21 Plants That Can Fit and Grow on a Shelf

Are you looking for the perfect plant to fill that empty spot on your shelf? There are a few things that you need to consider when choosing a plant for your shelf space: size, growth habit, and most importantly, lighting. Unless your shelf is placed directly in front of a bright sunny window, choosing plants that grow well in low to medium light is usually best. So although succulents are small and aesthetically pleasing, you'll mostly want to avoid placing them on shelves, as they require a lot of light.

Here are 21 plants that are perfect for any shelf space.

01 of 21
Birds Nest Snake Plant (Sansevieria hahnii)

Amax Photo / Getty Images

Snake plants grow well in low light conditions and the birds nest snake plant (Sansevieria hahnii) is no exception. This small, compact variety tops out at around 8 inches tall and is generally low-maintenance. Its petite size and growing requirements make the birds nest snake plant a perfect choice for any shelf space.
- Light: Partial, low.
- Water: Water when the soil is dry.
02 of 21
Cylindrical Snake Plant (Sansevieria cylindrica)

Suphattra Phonsen / Getty Images

If you like the look of succulents but want to choose a plant that will survive in a low-light space, look no further than the Sansevieria cylindrica, also commonly known as the African Spear plant. Over time, these snake plants can grow quite tall, but they are slow-growing, so if you choose a small plant you will have quite a few years before it outgrows your space.
- Light: Partial, low.
- Water: Water when the soil is dry.
03 of 21
Samurai Snake Plant (Sansevieria ehrenbergii ‘Dwarf Samurai’)

tontygammy + images / Getty Images

One of the smallest varieties of snake plants available, the samurai snake plant (Sansevieria ehrenbergii ‘Dwarf Samurai’) doesn’t get much taller than 4-6 inches which makes it perfect for small shelves. It does well in partial to low-light conditions and doesn’t require frequent watering, so it’s a great “set it and forget it” plant.
- Light: Partial, low.
- Water: Water when the soil is dry.
04 of 21
Golden Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)

The Spruce / Cori Sears

Pothos are known for being low-maintenance and perfect for growers of all skill levels, but when it comes to low-light spaces it is important to choose pothos varieties that can withstand low-light conditions such as the golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum). Avoid highly variegated varieties such as the marble queen or manjula, which will require more light. Pothos also look great on shelves thanks to their trailing growth habit.
- Light: Partial, low.
- Water: Water once the top 2-3 inches of soil is dry.
Continue to 5 of 21 below.
05 of 21
Jade Pothos (Epipremnum aureum 'Jade')

The Spruce / Cori Sears

Another variety of pothos that does well in low-light conditions is the jade pothos (Epipremnum aureum 'Jade'). If you don’t like variegated plants, the jade pothos is the perfect choice for you. Plus its trailing growth habit looks great on shelves both low and high.
- Light: Partial, low.
- Water: Water once the top 2-3 inches of soil is dry.
06 of 21
Air Plants (Tillandsia)

The Spruce / Kori Livingston

Tillandsia are extremely versatile air plants that require very little ongoing maintenance. While they can be grown in soil, they are often sold bare-root and displayed in unique stands and holders that turn them into works of art, which makes them a great addition to any shelf space.
- Light: Partial.
- Water: Water through rinsing once a week or misting twice a week.
07 of 21
Heartleaf Philodendron (Philodendron scandens)

The Spruce / Cori Sears

These popular philodendrons are easy to grow and look great on shelves thanks to their trailing growth habit. They do well in a range of lighting conditions from bright indirect light to low light, and only need to be watered once the top 2-3 inches of soil has dried out.
- Light: Partial, low.
- Water: Water once the top 2-3 inches of soil is dry.
08 of 21
Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum aethiopicum)

The Spruce / Anastasiia Tretiak

Maidenhair ferns (Adiantum aethiopicum) are gorgeous, delicate ferns that are fairly compact in size, growing about 12 inches tall at maturity. They require more attention than some of the other plants on this list, but if you have a shelf in a humid room such as a bathroom, kitchen, or laundry room this fern is a great choice.
- Light: Partial, low.
- Water: Keep soil moist.
Continue to 9 of 21 below.
09 of 21
Lemon Button Fern (Nephrolepis cordifolia 'Duffii')

The Spruce / Anastasiia Tretiak

In comparison to the maidenhair fern, the lemon button fern or sword fern (Nephrolepis cordifolia 'Duffii') is lower maintenance and more resilient. It doesn’t require as much humidity and it will do well in lots of different spaces.
- Light: Partial, low.
- Water: Keep soil moist.
10 of 21
Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)

The Spruce / Kara Riley

Boston ferns (Nephrolepis exaltata) are known for being a large variety of fern, but you can buy a more compact version that fits your space if you have a limited shelf area to work with. These smaller ferns are great for shelves because they grow well in partial to low-light conditions.
- Light: Partial, low.
- Water: Keep soil moist.
11 of 21
Prayer Plant (Maranta spp.)

The Spruce / Adrienne Legault

Prayer plants (Maranta spp.) are a great choice for a shelf as they can tolerate partial to low light conditions, and have a trailing/spreading growth habit. Plus, their leaves fold upwards at night which will add visual interest to the space. Prayer plants come in a variety of colors and patterns, so have fun choosing one to suit your space!
- Light: Partial, low.
- Water: Keep soil moist.
12 of 21
Rattlesnake Calathea (Calathea lancifolia)

The Spruce / Krystal Slagle

Compact size, unique foliage, and low-light tolerant, the rattlesnake calathea (Calathea lancifolia) has it all. As long as you can stay on top of regularly watering it, this plant will make the perfect addition to your shelf space!
- Light: Partial, low.
- Water: Keep soil moist.
Continue to 13 of 21 below.
13 of 21
Baby Tears (Soleirolia soleirolii)

The Spruce / Leticia Almeida

Named for its delicate foliage, the baby tears plant (Soleirolia soleirolii) is a small plant with a spreading growth habit that will add texture and visual interest to any shelf. Ensure that you keep the soil consistently moist to avoid leaf drop.
- Light: Partial, low.
- Water: Keep soil moist.
14 of 21
Silver Sparkle Pilea (Pilea glaucophylla)

Struzhkova Ilona / Getty Images

If you like the look of the baby tears plant, but want foliage that is a bit cooler in color, look no further than the silver sparkle pilea (Pilea glaucophylla). It does best in bright to medium indirect light and requires consistently moist soil in order to thrive.
- Light: Partial, bright.
- Water: Keep soil moist.
15 of 21
Dwarf Aluminum Plant (Pilea cadierei ‘minima’)

The Spruce / Krystal Slagle

The aluminum plant (Pilea cadierei) is a low-maintenance houseplant characterized by stunning green and silver foliage. Its dwarf cultivator (Pilea cadierei minima) is a perfect choice for that small shelf that needs a little visual boost, topping out at around 6 inches tall.
- Light: Partial, low.
- Water: Keep soil moist.
16 of 21
Nerve Plant (Fittonia spp.)

The Spruce / Alonda Baird

Nerve plants (Fittonia spp.) are characterized by the striking veins that run throughout their foliage, and they do well in a variety of lighting conditions but best in medium to low light. They have a spreading growth habit, won’t get taller than 6 inches, grow leaves accented with green and pink, and will make an excellent addition to any shelf.
- Light: Partial, low.
- Water: Keep soil moist.
Continue to 17 of 21 below.
17 of 21
Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

The Spruce / Krystal Slagle

One of the most common and popular houseplants among beginners and experienced growers alike, the spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) will do well growing on nearly any shelf. It is adaptable to a range of lighting conditions—from bright, indirect light to low light—and is resilient when it comes to watering too. A happy spider plant can grow relatively fast and large, so this may not be the best choice if you have particularly tiny shelves you are looking to fill.
- Light: Partial, low.
- Water: Water once the top 2-3 inches of soil is dry.
18 of 21
Peperomia Hope (Peperomia tetraphylla ‘Hope’)

@indoorgardenbymarco / Instagram

Peperomia hope (Peperomia tetraphylla ‘Hope’) is a trailing plant that is characterized by thick, succulent-like round leaves. It requires more light than some of the other plants on this list, doing best in bright to medium indirect light. It is a fast grower under the right conditions and will look great hanging from any shelf.
- Light: Partial, bright.
- Water: Keep soil moist.
19 of 21
Peperomia Pixie Lime (Peperomia orba)

@indoorgardenbymarco / Instagram

This semi-succulent plant is characterized by its thick, lime green leaves and compact growth habit. It makes a great shelf plant as long as it is in a location that receives medium to bright indirect light. Let the soil dry out between watering to avoid root rot.
- Light: Partial, bright.
- Water: Water when the soil is dry.
20 of 21
String of Turtles (Peperomia prostrata)

The Spruce / Krystal Slagle

The string of turtles (Peperomia prostrata) is an adorable small trailing plant that does best in bright, indirect light. Avoid this plant if your shelf is located in low light, as it will become pale, leggy, and eventually begin to drop leaves. Keep the soil consistently moist and avoid overly dry locations.
- Light: Partial, bright.
- Water: Keep soil moist.
Continue to 21 of 21 below.
21 of 21
Zenzi ZZ Plant (Zamioculcus zamiifolia ‘Zenzi')

The Spruce / Anastasiia Tretiak

While standard ZZ plants are a bit tall for most shelf spaces, the ‘Zenzi’ ZZ plant (Zamioculcus zamiifolia ‘Zenzi') is a compact variety that tops out at around 12 inches tall and is very slow-growing. It doesn’t require much ongoing maintenance and is extremely drought-tolerant.
- Light: Partial, low.
- Water: Water when the soil is dry.

Article Sources

The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.