Add Drama to Your Rooms with These Big Leaf Houseplants
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Sure, we love our vining pothos, sassy Pink princess philodendron, and low-maintenance snake plant. But when it comes to drama, give us the big leaf houseplants! As floor plants, these beauties add big, bold splashes of green and a cozy vibe to any room in an instant.
Most plants with big leaves are tropical houseplants, which means they require bright, indirect light. If you don’t give them sufficient light, they tend to become leggy and unattractive. Placing them near an east, west, or south-facing window is best (north-facing windows generally don't offer enough light, especially in the wintertime), but they’ll also do well under an LED grow light if you don't have big, sunny windows. (These are the grow lights we recommend.)
In general, these plants also don’t like to stay soaking wet. Poke your finger in the soil to test; if soil clings to your finger, wait another day and test again. Once the top inch or two of soil feels dry, you can water again. Make sure there’s a drainage hole in the pot, and then dump out any excess water in the saucer once it’s drained out.
Read more: 28 Pet-friendly Houseplants to Grow Without Worry
Of course, old favorites, such as fiddle leaf fig, are on our list. But many new varieties of houseplants are introduced annually, so read on to learn about our favorite big leaf houseplants you can grow to add bold color to your space:
Banana Tree (Musa)
Outdoors, these trees can grow 5 to 30 feet tall, but indoor varieties typically reach a more reasonable 3 to 5 feet tall. Super Dwarf Cavendish and Dwarf Ladyfinger are two varieties that stay petite and adapt to indoor growing conditions.
Give your banana tree tons of direct sunlight, or use a grow light. Water when the surface feels dry, but don’t let it dry out completely, which will stress the plant.
Read more: How to Grow a Banana Tree Plant in Your Home
Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae)
Bird of paradise can be grown outdoors as a landscape plant in the South, but it’s also an easy-care indoor plant.
It’s actually one of the more low-maintenance big leaf plants, reaching heights of about 10 feet tall, though it rarely flowers when indoors. Give it bright, indirect light, and water when the pot feels mostly dry, which is about every few weeks.
Read more: How to Grow a Bird of Paradise Indoors or In Your Garden
Corn Plant (Dracaena fragrans)
Actually a broadleaf evergreen shrub in the asparagus family, this houseplant has a long tall stalk, topped with big, strappy leaves. There are many types of dracaena plants, but this one is the most striking. Give it bright, indirect light, and keep the soil slightly moist.
Read more: 15 Low-Light Houseplants to Grow Anywhere Indoors
Philodendron Selloum (Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum)
Philodendrons are some of the easiest houseplants to grow, with fast growth rates. The leaves can reach up to two feet long. This variety becomes rather huge even indoors (8 to 10 feet tall and 6 feet wide), especially if given bright, indirect light.
Read more: 11 Philodendron Types Houseplant Lovers Find Easiest to Grow
Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata)
We won’t lie: This darling of social media is a bit fussy. But if you give it tons of bright light, it will thrive. It is especially happy if it receives a few hours of direct sunlight.
The large leaves, shaped like fiddles, are what make it such an appealing plant. Water when the top few inches of soil feel dry.
Read More: How to care for a ficus plant
Philodendron ‘Moonlight’
This is an absolutely beautiful variety of philodendron, with large, glossy leaves that start out chartreuse before becoming a deep rich green. It’s a fuss-free fast grower, especially if it’s receiving lots of bright, indirect light. Water when the top few inches feel dry.
Read More: These Fool-Proof Philodendron Care Tips Will Have Your Plant Thriving
Alocasia
Alocasia is available in many different varieties, but they all have big, bold leaves, often with prominent veining.
Truthfully, they’re a little fussier to keep alive than many other tropicals. What they love most is high humidity, so keep them around other houseplants, or run a small humidifier near them (misting, alas, does not raise humidity levels). Keep the soil evenly moist, but not soggy.
Monstera Deliciosa
Monstera is one of the most easy-going big leaf tropical houseplants you can grow. There are several varieties available. Some are commonly known as Swiss cheese plants because of the holes that develop as the plant matures. However, Monstera deliciosa has large leaves that split as the plant matures.
Monstera likes bright, indirect light, though it can adapt to moderate light levels. If it doesn’t get enough light, however, the large splits will not develop. Water when the top inch or two of soil feels dry.
Read more: Monstera 101: Guide to Healthy Swiss Cheese Plants
Dieffenbachia ‘Crocodile’ (Dieffenbachia)
Dieffenbachia has long been a popular easy-care houseplant, but this new variety has striking ruffles along its mid-ribs.
With splashy spotted foliage and the crested midrib, it’s a must-have. The leaves can grow to more than 24 inches tall, with an overall height of up to six feet tall indoors. Give it bright, indirect light, and water when the top few inches of soil feel dry.
Read more: 21 Indoor Plants to Breathe Life into Your Home
Rubber Tree (Ficus elastica)
This easy-care houseplant is a fine addition to any room with bright, indirect light, but keep them away from drafty windows. Rubber trees can reach 6 to 10 feet tall indoors, and they can live for 15 years or more. Water when the top of the soil feels dry.
Read more: How to Care for a Rubber Tree Plant Like a Pro
Philodendron ‘Red Congo’
This striking variety of philodendron has huge purple-red leaves. It grows into a 3x3 foot mound.
Give it bright, indirect light, and water when the top few inches of soil feel dry.
Philodendron ‘Golden Crocodile’
Yet another philodendron makes the list for easy-care, dramatic houseplants.
This new variety stunning yellowish leaves with a distinctive shape that resembles the humps on a crocodile’s back. The leaves can reach 24-inches long. Give it bright, indirect light, and water when the top few inches of soil feels dry.
Read more: 15 Common Houseplants You Can Grow to Brighten Up Your Home
SHOP PHILODENDRON GOLDEN CROCODILE
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