Tall Indoor Plants: 11 Types of Large Houseplants

Tall indoor plants provide a great way to add visual interest to your home. Tall indoor greenery helps to maximize the amount of vertical space in a room. Popular tall indoor plants are often hardy, low-maintenance growers that prefer warm temperatures and keep their foliage all year round.

If you’re looking for indoor plants to grow in your home, here are a few ideas to help you get started.

1. 1. Bird of paradise plant: Bird of paradise (Strelitzia reginae) is a flowering plant in the genus Strelitzia, which is part of the Strelitziaceae family. It gets its name because it resembles a bird in flight, and can reach heights of thirty feet tall. The bird of paradise is native to South Africa and flourishes in Florida, Hawaii, and other tropical climates which makes it the perfect indoor plant. The bird of paradise features large, dark green leaves that resemble those of a banana plant. The leaves surround brightly-colored, spiky flowers, which emerge from a bract.
2. 2. Ficus tree: The ficus tree is a type of fig tree in the Moraceae family of flowering plants. Native to Asia and the Mediterranean region, the ficus tree features dark green leaves and thin stems. Some deciduous varieties of the ficus tree, like the Ficus carica 'Celeste,' produce fig fruits. In tropical environments, ficus trees are rapid growers that can reach sixty feet in height, but grow up to ten feet indoors. Smaller cultivars, such as the fiddle leaf fig, Ficus benjamina, and Ficus lyrata make for popular houseplants and bonsai gardens, and these plants naturally purify and improve indoor air quality. These plants are perfect for growing indoors because they benefit from indirect light and can purify the air.
3. 3. Yucca: Yucca plant is the common name for some plants within the Yucca genus of drought-tolerant trees, plants, and shrubs, which belong to the Asparagaceae family. Native to Mexico, yucca plants feature rosettes of green leaves and white flowers and grow up to ten feet tall. The two most popular varieties for planting indoors are the Spanish bayonet and the spineless yucca. Choose a west-or south-facing window for your indoor yucca plants so that they get plenty of sunlight.
4. 4. Philodendron: Philodendrons are tropical plants native to Central and South America. These evergreen perennials belong to the Araceae family—the same family as pothos plants. There are hundreds of philodendron species, each with its own unique cultivars. The most common philodendron plants produce long vines or stems adorned with thick, waxy, dark green leaves. Plant these fast-growers indoors year-round and they can reach heights of six feet.
5. 5. Parlor palm tree: The parlor palm tree (Chamaedorea elegans) is one of the most popular palms because of its low-light habit. It typically grows around six feet high. Growers often harvest the parlor palm’s xate (fronds) to use for floral arrangements or decor. Keep the parlor palm in a high-humidity environment, and ensure the soil stays evenly moist.
6. 6. Snake plant. Snake plant (Sansevieria trifasciata) is one of the most common and low-maintenance houseplants. Snake plants can grow anywhere from six inches to twelve feet tall in height. Their dark green leaves are sword-like in shape and can feature yellow borders and light green streaks. Snake plant is a member of the Asparagacea family—as in the vegetable asparagus—and was first cultivated in China. Snake plants make excellent indoor plants in part for their air purification qualities: They absorb pollutants like formaldehyde and benzene.
7. 7. Dragon tree: Dracaena marginata, also known as a dragon tree, is a popular houseplant characterized by spiky green leaves with variegated red edges. The dragon tree is native to Madagascar, from which it receives the common name, the “Madagascar dragon tree.” Dragon trees can grow up to twenty feet tall outside in warm climates but often grow to about six feet tall when you grow them indoors.
8. 8. Money tree: Money tree or money plant (Pachira aquatica) is a tree species native to Central and South America, where it grows in moist, swampy areas. The money tree has dark green leaves, and when grown as a houseplant, it typically includes several trunks carefully braided together. Money trees growing in the wild can reach sixty feet, but indoor trees typically grow from six to eight feet tall.
9. 9. Olive tree: An olive tree is an evergreen tree native to the Mediterranean region of Europe and Africa, and parts of Asia. Olive trees typically grow no taller than thirty feet, though varieties that grow in a container may only reach a fifth of that size. For example, the non-fruiting dwarf olive tree, which is best for indoor planting, reaches around six feet in height when mature.
10. 10. Rubber tree: A rubber plant or rubber tree (Ficus elastica) is an ornamental houseplant that grows between six and ten feet tall indoors and features large, shiny leaves. Most varieties of rubber plants have dark green leaves, but the black prince and burgundy rubber plants have blackish-red leaves. The milky latex sap of rubber trees is essential to the manufacturing of natural rubber.
11. 11. Swiss cheese plants. Swiss cheese plants (Monstera deliciosa) are native to Mexico, Central America, and South America, and are so named for the holes (called fenestrations) that develop in their deep green leaves as they age. Swiss cheese plants are in a group of tropical plants called aroids, which bear small flowers within a leaf-like bract called a spathe. These humidity-loving plants can grow up to fifteen feet tall when you grow them indoors.

Here are some general tips for caring for your large indoor plants.

1. 1. Proper light: Most indoor plants require bright indirect light. Place your tall indoor plants near a window so that they receive at least some bright light during the day. Low-light conditions are not ideal for large indoor plants.
2. 2. Water mindfully: Water your indoor plants when the soil dries out. Some drought-tolerant plants and succulents require even less watering. Use well-draining soil and ensure that your pots have drainage holes to avoid overwatering your plants and drowning their roots, which can lead to root rot.
3. 3. Propagating and repotting: Large household plants can outgrow their containers, in which case you will need to repot your plant or propagate it into several new plants. Keep an eye on your plants to check for signs of becoming root-bound, like roots creeping out of the soil, wilting leaves, and dying flowers.
4. 4. Pruning and deadheading: Regularly prune your indoor plants to encourage new growth and keep them a manageable size. In addition to pruning, deadheading flowers—or pinching off spent blooms to redirect energy—will also encourage new growth during the growing season.
5. 5. Monitor for pests: Watch out for signs of disease, such as discoloration or spots on your plant's leaves, mold on the soil, or brown dying leaves and stems. Remove diseased plants from your home immediately because plant diseases can spread to your other indoor plants. Also check for common pests such as scale, mealybugs, and spider mites, which you can prevent by treating your plants with neem oil.

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