10 Large Indoor Plants to Add to Your Space

Living room with large fiddle leaf tree — Photo:
Tessa Neustadt; Design: Emily Henderson

Plant lovers know the appeal of lush, vibrant plants, but it can take years for a tabletop plant to grow into the Pinterest-perfect flora of your fantasy. “If you’re impatient or want instant impact, a large indoor plant is definitely the way to go,” says Justin Hancock, horticulturist with Costa Farms.

Not only are they stunning focal points in a room, he says, but large plants can double as a living screen or a room divider and can visually fill a large space. “There’s something undeniable about the effect of a large monstera in your living room or a big fiddle leaf ficus tree by your patio door,” Hancock says.

Big plants indeed require a big space, and often a big price tag. But fans of these plants say they're worth the investment. They can be easier to care for, Hancock notes, because they have bigger, more developed root systems that often hold up better to stress.

Ahead, experts share the best large houseplants for your home and the care tips to keep them looking fresh and green.

Justin Hancock, horticulturist at Costa Farms
Kelly Funk, president & CEO of Jackson & Perkins

01 of 10

White Bird of Paradise

Strelitzia nicolai in the interior on the background of a white brick wall with garlands and round chairs. — Getty Images

This African native is a showstopper, with a lush, tropical look. Indoors, it can develop a trunk and has rich, dark green, paddle-shaped leaves that easily reach two feet long. White Bird of Paradise rarely blooms indoors because of lower light exposure, Hancock notes, but if your space gets blasted with bright direct sun, you could see spectacular white and violet-blue flowers.

Size: 8 feet
Growing conditions: Bright light but tolerates medium light. Water when the top half of the soil is dry to the touch, usually weekly.
Care tip: Grows best if watered regularly. To encourage growth, add a fertilizer for houseplants, following the directions on the label.

02 of 10

Snake Plant

Snake plants feature tall, stiff, sword-like leaves that grow straight up and are typically variegated with green, gray, and yellow patterns. “This plant is exceptionally hardy and can tolerate a wide range of growing conditions, including low light and irregular watering, making it an ideal choice for beginners,” says Kelly Funk, president and CEO of Jackson & Perkins.

Size: 2–4 feet tall, 1-2 feet wide
Growing conditions: Bright, indirect light, can tolerate low light; well-draining soil
Care tip: Let the soil dry out completely between waterings. It’s very drought-tolerant, Funk notes.

03 of 10

Majesty Palm

Make way for the majesty palm, a tropical palm with large, feathery, dark green fronds. This Madagascar native is one of the most common houseplant palms in North America. Even on younger plants, the fronds can be two to three feet long and get larger as the plant matures. Because it tends to grow upright, Hancock notes, the majesty palm doesn’t take up as much space as some of the other large houseplant trees.

Size: 8–12 feet tall
Growing conditions: Bright light but tolerates medium light. Water as the top quarter of the potting mix dries to the touch.
Care tip: Be generous with misting—this plant loves humidity.

04 of 10

Ficus Alii

Ficus alii, also known as the banana leaf fig, has long, narrow, willow-like leaves that give it a graceful elegance. Unlike its more finicky ficus friends, Ficus Alii is relatively easy to care for and is less prone to leaf drop, Funk notes, making it a popular choice for indoor settings. This Southeast Asia and India native has a slender, upright growth habit and can develop into a stately indoor tree.

Size: 10 feet tall, 3–4 feet wide
Growing conditions: Bright, indirect light but can tolerate some direct sunlight; well-draining potting mix for indoor plants or with added perlite
Care tip: Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. Allow the top inch of soil to dry out between waterings.

05 of 10

Monstera Deliciosa

This is the mother of all large plants, bringing instant jungle vibes. Native to the rainforests of South America, it has signature dark green leaves with eye-catching slits on the side and holes in the center that can reach three feet in length. The monstera deliciosa typically grows as a bushy vine, Hancock says, and will benefit from a sturdy support if you want it to grow to its full potential.

Size: 10–15 feet tall, 8 feet wide
Growing conditions: Bright light but tolerates medium light; well-draining houseplant potting mix
Care tip: Water as the top quarter of the potting mix dries to the touch. “When in doubt, it’s better to keep this species a little too dry than too wet,” Hancock says. To encourage faster growth, add a houseplant fertilizer.

06 of 10

Dracaena Marginata

Houseplant dracaena in a white pot on a light grey background. Home plants care and home gardening concept. Vertical image. Selective focus. — Getty Images

This plant has slim, spiky leaves with red or purple edges and upright stems that can be braided or left to grow naturally, according to Funk. This plant is resilient, adaptable, and able to thrive in a variety of indoor environments, making it popular for offices and homes.

Size: 6–10 feet tall, 2–3 feet wide
Growing conditions: Bright, indirect light, can tolerate lower light levels; well-draining houseplant potting mix
Care tip: Allow the top inch of dirt to dry between waterings, and avoid overwatering to prevent root rot.

07 of 10

Monstera Esqueleto

This trendy plant is a hard-to-find upgrade to your everyday monstera plant. This tropical climbing vine has longer, narrower leaves with dramatically large holes. With enough light, the leaves can grow to more than three feet long and appear more hole than leaf. They will climb as long as you let it indoors, Hancock notes, so you’ll need to prune it back well—unless you have a two-story ceiling.

Size: 6 feet tall
Growing conditions: Bright light; well-draining potting mix
Care tip: Water as the top quarter of the potting mix dries to the touch, mist regularly

08 of 10

Rubber Tree

The rubber tree is a fan favorite among large plant lovers. Its thick, glossy, leathery dark green leaves can be tinted with purple and new growth sports a showy red sheathe before the leaves unfurl. “It’s also somewhat versatile because it takes well to pruning,” Hancock says, “so you can enjoy it as a single-trunk tree or as a large, full bushy plant, depending on how you maintain it.” If you want something extra showy, there are a few varieties with variegated leaves, like the Tineke variety, which has leaves broadly edged in creamy white.

Size: 6–10 feet tall
Growing conditions: Bright light, tolerate medium and low light; well-draining potting mix
Care tip: Water as the top quarter of the potting mix dries to the touch, use fertilizer to encourage growth

09 of 10

Fiddle Leaf Fig

This super-trendy statement plant has been a staple on Instagram for years now. It's an African native with large, pear-shaped leaves in a perfect medium green. “The older the tree and the more light it gets, the larger and more eye-catching the leaves become,” Hancock says.

Size: 10 feet tall, 10 feet wide
Growing conditions: Bright indirect light—direct sun will burn the leaves
Care tip: Mist with water occasionally to mimic its preferred humid environment, and water thoroughly every week. Encourage growth by adding a balanced liquid fertilizer every two weeks. Once this plant finds a happy home, it doesn’t like to be moved, so choose your placement carefully.

10 of 10

Money Tree

This South American native has a charming, distinctive look that adds to any space. It has compound hand-shaped leaves and is often grown with several plants with their trunks braided together.