Houseplants have found their way into most homes, but many people only think of the smaller ones. When you envision a houseplant, you typically think of a small one such as a dainty fern or tiny succulent. And to be fair, small houseplants can be stunning as well!
However, there are larger houseplants out there too, and they deserve some recognition for the unique look that they can provide in a home. One of the biggest reasons they don’t receive this recognition is because many believe that they would be far more difficult to take care of. But this isn’t always the case.
And even in the instances when larger houseplants take more work than smaller ones, it’s worth it. Large houseplants can really make a statement, and most gardeners will love the challenge that they present.
So here is a list of fifteen large houseplants that you can add to your home!
Table of Contents
1. Rubber Tree
The rubber tree is our first plant on this list, and it’s a great one to choose if you’re on a budget. Large plants can get pricey, and the rubber tree is no exception, but you can get around the high price easily by purchasing a young and small rubber tree and simply letting it grow.
The rubber tree grows extremely fast, almost 2 feet (0.6 meters) per growing season, so it won’t take long for the small plant to become a large one. And the best part is, the rubber tree will just keep growing if you allow it to. It can reach heights of 6-10 feet (1.8 to 3 meters)!
And this type of plant will grow vertically, so if you don’t have much space in a room then this large houseplant can still fit without getting in the way. Since the only thing you need to worry about is height.
2. Fishtail Palm
The fishtail palm will give you a chance to have a palm tree indoors and that’s pretty amazing! Its biggest requirement is simply that it gets enough sunlight, but as long as it does it can grow up to 10 feet (3 meters) tall.
Its appearance is similar to that of all palm trees but its leaves have a peculiar shape that resemble a fishes tail, hence the name. The stems are typically quite long though, so the foliage will probably be the heaviest near the top of the plant and fan out from there.
3. Bird of Paradise
The bird of paradise is our first entry to this list that can bloom indoors, so if you’re looking for a large houseplant that will reward you with flowers on occasion then this is probably the one for you. Although it is difficult to achieve a bloom indoors, and you’ll have to encourage it!
The payoff is worth it, if you can achieve the proper requirements. Several bold orange flowers would be your reward and there’s nothing more stunning than a bird of paradise in full bloom.
As for its size, it can grow to be between 3 and 6 feet (0.9 to 1.8 meters) tall, making it a fairly large houseplant. Most of its growth is vertical, but you can expect the leaves to fan out and take up some space as well.
4. Madagascar Dragon Tree
The Madagascar dragon tree is part of the dracaena genus and is one of the easiest of the large houseplants to take care of. So this makes it a great option for inexperienced gardeners who still want to dabble in growing larger varieties.
This plant can grow to heights of 6 feet (1.8 meters) so once it reaches maturity it will be quite large, although it is rather slow growing. It will take awhile to reach this size if you’re growing it from a young plant.
It is a stunning and unique houseplant though, with red/purple stalks that give it a rather spiky look. As with most of the previous options, most of its growth is vertical so it shouldn’t take up much space in the horizontal department.
5. Ming Aralia
Similarly to the previous plant, ming aralia is notoriously easy to take care of. It can handle a lot of unintentional neglect before it starts to appear the worse for wear, and it will grow to its mature size with very little encouragement.
And it is a large mature size, ming aralia can grow to heights of 6 to 8 feet (1.8 to 2.4 meters). It has a slightly more bushy nature than the previous houseplants we’ve discussed so make sure you have room to house it!
Many people look to trim this plant into the classic bonsai shape, and this is certainly an option, but you could also trim its sides so that it wouldn’t be as large horizontally if you wish.
6. Croton
The croton will add a lot of color into your home if you choose it, this houseplant has vivid green leaves that can be mixed with white, pink, orange, red, yellow, or purple.
The markings present on the leaves change frequently and are typically different from plant to plant, which makes every croton stand out. Its uniqueness is one of is biggest draws, and the reason why many gardeners choose to put up with its diva-like nature.
And don’t worry, this plant more than lives up to its place in this list of large plants. This variety can grow to the huge size of 8 feet (2.4 meters) tall, but when kept indoors it will probably only reach 5 to 6 feet (1.5 to 1.8 meters).
7. Ponytail Palm
It’s easy to assume that this plant is a palm, but in actuality the ponytail palm is a large succulent that closely resembles a palm tree. But like our previous houseplant, this succulent grows well in the shade and doesn’t need much light.
It’s unique foliage drapes over the trunk of the plant, so it appears to be like a ponytail which is obviously where it gleans its name from. The leaves are so delicate that this variety has a very elegant look. It’s perfect for displays in more formal rooms of the home.
This palm will commonly reach heights of 6 to 8 feet (1.8 to 2.4 meters).
8. Umbrella Plant
The umbrella plant is a beautiful variety from the Schefflera genus and will grow to be about 3 to 5 feet (0.9 to 1.5 meters) tall. But keep in mind that this plant is also large in the horizontal sense, it can grow to be 3 to 5 feet (0.9 to 1.5 meters) wide as well. For this reason, this houseplant would be perfect if you’re looking for a large houseplant in all respects.
Despite its large size, this another variety that is quite easy to care for so it’s suitable for most experience levels. It mostly just needs adequate sunlight to thrive and grow to its mature size.
This well known houseplant features foliage that is bright green and tend to droop delicately, and the leaves of it are typically in attractive bunches of six to eight per stalk.
9. Fiddle Leaf Fig
The fiddle leaf fig is probably one of the most iconic of the large houseplants on this list. It’s quite popular among gardening bloggers due to it being such a statement to have in your home.
It’s also one of the largest options here, 6 feet (1.8 meters) is about the minimum it would grow but the fiddle leaf fig will generally reach heights of about 10 feet (3 meters) if it’s let to grow that long.
There are only two major things you need to keep in mind when growing this plant. Firstly it should rotated in its pot often in order to grow straight upwards because it grows toward the light. And secondly, it shouldn’t be moved from its position very often because it’s sensitive to too many changes.
10. Majesty Palm
The majesty palm is a large palm tree that is suitable for growth indoors. It’s a convenient option for those that don’t have a lot of sunlight in their home because it can grow in shady areas with ease.
Furthermore, it’s quite fast growing so it will reach it’s large mature height of up to 10 feet (3 meters) in no time! It will grow about 1 foot (0.3 meters) in a year, so you’ll have a large houseplant within a few years if not sooner.
It’s large palm fronds are popular with gardeners that prefer more tropical looking plants, so if you’re the same then it’s perfect for you.
11. Desert Rose
The desert rose is a stunning houseplant that can grow to a size of about 3 to 5 feet (0.9 to 1.5 meters) tall and 1 to 3 feet (0.3 to 0.9 meters) wide. It would be the perfect selection for someone who didn’t want a plant growing too tall, but still wanted it to take up some space.
And the best feature of this plant is its ability to easily bloom indoors. As long as its needs are met, there’s no reason why you can’t enjoy bright red flowers in the spring and summer. Sometimes in the proper conditions, this plant can even bloom year-round.
12. Swiss Cheese Plant
The Swiss cheese plant is a large variety within the monstera genus which has large leaves that provide a tropical feel. These leaves aren’t the only large parts of this plant though, it can grow to be between 5 to 8 feet (1.5 to 2.4 meters) tall. And the foliage tends to spread out horizontally as well.
If you’d like to know of more plants with large leaves then check out this article.
In addition to being a rather large plant, it is also a climber. So with a bit of encouragement its stems can actually be convinced to climb upwards on objects and create decorative shapes.
Although it’s uncommon for one of these plants to bloom indoors, it can be done, and if it happens then you may even be rewarded with the small fruits that the blooms of this plant often leave behind.
13. African Candelabra
The African candelabra stands out quite a bit from other houseplants on this list due to the fact that it is a cactus, and a large one. This succulent can grow to heights of 10 feet (3 meters), although you can keep the top pruned down to the desired height you’d like in your home.
Because it is a succulent, it’s a large houseplant that won’t take much care in order to thrive. But you should be aware that it might not grow very quickly indoors, so you’ll need to be patient and wait for it to reach its full maturity.
But if you provide it with the right conditions to live in, then it might speed up the growth process.
14. Jade Plant
The jade plant is yet another succulent that can grow to an impressive size, it can easily reach heights of 5 to 6 feet (1.5 to 1.8 meters) if you don’t prune it too often. It will take some time to grow, but as long as you’re patient it shouldn’t be an issue since this plant will probably live through all of your lifetime.
The jade plant has been known to live to be 100 years old, and it’s not hard to give this succulent a long life span because it’s quite easy to take care of. Perfect for beginners who want a large houseplant but are nervous about caring for it.
This plant has a very lush look and because of that, is extremely popular, so it shouldn’t be hard to find one for sale.
15. Areca Palm
We’re closing out this list with a very special palm, the areca palm. This is a large houseplant that was once endangered and at risk of being lost to the world of gardening forever. But thankfully, it’s out of danger and you can easily secure one for your home.
It will grow to be about 6 to 8 feet (1.8 to 2.4 meters) tall, and the foliage can fan out quite a bit near the top so you should make sure it has plenty of space.
Some say that this plant closely resembles bamboo, so it could potentially be a great substitute.
To Close Off…
Large houseplants can be an amazing way to express yourself and make a statement with your home decor. As well as give you the chance to try something new, and challenge yourself by growing and taking care of something that you normally wouldn’t.
Whether you choose to grow a large succulent, palm, evergreen, or any other type of plant, just know that you’ll be taking on a task that many gardeners shy away from. So enjoy doing something different!