15 houseplants with really big leaves

Most Houseplantsthat develop showy leaves come from the arum family. In addition to these tropical species, there are other plants with appropriately large leaf areas.

Sun

House plants that develop strikingly large leaves even under sunny conditions must protect their leaf surfaces from sunburn and excessive evaporation. They develop coarse leaves that are often leathery to the touch. The thick leaf tissue can store water better. In addition, dyes in the leaves ensure that the chlorophyll is not destroyed by too much sunlight. The indoor plants often have dark green or reddish foliage and are visually particularly attractive. An optimal water supply is of great importance for the vitality of indoor plants.

Note: Not many tropical plants with large leaves can handle direct sunlight. They thrive better in locations with indirect sunshine.

Tree-Strelitzia

• botanical: Strelitzia nicolai
• Leaves: up to three meters long and 50 centimeters wide, are reminiscent of banana leaves
• Height: about 200 to 500 centimeters
• Substrate: loamy-sandy potted plant soil of good quality and high permeability
• Nutrients and water: water and fertilize regularly from April to October
• Location: prefers a warm place with light conditions
• Special feature: older specimens bloom similar to bird of paradise flowers

Dessert banana

• botanical: Musa x paradisiaca
• Leaves: leathery with dark spots
• Height: approx. 200 to 300 centimeters
• Substrate: high-quality potted plant soil with coarse proportions such as sand, gravel or grit
• Nutrients and water: Keep the substrate constantly moist and fertilize weekly between April and September
• Location: permanently warm and humid
• Special feature: flowers from the age of three
• attractive varieties: 'Dwarf Cavendish'

Elephant ear

• botanical: Alocasia polly
• Leaves: arrow-shaped to heart-shaped and more or less wavy, up to one meter in diameter
• Height: about 180 to 200 centimeters
• Substrate: nutrient- and humus-rich substrate with high permeability, slightly acidic
• Nutrients and water: Keep the substrate moist all year round, fertilize weekly between March and September
• Location: likes bright light conditions, a bit darker and cooler in winter
• Special feature: rarely blooms with bulb-shaped flowers

Violin fig

• botanical: Ficus lyrata
• Leaves: leathery and wrinkled, up to 50 centimeters long and more than 20 centimeters wide
• Height: about 200 to 400 centimeters
• Substrate: humus-rich and well-drained soil
• Nutrients and water: keep moderately moist during the growing season and fertilize weekly
• Location: shady place without direct drafts
• Special feature: violin case-shaped leaves are reminiscent of a lyre

Rubber tree

• botanical: Ficus elastica
• Leaves: coarse and shiny, up to 30 centimeters long
• Height: about 100 to 200 centimeters
• Substrate: sandy soil with a high proportion of coconut fibers
• Let the soil dry on the surface before watering, fertilize indoor plants every two weeks from spring to summer
• Location: bright and warm with temperatures of at least 18 degrees

Umbrella tree

• botanical: Schefflera actinophylla
• Synonyms: Large-leaved Schefflera, Queensland ray aralia
• Leaves: divided finger-shaped, partial leaflets ten to 40 centimeters long, petiole 15 to 50 centimeters
• Height: about 150 to 300 centimeters
• Substrate: high-quality and well-drained potted plant soil
• Nutrients and water: constantly moist soil without waterlogging, fertilize regularly from April to September
• Location: bright place with indirect sunlight
• attractive varieties: 'Amate'

Tiger arrow blade

• botanical: Alocasia zebrina
• Synonyms: alocasia, tropical root
• Leaves: multicolored, heart-shaped to arrow-shaped, up to 35 centimeters in size
• Height: approx. 60 to 100 centimeters
• Substrate: well-drained and nutrient-rich potting soil
• Nutrients and water: moderate to high water requirements, fertilize during the growth phase
• Location: bright location with temperatures between 22 and 25 degrees
• attractive varieties: 'Tiger'

Penumbra

Locations exposed to the sun in the morning or evening are good for most indoor plants with large leaves. However, their tolerance range for light usually extends over a wide range. For you, this means that you can also cultivate many of the indoor plants from the lists for sunny and shady locations in partial shade.

Dieffenbachia

• botanical: Dieffenbachia maculata
• Leaves: white or yellow-green patterned, pointed and up to 25 centimeters long
• Height: about 60 to 200 centimeters
• Substrate: potting soil with a handful of pieces of charcoal or expanded clay
• Nutrients and water: keep moist all year round, fertilize every two weeks between spring and autumn
• Location: warm place with temperatures between 21 and 30 degrees, high humidity
• Special feature: rarely planted flowers inhibit growth and should be removed shortly after blooming
• attractive varieties: 'Maroba', 'Reflector', 'Tropic Snow', 'Vesuvius'

Homalomena

• botanical: Homalomena rubescens
• Leaves: heart-shaped and pointed, origin with green foliage, some varieties variegated
• Height: about 100 centimeters
• Substrate: high quality and well drained potted plant soil
• Nutrients and water: Avoid dry balls, fertilize monthly between April and September
• Location: ideally in partial shade, also thrives in lighter places
• attractive varieties: 'Maggie', 'Lime'

ClimbingPhilodendron

• botanical: Philodendron scandens
• Synonym: climbing tree friend
• Leaves: firm and heart-shaped, up to 30 centimeters in size
• Height: about 300 to 500 centimeters
• Substrate: nutrient-rich and loose soil
• Nutrients and water: keep moderately moist from spring to autumn and fertilize every two weeks
• Location: bright place with temperatures between 20 and 25 degrees
• attractive varieties: 'Green Wonder'

the shade

Indoor plants for shady locations are particularly easy to care for, because here there is little evaporation from the leaves and you do not have to water too often. In order to promote good health, you should not put the plants in the full shade, but rather cultivate them a little lighter. A change of location between summer and winter is also possible.

Tip: Many houseplants with large leaves turn out to be good air purifiers. So that the plants can fulfill their function, you should regularly remove dust from the foliage.

A leaf

• botanical: Spathiphyllum wallisii
• Leaves: glossy dark green and long stalked, up to 25 centimeters
• Height: about 30 to 80 centimeters
• Substrate: conventional potting soil with a high proportion of humus
• Nutrients and water: Keep the substrate constantly moist, fertilize weekly during the flowering period
• Location: like humid, avoid direct sunlight
• attractive varieties: 'Sweet Sebastiano', 'Sweet Lauretta'

Large-leaved ray palm

• botanical: Licuala grandis
• Synonym: Vanuatu ray palm
• Leaves: rounded, up to 90 centimeters wide
• Height: up to three meters high, lower in indoor culture
• Substrate: Mixture of high-quality potting soil and humus, mixed with perlite
• Nutrients and water: never let it dry out and fertilize weekly between spring and autumn
• Location: feels comfortable in the light shade that is consistently warm and humid
• Special feature: forms only two to four leaves per year

Butt thread

• botanical: Aglaonema commutatum
• Leaves: broadly lanceolate with silvery white grain, up to 30 centimeters long
• Height: about 45 to 50 centimeters
• Substrate: high quality potted plant soil with good structural stability
• Nutrients and water: Keep the soil evenly moist, fertilize weekly between spring and autumn
• Location: warm place with temperatures between 20 and 25 degrees
• attractive varieties: 'Freedman', 'Cutlass', 'Stripes'

Delicious Window leaf

• botanical: Monstera deliciosa
• Leaves: shield-shaped, up to 50 centimeters long
• Height: about 50 to 300 centimeters
• Substrate: nutrient-rich and well-drained potted plant soil
• Nutrients and water: water regularly but sparingly, fertilize every two weeks between April and August
• Location: humid
• Special feature: slashed leaves arise in locations where the light comes from all sides

Skeletal plant

• botanical: Alocasia x amazonica
• Synonym: arrow blade, elephant ear
• Leaves: dark green with light and clearly protruding veins, purple-red underside
• Height: about 40 to 60 centimeters
• Substrate: well-drained and nutrient-rich soil
• Nutrients and water: must not dry out, fertilize moderately
• Location: also thrives in sunny and partially shaded places
• attractive varieties: 'Polly'