12 Best Indoor Plants Perfect for Your Etagere Bookshelf

Nowadays, you can use bookshelves not only to store your growing collection of books but also to add style and color to your home. Including indoor plants on your bookshelves is a great way to do this— specifically, etagere bookshelves. Why? Etageres are not just bookshelves. Unlike traditional bookshelves, their design allows them to display decorative objects like plants to make your space attractive and stylish. Etagere bookshelves also give indoor plants space to get light and breathe to stay healthy. I compiled a list of the 12 best indoor plants perfect for your etagere bookshelf to bring warmth to your room. Let’s dive in!

Table of Contents

• 1.  Philodendrons
•  2.  Peperomia Hope (Peperomia Tetraphylla)
• 3.  String of Hearts Plant (Ceropegia Woodii)
• 4.  Prayer Plants (Maranta Leuconeura)
• 5. Nerve Plants (Fittonia Albivenis)
• 6. Rattlesnake Calathea (Calathea Lancifolia)
• 7.  Pothos (Epipremnum Aureum)
• 8.  Zebra Plants (Haworthia Fasciata)
• 9.  The Inch Plant (Tradescantia Zebrina) 
• 10.  Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema Commutatum)
• 11. Sweetheart Hoya (Hoya Kerrii)
• 12. Jade Plant (Crassula Ovata)
• Conclusion

1. Philodendrons

There are many types of philodendrons such as the heartleaf philodendrons, and the philodendron cordatum, among others. This variety gives you more options when designing your bookshelf with plants. 

Philodendrons have trailing vines, and their lush greens provide an aesthetically pleasing contrast to the modern and sleek look of your etagere bookshelf.

Most of them thrive in indirect light and have low maintenance. 

They also don’t need a lot of water to grow. So, if you want them for your home’s workspace, and are usually busy, they’re perfect for you.

So long as you water them at least once a week and you don’t let their soil dry completely.

2. Peperomia Hope (Peperomia Tetraphylla)

Peperomia Hope is a beautiful plant with a semi-succulent nature due to its fleshy, round, and green leaves.

You can put this plant on a bookshelf because it has a shallow root system that allows it to contain small pots.

Unlike the philodendrons, this plant needs medium to bright indirect light to grow properly. So, ensure your etagere bookshelf is close to an east or west-facing window.   

Its trailing stems adorned with leaves will also look great hanging from a bookcase, bringing a little charm and whimsy to your room.

3. String of Hearts Plant (Ceropegia Woodii)

Source: Housedigest

This plant is one of my favorites. A string of heart plants is a unique and cute house plant with trailing vines.

Their leaves are in the shape of hearts, and they’re variegated plants (i.e. plants that have leaves with more than one color).  

Their leaf color patterns can also be pink or cream, making them look attractive on your etagere bookshelf. Consider putting this plant at the top of your bookshelf because its stems can grow up to 9 feet long and decorate it.  

Plant or repot it in warmer temperatures during the summer, spring, or early autumn. 

Lastly, water it weekly and place it next to a west or south-facing window with bright sunlight for healthy growth.

4. Prayer Plants (Maranta Leuconeura)

This plant’s name comes from its tendency to fold upwards at night like praying hands, but it’s flat during the day. 

Won’t it be interesting to witness this? Especially if you look at it on a random night when you’re working or reading at home. 

The prayer plant is one of the best indoor plants to have on your shelf. It’s a popular indoor plant thanks to its beautiful foliage with vibrant colors.

These colors make prayer plants eye-catching when you place them on a bookshelf in your study or living room.

In addition, it can live in low to bright indirect light and water it once a week. But water it more frequently if the plant gets a lot of light. 

5. Nerve Plants (Fittonia Albivenis)

Nerve plants will look remarkable on your bookshelf because of the veiny patterns on their leaves. While the most common color is silvery-white, you can find other variations in pink, red, and green.

They thrive in medium to low light and usually grow to a height of 3 – 6 inches. They’re also sensitive tropical plants, so their leaves will drop if they’re exposed to cold temperatures. 

Finally, keep their soil moist— not wet. Don’t allow them to stay in water to avoid their leaves yellowing and going limp. 

6. Rattlesnake Calathea (Calathea Lancifolia)

A rattlesnake calathea is one of the best indoor plants for your etagere bookshelf. Why? Because the plant has long, elegant, and unique leaves with bent edges and purple underneath. This will make them pop on your bookshelf, adding to the overall aesthetics of your living room or study. 

Moreover, this plant will do well in low or medium light. So, place it on a bookshelf by a window with drapes to diffuse the light. 

Water it weekly, and do it enough during the summer to keep the soil moist.

7. Pothos (Epipremnum Aureum)

Pothos is one of the easiest plants to nurture and an excellent option for beginners. 

So, if this is your first time buying a plant, pothos is the best indoor plant for you. It requires minimum maintenance because you must water it only when the soil has dried.

Moreover, since etagere bookshelves don’t have open backs, pothos will look good draping over your shelf’s edge. Let’s admit, It’s perfect!

Give the plant a balanced houseplant fertilizer every month during summer and spring. But you should avoid this plant if you have pets because pets are toxic to them. 

8. Zebra Plants (Haworthia Fasciata)

This plant got its name because of the white pearly stripes covering its green leaves in a pattern resembling a zebra’s markings. 

It’s small, reaching up to 5 inches tall, and like other succulents, you must wait till the soil’s top inch is dry before watering.

They also like diffused bright lights and ensure their containers have drainage holes.

9. The Inch Plant (Tradescantia Zebrina)

This plant has trailing branches full of green, purple, and silver leaves.

It’s a popular houseplant in North America and great for a beginner plant owner.  

Let its soil dry out before watering, but don’t water the top of the soil directly. Ensure its soil is a little moist– not wet. They don’t like soggy soil.

Mist the inch plant when the air is dry in the winter to prevent dehydration.

10. Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema Commutatum)

The Chinese evergreen plant is a tropical evergreen plant that comes in different color combinations.

You can choose plants from various blends of green, white, and silver to cream, red, and purple.  

This is one of the best indoor plants for your bookshelf because the color options allow you to choose the best mix that will reveal how stylish and classy your space is. 

Note that the darker Chinese evergreens can grow with low light. But the lighter ones need more indirect light. It also doesn’t like soggy soil, so let the top inch of the soil dry before watering it.

11. Sweetheart Hoya (Hoya Kerrii)

These adorable plants have heart-shaped leaves, earning them nicknames like Sweetheart Vines and Valentines Hoya, among others.

These plants are also popular on Valentine’s Day. One unique feature they have is that you can plant one heart-shaped leaf, and it will live for years. So long as you give it moderate water, occasional fertilizer, and bright indirect light in well-draining soil.

12. Jade Plant (Crassula Ovata)

This indoor plant is easy to care for, and if you do that properly, it has a lifespan of up to 70 years. The jade plant grows slowly, gaining 2 inches yearly, and can reach up to 5 feet. 

These succulents will look cute on your etagere bookshelf as tiny seedlings. 

Furthermore, water it in the spring and summer to keep the soil moist— not soggy. Please note that this plant is toxic to dogs and cats, so keep them away.   

Conclusion

Adding indoor plants to your etagere bookshelf is a great way to blend nature with a contemporary look for your space. Indoor plants make your home come alive, while an etagere bookshelf can add sophistication to your room.  

Use the tips above to choose the plants that fit your lifestyle and home decor.