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Best bathroom plants for your sanctuary
By Ellie Reeves | 19th October 2023 | 6 min read
15 moisture absorbing plants for your bathroom
Bring some botanical bliss to your bathroom with our selection of humidity-loving plants. Not only do they look beautiful, but houseplants can also reduce stress levels and boost your mood. That’s right, just by having some greenery in your bathroom – you'll make your Sunday pamper session even more peaceful!
Whether you’ve got a big, family bathroom or a small en-suite – we’ve handpicked a variety of bathroom plants to suit your space. From potted trees for large bathrooms to hanging plants for steamy shower rooms, find the best plant for your bathroom. We'll help you create that #junglebathroom aesthetic that we're seeing all over Instagram.
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1. Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
Chlorophytum, more commonly known as a Spider plant (due to its creepy-crawly-like leaves) is ideal for a windowless bathroom. Native to central and southern Africa, the Spider plant prefers warm and humid conditions and can tolerate heavy shade – making it perfect for a bathroom or shower room.
2. Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)
With feather-like fronds, this luscious green fern will make a charming addition to your bathroom. The Boston fern, also known as a sword fern, thrives in high humidity and does a great job of soaking up all the moisture in the air. The golden rule of caring for a Boston fern is to never let its soil dry out – so a steamy bathroom is the best place for it to live.
3. Peace lily (Spathiphyllum)
Peace lilies are flowering tropical plants with smooth, shiny leaves and brilliant white blooms. The Peace lily will look gorgeous in a bathroom with no windows. They don’t need much light, in fact too much light will cause its leaves to scorch and burn. Place your Peace lily in a humid bathroom and watch it thrive. They can be mildly toxic when ingested, so keep out of reach of pets and small children.
4. Snake plant (Dracaena trifasciata)
This hardy succulent is known by many different names, including Saint George's sword, mother-in-law's tongue, and viper's bowstring hemp. Snake plants are air-purifying, so they're a great choice for a bathroom without a window. This unique houseplant grows tall and narrow, making it a fantastic option for a small bathroom that is limited on space.
5. Aloe vera
Aloe vera is a popular succulent plant known for its medicinal properties – the juice from its leaves can be used to soothe cuts, rashes, and burns. Aloe vera is extremely hardy, it can live in shady spots and doesn’t need much watering. Place it in your bathroom and the humidity will provide it with enough water to survive.
6. Laceleaf (Anthurium)
This air-purifying houseplant is native to Colombia and thrives in humid conditions. Also known as Flamingo flower or Flamingo lily, this plant prefers indirect sunlight and needs very little maintenance. With waxy, dark green leaves and vivid magenta blooms – the Laceleaf plant will certainly bring some colour to your bathroom. Top tip: Trim off any dead flowers or yellowed leaves to help encourage new growth.
7. Devil’s ivy (Epipremnum aureum)
Devil’s ivy is the perfect choice for a small bathroom. You can pop it on your windowsill or hang it from the ceiling to make the most of your space. With delicate heart-shaped leaves, devil’s ivy is a charming climbing plant that is practically impossible to kill. Beware, it can be toxic to animals and humans if ingested, so keep it out of reach if you’ve got toddlers or pets in the home.
8. Orchid
Orchids are striking little houseplants with bright, delicate flowers that come in a range of shades, from bold blues to pastel pinks. They absolutely love humidity, making them perfect for a steamy shower room. Orchids don’t take up much space – so they’re ideal for small and medium bathrooms. They can tolerate low light; however, they thrive best in indirect sunlight.
9. Polka dot begonia (Begonia maculate)
Polka dot begonias are easy to grow and will add interest to your bathroom with their distinctive polka dot leaves. This moisture-loving plant is native to a tropical climate and prefers to live in a warm, sunny spot. We suggest placing your dotty begonia on a windowsill or in a bathroom that gets plenty of natural daylight.
10. Heartleaf philodendron (Philodendron scandens)
Philodendron scandens, also known as Heartleaf or Sweetheart, is a low-maintenance climbing plant with elegant heart-shaped leaves on long vines. It’s perfect for hanging from the ceiling in your small bathroom. This romantic plant will certainly bring some beauty to your sanctuary.
11. Dragon tree (Dracaena marginata)
This slow growing tree has striking, sword-like leaves and a thin trunk. Dragon trees don’t need much watering, so the mist from your steamy showers will provide it with enough moisture. It thrives best in bright, indirect light – so it would do well placed next to a window. Beware, dragon trees can be toxic to cats and dogs if ingested.
12. Parlour palm (Chamaedorea elegans)
The parlour palm is a species of small palm tree native to the rainforests in Mexico and Guatemala. This slow growing plant thrives in low-light and has impressive air purifying qualities. With feather-like light green fronds, this exquisite palm tree would make a lovely addition to your large family bathroom.
13. Fiddle-leaf fig (Ficus lyrata)
Fiddle-leaf figs are popular houseplants with glossy, violin-shaped leaves. They have quite specific growing conditions; fiddle-leaf figs grow best in a brightly lit, humid environment with a consistent temperature and minimal draughts. So, if you’re a houseplant buff with a large, light bathroom – a fiddle-leaf fig would make a wonderful addition.
14. Prayer plant (Maranta leuconeura)
This slow and low-growing indoor plant is commonly known as a Prayer plant, this is because its folding leaves resemble praying hands. With stunning striped leaves, this unique plant needs a lot of water and prefers indirect sunlight – making it the perfect choice for a humid bathroom.
15. Swiss cheese plant (Monstera deliciosa)
With distinctive split leaves, this charming plant is commonly known as a Swiss cheese plant. With deep-green waxy leaves, this tropical plant will make a real statement in your large bathroom. Monsteras are super hardy and easy to care for – ideal for first time plant parents!
