Decorate with plants! These easy-to-grow houseplants with large leaves will add flair to your indoor spaces.
Thriving indoor plants create a refreshing ambiance in your home, any time of the year. Houseplants with large leaves offer high impact with minimal effort, making it easy to add a pop of green to every room. Here are our top picks for easy-care indoor houseplants with large leaves that really know how to bring the drama.
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Swiss Cheese Plant (Monstera)
Monstera deliciosa
Monstera is actually a climbing vine that loves bright, indirect light—too much can burn the leaves, while too little may keep the leaves from developing their unique split appearance. Make sure your pot has good drainage, and provide the humidity this plant needs by misting the leaves from time to time.
Why we love it: The iconic split leaves that give this plant its common name can grow up to 3 feet across! Wipe them with a damp cloth from time to time to keep your plant healthy and looking its best.
Heart Leaf Philodendron
Philodendron hederaceum
The big, glossy leaves and easy-care reputation of philodendron plants have made them household favorites for years. It’s well-known for tolerating low light and dry conditions, though it does best with medium exposure and moist, well-draining soil. Grow the trailing leaves from a hanging pot, or let it climb up a trellis for added interest.
Why we love it: This popular houseplant is easy to find in big box stores, plant nurseries, and even grocery store floral departments. Look for unique varieties like ‘Silver Stripe’ for variegated leaves, or ‘Lemon Lime’ for yellow-green foliage.
Cast Iron Plant
Aspidistra elatior
This tall-growing, broad-leaved plant is famous for tolerating the most difficult conditions. Keep it out of direct sun, and for best growth provide moist, rich, well-draining soil. It will reward you with leaves up to a foot long—some varieties even offer variegated foliage.
Why we love it: As the name suggests, this plant can handle just about anything—even dark corners. If you’ve got a difficult place in your house that needs a little green, this is the big-leaved houseplant to try!
Dieffenbachia
Dieffenbachia seguine
This easy-care houseplant is tolerant of a variety of conditions, but prefers bright indirect light and well-draining soil. Though it can grow to 8 feet high, dieffenbachia only spreads to 2 to 3 feet wide, making it a good fit for smaller spaces.
Why we love it: If you like interesting foliage, this is the houseplant for you! Varieties include ‘Tropic Snow,’ which features green leaves variegated with creamy yellow, and ‘Camille,’ a dwarf dieffenbachia with pale leaves edged in green.
Peace Lily
Spathiphyllum spp.
Despite its name, this plant isn’t actually a lily—it’s a member of the same tropical family that includes philodendron and callas. They enjoy moist conditions, but be sure to use well-drained potting medium, as overwatering can cause root rot.
Why we love it: Not many houseplants bloom indoors, but peace lilies are an exception as long as they receive enough bright, indirect light. The white “flower” is actually a modified leaf known as a spathe.
Chinese Evergreen
Aglaonema spp.
This houseplant has big leaves, but only grows to 1 1/2 feet tall and wide, making it ideal for smaller spaces. Give it indirect light and warm, humid conditions by setting it on a tray of water and pebbles. As a tropical transplant, aglaonema dislikes cool temperatures, so keep it away from drafty windows or air vents.
Why we love it: If you prefer a little color in your big-leaved houseplants, you’ll love this pick! Varieties like ‘Siam Aurora’ and ‘Red Catrina’ offer a mix of green and red foliage, perfect for cheering up a room in the winter!
Snake Plant
Dracaena trifasciata
The tough, sharply-pointed leaves give snake plant its other common name: mother-in-law’s tongue. Unlike many other houseplants, snake plant can handle some direct morning sun, though it also tolerates lower light conditions. It can go quite some time without watering, thriving on benign neglect.
Why we love it: The tall green and yellow foliage brings a spot of color to your indoor garden, and the upright growth habit makes it a nice fit in corners.
Editor’s note: All the plants featured here are toxic to some degree, so use extreme caution if small children or animals live in your home.
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