We all want big lush plants, but when you are a beginner, large plants can look intimidating. You don’t even know where to start.
Worry not, after reading this article, you will learn that you don’t have to stick with growing Succulents.
Here are the 10 best large indoor plants for beginners, these plants will make you look like an expert in no time:
1. Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior)
Other Names: Bar Room Plant
This evergreen perennial is a low-maintenance houseplant that’s highly tolerant to neglect and can live up to 50 years!
The Cast Iron Plant produces large glossy leaves that extend upward.
During the early summer months, it will bear white flowers which last a few weeks at a time.
You will find caring for the Cast Iron plant very easy, even as a beginner. It’s flexible and tolerant to low light, low humidity, and temperature fluctuations between 45-85 °F (7-29°C). It also doesn’t require regular watering or fertilizing, although it’s very easy to do so should you want.
It truly earns the name and reputation as an (almost) indestructible indoor houseplant.
- Size: Up to 3 feet tall (1 meter), leaves grow up to 2 feet tall (60 cm).
- Maintenance: Keep soil slightly moist but never soggy, especially during the cooler months of the year. Fertilize using an all-purpose liquid fertilizer during spring and summer only.
- Light: Avoid direct sun, grows best in low light, partial shade conditions.
- Water: Prefers slightly moist soil, water once a week during summer, and less regularly during the winter months.
- Temperature: Handles 45-85 °F (7-29°C), but ideally you want to keep it over 60 °F (15°C). Keep away from cold drafts in winter.
- Toxic: Non-Toxic to pets or humans.
2. Dragon Tree (Dracaena marginata)
Other Names: Madagascar Dragon Tree
The Dragon Tree is best described as a robust and easy to care for houseplant that can grow tall and really make a statement.
It grows from a fibrous stem that produces striking spear-shaped leaves that are dappled in green, white, and purplish-pink hues.
Beginners will find the Dragon Tree very easy to care for. They can tolerate a lot of neglect and still recover, with minimum fuss. They just need moist soil, regular temperatures and require no ongoing pruning or maintenance as any dead leaves simply drop off.
Dragon Trees are also quite slow growing so you will only need to re-pot the plant every second year.
However, be warned that the leaves are toxic to cats and dogs if ingested in large quantities.
- Size: 8-10 feet (3 meters) tall for a fully mature plant.
- Maintenance: Use an all-purpose potting mix and fertilize once every three months.
- Light: Avoid direct sun, place in a location with bright indirect light or partial shade.
- Water: Once or twice a week in the summer months, water just enough to keep the soil moist. Water far less frequently in the cooler winter months.
- Temperature: Ideal growing temp is 65-75 °F (18-24°C), keep away from prolonged temperatures below 50 °F (10°C), as this may cause root rot or yellowing of the leaves.
- Toxic: Toxic to cats, dogs and humans. If ingested can cause vomiting and stomach aches.
3. Corn Plant (Dracaena fragrans)
Other Names: Corn Dracaena, Striped Dracaena
Known as The Corn Plant known also as ‘Striped Dracaena’, is a large shrub that produces long spear-shaped leaves up to 2 feet (60 cm) in length.
The leaves feature a distinctive lime green color in the center of the spear and are bordered by a yellow stripe the color of a lemon around the edges.
Corn Plants are a great houseplant for beginners as they are highly tolerant to neglect and can be placed in indoor low-light environments. They like moist soil, but can easily survive forgetful owners.
Ideally, they like soil in rich organic matter.
During the summer months, they produce small, fragrant white flowers and small red berries that are poisonous to cats and dogs if ingested.
- Size: Up to 9 feet (2.7 meters) tall, 3-5 feet (1.5 meters) in diameter.
- Maintenance: Grow in loam-based potting soil. Keep the soil well-fertilized and rich in organic matter. Grows ideally in slightly moist soil. Re-pot every year, doubling the size of the pot each year.
- Light: Partial shade or indirect light. Keep out of the full sun as it will burn the leaves.
- Water: Water regularly, around once or twice per week during summer. Keep the soil slightly moist. Water far less frequently during winter.
- Temperature: Ideally 70-75 °F (21-24°C), avoid cold drafts during winter months.
- Toxic: Toxic if ingested by pets or humans.
4. Devil’s Ivy (Epipremnum aureum)
Other Names: Golden Pothos
Devil’s Ivy is a fast-growing, climbing vine that is an ideal plant for novice indoor gardeners.
The Devil’s Ivy is a notorious beginner plant. They tolerate low light, irregular watering, and if left un-pruned, they can grow well over 8 feet (2.4 meters) in length, producing round green leaves that have a beautiful speckled effect.
They thrive in warm, humid conditions and are an ideal plant for the bathroom as the aerial roots won’t damage plaster or paintwork.
They love to sprawl and climb, but are also happy potted in a hanging basket.
Be careful around pets and small children as Devil’s Ivy leaves are toxic if ingested in large quantities.
- Size: Up to 8 feet (2.4 meters) in length.
- Maintenance: Allow soil to partially dry out before watering. A 10-inch pot is a good size for semi-mature plants, and re-pot using soil that is well-draining with some small loose pebbles in the bottom of the pot to help drainage.
- Light: Tolerant to low-light levels, keep out of the full sun as it will burn the leaves.
- Water: Water once the top half of the soil is dry, don’t overwater as it will cause the leaves to yellow and fall off. Requires minimal watering in winter.
- Temperature: Grows best in 60-80 °F (15-27°C).
- Toxic: Toxic for cats, dogs and humans if ingested.
5. Heartleaf Philodendron (Philodendron scandens)
Other Names: Sweetheart Plant
They produce glossy green heart-shaped leaves around 4-6 inches in size along the stem.
The Sweetheart Plant is a great indoor plant for beginners as it is extremely easy to grow and care for. As long as you avoid bright direct sunlight, it will thrive in any conditions and it will even let you know when it’s been given too much water by dropping its leaves.
These are great plants to grow from a hanging basket or from a bookshelf, letting the stems drape down and grow.
They also like humidity and grow with different light conditions from bright light to partial shade, making them a great plant for the bathroom.
Keep out of reach of children, cats, and dogs as the plant is mildly toxic.
- Size: Up to 4 feet (1.2 meters) in length.
- Maintenance: Use a peat moss-based soil mix and fertilize monthly through fall and spring. Do not feed during winter.
- Light: Thrives in bright indirect light, also grows well in soft shade.
- Water: Keep the soil slightly moist throughout summer and spring. Water less regularly in the cooler months. Overwatering will cause the leaves to yellow and fall off.
- Temperature: Best in 60-80 °F (15-27°C) and avoid sustained temperatures below 50 °F (10°C).
- Toxic: Toxic for cats, dogs and humans due to insoluble calcium oxalate.
6. Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica)
Other Names: Rubber Fig
Whilst the Rubber Plant can grow up to whopping 50 feet (15 meters) tall when planted outdoors, they typically grow up to 10 feet (3 meters) tall as a houseplant with some minor pruning throughout the year.
They grow thick rubbery green leaves that curl open from rosy green sheaths when new and mature into a darker green color.
They’re a great indoor plant for beginners as they are low maintenance.
You will find caring for the Rubber Plant as a beginner to be a hands-off experience. They just need well drained soil, watering once every week or two and regular household temperatures.
Fertilizing isn’t required but encouraged to help the plant reach its full potential.
Occasionally, you can also mist the large leaves with water and wipe them down to remove any dust that collects.
The Rubber Plant is one of those plants that looks amazing with a leaf shine, checkout this article if you want to know how to do it safely!
Keep out of reach of children and pets as the sap and leaves are toxic when ingested.
- Size: As indoor houseplants, they grow up to 8-10 feet tall (3 meters).
- Maintenance: Use well-drained soil and fertilize every second month using a liquid fertilizer. Do not overwater, but keep the soil moist. Re-pot every one or two years.
- Light: Prefers bright indirect light, avoid placing in the full sun as it will turn the leaves brown.Prefers bright indirect light, avoid placing in the full sun as it will turn the leaves brown.
- Water: Water regularly to keep the soil moist in summer and water less frequently during fall and winter.
- Temperature: 60-80 °F (15-27°C), avoid prolonged exposure to cooler temperatures below 50 °F (10°C).
- Toxic: Toxic for cats, dogs and humans if ingested.
7. Ponytail Palm (Beaucarnea recurvata)
Other Names: Elephant’s Foot
The Ponytail Palm or “Elephant’s Foot” is an elegant looking palm that has a fibrous, bulbous stem that sprouts bright green leaves that cascade similar to a ponytail in the hair.
They are an impressive option for any novice due to their unique appearance and low maintenance.
Beginners caring for a Ponytail Palm will find it very easy. As a succulent from the Agave family species, they don’t require regular watering, just well drained soil and watering when the soil is dry. Fertilizer or pruning isn’t usually a requirement either.
Best of all, the Ponytail Palm is non-toxic to humans, cats and dogs so are ideal for households with pets or kids.
- Size: Up to 8 feet tall (2.4 meters), 3 feet (1 meter) wide.
- Maintenance: Use a sandy well-draining soil type. Do not fertilize often, only once or twice during spring using a plant or succulent fertilizer. Requires minimal pruning or maintenance throughout the year.
- Light: Prefers bright indirect light, although can grow in partial light.
- Water: Requires irregular watering and you should allow the soil to completely dry out before rewatering.
- Temperature: Best in 60-80 °F (15-27°C).
- Toxic: Completely safe. Non-toxic for pets or humans.
8. Tree Houseleek (Aeonium arboreum)
Other Names: Irish Rose
The Tree Aeonium is most commonly known as the Tree Houseleek and is a member of the succulent family.
As a native to Tenerife in Spain and along the Iberian peninsula, this striking plant grows up to 6-7 ft tall (2 meters), with a net-like textured stem that produces multiple rosette leaves that grow similar in resemblance to a rosebud.
Beginners caring for the Tree Houseleek have virtually no maintenance to do. It is a very tough plant in terms of temperature fluctuations and can handle infrequent watering. Just avoid very dark rooms and re-pot once a year if you want it to grow faster.
The Tree Aeonium is completely safe for humans and pets, making it ideal for any indoor space.
- Size: Up to 7 ft tall (2 meters) for a mature plant. They can grow reasonably quickly depending on the size of the pot they are grown in.
- Maintenance: Fertilize once a month during the winter and spring as this is their growth stage. Use a water-soluble fertilizer and dilute to half strength.
- Light: Grows best in bright, indirect sun. Keep by a window with the sun during the winter months.
- Water: Only water once the top layer of soil is dry. They are dormant in the summer so only water once a month during this season.
- Temperature: Can tolerate a range between 40-100 °F (4-38°C), ideally keep it at 65 °F (18°C) and above.
- Toxic: Non-toxic for pets or humans, although it may cause stomach aches if eaten in large quantities.
9. Burro’s Tail (Sedum morganianum)
Other Names: Donkey’s Tail
The Burro’s Tail is a drought and heat-resistant succulent that loves the full sun.
It grows long draped stems that are loaded with small, rounded leaves around an inch long.
If you are a beginner caring for a Burro’s Tail, all you need to remember is that it needs sunlight and very little care besides that! Water once a month roughly or when the soil is dry, keep it out of drafts and handle it with care.
Although they are a very hardy plant overall, the leaves are delicate to the touch and will fall off with little force when touched.
The good thing is that they are non-toxic to humans or pets.
- Size: Up to 4-feet (1.2 meters) long.
- Maintenance: Fertilize once during growth season using a succulent-based fertilizer. Take extra care when re-potting as the leaves are extremely fragile and will fall off with the slightest touch. Keep the soil dry and well-drained. You can even use some small pebbles in the base of the pot helps promote soil drainage.
- Light: Full sun.
- Water: Once a month and allow the soil to completely dry out between watering.
- Temperature: 60-75°F (15-24°C) indoors is ideal.
- Toxic: Non-toxic for cats, dogs or humans.
10. Cascade Palm (Chamaedorea cataractarum)
Other Names: Cat Palm
The Cascade Palm, also known as the ‘Cat Palm’, these Central American natives grow exceptionally well both indoors and outdoors.
They feature a fibrous stem that sprouts luscious green palm fronds that have a slightly glossy surface texture.
Their leaves can grow in excess of 1-2 feet (60 cm) in diameter, making them a visually appealing and dramatic plant for the indoors.
Although the Cascade Palm requires slightly more attention than other plants listed, they do not require much maintenance. They thrive in warm climates, so beginners caring for it need to keep it out of bright direct sunlight and keep the soil a bit moist, without allowing more that the top inch of the soil to dry.
Cascade Palms are not hungry plants and only require fertilizing every change of season.
- Size: Up to 6 feet tall (2 meters).
- Maintenance: Keep soil slightly moist year-round and fertilize using a slow-release plant fertilizer 4 times per year. Prune off any dead or brown leaves from the stem.
- Light: Avoid placing in direct sun as it will burn their leaves. They thrive in indirect sun and slight shade.
- Water: Keep soil moist, water twice a week during summer, and less in the winter.
- Temperature: Keep indoor temps between 60-75 °F (15-24°C).
- Toxic: Non-toxic for cats, dogs or humans.