Instantly transform your home into a tropical paradise with these indoor plants, all with lush, large leaves.
These 10 stunning big leaf plants are sure to make a statement in your home. And fill that empty corner!
Find names and pictures of large leaf indoor plants to help with your plant identification. Plus practical tips for keeping your plants healthy and thriving in your home.
Continue reading for a closer look at 10 of the most popular types of big leaf houseplants.
Need a plant care refresher? Check out the Beginners Guide to Houseplant Care. It will teach you all the basics about indoor plant care.
Light Requirements
All the tropical big leaf plants on this list like bright, indirect light. Some can tolerate a little shade, but low light will always slow down growth.
Usually, a good spot is near an east- or north-facing window.
A bit of morning sun is usually fine but avoid too much direct sunlight. Dry, brown spots on the leaves can be a sign of sunburn. Move your plant further away from the window, or filter the light with a sheer curtain.
When to Water Big Leaf Plants?
In general, water these big leaf indoor plants when the top layer of the soil has dried out. They all like their soil consistently damp, but not soggy.
When dealing with a large plant in a deep pot, the traditional method of checking soil moisture by sticking a finger into it may not be effective. In such cases, moisture meters with long rods that extend into the root zone can be useful.
Read more: The basics of watering your indoor plants.
Keep the Large Leaves Clean
Dust can collect on the large leaves. The leaf pores get clogged making it harder for your plant to take in light.
Occasionally wipe down the leaves with a soft cloth, or bring your plant to the bathroom and treat it to a gentle room-temperature shower.
Big Leaves Need Space
Large plants and plants with large leaves need plenty of room to grow.
Don’t crowd them together or put them where the leaves will be crushed against walls or windows.
Create an Indoor Jungle: 10 Big Leaf Plants for Your Home!
10 Large Leaf House Plants
Bring the beauty of the tropics home with this list of big leaf plants.
Visually striking, these plants will transform your space with their large leaves.
The big leaves of the Monstera Deliciosa get their iconic splits as the plant matures. This recognizable look gives it the common nickname, Swiss-cheese plant.
Monstera deliciosa is easy to care for and over time, it can get quite large, so make sure you have the space for it to grow!
This large leaf plant can grow in low light, but don't put it in the dark!
The Ficus lyrata or Fiddle Leaf Fig has become one of the most popular big leaf house plants.
With its tall, sculptural form and big green leaves, this plant can grow into an impressive indoor tree.
It likes a few hours of morning sun, and medium to high humidity.
The Ficus Elastica, or Rubber plant, is a stylish indoor plant known for its dark, glossy leaves and striking silhouette.
This low-maintenance houseplant is a perfect big leaf plant for any room.
Rubber plants tolerate some low light and do well in average household humidity.
You can also find the rubber plant in variegated varieties. With the big leaves splashed with cream and pink, like the rubber plant Ruby and the Tineke.
The Alocasia Polly grows large arrow-shaped leaves with eye-catching contrasting nerves.
Alocasias are a bit more care-intensive than most houseplants.
They like bright, filtered light, moist soil, high humidity, and warm temperatures.
Take your time to get to know your plant and read up on the best care practices. It’s well worth the effort!
The Black gold Philodendron (P. melanochrysum) is a unique tropical plant known for its large, velvety black leaves.
Indoors, it can handle some low light, but will appreciate bright, indirect light.
Provide humidity and keep this tropical big leaf plant thriving in your home!
The Calathea orbifolia is an evergreen plant that grows big round leaves. The leaves have a stunning green-striped pattern on them.
The orbifolia can be grown as an indoor plant, but it has some specific needs (high humidity!) and can be a bit fussy. But the big leaves make it worthwhile!
Another positive, this round leaf plant is safe for cats!
The Dieffenbachia, or Dumb cane plant is a popular, easy-to-grow big leaf houseplant.
Dieffenbachias can handle low light and require little hands-on care.
The large leaves come in a variety of variegated patterns with stunning cream and yellow and green markings.
The Pink Princess philodendron (Philodendron erubescens ‘Pink Princess’) is a popular, much sought after, vining houseplant known for its large pink and dark green heart-shaped leaves.
As an epiphyte, it uses aerial roots to grow on other plants for support. Indoors you can give a large Philodendron pink princess climbing support in the form of a moss pole.
Big leaves AND Big flowers? Yes, please!
The eye-catching Medinilla magnifica or Rose grape plant grows large dark green leathery leaves with prominent veins.
The Medinilla is truly breathtaking when in bloom. It grows stunning pink flowers hanging on long drooping stems that can last for months!
This one is non toxic, so safe for cats.
Caladium bicolor is a houseplant known for its colorful leaves. The large leaves come in variegated shades of pink, red, green, and white.
It thrives in warm, humid environments and is relatively easy to care for.
The Caladium will go through dormancy so don't think you've lost your plant when the leaves start dropping.
Depending on the store, the type of plant, and its size, a mature, large plant can be expensive and could cost a couple of hundred dollars.
If you want to spend less, start with a cheaper, smaller plant and care for it while it grows in your home.
Related reading: Pink Leaf Houseplants – Round Leaf Houseplants
Libby
Friday 4th of August 2023
Very interested. In care of big leafy plants