30 Humidity-Loving Plants You’ll Definitely Want For Your Bathroom

"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."

Light, water, and soil type: when buying a houseplant, these are the primary three factors to consider. We often forget to consider the fourth one, humidity. The best bathroom plants thrive in an abundance of the latter. They include ferns, air plants, and other houseplants native to jungle environments. Bathrooms often don't get a lot of light or fresh air, so when choosing the best plants for bathrooms, opt for low-light tolerant and air-purifying varieties. They'll be easier for you to take care of and more likely to go on giving your bathroom the relaxing, spa-like atmosphere you want.

There are many plants that are great for bathrooms. Some, like English ivy, help absorb moisture from the air to eliminate dampness and excessive humidity throughout the day. That means it can also help fend off mildew and mold, removing up to 78 percent of airborne molds, according to Health News Hub. Other bathroom plants have leaves can be used for medicinal purposes, including eucalyptus and aloe.

How to Grow Plants in the Shower

It may seem odd or counter-intuitive that some plants can thrive in the confines of your shower, but it's true, they can! It's important to focus on plants that value water and humidity more than they do light. Low-light friendly ferns and philodendrons are a great option if your shower or bathroom doesn't have a winder. However, if your space does have a window, you can opt for more tropical plant varieties like a Majesty Palm or Aloe plant.

Where Should I Place Plants in My Shower?

The size of your shower likely will limit the size of the plant. Many shower spaces are limited to small plants that can hang from a suction cup hook or sit on a shelf. Use hanging planters from the ceiling or opt for a series of small planters on your windowsill. If you have an open 0r walk-in shower, however, why not have larger plants and small trees?

Bathrooms can also be short on counter space and flat surfaces, so instead of a myriad of planters and pots, look for hanging plants and indoor plants that can thrive in small spaces. Ahead, we're highlighting 30 of the best plants for bathrooms. No matter the amount of light or your green-thumb abilities, you're sure to find a bathroom plant that suits your style and your space.

English Ivy House Plant, 6"

English Ivy is an expert bathroom plant at cleaning the air and thriving in low-light. Hang it up high to let the trailing vines do their thing and create a showstopping look.

Rooted

Unlike other ferns, this one 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.

Kangaroo Fern

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.

Boston Fern

A classic fern, the Boston appreciates a lot of mist and humidity—exactly like the bathroom after your lengthy evening shower. Ideal for filling sparse corners, hang this plant up high to make the most of its spreading and draping leaves.

Marble Pothos

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.

ZZ Plant

Drought-tolerant and nearly indestructible, the ZZ plant is ideal for people who are just getting into plants and gardening. When cared for properly, this plant can grow up to three feet tall.

Lemon Lime Prayer Plant

Mimicking praying hands, this plant curls up at night. (It's happy, we promise!) The unique striped leaves love low to bright indirect light and filtered water, which helps them avoid developing scorched-looking edges.

The Claude Pilea Plant

The self-propagating Pilea Peperomioides thrives in tropical environments, making it the perfect bathroom plant candidate. However, it'll do better in a bathroom that has a window with bright to indirect light. Also referred to as a pancake or UFO plant, it has flat, round leaves that make for a cute, playful display—it would look especially nice against the backdrop of some polka-dot towels or wallpaper.

Devil's Ivy Golden Pothos

If you can't resist a good trailing plant, the golden pothos will make itself and all its vines at home in your bathroom. Note: The tips of its leaves will turn brown if the air is too dry, but it can handle low to bright sunlight so long as the light is indirect.

Majesty Palm

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.

Mini Preserved Living Wall

Perhaps in your experience, the best bathroom plants are the ones that require zero effort. So 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.

Hedgehog Aloe

The aloe plant is a low-key succulent that's perfect for a first houseplant 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. It's great for soothing sunburns and skin irritations too.

Costa Farms Snake

Beloved by everyone from beginners to plant pros—courtesy of its stunning look and easy care requirements—the ever-popular snake plant is a great option because it can live in any humidity level and tolerate low or bright indirect light. One of our editors owns one that's still thriving in spite of years of benign neglect.

Calathea Rattlesnake

Keep the stunning calathea in medium indirect light and a 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.

Algerian Ivy Plants

If you love the whimsical, secret garden vibes of ivy, why not bring that aesthetic inside? With a classic countryside charm, potted ivy is resilient and grows pretty much wherever it can find room. The plant likes medium light and humidity. Hang it in a basket for maximum vining effect.

Air Plant Pack

Don't let the name fool you; these unique plants need more than air to survive. You water air plants by soaking them, and they like moderate to high humidity and bright indirect light. They're perfect if you have a bathroom window to perch them near.

Monstera Deliciosa Plant

The monstera plant with its iconic leaves is always a stunner, and it's a great houseplant because it can live in a lot of different environments, including your bathroom. It's able to handle low light, though it will do better in brighter indirect light, and any level of humidity works for it.

Watermelon Peperomia

Watermelon peperomia loves humidity, warm temperatures, plenty of moisture, and medium to bright indirect light. Mist it regularly and it'll be quite the happy camper in your bathroom.

Lucky Bamboo Indoor Tabletop Plant

Typically speaking, bamboo grows in water and is a low-maintenance pick that'll also give your bathroom some serious spa vibes. It's a great plant for low-light spaces, so if your bathroom doesn't get a lot of sun, don't worry—bamboo will still grow successfully there.

Philodendron Heartleaf

Not only is philodendron a great plant choice for beginners, it's also ideal for the bathroom because it grows bigger in higher humidity. Plus, it's a trailing plant—perfect if you want a little drama.

Tradescantia Zebrina

This purple trailing plant isn't just a stunner, it's a plant guaranteed to live well in your bathroom. Higher humidity levels will keep it happy and thriving. You'll know if it's too dry if the leaves start to turn brown.

Ocean Spider Plant

Similar to snake plants, spider plants prefer bright light but will happily live in low light. They can withstand less humidity but prefer a moderately humid environment. Keep yours on a shelf or hang it from the ceiling, and wait for it to produce baby spider plants for your own collection or to share with friends.

Blooming Anthurium Live Indoor Plant

Known for its gorgeous, waxy, heart-shaped flowers, the anthurium is another smart addition to your bathroom—so long as it's well-lit. This plant will do well in a bright, indirect light location with higher humidity levels. You'll be able to tell if it's too humid or too dry based on its leaves: Yellow tips mean it's too wet, and brown tips mean it's too dry.

Birds Nest Fern Japanese Live Plant

Go with ferns, especially varieties like the bird's nest fern. The plants do better in lower light environments, so if you want to brighten up a dimmer bathroom with a little greenery, this one should do the trick.

Dracaena Madagascar Dragon Tree

Dracaena make excellent bathroom plants, and there are several types to choose from. (Lemon-lime is a fun, striped option.) High humidity is key for this plant, so your bathroom is basically the perfect location. They can tolerate low light but do even better in a medium to bright indirect light location.

Peace Lily Spathiphyllum Live Indoor Plant

This beautiful flowering plant is tropical, making it ideal for your humid bathroom. Give it plenty of sunshine to make sure it can bloom, keep the soil moist but not too wet, and you'll have a happy peace lily on your hands. If the soil gets too dry, peace lilies will wilt fast, but give them a drink and they'll perk right back up.

Flowering Bromeliad Guzmania

These unique, colorful plants (related to pineapples!) do best in medium to bright indirect light, so don't put one in a bathroom without a window. They also prefer to stay moist, so a humid bathroom is perfect for them. It's okay if you forget to water yours, though. They're pretty tolerant to dryness and can bounce back.

Costa Farms Ficus Lyrata, Little Fiddle Bambino Trending Tropicals Collection Live Indoor Plant, 1-Foot, Green

For a big bathroom where you want to make a statement, a fiddle leaf fig tree will fare surprisingly well. They have a reputation for being hard to care for, but they're easier to keep alive than you think—you just have to know what you're doing. Fiddle leaf figs need consistent, bright light (and to not be moved from it, they hate that!) and they love warm, wet environments like the bathroom.

Aglaonema Chinese Evergreen Plant

Aglaonema will do well just about anywhere in your home since they can tolerate low light and lower humidity levels. But they absolutely love bright, indirect sunlight and higher humidity levels, so they'll take right to your bathroom windowsill.

White Orchid Plant

Orchids are a little fussy when it comes to watering, but even though they prefer their soil to be on the drier side, they also like humidity—they are tropical plants, after all. Orchids tolerate low light but will fare much better in brighter indirect light, so they're best kept on your bathroom windowsill.

You Might Also Like

• 15 Home Bar Gifts Every Cocktail Enthusiast Will Appreciate

• 32 Low Light Indoor Plants That Can Survive in the Darkest Corners of Your Home

• These Are the 50 Best Paint Colors for Your Living Room