of soil is dry, and enjoy watching it cascade. For detailed care, see our pothos care guide.

2. Snake Plant (Sansevieria)

Snake plants are architectural stunners that thrive on neglect, making them perfect for busy people who want bathroom greenery without fuss. Their upright, sword-like leaves add vertical interest and modern style. Snake plants tolerate low light, irregular watering, and a range of humidity levels, though they appreciate the moisture of a bathroom environment. They are also excellent air purifiers, filtering toxins like formaldehyde and benzene from the air. Choose from varieties like the classic Sansevieria trifasciata with its yellow-edged leaves, the cylindrical S. cylindrica, or the compact bird's nest type for smaller spaces. Water only when completely dry, which in a humid bathroom may be every few weeks. Check out our snake plant care guide for more details.

3. ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)

The ZZ plant combines dramatic good looks with exceptional toughness, sporting glossy, dark green leaflets along arching stems. It tolerates low light remarkably well and actually prefers to dry out between waterings, making it forgiving for forgetful plant parents. The ZZ plant stores water in its thick rhizomes, allowing it to survive drought, but it appreciates the humidity of bathroom environments. Its naturally glossy leaves look like they have been polished and add a sophisticated touch to any bathroom design. Place it on a bathroom floor corner, on top of a toilet tank, or on a wide countertop. The ZZ plant grows slowly but can reach two to three feet tall over time.

4. Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior)

True to its name, the cast iron plant is virtually indestructible, tolerating deep shade, neglect, and fluctuating conditions that would kill other plants. Its long, arching dark green leaves grow from soil level, creating an elegant, fountain-like form. Cast iron plants have been popular houseplants since Victorian times precisely because they survive challenging conditions with minimal care. In a bathroom, they appreciate the humidity and consistent temperatures. While slow-growing, they are long-lived and can eventually fill a floor corner or large planter beautifully. Variegated varieties with white or cream stripes offer visual interest for those who can provide slightly better light.

5. Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)

Peace lilies are among the few flowering plants that bloom reliably in low light, producing elegant white spathes that contrast beautifully with their dark, glossy foliage. They are also exceptionally good at signaling when they need water by dramatically drooping, then perking up within hours of being watered. Peace lilies love humidity and will reward you with more frequent blooms in a bathroom environment. They are also top-rated air purifiers according to NASA studies. Note that peace lilies are toxic if ingested, so keep them away from curious pets and children. Water when the top inch of soil is dry, and wipe leaves occasionally to keep them glossy.

6. Philodendron (Philodendron spp.)

Philodendrons are classic houseplants beloved for their heart-shaped leaves and easy-going nature. Heart-leaf philodendron trails similarly to pothos and tolerates low light beautifully. Brazil philodendron adds variegation with lime green and dark green striped leaves. Both thrive in bathroom humidity and require minimal care beyond occasional watering when the soil dries out. In humid conditions, philodendrons often produce aerial roots along their stems, adding to their tropical appearance. They can be trained to climb a moss pole or allowed to trail from shelves and hanging baskets. Philodendrons are versatile, tolerating everything from low to bright indirect light.

Best Bathroom Plants for Bright Light

If your bathroom has a large, sunny window, these humidity-loving plants will flourish in the combination of light and moisture.

7. Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)

Boston ferns are the quintessential bathroom plant, with their lush, arching fronds creating an instant spa atmosphere. In the wild, they grow in humid, shaded environments, making the bathroom their ideal indoor home. The regular humidity from showers keeps their delicate fronds from developing the brown, crispy edges that plague them in dry rooms. Hang a Boston fern near a window where it receives bright, indirect light, or place it on a high shelf where its fronds can cascade. Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged, and mist occasionally during dry spells. A well-cared-for Boston fern in a bright bathroom can grow impressively large and become a stunning focal point.

8. Bird's Nest Fern (Asplenium nidus)

Unlike the delicate, feathery fronds of Boston ferns, bird's nest ferns feature broad, rippled leaves that emerge from a central rosette. This compact growth habit and more tolerant nature make them easier to care for than their more demanding fern cousins. They enjoy the humidity of bathrooms while tolerating slightly less light than Boston ferns. The unusual texture and form of bird's nest ferns adds visual interest to bathroom plant collections. Keep the soil consistently moist and avoid getting water in the center rosette, which can cause rot. These ferns prefer medium to bright indirect light and make excellent tabletop or shelf plants.

9. Air Plants (Tillandsia)

Air plants are unique in that they absorb water and nutrients through their leaves rather than roots, making traditional pots and soil unnecessary. This opens up creative display possibilities, from mounting them on driftwood to placing them in decorative shells or terrariums. Bathrooms are ideal environments for air plants because they absorb the moisture from steamy showers and baths. Place them near a window where they receive bright, indirect light, and they will practically care for themselves in a humid bathroom. In drier conditions, they need regular soaking, but bathroom humidity often provides sufficient moisture. Air plants come in many fascinating forms, from tiny to large, silvery to green, with some producing colorful blooms.

10. Orchids (Phalaenopsis)

Moth orchids are surprisingly well-suited to bathrooms, appreciating the humidity and the bright, indirect light from a window. Their elegant blooms can last for months, adding a touch of luxury to your daily routine. Despite their exotic reputation, phalaenopsis orchids are quite easy to care for once you understand their needs. Water weekly by running the pot under water and allowing it to drain completely. The humidity in bathrooms often eliminates the need for additional humidity measures like pebble trays that orchids typically require in drier rooms. Place your orchid where it receives bright light but no direct sun, and enjoy blooms that can persist for three months or more.

11. Calathea (Calathea spp.)

Calatheas are famous for their stunningly patterned leaves and equally famous for being humidity divas. In a typical living room, their leaf edges crisp and curl in protest of dry air. In a humid bathroom with good light, they finally have the conditions they need to flourish. Popular varieties include Calathea orbifolia with its large, round leaves featuring silver stripes, Calathea medallion with its rose-colored undersides, and Calathea ornata with its pink pinstripes. Calatheas prefer medium to bright indirect light and consistently moist soil. They also move throughout the day, raising their leaves at night and lowering them during the day, adding a dynamic, living quality to your bathroom.

12. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

Spider plants are among the most adaptable houseplants, thriving in a range of conditions from low to bright light. They produce arching leaves variegated with green and white stripes and eventually send out long stems with baby plantlets, creating a stunning cascading effect perfect for hanging baskets or high shelves. In bathroom humidity, spider plants grow particularly lush and may produce more babies than usual. They are also known for excellent air-purifying abilities. Water when the top inch of soil dries, and enjoy watching your spider plant produce generations of offspring that can be propagated to share with friends.

13. Bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana)

Lucky bamboo is not actually bamboo but a dracaena that can grow in water alone, making it perfect for bathrooms where traditional soil plants might be impractical. Its architectural stalks can be trained into spirals, braids, or kept straight, adding sculptural interest to bathroom decor. Lucky bamboo tolerates low to medium light and thrives in the humidity of bathrooms. If growing in water, change it every week or two to prevent stagnation. If potted in soil, keep it lightly moist. Lucky bamboo is considered good luck in feng shui, bringing positive energy along with its visual appeal.

14. Begonia (Begonia rex and others)

Rex begonias offer some of the most spectacular foliage of any houseplant, with leaves featuring swirls and splashes of silver, pink, purple, and green. These humidity-loving plants often struggle in dry homes but come alive in bathroom environments. They prefer bright, indirect light to maintain their vivid coloration and consistently moist but well-draining soil. Angel wing begonias and other cane types add height and can even bloom with enough light. The diversity of begonia species means you can create varied texture and color while keeping to plants with similar humidity and light preferences.

15. Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema)

Chinese evergreens are undemanding plants with beautiful variegated foliage in combinations of green, silver, pink, and red depending on the variety. They tolerate low light, inconsistent watering, and love humidity, making them ideal bathroom candidates. Newer varieties feature stunning pink and red coloration that brightens even the drabbest bathroom. Chinese evergreens grow slowly and maintain a compact form, making them perfect for countertops or smaller spaces. Allow the soil to dry out somewhat between waterings, and position in low to medium light. These are excellent plants for beginners looking to add color to a bathroom with limited light.

Styling Tips for Bathroom Plants

How you display your plants can be just as important as which plants you choose. These styling strategies help you maximize both the visual impact and the health of your bathroom plants.

Vertical Displays and Hanging Plants

Bathrooms often have limited floor and counter space, making vertical displays essential. Install floating shelves at various heights for an eye-catching plant wall. Use macrame hangers or ceiling hooks to suspend trailing plants like pothos, philodendron, or spider plants where their vines can cascade. Consider a tension rod in the shower window area for hanging smaller plants. Wall-mounted planters save space while adding greenery to otherwise unused areas. Remember that humidity rises, so plants placed higher in the room benefit from even more moisture.

Creating Plant Groupings

Grouping plants together creates visual impact and increases the humid microclimate around them. On a bathroom windowsill, arrange plants of varying heights and textures for a lush, jungle-like display. On a bathroom shelf, combine a larger statement plant with smaller companion plants. Consider using decorative trays to corral grouped plants while protecting surfaces from water. Odd numbers of plants tend to look more natural than even numbers. Mix trailing, upright, and rounded plant forms for visual interest.

Container Selection

The containers you choose affect both plant health and bathroom aesthetics. Drainage is essential, so either use pots with drainage holes or employ the cachepot method, placing a nursery pot inside a decorative outer container and removing it to water. In humid bathrooms, terra cotta pots help prevent overwatering by allowing soil to dry faster through their porous walls. Match container styles to your bathroom decor, whether that is minimalist white ceramics, boho macrame and baskets, sleek modern planters, or vintage-inspired brass.

Using Natural Materials

Incorporate natural materials like driftwood, bamboo, stone, and woven baskets to complement your plants and enhance the spa-like atmosphere. Mount air plants on driftwood for a beachy feel. Use river rocks as decorative top dressing for potted plants. Display plants in woven sea grass or rattan baskets. These natural textures harmonize beautifully with plant foliage and soften the hard surfaces typical of bathrooms.

Special Care Considerations for Bathroom Plants

While bathroom conditions are generally favorable for plants, some specific considerations apply to keeping bathroom plants healthy.

Watering Adjustments

High humidity means plants lose less water through transpiration, so you will likely need to water less frequently than identical plants in other rooms. Always check soil moisture before watering rather than following a fixed schedule. Overwatering is the most common mistake with bathroom plants because people do not account for the humidity boost from showers. Allow soil to dry appropriately for each plant type before watering again. For watering guidance, see our houseplant watering guide.

Dealing with Limited Light

If your bathroom has minimal natural light, rotate plants between the bathroom and a brighter room periodically to maintain their health. A two-week rotation often works well, giving plants time to enjoy the humidity while refreshing with bright light before returning. Alternatively, install a grow light on a timer to supplement natural light. Small, clip-on grow lights can be discreetly positioned to support plants in dark corners.

Temperature Fluctuations

Bathrooms experience more temperature fluctuation than other rooms due to showers heating the space temporarily. Most tropical plants handle this well, as it mimics natural tropical conditions. However, avoid placing plants directly next to shower doors where they might be blasted with steam or in the direct path of cold air from exhaust fans. Consistent placement in a protected spot provides the most stable conditions.

Air Circulation

Good air circulation prevents fungal problems that can occur in consistently humid environments. Run your bathroom exhaust fan after showers to remove excess moisture and keep air moving. If your bathroom lacks ventilation, crack the door after showers to allow humidity to normalize. Watch for signs of fungal issues like powdery mildew or leaf spots and improve air circulation if problems develop.

Plants to Avoid in Bathrooms

Not all plants appreciate bathroom conditions. Avoid these plants that prefer drier environments or are otherwise unsuitable:

• Succulents and cacti: These desert natives prefer low humidity and can develop rot in constantly moist conditions
• Fiddle leaf figs: While they like humidity, they hate temperature fluctuations and drafts common in bathrooms
• Most Mediterranean herbs: Rosemary, lavender, and similar herbs prefer dry conditions
• Plants sensitive to temperature swings: Any plant that drops leaves from drafts or temperature changes
• Large plants in small bathrooms: Overcrowding impedes air circulation and makes care difficult

Creating a Spa-Like Atmosphere with Plants

The ultimate goal of bathroom plants for many people is to create a relaxing, spa-like retreat. Here are strategies to maximize that spa atmosphere with your plant choices and placement.

Embrace the Jungle Vibe

More plants generally create a more immersive, spa-like feeling. Layer plants at different heights, from floor plants to counter displays to hanging plants and shelf arrangements. Mix leaf sizes and textures for visual richness. Include some trailing plants that soften hard edges and create that lush, overgrown jungle aesthetic that spas often cultivate.

Add Fragrant Plants

Fragrant plants engage another sense, enhancing the spa experience. While most humidity-loving plants are not notably fragrant, some options work in brighter bathrooms. Jasmine produces intoxicating flowers with enough light. Gardenias are challenging but incredibly fragrant if you can provide bright light. Eucalyptus stems can be hung from the showerhead to release aromatic oils when steamed. Even fresh mint or lavender cuttings in a vase add natural fragrance.

Frame the Bathtub or Shower

If you have a bathtub, framing it with plants creates a luxurious, resort-like scene for relaxing soaks. Place large floor plants at each end, hang trailing plants above, or install a plant shelf within view of the tub. For showers, a waterproof window shelf filled with plants transforms the showering experience. Even a few eucalyptus sprigs tied to the shower head creates a spa touch with aromatic steam.

Keep It Cohesive

While variety adds interest, too many different plant types and container styles can look chaotic. Choose a color palette for containers that complements your bathroom. Select plants with compatible care needs that you can group together. Repeat certain plants or container styles to create visual rhythm and cohesion.

Final Thoughts: Your Bathroom Oasis Awaits

Transforming your bathroom with plants is one of the most rewarding indoor gardening projects. The naturally humid environment provides ideal conditions for tropical plants that struggle elsewhere in your home, while the addition of greenery elevates a functional space into a personal retreat. Whether you start with a single pothos on a windowsill or create an immersive jungle bathroom experience, plants bring life, beauty, and a sense of calm to your daily routines.

Start by assessing your bathroom's light levels and available space, then select plants suited to those conditions from this guide. Begin with one or two easy-care options like pothos or snake plants, and expand your collection as you become comfortable with bathroom plant care. Before long, stepping into your bathroom will feel like entering a peaceful, plant-filled sanctuary.

Remember to check soil moisture before watering (bathroom humidity means less frequent watering), provide supplemental light if needed for plants in dark bathrooms, and enjoy watching your humidity-loving plants finally thrive in conditions they were made for!