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Big leaves, big personality: houseplants beyond the monstera

A single big leaf can change the feel of a whole room. The monstera and the fiddle leaf fig get most of the attention, and there is a whole cast of other big-leaf plants waiting by the shop door. This guide introduces nine of them and what each one needs to look its best at home.

Tall white bird of paradise beside a sunny window in a cozy living room with a round table
Photo by Sena Aykut on Pexels

Why do some houseplants grow such big leaves?

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) explains that alocasias evolved extra-large foliage to catch as much sunlight as possible through the canopy overhead. A bright room with gentle light suits them well, and strong direct sun can scorch those big, thin surfaces.

Availability notes in each entry are general guidance from what you tend to see in shops.

Which big-leaf plants are easiest to start with?

Each plant's toolbox entry has the full growing notes.

Rubber plant (Ficus elastica)

Rubber plant with glossy dark leaves in warm window light casting shadows on a wall
Photo by Ivan Vi on Pexels

North Carolina State Extension describes foot-long, shiny, dark green leaves with pink or purple sheaths around the new growth, and variegated forms are easy to find.

A few bottom leaves turning yellow and dropping is normal for this plant, according to North Carolina State Extension. Our yellow leaves guide helps you tell normal aging from a problem.

Umbrella tree (Heptapleurum actinophyllum, often sold as Schefflera)

Tall umbrella tree in a grey pot in a modern living room with wood floors
Photo by Rachel Claire on Pexels

Each leaf is a ring of glossy leaflets spreading like the spokes of an umbrella, which is where the common name comes from. North Carolina State Extension notes that the plant can be pruned to keep its size in check.

Tree philodendron 'Selloum' (Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum)

Philodendron Selloum with deeply lobed leaves in a tall white planter by a sunny window
Photo by Mark Steeve Manalo on Pexels

This is the plant for anyone who wants a jungle in one pot. The RHS says its deeply lobed leaves can reach up to 3½ feet long, and North Carolina State Extension warns that it may become too large for smaller homes.

White bird of paradise (Strelitzia nicolai)

Strelitzia nicolai with large paddle leaves around a blue and white bird shaped flower
Photo by ALICE Wairimu on Pexels

Grey-green, banana-like leaves give this plant a lush, tropical look, and its blue and white flowers are shaped like a bird's head. North Carolina State Extension notes that the leaves tear easily along the veins, so a calm corner away from drafts keeps them looking smart.

Ficus 'Audrey' (Ficus benghalensis 'Audrey')

Potted Ficus benghalensis Audrey plants with braided trunks and soft pale green leaves
Photo by Tangopaso, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

'Audrey' is a houseplant form of the Bengal fig, one of the largest trees on Earth by canopy size. North Carolina State Extension lists 'Audrey' as a popular, easy houseplant with a white trunk and glossy green leaves with deep veins.

Which big-leaf plants are worth a try once you have some practice?

Zebra alocasia (Alocasia zebrina)

Alocasia zebrina leaves held on long stems marked with bold zebra stripes
Photo by David J. Stang, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The striped stems are the main feature here, marked in black and white like a zebra. The RHS calls it a tough houseplant and notes that dropping an old leaf to make way for a new one is perfectly normal.

Alocasia 'Polly' (Alocasia x mortfontanensis 'Polly')

Alocasia Polly with dark arrow shaped leaves and bold white veins in a terracotta pot on a wooden side table
Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels

Often sold as Alocasia amazonica, this hybrid has dark, shield-like leaves traced with bright veins. North Carolina State Extension describes 'Polly' as a compact form with large, dark green leaves and silvery-green veins.

North Carolina State Extension warns that overwatering can cause root rot and bacterial stem rot, which our root rot guide covers in detail.

King anthurium (Anthurium veitchii)

Anthurium veitchii with long pendant leaves showing deep ribbed veins in a greenhouse
Photo by Txecoloco, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The king anthurium grows long, hanging leaves with deep ridges that look almost quilted. The RHS describes it as an epiphyte, a plant that grows on other plants in the wild.

Elephant ear (Colocasia)

Dense elephant ear foliage with many large heart shaped Colocasia leaves in sunlight
Photo by Magda Ehlers on Pexels

Elephant ear, or taro (Colocasia esculenta), grows from a corm and is a staple food crop in many parts of the world. North Carolina State Extension notes that it can be grown as a houseplant or kept in a patio pot and brought indoors for the cooler months.

How do they compare at a glance?

In the table, NC State means North Carolina State Extension.

How do they compare at a glance?
PlantIndoor sizeLightWater check cueDifficultyPets (source)
Rubber plant2 to 10 feetBright indirect, no afternoon sunTop inch dryLowHarmful (NC State)
Umbrella tree4 to 6 feetBright, out of hot afternoon sunFinger checkLowToxic (ASPCA)
Tree philodendron4 to 10 feetHigh light, tolerates lowTop of the mix dryLowHarmful (NC State)
White bird of paradiseNeeds a high ceilingBright indirectTop layer dryLowHarmful (NC State)
Ficus 'Audrey'1 to 2 feetBright indirectTop 2 to 3 inches dryLowHarmful (NC State)
Zebra alocasia1.5 to 3 feetBright indirectTop 2 inches dry, very little in winterTough (RHS)Toxic (ASPCA)
Alocasia 'Polly'Up to 2 feetBright indirectLightly moist, never wetLowToxic (ASPCA)
King anthuriumUp to 6 feetBright indirect, humidFreely in growth, sparingly in winterNot ratedNot covered
Elephant ear3 to 6 feetPart shade or filtered sunKeep from drying outMediumHarmful (NC State)

How do I know when a big-leaf plant needs water?

When the mix is ready, water until it runs from the drainage holes, then empty the saucer.

Leaves that yellow and droop while the soil is still wet point to overwatering, and our root rot guide explains what to do next. Alocasias also rest in winter, when the RHS says they need very little water and no feeding.

Are big-leaf houseplants safe around cats and dogs?

Many of these plants contain calcium oxalate crystals that irritate the mouth. If you share your home with a chewer, place big-leaf plants well out of reach and keep the ASPCA Animal Poison Control number handy. For gentler starter plants, browse our beginner plants that still look good.

How does Grove help with a big-leaf plant?

Grove builds a care plan from the species, how you grow the plant, and whether it lives indoors or outdoors. The method you choose shapes watering technique and how often you water, feeding, pruning, repotting and the task rhythm, and the watering task is a check that asks whether the plant needs water today. You can change how a plant is grown later and rebuild the plan, which helps when an elephant ear moves from the patio to a sunny room for winter. If this is your very first plant, our first plant guide is a gentle place to begin, and our guide to monstera varieties introduces the big-leaf plant that started it all.

Sources

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