Tall Indoor Plants: The Best Large Houseplants for Homes and Offices (With Pictures)

Tall, large indoor plants are excellent for bringing nature indoors to large rooms in homes and offices. The best tall houseplants thrive in typical indoor conditions—low light, average room temperatures, and little watering. Some of the tallest house plants can grow to 5 feet or more. Some large indoor plants also have big leaves that create a feeling of drama and provide a focal point. So, if you want to grow tall indoor trees or plants that have large, broad foliage, there is a type of big houseplant for your needs.

The best tall indoor houseplants for your home or office are ficus trees – these large houseplants can grow up to 10 ft. (3 m) tall and are easy to look after; jade plants are tall indoor plants that thrive in low light and are drought resistant; Swiss cheese plants are popular large indoor plants because of their large waxy leaves; Boston ferns due to their tall arching foliage that looks spectacular in hanging baskets.

Of course, those big houseplants are just a small sample of the many types of tall house plants you can grow indoors. Remember that tall houseplants don’t have to be the kind that stand on the floor or planters. Some great tall plants for indoors have long, trailing stems that hang elegantly from hanging baskets.

In this article, you will learn about the best tall indoor houseplants you can grow in pots or containers. Many of these statement plants create an instant talking point when you have visitors.

The Best Tall Indoor Plants (With Pictures)

When choosing the best large indoor plants, it’s essential to consider the following factors:

• Lighting requirements
• The amount of space you have
• How to care for them properly

Some tall office plants tolerate no sunlight as long as they get enough artificial light. Other large indoor plants need bright, indirect sunlight to thrive.

Here are some of the best tall indoor plants and large indoor trees.

Indoor Ficus Trees Are Popular Large Indoor Plants

Many types of ficus plants grow tall and look like large indoor trees growing in pots. Ficus plants are popular in offices and homes because they are easy to look after. The essential care requirement for ficus plants is to get plenty of bright light.

Some types of ficus indoor plants have small oval leaves and bushy foliage. Others are big leaf plants with shiny leaves. Let’s look at some excellent examples of tall indoor ficus plants.

Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrate)

The fiddle leaf fig is one of the best and coolest big indoor plants to grow in containers. It has large glossy leaves in the shape of a fiddle—hence the name. Indoors, the fiddle leaf fig plant grows up to 10 ft. (3 m) tall—so, just perfect for filling vertical spaces. For this large-leaf indoor plant to thrive, it needs plenty of light and moist soil. Also, it’s essential to keep this fussy houseplant away from drafts.

Rubber Tree (Ficus elastica)

Another large species of indoor tree is the rubber tree. These potted trees have broad, attractive ovate or shiny oval leaves that can grow up to 12” (30 cm) long. The houseplant can grow well on a windowsill because it needs bright light. In an indoor environment growing in containers, rubber tree houseplants can grow to between 6 and 10 feet (1.8 – 3 m) tall. When it grows taller, the plant can be placed on the floor or a planter for an even more stunning effect. Water the rubber plant when the top part of soil dries.

Weeping fig (Ficus benjamina)

The weeping fig is an indoor tree with small, ovate leaves that create a bushy crown. The decorative tree has thin, flexible stems that can be braided to enhance its visual appeal. From all of the large ficus trees you can grow indoors, the weeping fig is one of the easiest to care for. It grows well in bright, filtered light but can also tolerate low light rooms. Growing in pots, these bushy trees reach heights up to six feet (1.8 m)

Philodendron Selloum (Philodendron bipinnatifidum)

Also called the tree philodendron, this large, tall indoor houseplant is easy to look after. If you have one of these Philodendron plants at home or in an office, you will need a lot of space. The large plant leaves are deeply lobed and droop down and can be up to 3 ft. (90 cm) in size. The large plant has a spread of up to five feet (1.5 m). The tropical look of this plant enhances the aesthetics of any room.

Heartleaf Philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum)

If you are looking to add a vertical accent to a corner of a room, grow a heartleaf Philodendron in a hanging basket. The long trailing plant vines and heart-shaped leaves create an attractive showpiece. The cascading stems droop down and grow up to 3 or 4 ft. (1 – 1.2 m) long. One of the beauties of this hanging basket plant is that it grows well in low to medium light. With occasional watering, you can have this lush indoor plant filling up vertical space.

Kentia Palm (Howea forsteriana)

Palm trees are challenging to grow indoors, but the kentia palm is an exception. With its tall thin stems and feathery foliage, this hardy palm tree thrives indoors. When growing in containers, the delightful indoor palm tree grows up to 12 ft. (3.6 m). However, regular pruning can control its height if you don’t need to fill a big space. The palm has arching leaves that are thin, long, and taper to a point. Put in a spot in an office or room that gets a decent amount of indirect light. However, kentia palms also grow well in shaded locations.

Make sure to read our article on how to grow indoor palm trees as houseplants.

Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea elegans)

Another large species of palm plant that thrives indoors is the parlor palm. The reason why this tall palm tree is a popular office or indoor houseplant is that it grows in low light. The attractive clumps of feathery foliage grow up to 3 or 4 ft. (0.9 – 1.2 m) in pots. Parlor palms can create a dramatic effect growing as a specimen plant or in a shaded corner of a room.

Learn about other types of indoor palm plants to grow as houseplants.

Norfolk Island Pine (Araucaria heterophylla)

The Norfolk Island pine is a tall houseplant that looks similar to a pine tree. This pretty indoor tree has foliage resembling pine trees. Thankfully, this houseplant doesn’t grow to the enormous heights of outdoor pine trees. Growing in containers indoors, the tall houseplant grows to between 6.5 and 10 ft. (2 – 3 m). As with many indoor houseplants, the tree should grow in bright, indirect sunlight and away from drafts. Water when the soil is partly dry and mist regularly to increase humidity.

Norfolk Island pines are also popular Christmas trees that continue growing long after the festive season has passed.

Dwarf Umbrella Tree (Schefflera arboricola)

The dwarf umbrella tree is a variety of the tree that is commonly thought of as the umbrella tree (Schefflera actinophylla). This species of the umbrella plant (Schefflera) is a tall indoor plant with large, glossy leaves. You will need plenty of space for this huge house plant as it can grow to 16 ft. (4.8 m) high. Grow this tropical indoors plant in a bright location and thoroughly water it when the soil is partly dry.

Jade Plant (Crassula ovata)

The jade tree is a big houseplant that is one of the easiest indoor plants to care for. The indoor tree is identified by tear-shaped succulent leaves that measure between 1.1” and 3.5” (3 – 9 cm) long. The thick woody stems can grow up to 5 ft. (1.5 m) indoors and the succulent foliage creates a shrub-like appearance. Many people keep jade trees at home or in the office because they are said to be plants that bring good luck.

Golden Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)

Golden pothos, with its brightly-colored leaves and long creeping stems, is an excellent hanging basket plant to create a tall accent. The trailing plant has long dangling vines that can reach up to 66 ft. (20 m). Of course, regular pruning controls the length of the vining stems. You can also use golden pothos—also called Devil’s ivy—as a tall floor plant. Place a long moss pole in a large container and train the vines to climb upward. For more information, read our article on how to care for pothos plants.

False Castor (Fatsia Japonica)

Also called the finger plant, this tall skinny houseplant has big leaves shaped similar to maple leaves. The popular houseplant has shiny, dark-green leaves that have a leathery texture. You can expect this tall evergreen shrub to reach 9 ft. (3 m) tall with a large spread. The large leaves are between 8” and 15” (20 – 40 cm) wide.

Dracaena Fragrans

One of the best tall indoor plants with large leaves is the Dracena ‘Janet Craig’ or ‘Warneckii.’ What makes the dracaena plant (corn plant) an excellent choice for offices or rooms? The bushy trees grow to 3 ft. (0.9 m) tall, have huge long 1-ft. (30 cm) leaves and the plants thrive in low light. Dracaena plants are also on the list of top houseplants to filter indoor air and they are also one of the best trees to have in your bedroom.

Swiss Cheese Plant (Monstera deliciosa)

Swiss cheese plants make a truly dramatic statement with their massive shiny green leaves and long arching stems. This species is one of the best large houseplants if you’ve got the room. The plant can grow to around 8 ft. (2.4 m). Because the large leaves on long stems are heavy, you’ll need to stake the plant to give it extra support. Grow in bright, indirect sunlight and water when the potting mix is partly dry.

Bamboo (Bambusa)

Bamboo is well-known for being a tall skinny plant that is a fast grower, even in indoor environments. Clumping species of bamboo can grow well indoors. Types of tall indoor bamboo plants with small leaves generally need plenty of bright light and a warm, humid environment. Bamboo can grow up to 10 ft. (3 m) indoors and you can prune it regularly if you have less space.

Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia)

One of the best tall indoor plants with stunning flowers is the bird of paradise plant. The plant has impressive orange flowers that look like the head and beak of a crane. The indoor species of these plants grow to between six and seven feet (1.8 – 2.1 m). This dramatic-looking plant also has big broad leaves that look like a banana plant. Place your potted bird of paradise plants in bright, filtered sunlight and water enough to keep the soil slightly moist.

Desert Rose (Adenium)

The desert rose houseplant is a large beautiful plant that brightens up rooms and offices with its colorful flowers. As its common name suggests, the desert rose is a drought-tolerant houseplant. The plant grows to between 2 and 5 ft. (0.6 – 1.5 m) tall and has a spread of up to 3 ft. (0.9 m). The large indoor plant is stunning with attractive foliage and gorgeous flowers.

Banana Tree (Musa)

Indoor banana trees are container plants with huge tropical broad leaves that make a dramatic statement in any office or room. This fast-growing tall plant has large leaves that provide stunning indoor greenery. Eventually, the plant grows so big and tall that it will outgrow its container and your room. Banana trees are not the easiest species of houseplants to grow indoors—they need plenty of light, moisture, and humidity to thrive.

Yucca (Yucca)

Yucca plants have tall, slender stems that are crowned with an explosion of spiky-looking evergreen foliage. Similar to banana plants, yuccas grow fast indoors, and they also grow tall.

An indoor yucca plant can reach heights of 8 to 10 ft. (2.4 – 3 m) and the bloom of leaves can be 2 to 3 ft. (0.6 – 0.9 m) wide. Yuccas adapt to many growing conditions, but the most important care factor is never to let the soil become waterlogged.

Spineless yuccas (Yucca elephantipes) are one of the recommended yucca plants for growing indoors because of their smooth leaves.

Money Tree Plant (Pachira aquatica)

Also called the Guiana chestnut, the money tree is a tall tropical indoor plant that can grow up to 6 ft. (1.8 m). The indoor tree has large green leaves that grow in groups of five or six to form palmate-shaped leaves. Similar to jade plants, people keep these leafy plants in homes or offices to bring good luck and plenty of money. You may often find these tall houseplants for sale with beautifully braided stems.

African Milk Tree  (Euphorbia Trigona)

Also named Euphorbia cactus or Candelabra cactus, the African milk tree is a tall indoor plant. This tree like plant looks like a cactus plant but it’s actually a succulent.

The Euphorbia cactus (African milk tree) is a perennial, evergreen succulent native to Central Africa. At maturity, the Euphorbia cactus can reach up to 6 ft. (1.8 m) in height.

To care for Euphorbia cactus, plant it in a well draining potting soil and water only when the soil dries. The African milk tree thrives when growing in filtered bright light. The minimum temperature for growing this tall plant is 55°F (12°C).

Large Indoor Citrus Trees

Many types of citrus trees are well-suited to growing in containers to add greenery and color to an office or living room. Many indoor dwarf citrus trees will grow to between 8 and 10 ft. (2.4 – 3 m). What are the best types of citrus trees that you can grow indoors? Here are a few to choose from:

• Meyer’s lemon tree (Citrus x limon ‘Meyer’)
• Tahitian orange tree (Citrus x limonia ‘Otaheite’)
• Satsuma mandarin tree (Citrus unshiu)
• Persian lime tree (Citrus x latifolia ‘Bearss’)

If you care for these citrus trees indoors, you may be rewarded with delicious citrus fruits.

Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)

The Boston fern is a large indoor plant with big feathery foliage that grows well in most rooms or office environments. The best way to grow a Boston fern is in a hanging basket. The large arching fern leaves cascade down over the pot to create a dramatic look at eye level. Please read our article to learn about other types of ferns that you can grow indoors.

ZZ Plant (Zamioculas zamiifolia)

With its long slender stems and shiny green leaves, the ZZ plant is a fantastic indoor floor plant to brighten up a dull corner. The beauty of having a Zizi plant in an office, living room, or hallway is that it has modest care requirements. The tall plant can tolerate low light and artificial light and only occasional watering. You can almost forget about it, and it still grows well.

Snake Plants (Sansevieria)

Another species of indoor plant that grows tall is the snake plant—also called mother-in-law’s tongue. Many species of these tall indoor plants have flat, stiff, long, and sword-shaped leaves that taper to a point. The tall indoor houseplant can grow up to 12 ft. (3.6 m) tall. The best species of these long-leafed houseplants have variegated yellow and green leaves.

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