Collection
Large Houseplants
Fiddle-leaf figs, monsteras, palms: floor plants that act like furniture.
The best large indoor plants are monstera, rubber plant, fiddle-leaf fig, bird of paradise, dracaena, yucca, schefflera, Norfolk Island pine and indoor palms. They need more light than most people expect, so place them within a few feet of a bright window, water when the top 2 inches of soil are dry, and buy close to the size you want, since big plants grow slowly indoors.
What these plants have in common
- Reaches 4 to 8 feet indoors or is sold as a floor plant
- Upright, tree-like or bold architectural shape
- Long-lived with reasonable care
Areca palm
Dypsis lutescens (syn. Chrysalidocarpus lutescens)- Bright indirect: 2–5 ft from an east or west window, 4–8 ft back from a south window; brief morning sun is fine
- When the top 1 in is dry: about every 5–7 days in summer, 10–14 in winter; soft water
- Non-toxic to dogs and cats (ASPCA)
Bird of Paradise
Strelitzia reginae, Strelitzia nicolai- Brightest window: south or west with several hours of direct sun; summer outdoors helps
- Spring–summer when top 1 inch is dry; from late November let the top 2 inches dry
- ASPCA: Strelitzia reginae toxic to cats, dogs and horses; mild, mainly fruit and seeds
Coffee Plant
Coffea arabica- Bright indirect; some gentle morning sun is fine
- When the top 1 inch is dry; keep evenly moist in growth, slightly drier in winter
- Not listed under Coffea by ASPCA; leaves and fruit contain caffeine, which is toxic to dogs and cats — keep away from pets
Croton
Codiaeum variegatum- Bright; east or west window with a few hours of gentle sun, or 2–4 ft from a south window behind a sheer
- When the top 1/2–1 in is dry: every 4–7 days in summer, 7–10 in winter; room-temperature soft water
- Mildly toxic to cats and dogs (Pet Poison Helpline); irritant milky sap; RHS: all parts poisonous
Dracaena
Dracaena (D. marginata, D. fragrans, D. reflexa, D. deremensis)- Bright indirect; 3–6 ft from a south window or near an east/west one; green types tolerate medium light, variegated need more
- When the top 1.5–2 in are dry: every 5–7 days in summer, 12–18 days in winter; rain, distilled or RO water
- Toxic to cats and dogs: saponins (ASPCA)
Ficus
Ficus spp.- Bright indirect: 1–5 ft from an east or west window, or behind a sheer at a south window
- When the top 1–2 in are dry: about every 5–10 days in summer, 10–16 in winter
- Toxic to dogs, cats and horses (ASPCA: ficin, ficusin); sap irritates skin
Fiddle leaf fig
Ficus lyrata- Very bright indirect light 6+ hours; within 3 ft of an east or south window (sheer curtain on south/west)
- When the top 2 in. are dry: every 7–10 days in summer, 12–16 days in winter
- ASPCA: mildly toxic to dogs and cats (GI irritation); sap can irritate skin
Majesty palm
Ravenea rivularis- Bright light: at a south or west window behind a sheer, or right at an east window; 2–4 hours of soft sun helps
- Keep evenly moist: water when the top half-inch dries, about every 3–6 days in summer, 7–10 in winter
- Non-toxic to dogs and cats (ASPCA)
Monstera
Monstera deliciosa- Bright indirect; tolerates medium light, but leaves stay smaller and less split
- When top 2–3 in. are dry: about every 5–7 days in summer, 10–14 in winter
- Toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA): insoluble calcium oxalates
Norfolk Island pine
Araucaria heterophylla- Bright light near an east, west or south window; some direct sun is fine; rotate weekly
- Water thoroughly when the soil surface is dry; never let the root ball dry out completely
- ASPCA: non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses
Philodendron
Philodendron spp. (heartleaf P. hederaceum and others)- Bright indirect; heartleaf tolerates low light
- When the top 1-2 inches are dry; about every 7-10 days in summer
- Toxic to cats, dogs and horses (ASPCA)
Rubber plant
Ficus elastica- Bright indirect, best at an east window; green types tolerate medium light
- When the top 2 in. are dry: about every 7–10 days in summer, every 12–18 days in winter
- Toxic to dogs and cats (ASPCA, Indian rubber plant/Ficus); milky sap irritates skin and stomach
Umbrella plant
Schefflera arboricola, Schefflera actinophylla (now Heptapleurum)- Medium to bright indirect; 3-6 ft from a south window, or at an east or west window
- Soak, then let the top 1/2-1 in. dry; in winter let the top third of the pot dry
- Toxic to dogs and cats (ASPCA): oral irritation, drooling, vomiting; sap is a skin allergen
Yucca
Yucca gigantea (syn. Yucca elephantipes)- Full sun to very bright light; south window in winter, east or west window or light shade from hot summer sun
- Soak, then water when the top 2 in. are dry: about every 7-12 days in summer, every 3-8 weeks in winter
- Toxic to dogs and cats (ASPCA, Yucca spp.): vomiting
Comparison: which one fits your conditions
| Plant | Light | Water | Difficulty | Pets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Areca palm | Bright indirect: 2–5 ft from an east or west window, 4–8 ft back from a south window; brief morning sun is fine | When the top 1 in is dry: about every 5–7 days in summer, 10–14 in winter; soft water | Moderate | Non-toxic to dogs and cats (ASPCA) |
| Bird of Paradise | Brightest window: south or west with several hours of direct sun; summer outdoors helps | Spring–summer when top 1 inch is dry; from late November let the top 2 inches dry | Moderate | ASPCA: Strelitzia reginae toxic to cats, dogs and horses; mild, mainly fruit and seeds |
| Coffee Plant | Bright indirect; some gentle morning sun is fine | When the top 1 inch is dry; keep evenly moist in growth, slightly drier in winter | Moderate | Not listed under Coffea by ASPCA; leaves and fruit contain caffeine, which is toxic to dogs and cats — keep away from pets |
| Croton | Bright; east or west window with a few hours of gentle sun, or 2–4 ft from a south window behind a sheer | When the top 1/2–1 in is dry: every 4–7 days in summer, 7–10 in winter; room-temperature soft water | Moderate | Mildly toxic to cats and dogs (Pet Poison Helpline); irritant milky sap; RHS: all parts poisonous |
| Dracaena | Bright indirect; 3–6 ft from a south window or near an east/west one; green types tolerate medium light, variegated need more | When the top 1.5–2 in are dry: every 5–7 days in summer, 12–18 days in winter; rain, distilled or RO water | Easy | Toxic to cats and dogs: saponins (ASPCA) |
| Ficus | Bright indirect: 1–5 ft from an east or west window, or behind a sheer at a south window | When the top 1–2 in are dry: about every 5–10 days in summer, 10–16 in winter | Moderate | Toxic to dogs, cats and horses (ASPCA: ficin, ficusin); sap irritates skin |
| Fiddle leaf fig | Very bright indirect light 6+ hours; within 3 ft of an east or south window (sheer curtain on south/west) | When the top 2 in. are dry: every 7–10 days in summer, 12–16 days in winter | Moderate | ASPCA: mildly toxic to dogs and cats (GI irritation); sap can irritate skin |
| Majesty palm | Bright light: at a south or west window behind a sheer, or right at an east window; 2–4 hours of soft sun helps | Keep evenly moist: water when the top half-inch dries, about every 3–6 days in summer, 7–10 in winter | Demanding | Non-toxic to dogs and cats (ASPCA) |
| Monstera | Bright indirect; tolerates medium light, but leaves stay smaller and less split | When top 2–3 in. are dry: about every 5–7 days in summer, 10–14 in winter | Easy | Toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA): insoluble calcium oxalates |
| Norfolk Island pine | Bright light near an east, west or south window; some direct sun is fine; rotate weekly | Water thoroughly when the soil surface is dry; never let the root ball dry out completely | Moderate | ASPCA: non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses |
| Philodendron | Bright indirect; heartleaf tolerates low light | When the top 1-2 inches are dry; about every 7-10 days in summer | Easy | Toxic to cats, dogs and horses (ASPCA) |
| Rubber plant | Bright indirect, best at an east window; green types tolerate medium light | When the top 2 in. are dry: about every 7–10 days in summer, every 12–18 days in winter | Easy | Toxic to dogs and cats (ASPCA, Indian rubber plant/Ficus); milky sap irritates skin and stomach |
| Umbrella plant | Medium to bright indirect; 3-6 ft from a south window, or at an east or west window | Soak, then let the top 1/2-1 in. dry; in winter let the top third of the pot dry | Easy | Toxic to dogs and cats (ASPCA): oral irritation, drooling, vomiting; sap is a skin allergen |
| Yucca | Full sun to very bright light; south window in winter, east or west window or light shade from hot summer sun | Soak, then water when the top 2 in. are dry: about every 7-12 days in summer, every 3-8 weeks in winter | Easy | Toxic to dogs and cats (ASPCA, Yucca spp.): vomiting |
A large plant changes a room more than a dozen small ones, but it is also a bigger investment, so it pays to match the plant to the light you actually have.
Light first
Iowa State University Extension notes that light levels drop quickly away from a window and that spots more than a few feet from even a bright window can be too dim to grow houseplants well. That is a problem for floor plants, which often end up in the corner farthest from the glass. Before buying, check the spot at midday: a big plant should see a good stretch of sky.
The best large houseplants
| Plant | Light | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Monstera | Bright indirect | Easy to moderate |
| Rubber plant | Bright indirect, some sun | Easy |
| Fiddle-leaf fig | Bright, steady | Moderate to hard |
| Bird of paradise | Bright with some direct sun | Moderate |
| Dracaena and corn plant | Medium to bright | Easy |
| Yucca | Bright, some direct sun | Easy |
| Schefflera | Bright indirect | Easy |
| Norfolk Island pine | Bright, cool | Moderate |
| Money tree | Bright indirect | Easy |
Palms are covered in their own collection: indoor palms.
Care tips for big plants
- Water thoroughly but less often: a large pot holds water for a long time. Check 2 inches down, not just the surface.
- Use a pot with a drainage hole and a wheeled caddy so you can rotate the plant toward the light and move it to drain.
- Repot every two to three years in spring, moving up only 2 inches; in other years, replace the top inch or two of mix.
- Dust the leaves. Iowa State advises against leaf-shine products, which can plug leaf pores and collect dust; a damp cloth is better.
- Expect slow growth. Large plants grown indoors may add only a few leaves a year; buy close to the final size you want.
Pets
Per the ASPCA plant list, monstera, rubber plant, dracaena and bird of paradise are toxic to cats and dogs, while money tree and Norfolk Island pine are listed as non-toxic. See pet-safe plants.
Often mislabeled: plants that don't belong here
| Plant | Why it doesn't really fit |
|---|---|
| Weeping fig in a dim room | A classic tall plant, but it drops leaves after almost any move or change in light. |
| Sago palm | Not a palm and highly toxic to pets; ASPCA lists it as toxic to cats and dogs. |
Frequently asked questions
What is the best large indoor plant for low light?
Dracaena (corn plant and Janet Craig types), large snake plants, ZZ plant and parlor or kentia palms tolerate medium to low light better than fig trees or bird of paradise.
How do I keep a fiddle-leaf fig from dropping leaves?
Give it the brightest indirect light you have, keep it away from drafts and heating vents, water only when the top 2 inches are dry, and avoid moving it. Leaf drop usually follows a change in conditions.
How often should I repot a large houseplant?
Every two to three years, moving up just 2 inches in diameter. In between, scrape off the top inch or two of old mix in spring and replace it with fresh mix.
How do I clean the leaves of a big plant?
Wipe them with a damp cloth or give the plant a lukewarm shower. Avoid leaf-shine products, which can clog leaf pores and attract dust.
Are large houseplants safe for pets?
Some are. Areca, parlor and majesty palms, money tree and Norfolk Island pine are non-toxic per ASPCA; monstera, rubber plant, fiddle-leaf fig, dracaena and bird of paradise are toxic.
Sources
Facts on this page were checked against these publications. Links open in a new tab.
- ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List www.aspca.org
- Iowa State University Extension — diagnosing houseplant problems related poor culture yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu
- Iowa State University Extension — how care houseplants yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu