If you have a lot of space and plenty of light, and you’re not sure what to do with it, plants are always the answer.
Maybe you’re looking for a focal point to draw the eye and let it rest away from everything else, allowing you to relax and reconnect.
Or maybe you want to turn your home into a jungle, or you want a big statement. A large leaf houseplant will help you do all of these things.
There are many large-leaf houseplants to choose from, and you don’t have to break the bank to do it.
Most large leaf plants grow very quickly in the right conditions, so you can start with a smaller, budget-friendly specimen and watch it grow into the leaf giant of your dreams.
Interested in growing some plants with giant foliage, but don’t know where to start? Here are 10 different options to get you started.
Caladium ‘Red Flash’
Caladiums are very colorful foliage plants with large, heart-shaped leaves (See also How To Plant Caladium Bulbs), and you’ll struggle to find any other genus with such bright colors!
These plants are tuberous perennials that burst forth into color in late spring through to fall if you keep conditions bright, warm, and with no direct sunlight.
‘Red Flash’ features striking bright green and red leaves, and the warmer you can make it, the larger the leaves will get.
These plants are very tender, so make sure you keep them out of drafts. Keep them happy by giving them damp and sharply draining soil, and plenty of indirect light.
Calathea Orbifolia
While Calathea plants are famous for being fussy, get the care right, and you will have some of the most beautiful plants you can grow in your home.
Calathea orbifolia produces some of the biggest leaves these beautiful plants can grow (See also Stunning Calathea Varieties To Try), and you’ll notice that they open during the day and close up at night.
This particular plant boasts large, round leaves with beautiful stripes, and the undersides of the foliage are silvery.
This plant can reach 3 feet tall and needs lots of bright and indirect sunlight to grow the plant at its best.
Like Caladiums, Calathea plants like it warm, but these plants in particular are fussy when it comes to water quality, so don’t give them tap water, and always make sure it is room temperature.
Ficus Elastica ‘Robusta’
Ficus elastica, also known as the rubber plant, is a gorgeous species with large, rubbery leaves that will make a statement in any room.
There are many varieties available in both solid green and variegated. ‘Robusta’ is a beautifully striking, deep green that’s a classic in any space.
The height of ‘Robusta’ can range between 3cm and 2m tall, depending on the conditions, the space available, and the age of the plant.
It’s easy to care for, and helps filter out impurities from the air, too. Give this plant bright and indirect light, and water once the top two inches of compost are dry.
Ficus Lyrata ‘Fiddle Leaf Fig’
One of the most eye-catching tropical leaf plants you can grow in any home is Ficus lyrata, also known as the Fiddle Leaf Fig.
The warmer the conditions, the better this plant will grow. It features huge leaves with distinctive venation, and can reach 10 feet tall indoors, each leaf capable of reaching about 18 inches long!
It’s worth knowing that you should be choosy about where to put this plant to start with. These plants HATE being moved, so try not to do so once you’ve got it in the right place.
Give a Fiddle Leaf Fig bright and indirect light, and do not let the plant dry out completely in between watering.
Rotate it regularly so that the plant doesn’t lean to one side, and you’ll soon have a beautiful indoor tree.
Licuala Grandis ‘Ruffled Fan Palm’
Depending on where you live, this plant can be a little difficult to source, but the hunt is worth it. The Ruffled Fan Palm is a stunning sight no matter what room you put it in, and each unique, fan-shaped leaf is capable of reaching 22 inches across.
One thing you must avoid with this plant is direct sunlight, but give it plenty of bright and indirect light.
It grows incredibly slowly and has a shallow root system, but it is by no means a plant you can leave to its own devices for long.
Do not let this plant dry out completely, and rinse off the leaves with room temperature water every month or so to keep them free of dust.
Musa spp. ‘Banana Tree’
These gorgeous plants are not technically trees and have more in common with grass than trees, but these plants are stunning.
Plants belonging to the Musa genus are well-known for producing the bananas we love, but they also make great houseplants.
The paddle-shaped foliage can reach 10 inches long in the right conditions, making it a focal point in any room.
These plants like balmy temperatures, plenty of humidity, and bright and indirect light. They grow very quickly in the right conditions, so they are great for spaces that need some life sooner rather than later.
One thing any banana plant will not tolerate is drying out completely. Keep these plants partially damp, scaling back the watering when fall arrives.
Philodendron Gloriosum ‘Velvet Philodendron’
One of the most striking Philodendrons you can grow is Philodendron gloriosum. It’s a stunning plant with heart-shaped leaves, which can get as large as 36 inches wide!
This beauty is also fussy, unfortunately. It needs a wider pot over a tall one, as it has a crawling, spreading growth habit, and needs plenty of humidity, stable temperatures, and indirect sunlight to thrive.
It’s also worth knowing that this plant cannot tolerate long dry spells, so allow the top two inches of soil to dry out in between watering.
Humidity is required to keep this plant looking lush, and stop the beautiful leaves from crisping up, which is why many growers will opt for a greenhouse cabinet set-up to keep Philodendron gloriosum happy.
Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma
If you love the look of Swiss Cheese plants (Monstera deliciosa) but you don’t have several feet wide to spare for the aerial roots and large leaves, or you just don’t fancy trying to make a new moss pole every so often, Rhaphidophora tetrasperma is the plant for you.
It’s known as the Mini Monstera, despite not being related, as it features gorgeous fenestrated leaves that look very similar.
It doesn’t have to have some form of support, but as it is a vining plant, it will do better with some form of support, eventually reaching up to 8 feet tall if you do choose to.
This plant likes moist, well-draining soil, warm temperatures, and bright and indirect light.
Strelitzia spp. ‘Bird Of Paradise’
Similar to the banana plant, the bird of paradise plant produces huge, paddle-shaped leaves, but the star of the show is the flowers, which are electric blue and orange, though you may also get them in white, depending on the variety you go for.
Bird of paradise plants can reach 7 feet tall in the right conditions, with each individual leaf capable of reaching 18 inches in length.
It can be difficult to encourage the flowers to form indoors, but it isn’t impossible. The plant will need plenty of direct sunlight to get it to bloom, as well as warm temperatures, and plenty of water.
Thaumatophyllum Bipinnatifidum ‘Tree Philodendron’
One of the most striking, large-leaf houseplants you can grow is Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum.
It’s a mouthful and can be difficult to find, but the many-lobed leaves of this plant can turn absolutely giant in the right conditions, with each leaf on a mature plant capable of reaching 3 feet long.
Final Thoughts
There are many beautiful large-leaf plant options when you have a big space to fill. It’s worth matching the conditions you have to a suitable plant, rather than trying to adapt a plant to the unique growing conditions you have, especially when the plant is on the larger side.
