10 best plants for your bathroom, from hanging vines to potted flowers

Best: Overall

Rating: 10/10

Hanging greenery in bathrooms brightens and adds a pop of colour, and this magnificent plant does that with elegance. Pale green, white-edged teardrop leaves cascade down for almost half a metre, yet it only measures about 15cm across, for a striking feature even in cramped areas. The leaves are succulent, so she prefers regular misting over frequent watering, and is perfect for a shady room.

Our plant arrived with plenty of new growth, which is hugely promising, and it came with an invaluable care booklet that gives instructions for not only this species but many others too.

Best: For smaller bathrooms

Rating: 8/10

Lush oval green leaves etched with curved pearly stripes and red-violet stems are what give this little cutie its fruity name. This plant is a big hit in compact proportions and loves to sit pretty on well-lit windowsills. It will do well if not overwatered, so it is low maintenance and undemanding. An occasional mist and average humidity will see her thrive. Peperomia do like warmth, though, so it is not ideal for a draughty bathroom.

Best: For low-light bathrooms

Rating: 8/10

The trailing vines and satiny soft green heart-shaped leaves, variegated with splashes of silver, make this a gorgeous hanging plant that will be happy in most low-light settings (be sure to avoid direct sun, because it can scorch the fronds). Philodendron silvers are easy to care for, with weekly watering and regular misting. Our plant arrived as healthy as can be and came in a 15cm hanging pot quite literally overflowing – you get a lot of plant for your money. Show it some love and look after it properly, and it will eventually trail as long as 10ft.

Best: For flowers

Rating: 9/10

Many plants suitable for bathrooms are not known to flower, but orchids love humidity and are well suited for this space. Our twin-stem moth orchid was delivered with nine vibrant flowers, six buds and juicy deep green leaves, which we imagine is the result of the careful nurturing Love Orchids’s plants receive when they are hand-grown in the New Forest. It comes in a stylish pot, removing the need to hunt for one that fits, and a helpful care guide so you can keep your it in tip-top condition. Hurst would make an excellent gift to put a smile on any flora fan’s face.

Best: Hardy plant

Rating: 8/10

Do you find it impossible to keep plants alive? If so, this devil’s ivy – or pothos – could be a game-changer. It is as robust as they come and super low maintenance. Dark corners are not a problem for this vivid green variegated beauty, and it only needs watering about once a fortnight. Fast-growing and with trailing on the cards, it will even climb if given a moss pole, cane or hooks to cling onto – we’ve got our hearts set on a living wall. Just be mindful of keeping it out of intense sunlight, as this can scorch the leaves. The Little Botanical’s devil’s ivy also comes with a high-quality stoneware pot.

Best: For bigger bathrooms

Rating: 9/10

If you’ve got a roomy bathroom with a free cabinet top or wide windowsill, there can be no better plant to go for than this exquisite calathea stromanthe triostar. The pink, green and white leaves show off nature’s watercolours, and a generous amount of light will encourage even more remarkable variegation. The care guide included in the box tells us it’s a little more demanding than the other plants in our round-up – with such good looks, it’s no surprise she needs a little maintenance. The soil should always be kept slightly damp, and it loves a regular misting. Take good care of it, and it will flourish, reaching up to 3ft in height and 2ft across, but make sure you turn it regularly for even growth. She’s worth it.

Best: Low-maintenance plant

Rating: 8/10

Wallace is a fascinating specimen with luscious holey green leaves. The holes hark back to this plant’s roots in the jungles of Central and South America, and they allow light through to reach the lower leaves. Because it is a jungle plant and one that would live under the shade of bigger trees, it copes well in low-light environments (although, equally, it never minds a bit of indirect light). Monstera adansoniis are extremely easy to care for, needing only light watering and regular misting. We were particularly impressed with Patch’s service – Wallace arrived in mint condition with plenty of new growth and minimal packaging, and we received emails with detailed and fun species-specific care instructions. The company also sources 95 per cent of its plants direct from the grower.

Best: For brighter bathrooms

Rating: 7/10

The epiphyllum anguliger is another plant with curious leaves, this time zig-zag-shaped, which is why it is also known as the fishbone cactus. Our one from Canopy was delivered to us in brilliant condition with several baby stems among its bigger arms. It is happiest in a brighter setting but not direct sun and needs infrequent watering – it’s best to let the top half of the soil dry out before giving it a drink. Canopy includes a care card in the box to take the guesswork out of helping it to thrive. With the right conditions, you might even get to see it in bloom with cream flowers in late autumn to early winter.

Best: Variegated plant

Rating: 8/10

The variegation on this plant is something else. Unique white and gold brushstroke stripes on glossy green leaves add a hint of the exotic to any room, and it is a good choice for well-lit bathrooms because it loves humidity. Best of all, it is easy to care for – just make sure the soil is kept moist. The green ceramic pot is included, too, making this an excellent-value choice.

Best: Unusual plant

Rating: 7/10

This is a fern, but not as you know it. Large, long, fuzzy green fronds, shaped like their namesake stag horns, sprout from the centre of this intriguing plant that looks incredible in a hanging pot. In the wild, this fern is an epiphyte, so it needs a little light but not too much, and it loves humidity. Water and mist regularly, and it will be happy. It can withstand colder rooms as long as the temperature doesn’t drop below 10C, making it ideal for a bathroom that can get chilly in the winter. We also love that you can wall mount this plant with moss for a living picture. This is one to go for to add drama to a bigger bathroom.