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My bathroom used to be the most boring room in the house. White tile, a white towel, a white shower curtain. Then I hung one pothos from the curtain rod and it honestly changed the whole mood of the room.
Bathrooms are warm and humid, and that is exactly what a lot of tropical houseplants love. The trick is matching the plant to the light you actually have, not the light you wish you had.
Below are the 15 best shower plants I have tried or seen thrive in real bathrooms, with care notes, pet safety notes, and a few easy display projects. If you share your home with cats or dogs, look for the pet notes, because several popular picks are not safe for them. Once your plants are in, these simple tips to keep shower plants alive will help them stay green for years.
1Pothos
Pothos is the plant I recommend to every beginner. It handles humidity, forgets about you for a week without sulking, and grows long trailing vines that look lovely spilling from a shelf or a shower caddy.
It is happy in bright indirect light but copes with less. One honest note: pothos is toxic to cats and dogs if chewed, so hang it high if you have pets.
- Beginner friendly
- Trailing vines
- Not pet safe
2Boston Fern
If you want the full tropical look, a Boston fern delivers it in one move. The fronds are soft and full, and they fill an empty corner better than almost anything else.
Ferns love moisture, so a bathroom is a natural home for them. Keep the soil lightly damp and give it bright indirect light, and it will reward you. It is also safe for cats and dogs, which is a big plus.
- Pet safe
- Loves moisture
- Great for hanging
Project Card · 1 hour · Easy
Materials Needed
- Boston fern in a hanging pot
- Macrame plant hanger
- Ceiling hook rated for the pot weight
- Stud finder or joist finder
- Drill
How to Make It
- Use a stud finder to locate a ceiling joist near a bright window.
- Drill a pilot hole and screw in a hook rated for well above the weight of a wet pot.
- Water the fern in the sink first and let it drain fully so it is not dripping.
- Hang it in the macrame hanger at a height where you can still reach it to water.
- Mist it on very dry days and snip off any brown fronds at the base.
PRO TIP A wet fern is much heavier than a dry one. Always screw the hook into a joist, never into drywall alone.
3Spider Plant
Spider plants have been around forever because they are tough and forgiving. The arching striped leaves add movement, and they make little baby plants you can pot up and share.
They like well draining soil, moderate water, and a bright window. This is one of my favorite picks for homes with pets, because it is safe for cats and dogs.
- Pet safe
- Easy care
- Makes baby plants
4Heartleaf Philodendron
I love how the heart shaped leaves cascade from a floating shelf. It grows quickly, looks soft and elegant, and handles bathroom humidity with no fuss.
Give it bright indirect light and water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Like pothos, it is not pet safe, so keep it up high and out of reach.
- Fast grower
- Soft trailing look
- Not pet safe
5English Ivy
English ivy can make a plain shower feel like a garden. The vines trail beautifully and look especially pretty against white tile.
It likes bright indirect light and soil that dries a little between waterings. Trim it often to keep it full. Ivy is toxic to pets, so it belongs on a high shelf or hanger. Green leaves also pop against dark walls, as you can see in these modern black bathroom shower ideas.
- Garden look
- Needs trimming
- Not pet safe
6Air Plants
Air plants are fun because they do not need soil at all. That means you can tuck them almost anywhere: on driftwood, in a shell, or in a small wall holder.
They take in moisture from the air, which makes a steamy bathroom a great spot. Soak them in water for about 20 minutes every week or two and let them dry upside down so water does not sit in the center.
- No soil needed
- Tiny spaces
- Pet safe
Project Card · 20 minutes · Easy
Materials Needed
- A few air plants
- A piece of clean driftwood or a flat wall holder
- Clear fishing line or plant safe glue dots
- Bowl of room temperature water
How to Make It
- Soak the air plants for 20 minutes and let them dry fully upside down.
- Arrange them on the driftwood so each one has space for air to move.
- Secure each plant gently with fishing line or a small glue dot on the base only.
- Set the display near a bright window but out of direct shower spray.
- Repeat the soak every week or two, and dry them before putting them back.
7Peace Lily
Peace lilies bring a clean, calm look with glossy leaves and white blooms. They also droop a little when thirsty, which honestly makes watering easy because the plant tells you.
Keep the soil evenly moist and avoid direct sun. Peace lily is not safe for cats or dogs, so choose a high spot if you have pets. A pot with a drainage hole matters here, because soggy roots are the fastest way to lose one.
- White blooms
- Tells you when thirsty
- Not pet safe
8Bird’s Nest Fern
Unlike lacy ferns, the bird’s nest fern has broad, wavy leaves that look sculptural and modern. It is a real statement plant in a small bathroom.
Keep the soil evenly moist and water around the edge of the pot, not into the center crown, which can rot. It is pet safe, which I always appreciate. For more ways to make a little room work harder, see these tiny bathroom ideas.
- Sculptural leaves
- Pet safe
- Medium light
PRO TIP Water bird’s nest ferns around the edge of the pot. Water sitting in the center crown is the most common reason they rot.
9Lucky Bamboo
Lucky bamboo grows happily in a vase of water, which makes it one of the simplest plants on this list. It looks clean and modern on a vanity or windowsill.
Use filtered water if you can and change it every week or two. Keep it out of harsh direct sun. Lucky bamboo is not pet safe, so keep the vase where curious pets cannot reach it.
- Grows in water
- Minimal care
- Not pet safe
10Orchid
Many people think orchids are hard, but a bright bathroom gives them the humidity they love. The blooms instantly make a shower area feel like a spa.
Give them bright indirect light, water sparingly, and use a bark mix, not regular soil. Orchids are pet safe, which makes them a lovely gift idea too. Pair them with calm textures and soft light, like the looks in these zen bathroom concepts.
- Spa feeling
- Pet safe
- Bright light
11ZZ Plant
The ZZ plant is one of the toughest houseplants you can buy. It handles lower light better than most tropical plants, which makes it great for bathrooms with a small window.
Water only when the soil is completely dry, because too much water is the main way to hurt it. It is toxic if chewed, so keep it away from pets. If your bathroom has no window at all, a grow light in the nearest fixture makes a huge difference.
- Low light
- Drought tolerant
- Not pet safe
Project Card · 15 minutes · Easy
Materials Needed
- Full spectrum LED grow light bulb
- A light fixture rated for damp locations
- Timer plug if the fixture is on a plug in lamp
How to Make It
- Check that the fixture near your plants is rated for damp locations.
- Swap the regular bulb for the grow light bulb with the power off.
- Place your low light plants within a few feet of the bulb.
- Run the light about 10 to 12 hours a day, using a timer if possible.
- Watch new growth for two weeks and move plants closer if they still stretch.
12Chinese Evergreen
Chinese evergreen has gorgeous patterned leaves in green, silver, and even pink. It is one of my favorite choices for bathrooms that do not get much sun.
Water moderately, keep it in indirect light, and protect it from cold drafts near a window in winter. It is not pet safe, so plan the spot with that in mind.
- Patterned leaves
- Lower light
- Not pet safe
13Monstera Adansonii
Monstera adansonii, with its leaves full of little holes, makes a bathroom feel tropical in an instant. It can climb a small trellis or trail from a shelf.
It likes bright indirect light and consistent moisture. Prune it now and then to keep it bushy. It is toxic to pets, so keep it out of reach.
- Tropical leaves
- Climbs or trails
- Not pet safe
14Calathea
Calatheas have some of the most beautiful leaf patterns of any houseplant. They can be fussy in dry rooms, which is exactly why a humid bathroom suits them.
Keep the soil slightly moist, use filtered water if your tap water is hard, and avoid direct sun. Calathea is pet safe, so it is a great colorful pick for homes with animals.
- Striking patterns
- Pet safe
- Loves humidity
PRO TIP Crispy brown leaf edges on a calathea usually mean hard tap water. Switching to filtered or rain water often fixes it.
15Aloe Vera
If your bathroom has a bright sunny window, aloe vera is a practical and good looking choice. The spiky shape adds a modern touch next to soft ferns and vines.
Unlike most plants on this list, aloe wants its soil to dry out completely between waterings, so keep it out of the shower spray. Aloe is toxic to cats and dogs, so keep it on a high sill.
- Needs bright sun
- Dry between waterings
- Not pet safe
How to Display Shower Plants Beautifully
Placement makes a huge difference. A few plants at different heights look intentional, while plants lined up on one shelf can look cluttered.
These are the display ideas I keep coming back to:
- Hanging baskets near the shower, out of the direct spray
- Floating wooden shelves sealed for moisture
- Wall mounted planters beside the window
- A rustproof corner caddy for small pots and air plants
- Macrame hangers from a ceiling hook set into a joist
- A wide window ledge for sun lovers like aloe and orchids
PRO TIP Mix one trailing plant, one upright plant, and one small plant in each corner. That simple formula always looks balanced.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Even humidity loving plants struggle when a few basics are off. These are the mistakes I see most often:
- Overwatering just because the bathroom feels humid
- Choosing plants without checking how much light the room gets
- Using pots without drainage holes
- Letting mold build up because there is no airflow or exhaust fan
- Crowding too many plants into a tiny space
- Placing plants that are toxic to pets within reach of cats or dogs
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best plant to hang in a shower?
Pothos, Boston fern, and heartleaf philodendron are the easiest to hang near a shower. For homes with pets, choose a Boston fern or spider plant, since both are safe for cats and dogs.
Can plants survive in a bathroom with no window?
Most plants need some light. In a windowless bathroom, use a full spectrum grow light bulb for about 10 to 12 hours a day, and start with tough plants like ZZ plant or pothos.
Which shower plants are safe for cats and dogs?
Spider plant, Boston fern, bird’s nest fern, calathea, orchids, and air plants are pet safe. Pothos, philodendron, English ivy, peace lily, ZZ plant, Chinese evergreen, monstera, aloe, and lucky bamboo are not.
How often should I water plants in a humid bathroom?
Usually less often than you would in other rooms. Check the soil with your finger and water only when the top inch is dry, except for ferns and calatheas, which like steady moisture.
Do shower plants cause mold?
Healthy plants do not cause mold, but soggy soil and poor airflow can. Use pots with drainage holes, run the exhaust fan after showers, and remove dead leaves from the soil.
Final Thoughts on the Best Shower Plants
Adding plants is one of the simplest ways to turn an ordinary bathroom into a relaxing little retreat. Even one well placed plant changes how the room feels when you step in each morning.
Start with one or two easy picks like pothos or a Boston fern, match them to your light, and keep pet safety in mind. Once those are thriving, add a trailing plant, a statement fern, or a soil free air plant display. If shelf space is tight, these tiny bathroom storage ideas free up room for a plant or two.
