Bathroom Plants

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These plants will love your bathroom's higher humidity levels.

Bathroom plants are now considered an essential bathroom accessory. Why? There's nothing more stylish than luscious green plants either placed on a shelf or stool by the bathtub or hanging from a shower.

The latest TikTok trend gaining momentum, #urbanjungle, is also relevant here. The focus on creating jungle-like environments in a bathroom is ideal thanks to its warm and humid atmosphere.

While Aloe Vera and Boston Fern will do well on shelves, trailing plants such as Ivy and Heartleaf Philodendron will look great on ledges. You could also place bathroom plants on a ladder shelf and hang them with some ‘S’ shaped hooks.

Don't forget to pick your plant pots carefully. They should be made from a porous material like terracotta and have a few drainage holes at the bottom. If your plant pot has a solid bottom, ensure it is placed in a pot with drainage holes first, then place on top of a dish or saucer inside the main pot.

Ready to transform your bathroom into a rainforest-inspired haven of calm? Take a look at the best bathroom plants for 2023 below...

This brilliant bathroom plant — also known as the Mother-In-Law's Tongue — thrives in high humidity. The long, vertical leaves are known to help filter toxins out of the air, and thanks to the steam from long, hot showers, it won't need watering as much.

Online bathroom specialists Victorian Plumbing suggest the snake plant for small bathrooms. It's a great choice as the leaves grow up, rather than out so it won't take up too much floor space. Just remember to dust the leaves on a regular basis so they can still soak up the light and moisture that your bathroom brings.

With a unique appearance, the Tillandsia plant (which is a genus of around 650 species of evergreen) is perfect for having in the bathroom. As well as being incredibly low maintenance, they also flourish in hot and humid conditions.

Taking nutrients from the air, light and water through tiny vessels in the leaves, these plants don’t need any soil at all which makes them incredibly easy to care for.

Fern plants also thrive in warm environments. Whether you're looking for an on-trend in-the-shower plant (thirsty ferns will get watered each time you hop in) or if you want a bathroom plant that you can have hanging from a shelf, this bushy species is worth getting your hands on. Boston Fern does need quite a bit of room to grow, so it’s perfect if you have a bit more space to play with.

Looking for a fast-growing bathroom plant? Thanks to their moisture-loving leaves, Ivy plants are great air purifiers, and their beautiful trailing tendrils can be left to hang or clipped to encourage them to creep along a wall, shower curtain rod or even a door frame.

The clumpy, grass-like spider plant is one of the most popular houseplants thanks to its air purifying qualities, arching leaves and quick-growing ability. Plus, it's one of the easiest to propagate. While these are ideal for all around the home, they are excellent plants to consider in the bathroom.

This gorgeous plant – famed for its colourful waxy leaves — starts off small but matures over time. If you do opt for Calathea, place on a shelf and move to the floor as it matures.

READ MORE: 23 stylish indoor plant pots to suit every interior

Pothos plants are able to absorb water easily, which make them ideal for a bathroom. These lush green trailing plants, also known as Devil's Ivy, thrive best in direct light and look great placed on a shelf.

The Peace Lily is native to tropical rainforests, making it an excellent plant to have growing in your bathroom (it also looks gorgeous, too). With deep, glossy green leaves and bright white flowers, it loves moisture and prefers to be kept in low light locations.

With its beautiful heart-shaped leaves, Heartleaf Philodendron not only looks charming but can also help to cleanse the air. This plant is fast-growing and incredibly hardy so it's ideal for beginners.

Top tip: Keep a philodendron full and bushy by pinching back the growing tips, or allow the tips to grow out and trail over the sides of the pot.

Aloe Vera is a medicinal plant which has been used to treat health and skin conditions for years. It will thrive well on a bathroom shelf as it doesn't need much water. If you are using it for its health benefits, only snap off a small chunk of the leaf. This plant also produces 'shoots' which can be trimmed and propagated in soil to create a new plant.

Lisa Joyner is the Senior Digital Writer at House Beautiful UK and Country Living UK, where she's busy writing about home and interiors, gardening, dog breeds, pets, health and wellbeing, countryside news, small space inspiration, and the hottest properties on the market.

Laura Hill is the Homes Ecommerce Editor for House Beautiful UK, covering the latest interior trends and home product ranges. With several years’ experience in home decor and DIY-focused editorial, Laura is an expert in finding the best tips and tricks to help you create a home you love on a budget.

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