The Best Indoor Plants With Large, Lush Leaves, According to a Landscaper

"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."

Houseplants are one of the easiest (and best) ways to add style, personality, and life to your space. But the adorable greenery is often bite-size. That's great for styling bookcases and windowsills, but it can leave those empty corners in your home looking even emptier than before. Enter big-leaf houseplants. These varieties of plants offer plenty of personality with their gargantuan leaves. From large philodendrons to towering palms and designer-beloved fiddle-leaf figs, big-leaf plants perk up any room they're placed in. And big-leaf plants aren't just good for a visual refresh: Many kinds even assist with cleaning the air and eliminating pollutants.

If the idea of caring for a big-leaf plant seems intimidating, be assured that it's not so different from maintaining any other plant. First and foremost, "ensure you have the space for the plant and enough room to closely monitor," advises Stephen McFarlane, regional landscape manager for Sandals Resorts International. That's true for any houseplant, but especially for big-leaf plants. "A good percentage of these plants will do well in bright, indirect light, and if you have a room with south-, east- or west-facing windows, you are in luck," he adds. "The plant should be situated near but not in front of the window to prevent scorched leaves." He suggests rotating the plant a quarter turn weekly to ensure all sides receive adequate light.

Convinced big-leaf plants are your next design solution? Read on to learn about 12 incredible big-leaf houseplants, including care tips to help them thrive for years to come.

Split Leaf Monstera Deliciosa

Eye-catching and easy to care for, a monstera (aka Swiss cheese plant) is one of the most popular houseplants for a reason. This plant not only cleans the air around it, but it also grows quickly, making it perfect for those who are looking to fill an empty corner. Its glossy, heart-shaped like leaves will split from the leaf edge to the center as the plant matures.

Monstera Care Tips

• Sunlight: Medium indirect

• Water: Once a week

• Soil: Well-draining houseplant soil

• Pet friendly: No
  

White Bird-of-Paradise

Slightly different from its flowering variety, these bird-of-paradise plants are ideal for warm and sunny environments, so place yours in a window to bring an instant vacation vibe to your home. Its large leaves split over time as a natural adaptation to withstand hurricane winds.

Bird-of-Paradise Care Tips

• Sunlight: Bright and direct

• Water: Once a week

• Soil: Well-draining houseplant soil

• Pet friendly: No

Philodendron Selloum

Low but wide, the Philodendron Selloum grows easily and quickly with little care or maintenance, meaning it's perfect to fill that empty corner in your living room.

Philodendron Selloum Care Tips

• Sunlight: Medium indirect light

• Water: Once a week or so when the soil is dried out.

• Soil: Well-draining houseplant soil

• Pet-friendly: No

Ficus 'Audrey'

Compared to its cousin, the Fiddle Leaf Fig, this Ficus is much more low-maintenance. Simply place in the sun and remember to water weekly, and this tree will be just fine. As it matures the trunks' color shifts to a white similar to birch trees which contrasts beautifully against the lush, green, leaves. This tree will grow upwards of four to five feel tall.

Ficus Audrey Care Tips

• Sunlight: Bright indirect and direct

• Water: Once a week

• Soil: Well-draining houseplant soil

• Pet-friendly: No

Cast Iron Plant

If you have little to no natural sunlight in your space, this is the big leaf plant for you. A long-term commitment, the Cast Iron plant is a slow-grower, but is extremely forgiving towards missed waterings and scorched leaves. This houseplant is known to virtually live forever, if the conditions are right.

Cast Iron Care Tips

• Sunlight: Low light

• Water: Only water when soil is completely dry

• Soil: Well-draining houseplant soil

• Pet-friendly: Yes

Dracaena Fragrans Green

While these leaves are long and slender as opposed to elephant-like, the versatile plant can thrive in nearly any environment. The brighter the light, the more vibrant the color. It has a unique, towering silhouette and gains height fast, ideal for impatient plant parents.

Dracaena Fragrans Green Care Tips

• Sunlight: Thrives in bright indirect light, but can tolerate medium to low, indirect light

• Water: Every 1-2 weeks when soil is completely dry

• Soil: Standard houseplant soil

• Pet-friendly: No

Parlor Palm

Easy to care for and known for its air-purifying qualities, the parlor palm is a great option for sprucing up an empty corner. Be wary of placing this plant in direct, scorching sun and the long leaves with scald and burn. Ideal for a spacious bathroom, this palm adores humidity.

Parlor Palm Care Tips

• Sunlight: Thrives in medium to bright indirect light.

• Water: Water once the soil has completely dried out, every 1-2 weeks

• Soil: Well-draining, standard houseplant soil

• Pet-friendly: Yes

Odora Elephant Ear Plant (Alocasia)

Similar to its namesake, this plant's luscious leaves are nearly as big as a baby elephant's ears. This plant is fairly low-maintenance, but may require pruning in the colder months to get rid of browning and crispy leaves that have drooped or fallen.

Elephant Ear Plant Care Tips

• Sunlight: Full sunlight to partial shade.

• Water: Water once a week when the top inch of soil is dry to the touch.

• Soil: Well-draining houseplant soil

• Pet-friendly: No

Peace Lily Plant

dek

Peace Lily Care Tips

• Sunlight:

• Water:

• Soil:

• Pet-friendly: No

Calathea 'Pinstripe'

With striking green stripes and pink undersides of the leaves, the Calathea plant holds the best houseplant characteristics: low-maintenace and low-light friendly. This is also considered a type of "prayer plant" meaning that the leaves will move with the rising and setting of the sun.

Calathea Care Tips

• Sunlight: No direct sunlight, low-light friendly

• Water: Once a week

• Soil: Well-draining, houseplant soil

• Pet-friendly: Yes

Snake Eyes Hosta

Most often seen adorning external landscaping, Costa plants can also thrive indoors. This variety is known for its light green centers and white leaf borders. This plant grows up to 2 feet tall, but spreads upwards of four feet wide.

Hosta Care Tips

• Sunlight: medium to low indirect light

• Water: Once a week or when soil is dried out

• Soil: Standard gardening soil

• Pet-friendly: No

Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree

Arguably the most popular indoor tree, the Fiddle Leaf Fig is fast-growing and known for its wide, luscious leaves. These types of houseplants are known as natural air purifiers, helping to remove harmful toxins and pollutants from the air. Just be sure to repot when you notice stunted growth as this plants' roots need room to breathe.

Fiddle Leaf Fig Care Tips

• Sunlight: Bright to medium indirect

• Water: Beware of overwatering, water only when soil is completely dry to the touch

• Soil: Standard, well-draining houseplant soil

• Pet-friendly: No

You Might Also Like

• 15 Home Bar Gifts Every Cocktail Enthusiast Will Appreciate

• 32 Low Light Indoor Plants That Can Survive in the Darkest Corners of Your Home

• These Are the 50 Best Paint Colors for Your Living Room