A big leaf plant may provide drama and a tropical feel to any yard or space. While these plants are usually placed in open areas, several types have been altered to suit the indoors as well.
In this article, we carefully curated a list of diverse big-leaf plants. To learn more, take a look at the plants listed below.
Contents
- List of Big Leaf Plants
- 1. African Mask Plant
- 2. Banana Tree
- 3. Bird of Paradise Plant
- 4. Butterbur
- 5. Calathea Orbifolia
- 6. Canna Indica
- 7. Dieffenbachia Seguine
- 8. Elephant Ear Plant
- 9. Fiddle Leaf Fig
- 10. Giant Leopard plant
- 11. Giant Rhubarb
- 12. Hosta
- 13. Majesty Palm
- 14. Mayapple
- 15. Monstera Deliciosa
- 16. Philodendron Xanadu
- 17. Rubber Tree
- 18. Ruffled Fan Palm
- 19. Snake Plant
- 20. Umbrella Plant
- Conclusion
List of Big Leaf Plants
1. African Mask Plant
Also known as “Polly,” this variety of alocasia is the most well-known, and at times it is even known as the Alocasia Amazonia. It is a compact plant with very dark green leaves shaped like a shield with wavy edges. The white veins and the glossy surface add to its beauty.
The size of the leaves would start growing from one inch and grow up to 20 inches long and when they are young, the broadness starts from one inch would become almost 10 inches broad.
As with all alocasias, caring for this plant is quite tricky or challenging, and this is because it prefers a damp climate and requires a lot of water, so the challenge is to always provide this need. Nonetheless, it also enjoys a tight fit in its container; thus, it is not advisable to repot it frequently, as the plant would lose its strength in the roots.
2. Banana Tree
With the scientific name Musa, it is a genus that contains flowering plants of the edible banana and plantains. The leaves of this banana plant are its main decorative feature, which gives off a very tropical vibe. The leaves can grow up somewhere starting from six inches to even reaching almost two feet wide.
In addition, the height would star from two feet up to almost nine feet long, and this would be depending on the plant’s variety and the health care that it receives.
3. Bird of Paradise Plant
The bird-of-paradise flower can reach about three feet, and it would even reach five feet via underground stems called rhizomes. The paddle-shaped leaves are joined to a long, vertical or upright stem and resemble the leaves of a banana plant.
Each leaf is stiff, upright, leathery, concave, and oblong. This dense, waxy, and evergreen foliage of a bird-of-paradise plant is arranged in the shape of a fan. In addition, you must note that the leaves might be lustrous, deep green, blue-green, or a subdued gray-green.
4. Butterbur
This plant, often called coltsfoot, is a member of the Asteraceae family, which also includes sunflowers. They are large, heart-shaped perennial plants that have some dense underside hairs. Originating from regions of Asia and throughout Europe, this plant can now be found in some areas in the United States.
It is thought that the plant has compounds that can ease spasms and minimize edema. Additionally, note that it is claimed that these compounds can aid in the treatment of a wide range of ailments, such as migraine, hay fever, and asthma, however, this is traditional medicine, because there is no scientific evidence to support this.
5. Calathea Orbifolia
This plant is even called the orbifolia prayer plant because of how its leaves curl up at night to look like praying hands.
Originating from Bolivia, this plant does best in a humid, tropical setting. The leaves of this plant would grow from two to 12 inches wide, the latter is when it grows up in a healthy environment, in addition, it would grow up to three feet tall.
Due to the magnificent beauty of its enormous, round leaves and its air-purifying abilities, Calathea orbifolia is a lovely houseplant that is in high demand. The undersides of the leaves are a faint silver-green color, and its lovely foliage has a subtly striped pattern.
6. Canna Indica
A perennial herbaceous plant with a long lifespan, it would be able to grow up to around three feet reaching almost six feet tall. Its strong, hairless, and green upright stems support a large, spreading leaf blade and a stem-clasping sheath that holds up the alternately placed leaves.
In addition to its bright red, sometimes yellowish flowers, the leaves are also eye-catching with their size, measuring eight inches to two feet long, having a width of around four inches that would be able to grow around one foot even.
7. Dieffenbachia Seguine
A species of Dieffenbachia, also known as tuftroot, is native to the tropical part of America. They were originally found in southern Mexico, Central America, northern South America, Brazil, Puerto Rico, and other Caribbean islands.
Its common name, “dumb cane,” came from the result of the effect that this poisonous plant can have once any part of it is ingested. This is because, in some cases, swelling is so severe that the afflicted cannot speak temporarily.
However, even if these plants are poisonous, there are no recorded grave cases of both animals and humans. Beyond this flaw, this plant can be an excellent houseplant because it can greatly tolerate shade.
The most distinct part of this plant is the leaves, which come in exquisite combinations of green, white, and yellow. However, a leaf can measure 18 inches long and 12 inches wide, while the whole plant can reach up to three feet to six feet tall on the other hand the width of it could reach from one foot at start but three feet as it grows and thrives.
8. Elephant Ear Plant
This sturdy perennial plant has a big corm, which serves as its storage organ and helps it to survive severe weather conditions. It is one of the significant plants with the biggest heart-shaped leaves, which are held by strong stalks and beautiful foliage.
Note that these stalks can grow up to two feet to even three feet long, while the leaves can be as big as two feet when measured across. However, the whole plant can grow to a height of three feet to six feet and up to four feet in width.
9. Fiddle Leaf Fig
Ficus lyrata is a species of attractive plant that belongs to the fig and mulberry families. Its natural habitat is in western African tropical rainforests, where it can reach heights of between 39 feet and 100 feet.
However, the reason why this plant is loved by gardeners is that it typically grows to a height of two feet to 10 feet when it is placed indoors, especially in cooler climates. It is crucial to place this plant away from air vents and drafts because it thrives in a warm, humid environment and note that it loves lots of sunshine, and will grow tall when it is healthy.
10. Giant Leopard plant
Formerly known as Ligularia tussilaginea, Farfugium japonicum or the leopard plant honors its homeland on the seashores of Japan. The Asteraceae family includes this herbaceous perennial. It features large, dinner-plate round, glossy green leaves that would grow very widely from 12 to 15 inches big, as the leaves are circular and not vertical like most leaves.
It also has bright yellow, daisy-like flowers that bloom in the middle of summer. Although it can grow in a variety of soil types, it does best in soil that is consistently moist, rich, and well drained. Farfugium needs constant watering and can wilt if allowed to become too dry.
11. Giant Rhubarb
Gunnera manicata, or Brazilian giant rhubarb, is a species of flowering plant native to Brazil’s Serra do Mar highlands. It is a big, herbaceous, clump-forming perennial plant that is able to grow up to reaching eight feet tall by 13 feet wide.
Its round to kidney-shaped deep green leaves can grow to a spread of 10 feet and reach a width of up to six feet. The stalks and undersides of the leaves are spiked, and the foliage is very much loved.
In addition, this plant also produces small, spherical fruits that appear in the early summer. The large leaves of this plant, however, are the main reason it is grown. Even though it prefers moist environments, it does not tolerate cold and wet winters.
12. Hosta
The Hosta plant genus is also known by the names gibshi, hostas, and plantain lilies. These herbaceous perennial plants are indigenous to northeast Asia. They come in many varieties, and shades but it has leaves that would be ranging in size starting from 0.5 inch to 12 inches wide and one inch to 18 inches long.
Note that the heart-shaped, ribbed leaves come in clusters near the plant’s base. The most common species feature leaves that are all green or green with white streaks, whereas other species come in a wide variety of plain colors.
13. Majesty Palm
Also known as the magnificent palm, this palm tree is one of the species of tree in the Arecaceae family. It has long, dark green, feathery fronds that are pinnately compounded. It can grow to a height of 10 feet to 12 feet when in a pot, however, occasionally, it would be able to reaches a height of 98 feet, and that would be its perfect condition where it is thriving in.
This tropical tree is a native of Madagascar. However, it is becoming less common in the wild and is currently being grown as an indoor tree wherein the roots are restricted, making the height reach only around 10 feet. However, growing this plant successfully indoors can be challenging as it requires moist air, a lot of bright indirect light, and regular watering.
14. Mayapple
Podophyllum peltatum is a species of woodland plant belonging to the family of Berberidacea. It is also known as mayapple, wild mandrake, American mandrake, and ground lemon.
This perennial herbaceous plant has stems reaching a height of 11 inches to 15 inches, whereas the umbrella-shaped leaves have somewhat between three and nine cut lobes with a diameter of seven inches to 15 inches.
Except for the fruit, every part of the plant contains podophllotoxin, an exceedingly toxic compound that Native Americans use medicinally.
15. Monstera Deliciosa
This plant is also known as the split-leaf philodendron or Swiss cheese plant, as the leaves greatly resemble the appearance of this dairy product. It is native to the tropical woods of Southern Mexico and Panama but has been introduced to so many tropical regions that it has become a mildly invasive species.
However, note that it is still being cultivated as a houseplant. In its natural habitat, this plant can grow to a height of 66 feet, and the big, glossy, pinnate, leathery, heart-shaped leaves are 10 inches to 35.5 inches long by 10 to 29.5 inches wide.
The young leaves may or may not have their identifying lobes or holes, but as they mature, they rapidly develop lobes and fenestrated leaves. Indoor growth only results in heights of 6.6 feet to 9.8 feet, but this is undoubtedly one of the big leaf plants, and it just looks so gorgeous because of the foliage and the size of the leaves.
16. Philodendron Xanadu
This perennial plant comes from the Araceae family and the Thaumatophyllum genus. This plant originates from Brazil, and it is widely cultivated as a landscape plant, especially in tropical, subtropical, and areas with warm temperate climates.
A low-maintenance plant, it does best on natural rainfall alone and can grow incredibly well, the range of its length can start from 15 and grow up to 18 inches long.
On the other hand, the width of it would grow from eight and reach a maximum of 12 inches wide.
The Xanadu plant stands out, thanks to its leathery, dark green leaves that resemble “teeth” or “feathers.” Instead of climbing, it sprawls out widely from the base.
17. Rubber Tree
Ficus elastica, also known as rubber fig, rubber bush, or rubber plant, is a species of the Moraceae family. This plant has a lifespan of up to 200 years. However, when used as an ornamental plant, its lifespan shortens to around 25 to 50 years.
It is popular due to its glossy leaves that would grow and become eight inches and 12 inches long, and a maximum of six inches wide. Note that the leaves are broad, glossy, oblong, and come in a variety of colors, such as deep maroon and dark green, with some having yellow, cream, pink, or white markings.
18. Ruffled Fan Palm
Licuala grandis is the scientific name of the plant with the common name Vanuatu fan palm or Palas palm. It originated from the island of Vanuatu. It is an uncommon palm plant with a single trunk of around four inches to five inches in diameter that grows slowly.
True to its name, this palm tree has some ruffled, circular, glossy, green leaves that would grow about 22 inches in diameter and feature the unique palmate or fan-shaped fronds, which give it the appearance of a huge, folded fan characteristic.
19. Snake Plant
The scientific name for this typical indoor plant, which originated from Asia and Africa, is Sansevieria trifasciata. It is also referred to as Mother-in-law’s tongue and Saint George’s sword. Its sword-shaped, vertically growing, evergreen leaves that resemble fake foliage make it easy to identify.
In addition to its beautiful appearance, this plant is low-maintenance, very resilient, and needs minimal water to grow, and these traits are what makes it unique and pretty much loved. It can survive even if placed in dark places or areas with intense light, and can still grow from six inches to eight feet tall.
20. Umbrella Plant
This plant is a member of the Araliaceae family of trees, which originated from the tropical rainforests of Australia’s Northern Territory, New Guinea, and Java, as well as the northern and northern-eastern Queensland coasts.
This flowering plant is also known as Darmera peltata or Indian rhubarb. It is a perennial rhizomatous plant that is found naturally along mountain streams in western American forests. It has a 6.5 feet maximum height and a 3.2 feet maximum width.
Conclusion
Big leaf plants can truly elevate any space. After discovering the wide variety of these plants, you can easily take a pick and transform your area, which will have a keen impact on the overall look of your house and gardens.
Nonetheless, some of these leaves would add extra elegance to your home or garden, while others would elevate the beauty. You can now have that relaxing tropical jungle vibe at home, whether indoors or outdoors in no time!
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