The best XXL houseplants

Sometimes in life, you need something smaller than yourself. And sometimes, you want something big, spectacular, and unforgettable. Are you looking for an XXL plant to add greenery to your cathedral-like living room or to warm up a huge, overly impersonal open-concept space? You've come to the right place. The Monstera team has put together a selection of large houseplants that will impress all your visitors.

#1 Ficus plants (Ficus lyrata, Ficus maclellandii, and Ficus benjamina)

This 15-year-old Ficus benjamina has made itself right at home in the living room – Photo by Madaise / Flickr

When you want to decorate a large space with green plants, fig trees are a sure bet. Several species, such as ficus lyrata (Ficus lyrata), ficus maclellandii (Ficus maclellandii), and the weeping fig (Ficus benjamina), can grow over three meters tall, even when potted and kept indoors.

To help your ficus reach this height, find a sunny spot for it that's sheltered from drafts. Fig trees are easy to care for, but they hate being moved. Once the plant is settled, don't move it. It might lose its leaves!

#2 Giant Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia nicolai)

Even when it's not in bloom, the giant bird of paradise knows how to turn heads – Photo by Julia Kuzenkov / Unsplash

The ostrich, the world's largest bird, stands 2.5 meters tall. That's about how tall your Giant bird of paradise (Strelitzia nicolai) will grow if you plant it indoors. This “bird” won't lay any eggs for you. But it will reward you with gray-green leaves and flowers that resemble exotic birds.

Flowering is triggered by temperature fluctuations between winter and summer. If you want your Strelitzia nicolaï to bloom, place it in an unheated sunroom or on a loggia.

#3 Platycerium coronarium

A fern is so much more decorative than a light fixture! Photo by Manuseitz / Plantnet

Don't have room to put a pot on the floor, but want to expand your collection of XXL plants? Go for a Platycerium coronarium! Although it grows 1.50 meters wide and three meters long, it won't take up a single square centimeter of floor space. This fern, with fronds as delicately laced as lace, is grown as a hanging plant.

After a few years, your Platycerium coronarium will completely cover its container, and you won't be able to repot it anymore. Continue to provide it with the nutrients it needs by fertilizing it with a fertilizer for houseplants.

#4 Monstera deliciosa

No need for furniture when you have a 3-meter-tall Monstera in your living room – Photo by Gunera / Flickr

The Monstera deliciosa grows up to three meters tall. The taller your plant gets, the more deeply laced its leaves will become. In fact, the leaf blades at the top have the most holes. These openings allow light to reach the leaves at the base.

Monstera deliciosa is a climbing plant. Its aerial roots grow until they find a support to cling to. To help your plant focus its energy on its stem and foliage, provide it with a stake. Your false philodendron will grow faster when its roots are anchored in coconut coir.

#5 Milk Euphorbia (Euphorbia lactea)

Euphorbia lactea thrives in bright light – Photo by David J. Stang / Wikipedia

Ever since Beyoncé donned a cowboy hat, country style has become all the rage. Want your home decor to follow the trend? Have a milkweed (Euphorbia lactea) delivered. This succulent, which resembles a candelabra cactus, can grow over two meters tall—even indoors.

Succulents have a reputation for being low-maintenance, and euphorbia lactea is no exception. But it will grow taller and stronger if you fertilize it with a cactus and succulent fertilizer during the warmer months. Be sure to halve the recommended dose. The plant isn't a heavy feeder, and over-fertilizing would do it more harm than good.

#6 Giant Yucca (Yucca gigantea)

Multiple stems create a fuller plant – Photo by Kenpei / Wikipedia

With a name like that, the Giant Yucca sets the tone. And it doesn't disappoint! Depending on growing conditions, it ranges from five to nine meters in height. That's quite an achievement for something that's neither a tree nor a shrub. Because Yucca gigantea is a flowering plant. It doesn't have a trunk, but rather a stipe.

Yucca gigantea grows very slowly. If you want yours to impress with its stature, choose a mature plant. You'll also be able to enjoy its swollen trunk, which resembles an elephant's leg.

#7 Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum (Philodendron bipinnatifidum)

Something to hide? Conceal it at the base of your Philodendron bipinnatifidum – Photo by Jungle Rebel / Flickr

The Philodendron bipinnatifidum, on the other hand, grows quickly. After a few years and with proper care, your potted plant will form a dense bush two meters tall and just as wide. It's enough to turn any room into a tropical jungle!

The huge leaves of the Philodendron bipinnatifidum can become real dust traps. This isn't very attractive and hinders the plant's growth. To ensure the foliage absorbs light fully, wipe the leaf surfaces with a clean, damp cloth every month or two.

#8 Giant Tarot (Alocasia macrorrhizos)

The Giant Taro is an easy-to-care-for Alocasia – Photo by Paige Dansinger / iNaturalist

In ancient Greek, “macrorrhizos” means “large roots.” But with Alocasia macrorrhizos, the roots aren't the only thing that's oversized. The leaves grow up to 40 centimeters long and 20 centimeters wide, even indoors. The plant can grow over four meters tall in warm, humid conditions. When potted and kept indoors, it reaches two meters in height.

Is your Giant Taro too large to repot? Top-dress it every year in the spring. Remove about one-third of the substrate and replace it with fresh potting soil for houseplants. This will provide your plant with new nutrients and allow it to continue growing.

#9 The Umbrella Tree (Schefflera actinophyllum)

With its bright green leaves, the umbrella tree adds beauty to any space – Photo by Rachel Claire / Pexels

Schefflera actinophylla grows up to two meters tall when cultivated as a houseplant. Its large size isn't its only appeal. Its glossy, lobed green leaves appear to form an umbrella or parasol.

The umbrella tree tolerates partial shade, but it grows faster in full sun. You can place it behind a bay window with sheer curtains or in front of an east-facing window.

#10 The Croton (Codiaeum variegatum)

A single plant can have leaves of different colors – Photo by Karla Nayelis Pitty Bell /iNaturalist

At just 1.5 meters tall, codiaeum variegatum (Codiaeum variegatum) is far from being the tallest variety on this list of XXL houseplants. But it's undoubtedly the most colorful. Its leaves, which measure up to 30 centimeters, come in shades of pink, purple, yellow, and green.

To help your croton grow taller quickly, fertilize it with a fertilizer for houseplants during the growing season. You can also repot it to give it more room.

#11 Jade Plant (Crassula ovata)

Over time, Crassula ovata grows into a full-fledged shrub – Photo by DerBorg / Wikipedia

If you appreciate large plants with small leaves, consider a jade plant. Even in the largest specimens, which can grow up to three meters tall, the leaves are no more than four centimeters long.

Encourage the growth of your Jade tree by pruning it in the spring. Always use clean, sharp pruning shears to help the plant heal, and cut just above a node. This encourages the branches to branch out.

#12 Palm Trees (Dypsis lutescens and Howea forsteriana)

Having a palm tree at home is a surefire way to feel like you're on vacation all year round – Photo by Malanfcm / iNaturalist

Shrubs aren't the only option for adding greenery to a large, somewhat empty space. Some palm trees, such as areca Palm (Dypsis lutescens) and kentia (Howea forsteriana), can grow up to three meters tall when potted and kept indoors.

These plants bloom in the summer. Their flowers often go unnoticed amid the dense foliage. Feel free to remove them when they appear. Their growth comes at the expense of the palm trees' growth.

#13 Asparagus falcatus

Asparagus falcatus is a cousin of the asparagus—Photo by KP Laer / Plantnet

We're used to seeing Asparagus falcatus plants just a few dozen centimeters tall in terrariums. But if given enough room to grow, this shrub can reach up to 2.5 meters in height. It then resembles a fir tree with delicate, airy foliage.

Indoors, asparagus falcatus can be attacked by spider mites. To prevent this, mist it regularly with soft water. You can also place it near other plants to increase the humidity in the room.

#14 The Japanese banana tree (Musa basjoo)

The Japanese banana tree has good hardiness. You can also grow it outdoors – Photo by Steve Jamm / Plantnet

The banana plant is the tallest herb in the world. Some varieties reach fifteen meters in height. Musa basjoo, however, grows to only five meters. But it can be grown indoors. And when kept indoors, its bright green leaves are unlikely to tear.

The Japanese Banana prefers rich, light substrate. Repot yours in potting soil for houseplants mixed with a little sand or perlite.

#15 Goeppertia orbifolia

The Calathea orbifolia is one meter tall, round, and soft… Photo by Arribas Mantecon / Plantnet

At just one meter tall with a spread of sixty centimeters, Goeppertia orbifolia is something of an underdog in this ranking. But its green leaves, streaked with silver and measuring 60 centimeters in diameter, more than make up for its small size.

Goeppertia orbifolia is native to the tropical forests of South America. It thrives in a humid environment. Is the air in your home too dry, causing the leaves of your plant to wilt? Place the pot on a bed of moist clay pellets to increase humidity.

#16 Money Tree (Pachira aquatica)

Often sold with multiple braided trunks, Pachira aquatica can also be grown with a single trunk – Photo by Kenpei / Wikipedia

If the luck you reap is proportional to the size of your lucky charm, forget about four-leaf clovers and rabbit's feet. Instead, get yourself a Pachira aquatica. This caudex tree grows over fifteen meters tall in the wild. It easily reaches two meters in a pot indoors.

Like most houseplants, the Pachira aquatica cannot tolerate having its roots sitting in water. Be sure to empty any standing water from the saucer or planter after each watering.