By Laurel Aiello
Big plants make any spacious room feel cozy, from living areas with vaulted ceilings to offices with open floor plans. Not only do these plants soften our man-made surroundings, but they also help to reduce stress, increase focus, enhance productivity and improve air quality, according to Healthline. Here are a few of the best (and easiest) large houseplants to care for indoors.
Dracaena — marginata and massangeana varieties
If you’re looking for a tall, thin-leaved plant to add height to empty corners, large dracaena varieties are a great choice. Dracaena marginata, also known as “dragon tree,” can exceed six feet indoors, with multiple trunks ranging from penny- to quarter-size thickness. Their colorful leaves—sometimes green, sometimes red or purple—can grow to more than a foot long and are about an inch wide at the base, tapering to a point. Be warned: While they are easy to care for, Dracaena marginata will drop their lower leaves when stressed.
Dracaena massangeana will also exceed six feet in height over time, but they have a distinctly different look from the dragon tree variety. Commonly referred to as “corn plant,” Dracaena massangeana have two-to-three-inch-thick, cylindrical trunks that maintain a sturdy, upright shape as they grow. Their leaves are also several inches thicker than those of the Dracaena marginata and add a stripe of lime green down the center.
Both of these dracaena varieties thrive in well-draining soil and medium to bright indirect light. Water them thoroughly when the top half of the soil feels dry to the touch (Dracaena massangeana takes longer to dry out), and make sure to use filtered water, otherwise the tips of their leaves will turn brown.
Schefflera — arboricola and actinophylla varieties
Similar to dracaenas, schefflera plants can grow to more than six feet tall indoors. If you want a tidy, buttoned up look, opt for the schefflera arboricola variety. These tall houseplants have braided trunks with branches leading to eight or nine oval-shaped leaflets grouped in a circle. Some have solid green leaves, whereas variegated types have light yellow splotches mixed in. The main branches are easy to propagate [could hyperlink to my article on propagation: northfortynews.com/category/gardens-landscapes/houseplant-propagation-101] if you want smaller versions of this big houseplant; simply cut between the nodes and place the stem in fresh water for a few weeks or until roots form.
Schefflera actinophylla, or “amate,” is another schefflera variety that exceeds six feet, but they take up even more space. Their dark green leaflets are significantly bigger and droop down slightly, reaching both wide and tall. Whereas schefflera arboricola is a good choice for spaces that need to stay open below the plant’s foliage, Schefflera actinophylla can act as a tall bush if their lower leaves are not trimmed.
As with dracaenas, it’s recommended to pot scheffleras in well-draining soil and water them thoroughly when the top half of the soil dries out. They thrive in bright indirect light but can also tolerate medium to low indirect light—they just won’t grow as fast.
Ficus — lyrata, benghalensis, benjamina, altissima and elastica varieties
Ficus come in many leaf shapes and sizes, but generally, they grow as tall as they can indoors and take the form of a tree. Choosing the right ficus for your space depends largely on the look and ease of care you’re after. Ficus benjamina is one of the most well-known ficus trees and has small, pointed leaves that shed naturally (and more rapidly if disease, pests or stress is present). On the other hand, Ficus lyrata, also known as “fiddle leaf fig,” have large, dark green, violin-shaped leaves, and they produce ornamental figs, lending a tropical feel to any wide-open space. Though they are beautiful, fiddle leaf figs are extremely sensitive to drafts and will drop their leaves if placed near a vent or exterior door.
Ficus benghalensis, or “Audrey,” also have large leaves, but they’re light green and have an oval shape—and they’re usually less finicky than the fiddle leaf fig. Ficus altissima (“council tree”) and Ficus elastica (“rubber tree”) both have large, glossy, oval-shaped leaves as well, though they differ in color. Council trees have green and yellow leaves, while rubber trees either have dark red leaves or pink and purple variegated leaves. Out of all the ficus trees, rubber trees tolerate low light the best. In general, pot all ficus trees in well-draining soil and place them in bright indirect light, then water them well once the top half of their soil is completely dry.
Other large houseplants and care requirements to consider:
- Palms (Dypsis lutescens, “areca,” and Ravenea rivularis, “majesty”): six feet tall and nearly as wide, these palms have a tropical look and tropical requirements. Place them in a bright, humid area, and water them when their soil is nearly fully dry. Chamaedorea elegans, also known as “neanthe bella palm” and “parlour palm,” is the exception when it comes to light; they prefer medium indirect light, though they still need high humidity and semi-frequent watering.
- Money tree (Pachira aquatica): thick, braided trunks taper up to thin branches. They require bright indirect light and are especially sensitive to overwatering.
- Bird of paradise (Strelitzia reginae): a tropical foliage plant that grows tall and flowers in very bright natural light if root-bound. Prefers to go mostly dry in between waterings.
- Elephant ear (Alocasia spp.): enormous leaves perch atop long, thin stems. They require high humidity, bright indirect light and evenly moist soil.
- Peace lily (Spathiphyllum wallisii): grows a few feet tall and wide and thrives in medium to low indirect light. Leaves wilt if the soil goes too dry in between waterings, but they usually perk back up once they’re watered.
- Banana plant (Musa spp.): will grow as tall as they can in a space if given bright natural light and semi-frequent waterings. Unlikely to produce bananas in our climate.
- Monstera (Monstera deliciosa): bushy and easy to care for, monsteras (and large philodendron varieties) grow semi-tall and wide. Water them when the top half of their soil is dry.
- Croton (Croton spp.): striking, colorful leaves take on many shapes and sizes, spanning several feet wide and tall. Crotons need bright light and are thirsty, requiring water every few days.
- Dieffenbachia (Dieffenbachia spp.): thick stalks lead to large, oval-shaped leaves with green and white speckles. Eventually, dieffenbachias can span multiple feet tall and wide if fertilized regularly and allowed to dry out in between waterings. They can tolerate medium indirect light but grow faster in bright indirect light.
Originally published on September 27th, 2024. Updated on September 30th, 2024.