Last Updated on February 11, 2022 by Grow with Bovees
Obtaining and cultivating plants with big green leaves, will always make for a bold statement.
Whether they are outdoor plants grown in your yard or indoor plants grown in pots, their giant leaves will make a generous addition to your plant family.
Not only do large leaf plants with large colorful leaves add a unique look, but they also provide any space with a tropical jungle like vibe.
Tall big leaf plants with stunningly huge exotic leaves are quite popular in the gardening world and will definitely make for a brilliant focal point in any home. They can, as a matter of fact, make any small room look bigger as they draw vertical attention, providing the illusion of a bigger interior.
Big leaf plants can grow in sunny areas as well as shady areas. There are plants ranging from fast growing to slow growing. Choose from big leaf varieties that are perennial and tropical with fragrant flowers and leaves of fine texture.
If you are considering growing these bountiful beauties with large green leaves in your home or garden, continue below where we shall go through a few of the most popular big leaf plants to choose from.
It is not always an easy choice, but we are positive that we can help you find one that is best suited for you.
We will also go through some very basic plant care and tips for the cultivation of these abundant beauties.
Outdoor Green Large Leaf Plants
Let us start off by discussing a few plants to choose from when wanting to make additions to your outdoor garden..
Gunnera — Gunnera Manicata
Gunnera — also known as the giant rhubarb — is a hot plant and one of the largest green leaf plants around.
They are herbaceous plants said to be the grandfather of big-leaved perennials.
No other garden shrub can compete with the scale of the big leaf Gunnera manicata rhubarb. These botanical giants are, for sure, a lovely attention grabber.
This giant rhubarb with its attractive foliage has intrigued many children as well as adults and is amazingly luxurious if you have a big enough garden.
Size
The exotic leaves of this big leaf beauty are amazing. It has huge green leaves and each veined leaf grows about 5 feet across.
The foliage of these plants is fluffy, thick and deeply veined green ornaments emerging from hairy, thick and tall stems which grow from the ground flashing a beautiful pink color.
The size of the entire plant spans from 8 to 10 feet, making it a magnificent giant addition to your outdoor garden.
Flower
The Gunnera manicata produces exotic flowers that are greenish-red in color and resemble cone-like shapes. These flower spikes emerge from thick stems and can reach a lovely size of 3 feet long. You can expect the gunnera to start making flowers in summer, blooming until late summer.
Needs
To grow properly, this big leaf plant needs a bit of full sun as well as partial shade with dappled sunlight. The soil it grows in should be moist and rich.
Make sure your garden has some swampy characteristics or plant it on a wet slope near a shady border and this plant will definitely thrive and grow happily.
Gunnera plants are extremely cold hardy and can survive harsh climates.
This big leaf shrub is great for bog gardens, and it creates huge shaded areas under its leaves which are suitable for planting shade tolerant plants.
Colewort — Crambe Codifolia
The colewort is another magnificent green-leaf outdoor plant. It carries thick leaves that are cabbage like.
What is quite amazing about these big leaf plants, is that when they are in full bloom, their stems become covered in beautiful flowers which look like tiny white stars hovering over the plant like a halo. This happens in midsummer and can last up to a few weeks.
Size
These plants’ beautiful green foliage develop to a size of 14 inches wide. While the entire plant grows to sizes of 3 feet tall and 5 feet in width.
Needs
This is not a fussy plant and demands only a little attention. Crambe codifolia grows best when it is exposed to a full day of sunlight and when the soil it grows in is kept fertile.
Pests
The colewart plant is quite susceptible to slugs during spring time. These slugs like to nibble on its big green tropical leaves. Be sure to keep an eye out for them and get rid of them as soon as they appear to protect the leaves from slugs.
Umbrella Plant — Darmera peltata
This is one of the more eye-catching large leaf tropical plants if you ask us.
The tropical leaves of the amazing umbrella plant are like something out of a fairy tale. They are huge — reaching a size of 24 inches wide — deep green and resemble a lily pad.
The colossal umbrella plant is occasionally called Indian rhubarb. This name was given due to its fancy pink flowers.
Size
The umbrella plant foliage emerges from a central stem which can reach a height of about 4 feet in height and a width of 3 feet.
Growing Conditions
Dark swamp conditions or areas of partial shade are ideal for this green leafed plant to grow. This giant rhubarb likes to grow next to or among other perennials. Provide it with a somewhat moist soil and its large rounded foliage will grow beautifully, adding a tropical feel to the air.
The umbrella plant spreads by rhizomes and does so quite aggressively when provided with moist soil.
Another ideal plant for bog gardens.
Japanese Butterbur Plant — Petasites Japonicus
The Japanese butterbur is yet another one of nature’s magnificent giant perennials. These tropical plants have large and wide kidney – shaped leaves which are green.
This excellent species is also known as coltsfoot and grows in a mounding form, developing gigantic green leaves that can reach sizes of 25-30 inches.
During early spring, just before its leaves start to develop, the butterburs stalks are covered in tight clusters of yellow green flowers.
Living Conditions
The P. japonicus does well growing alone and is not in need of any plant companions. Keep its soil moist and provide it with rich soil. Make sure the area where it is growing is a partially shady spot or fully shaded. Be aware that these plants spread and grow wildly in wet soil — which should not be an issue if you have plenty of space in your garden.
Rice Paper Tree — Tetrapanax Papyrifer
The rice paper tree botanical name Tetrapanax papyrifer grows in USDA Zones 8-11. It is a perennial plant originating from Taiwan. It has immense green palmate leaves that can grow up to 2-3 feet in diameter and reaches an impressive length of 10-15 feet.
This tropical plant is a green leaf plant with showy white and bright flowers which develop into woolly ball-like clusters. These fluffy flower plumes resemble miniature pom-poms.
The rice paper plant is a lovely addition to a small outdoor garden.
These beautiful perennials are able to handle plenty of sunlight if they are watered enough, but they will also thrive and grow well in areas of partial shade or even full shade.
Take Caution
The T. papyrifer does not do well in cold climates. If it is not protected from these climates, it will die. Keep it frost free and this shrub may grow to a size of 4 meters in height.
Indoor Plants With Big Leaves
Let us continue by taking you through some popular house plants that develop big green foliage. They are nothing short of amazing and add lovely ornamental elements to any room.
Ruffled Fan Palm — Licuala Grandis
If it is big leaves that you wish to have, this amazing tall plant is the way to go. Its oval leaves are huge and fan-shaped. They are glossy green and undivided, giving them the appearance of a folded fan.
The fan palm is also quite simple to grow, and its massive palm leaves add a wild look to any corner of your house, which is nothing short of amazing.
Be careful when handling its amazing fan-shaped leaves, though. They have toothed leaves which are quite sharp and pointed edges.
L. grandis can naturally reach a height of 10 feet tall, although growing it indoors, you can expect it to grow to about 6 feet in height.
Place its large pot near a decent size window or in a bright corner with lots of bright sunlight and this plant will thrive and grow to be a lovely tall piece of greenery. Avoid full sun.
When it comes to watering and humid conditions, this plant is not too fussed. Water it whenever the soil feels dry inorder to keep damp soil and that should be sufficient.
Fiddle Leaf Fig — Ficus Lyrata
Fiddle leaf fig is a tall house plant with big bold leaves. It’s a favorite of interior designers due to its large, shiny green foliage and 6-feet average indoor height.
This perfect plant thrives well in both all-day-long indirect sunlight or partly sunny positions. So, place it directly next to a bright window or in any bright corner of the house to allow as much natural sunlight as possible — this is when the plant is at its happiest. It does not like full sun.
Fiddle leaf figs are quite tricky to take care of, and they need some time to adapt to new environments. They also have quite a particular watering need, so be sure to get used to a proper watering schedule and adhere to it at all times.
The watering schedule of the fiddle leaf fig should consist of you watering the fiddle leaf plant thoroughly, at least once a week or when you notice the soil is dry. Try to maintain moist soil and ensure well drained soil.
Take care with these if you have pets in your house, as the fiddle leaf fig is toxic to cats, so try to prevent your cat eating them!
Alocasia Plants
These plants are great for indoor gardens. They do well in pots and add an immense beauty to any room.
Alocasia plants are quite exotic and carry broad showy leaves which are often heart-shaped or shaped like the head of a spear, giving them a triangular look with a pointed leaf tip.
Size
The alocasia’s exotic leaves may reach sizes of up to 3-4 feet. But when potted and grown indoors, they will only measure about 18 inches tall.
Names
Alocasia cultivars have many different names. These exotic names include:
- African mask plant
- Elephant ear plant
- Alocasia Leopard
- Alocasia zebrina
These are the most common names and are usually given to the plants due to the shape of their leaves or stem.
Alocasia amazonica
The Alocasia amazonica is a cultivar that has compact growth and is easily grown indoors as a houseplant.
The A. amazonica is also commonly known under the name of African mask plant. This name was given to this shrub due to its arrow-shaped foliage which is shiny.
It is also quite a deeply veined leaf with wavy leaf edges. The African mask plants dark green leaves with shallow lobes add an exquisite dramatic effect to indoor plant collections.
Alocasia Micholitziana ‘Frydek’
This is an alocasia cultivar that develops incredibly large green triangular leaves — or some might see them as heart shaped leaves.
The leaf veins are an eye-catching creamy white color running through amazing velvety green leaves, making them quite decorative leaves.
The Alocasia micholitziana ‘Frydek’ has matte velvety green leaves, this is why the shrub is also commonly known as the green velvet plant.
Monstera Plants
Monster plants are another variety of large leaf house plants.
They are tropical plants that have large green leaf development. Their tropical leaves are often seen as huge with a leathery green color with different characteristics such as split leaves or lobed leaves.
You may even find a monstera plant with unique holes in its leaves. These have a common name known as the Swiss cheese plant.
The swiss cheese plant is very easy to maintain and can reach a height of 8 feet when grown indoors. Its beautiful green heart-shaped leaves with holes resemble the look of a swiss cheese — hence the name.
Size
The large green leaves of the monstera grow on climbing vines and are able to reach a size of 10-51 inches long and 20 inches in diameter.
Jack Frost — Brunnera Macrophylla
The Jack Frost plant — also known as Siberian bugloss — is another beautifully unique indoor plant. It has dazzling patterns of frosted green ovate leaves which are about the size of a dinner plate. Their variegated dark green broad leaves, notably mottled with a frosty white, make them exceptionally unique in the plant world.
They grow well in USDA Zones 3-8 and reach a size of 12-15 inches, making this quite a short perennial.
When it blooms in spring, it will brighten up any dull corner in your house with spectacular bright blue flowers which resemble forget-me-not flowers.
Ideal Conditions
The Jack Frost plant thrives well in shady areas, avoiding areas of full sun. They are drought resistant and — when cultivated outside — enjoy being planted near a woodland border as they are edging plants. Keep an eye out for slugs as their leaves need to be protected from them.
Philodendron Plants
Philodendron plants are very popular tropical plants.
Their popularity derives from their magnificent heart-shaped leaves. This plant group consists of many species of which most are trailing vines. They grow well in hanging baskets or up against a supporting structure such as a moss pole.
Their huge deeply-lobed foliage can be found in a variety of different colors, one of which is an incredible lush green.
Philodendron Gloriosum
The Philodendron gloriosum, for example, develops unique heart-shaped waxy leaves which are a stunning green color and display outstanding creamy white veins.
Philodendron Xanadu
This tropical philodendron variety is large and evergreen. It has 15 inches long leathery shiny green almost glossy leaves with deep lobes.
Rubber Plant Tree — Ficus Elastica
You will find that there are quite a few varieties of ficus, but the Ficus elastica is a great one, as it is suited for both indoor and outdoor gardening.
Rubber plant care is quite straightforward as it is a hardy plant and requires only minimal looking after.
The rubber bush has a very elegant appearance due to its amazing thick dark green leaves. This makes them the perfect plants to decorate your garden, whether it be indoors or outdoors.
Its broad leaves are oval shaped and reach sizes of 12 inches long and 2-6 inches in diameter.
Size
When found in its natural habitat, the rubber tree can grow to be 50 feet tall. When growing it as an indoor houseplant, it is simple to control its shape and size through pruning. A rubber tree plant that is potted will grow to a height of 6-10 feet.
Ideal Conditions
This tropical wonder enjoys bright, direct sunlight when grown indoors. Plant it in well-draining soil and water it in such a way that you maintain moist soil without having overly wet soil — this is especially important during the plant’s growing season.
Caladium
There are quite a few magnificent and beautiful caladium cultivars. One of my favorites is the Caladium lindenii plants. They are pretty unique tropical plants.
These big leaf plants have spectacularly large heart-shaped tropical leaves which can be found in many different colors depending on the variety. One of the colors found in their foliage is a beautiful luscious green.
They are relatively easy shrubs to keep alive and make a great addition to any indoor setting. With the correct care, they can grow to be 2-3 feet in height.
Place the caladium in an area of bright and indirect light and keep the humidity levels high. With these conditions, this tropical plant will flourish, adding an urban look to any room.
Rich fertile soil kept moist rather than wet, makes this shrub happy.
Keep in mind that this plant is toxic.
Conclusion
This concludes our article about plants with large green leaves. We hope that we have provided you with some informative gardening ideas about leafy tropical plants and promise you that the plants mentioned above will make for some ornamental gardening.
Whether your plants have a variegation of gray leaves, yellow leaves, bright leaves or cabbagey leaves, they are all a beautiful and exotic addition to your plant kingdom.
To make things even more interesting, choose one with a circular pattern or delicate network-like patterns and your plant collection will definitely be the talk of the neighborhood.
The bottom line is, a green leaves plant of any sort will make for a lovely eye-catching focal point of any garden. Whether it be indoor or outdoor. The arctic summer with its golden yellow flowers is also a great choice not mentioned above — check it out.
Just remember that most commonly, tropical plants thrive in bright indirect light. If you can provide that, go to your closest nursery and get yourself a plant with amazingly green and large leaves.
