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Key Takeaways
- Trailing plants create a beautiful curtain of green on the fireplace mantel, but be cautious of fire hazards.
- Snake plants and ZZ plants are perfect for adding height to your mantel, as they grow upright and won't overwhelm the space.
- Minimalist designs can still make a big impact on your mantel with small plants like nerve plants and succulents, while contrasting colors can create a striking look with plants like the Ceylon golden plant or rubber tree plant.
Fireplaces have an ethereal charm and are often the focal point of any room where they appear, immediately drawing the attention of anyone entering the space. The fireplace mantel makes it possible to maximize this effect with additional decorative items.
Houseplants fit in effortlessly in any room, immediately elevating the overall appeal of any space. So, if you want to give your fireplace a fresh look, use plants to create a different mood, bring in some extra color, and improve the air quality.
Use Trailing Plants to Create Drama
Let vining plants hang down from the mantel to create a curtain of green
Trailing plants are gorgeous features to add to a mantel. The hanging vines frame the fireplace beautifully and make the most of the vertical space.
As dramatic and intriguing as the trailing plants look, they do pose a fire hazard near a fireplace. Place trailing plants on the mantel in the summer when you don’t use your fireplace. When temperatures get colder, and you begin to use your fireplace again, opt for different plants that won't dangle near the flames.
- Pothos make stunning houseplants and grow pretty quickly, producing long cascading vines. They have streaks of gold or silver dappled the heart-shaped green leaves.
- One of the most common indoor vines, English ivy, has deep green leaves with white veins and a waxy or leathery appearance. What makes the plant unique is the distinct leaf shape with three to five lobes.
- As the name suggests, the string of pearls plant has vining, pea-shaped leaves that delicately hang over the sides of the container. The string of pearls is a succulent with low maintenance needs and a beautiful look that makes it a perfect houseplant.
| Plant | Lighting | Water and moisture requirements | Temperature and other needs |
| Pothos (Epipremmum aureum) | Bright, indirect light | Water only once the soil is parched to the touch. Mist your pothos daily to make up for the lack of indoor humidity. | Pothos like it between 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit, an average home temperature range. |
| English ivy (Hedera helix L.) | Bright, indirect light | Water when the top ½ inch of the soil feels dry, usually about once a week. You should place the pot on a pebble tray to fulfill its humidity requirements. | Moderate room temperatures between 65 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit and approximately 5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit lower at night. |
| String of pearls (Senecio rowleyanus) | Indirect, bright light | Lightly mist the soil to moisten it. | The ideal indoor temperature for this succulent is between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit in summer and 50 to 60 degrees in winter. |
If you want to keep your pothos on your mantel in the colder months, teach the plant how to climb to eliminate fire hazards.
Add Height on the Side
Create a balanced look for a symmetrical style
If you are a stickler for symmetry, place the same plants of equal heights on either end of the mantel. You can add a wide mirror between the two plants and complete the look with smaller trinkets and photo frames. Look for plants that grow tall and shoot upwards to take advantage of height.
Snake Plant Has Spiky Green Leaves
The snake plant is a hardy houseplant with stiff, sword-like, green leaves with yellow borders that grow straight up. The plant is often compact, so it will not overwhelm your mantel. Care for your snake plant by exposing it to two to six hours of sunlight or moderate light throughout the day. Water the plant when the top few inches of the soil feels dry, usually once every two weeks.
The plant favors warm indoor temperatures of 65 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit and prefers lower to moderate humidity levels between 30 to 50 percent, making it perfect to adorn the warm, dry area above a fireplace.
ZZ Plant Grows With Tall Green Leaves
ZZ plant has showy, deep-green, oval leaves attached to a thick stem that shoots upwards. It is perfect for new plant owners and requires simple care, which includes six hours of daily indirect, bright light and watering about twice a month during the growing phase. These plants can also tolerate some shade.
The dramatic ZZ plant grows quickly in warmer temperatures of 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit and is comfortable in average indoor humidity (40 to 50 percent). However, if your home feels too dry, mist, the plant leaves or place a humidifier in the room.
Keep It Minimal for Maximum Impact
Make plants stand out by sticking to a less-is-more design scheme
If you are drawn towards minimalist and chic interiors, emulate the same style when designing your fireplace mantel. You can find numerous dainty plants that do not grow more than a few inches, yet deliver the brilliant color and beauty expected from an indoor plant.
Save Space With a Small Nerve Plant
The nerve plant is the perfect addition to any shelf or mantel for its notable veined leaves and compact size, reaching only 3 to 8 inches in height. It requires bright, indirect light and watering twice a week at least.
You will want to pay extra attention to your nerve plant when displayed on top of a fireplace, as they adore high humidity levels. Place your plant on a pebble tray to combat the dry environment. You could also group plants to create a microclimate.
Succulents Create a Minimalist Look
Succulents are the epitome of chic minimalism, as they have fleshy, thick leaves that grow close to the soil. While exact care instructions depend on the variety of succulents you choose, general care tips include at least six hours of direct sunlight daily and occasional watering. Water succulents only when you notice wrinkling leaves and dry soil.
These plants do well in average- to low-humidity locations between 40 to 60 percent, such as above a fireplace, and daytime temperatures of 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
Opt for Contrasting Colors
Let the look of the mantel help you choose the right plants
To create a cohesive, well-planned look, consider the colors of your fireplace. Offset a dark wood fireplace with plants with light green foliage. You may even create a deep contrast, such as selecting deep green leaves for a stark white fixture to make an impact.
Add a Pop of Color With a Ceylon Golden Plant
Ceylon golden plant (Philodendron erubescens 'Gold') belongs to the Philodendron family and features bright neon green, paddle-shaped leaves. It thrives in filtered light through a bright window covered with a sheer curtain. Water this plant when the top inch of soil feels dry.
As beautiful as the plant looks against the dark backdrop of a wooden fireplace, you need extra measures to keep the plant happy on the mantel. Use a pebble tray or mist the plant every two days to provide ample humidity.
The Glossy Beauty of a Rubber Tree Plant
The majestic rubber tree plant (Hevea brasiliensis) has the deepest green leaves with a glossy, waxy surface that looks stunning against a white or light background. It loves plenty of light filtered through a sheer curtain and infrequent watering when the top 2 inches of the soil feel dry.
These majestic plants can tolerate the dry air inside the home and prefer a temperature range between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. However, if you notice the leaves falling off the plant, raise the plant’s humidity levels.
The Perfect Plants for Your Fireplace Mantel
Whether you like plants crowding your space or prefer an understated approach, lean towards trailing vines or plants that shoot upwards, plants are perfect fireplace decor. There are many different plants to help you take your fireplace decor up a notch.
Remember to research your plant's humidity levels, so you know how to care for them up on the mantel. Keep them watered and meet their light requirements, and your plants will continue to add beauty to your mantel for years to come.
