10 Amazing Tropical Plants That You Can Grow Indoors
The most amazing, (and the best), tropical plants to grow in your home are the ones that grow out of control in the wild!
I am not kidding you!
Let me give you some context; I traveled to Florida with my family in March.
It wasn’t the first time going there, so I already knew the local vegetation is fantastic!
However, this time around I had more time, (and a better eye), to appreciate the Floridian nature.
I was in awe.
All the tropical plants that I have been growing indoors for years were growing outdoors in parks at a much, much bigger scale than mine!
Some even looked like invasive weeds taking over trees and even the surrounding man-made structures.
I took so many pictures and spent so much time admiring these plants that I ended-up annoying my teenage son, who eventually said; “Why are we spending so much time looking at these plants? We have them all at home!”.
Yes, BUT! Have you seen the size of that Monstera????
Anyway, I live in Central Canada, where the climate is nowhere near Florida’s.
These stunning tropical plants can only grow indoors in my region, and they will never reach the size and maturity of the plants I had the opportunity to admire there.
I decided to include pictures of these plants from my travel to give the readers who live in climates similar to mine the opportunity to admire the beauty of such plants growing outdoors.
Important note;
Notice how I’ve only listed ten tropical plants?
Greenhouses are filled with all sorts of tropical plants from many exotic areas of the world.
I have seen a few Stromanthes, Calatheas and Marantas here and there, but guess what? They were struggling. They weren’t growing anywhere near the size and beauty of the plants you are about to see.
That tells me that those plants are really hard to grow without proper maintenance even in warmer and humid climates. Florida is quite humid, and even that didn’t seem enough to keep them from crisping their leaves!
So, dear reader, if you have a little faith in me, my experience with many plants, and my travel’s findings, stick to these tropical plants for your home.
They are remarkable and low maintenance.
I thing this wild Poinsettia was the most unexpected tropical plant to find in the wild. I am not a fan of Poinsettias. I always kill them, (and now I know why! I can’t compete with the Florida climate in our home.)
1. monstera deliciosa
When I think tropical plants, the first plant that comes to mind is the Monstera.
I basically stopped and looked at every Monstera I saw in nature.
Not only they are big and climb high into trees, but their leaves are enormous! Some of them even sport their fruit, which is quite big.
I’ve always prided myself for my big Monstera, but I have to say, it looks like a little “fart” compared to these ones.
Watching them in nature makes you understand their need to climb on a central pole when you are growing them indoors. It is essential for the health of this plant.
The Monstera is native to the tropical forests of Southern Mexico and Panama. It has been introduced to other tropical climates, and in some areas it has become a mildly invasive species, (no surprise there!).
Even though the Monstera Deliciosa thrives in humid environments, it does quite well in average homes humidity.
It loves bright, indirect light. You can find literature supporting theories that the Monstera is a good plant for low light conditions. Not completely true. It might not die, but it certainly won’t thrive into a healthy plant with big, fenestrated leaves.
Bright light, without direct exposure to sun rays is ideal for this plant.
Water it when 1/4 to 1/3 of the top soil feels dry to the touch.
It is critical you keep your Monstera in a well draining pot. Remember that this plant is an epiphytes, which means that it grows on other plants in nature. It doesn’t require much soil to survive.
Fertilize it once a month from Spring to Fall with a liquid plant food.
Repot it only when the roots are creeping out of the draining holes at the bottom of its pot.
in the wild
Monstera Deliciosa going from the ground into the closest tree to climb it. Isn’t it impressive?
I had to place a granola bar on this Monstera leaf to render the idea of scale. This is probably one of the biggest Monstera leaves I found!
at home
My Monstera and my dog Rufus. He always sleeps under the Monstera leaves.
Me and my Monstera. I thought she was big, until I saw the wild Floridian ones.
2. split leaf philodendron, (philodendron HOPE)
I’ve added this plant to my “Plants to buy” list.
I must be a sucker for BIG tropical plants.
This plant was everywhere in Florida. It was even more widespread than Monsteras.
The Split Leaf Philodendron is definitely s “showy” plant that can give any home a facelift.
I’d like to be more specific about this plant; There is always some confusion with plants common names. So, let’s shed some light on this one, in case you decide to buy it like me!
The Split Leaf Philodendron that grows outdoors in Florida and other tropical regions, (and you see pictures of here below), is quite big. Its scientific name is Philodendron Selloum.
If you want to buy a Split Leaf Philodendron to keep indoor, you want to buy the Philodendron Hope, which is most commonly sold in greenhouses.
It is basically a smaller hybrid of the Philodendron Selloum. They look the same but the Hope hybrid has a more humane size.
But, don’t kid yourself! It still grow pretty big indoors! Up to 6′ tall!
I invite you to do your google image research before you buy one!
One last thing I’d like to warn you about, is that there is a lot of confusion about the Split Leaf Philodendron common name, as it is often used to define the Monstera Deliciosa.
Be careful.
In this Blog I feature them both, so you know the difference between the two plants.
Native to South America, the Split Leaf Philodendron, is an epiphytic plant.
It thrives in bright, indirect light. Low light conditions are not ideal for this plant. Direct light will scorch its leaves.
Since this plant is an epiphytes and climbs on others trees and plants in nature, it doesn’t need too much soil or water to thrive.
It is essential that it’s planted in a draining pot with well draining soil.
Do not over-water your Philodendron.
Water it when the top 2″-3″ of soil feel dry to the touch. Not more than once a week.
Fertilize it once a month from Spring to Fall.
Only repot it when the roots are growing outside the draining holes at the bottom of the pot.
in the wild
Philodendron Selloum slithering around buildings in a Park.
Massive Split Leaf Philodendron leaves at the base of the Banyan Tree at the Cypress Gardens in Florida.
at home
A young Philodendron Hope.
Photo credit: Canva
3. bird's nest fern, (nidus asplenium)
If I was expecting to find Birds of Paradise, Palm Trees and Monsteras, I certainly was not expecting to find Bird’s Nest Ferns among the several tropical plants on my travel.
But here they were!
Only this time, I can pride myself for the size of my Bird’s Nest Fern, and even its look!
I found many Bird’s Nest Ferns tucked here and there in rocks, and trees, but none of them was much bigger than mine, and certainly not better looking!
It’s crazy how these plants can grow in the most vicious conditions of tiny rocks perforations…and then, you might be able to kill them in the comfort of your home!😭
Native to tropical South-Eastern Asia, Eastern Australia, Polynesia, Hawaii, Christmas Island and India, the Bird’s Nest Fern is another epiphytic plant.
It doesn’t require much soil to grow, as it tends to grow on other plants and/or rocks niches.
This is another plant recommended for low light conditions. However, it does thrive in bright, indirect light.
With low light, it’s leaves won’t crinkle like they do with bright light.
Direct sunlight will scorch the leaves.
Out of my 100+ plants, these is one of the very few that I have to water on schedule once a week.
As a fern, it likes its soil moist but not too soggy, (which is a “loosy-goosy” definition that does not help you in the least, I know!). Let’s say the Bird’s Nest Fern is very good at letting you know when it’s thirsty. It will go droopy, like the Peace Lily does.
Fertilize it once a month from Spring to Fall with liquid plant food.
Repot when the roots start growing out its draining holes.
in the wild
This gives you an idea of where these plants grow. Just a small indent in the rock is good enough to grow a healthy Bird’s Nest Fern.
This is one of the biggest species I have seen in nature. I noticed how its bottom leaves are much droopier than mine. I bet that’s because these leaves are actually quite heavy.
at home
My Bird’s Nest Fern. At the time of this picture it is three years old.
This is the same Bird’s nest Fern a year later. You can’t even see the pot anymore.
4. staghorn fern, (platycerium)
Another Fern, another epiphytes growing on trees and rocks.
This is even more of a unique tropical plant. In-fact, what makes this plant so unique, it is its basal fronds completely shielding the tiny roots that anchor themselves to the host plant like a suction cup.
I’ve seen many Staghorn Fern installations on Pinterest. They are all indoor species artfully mounted on wood boards and then hung on walls.
Because these plants need little soil, (like Orchids), to survive, they can be planted in many different ways.
I chose to grow mine in a terracotta pot filled with Orchid Mix.
Native to the tropical areas of South America, Africa, South East Asia, Australia, New Guinea, the Staghorn Fern draws nutrients from the moisture in the air, rain, and the organic matter accumulated on the host tree.
The Staghorn Fern does well in low light conditions, but it really thrives in bright, indirect light. Direct sunlight will ruin its fronds.
This plant benefits from high humidity levels, but it does well in the average home humidity.
I keep my plant on a pebble tray filled with water to keep its humidity levels a bit higher, but also as a good indication of how much water it needs.
I water it once every two weeks.
I pour water in its pot until I see it running through the draining holes at the bottom. Once the water reaches the top of the pebbles in the tray, I know I’ve given my plant enough water.
I fertilize my Staghorn Fern once a month from Spring to Fall and once every two months from Fall to Spring with a liquid plant food.
It rarely needs to be repotted as its roots are very small.
in the wild
This is a mass of several Staghorn Ferns clumped together on a tree. Individual plants don’t get too big but when in proximity they multiply into a community!
I took this picture by sliding my camera under the fronds upside-down. This gives you an idea of the many individual plants clumped together into the tree trunk with their basal fronds shielding and sealing their small, anchoring roots!
at home
My Staghorn Fern. It has grown a lot at a slow pace throughout the years. It is very interesting to see how the basal fronds have completely encased the top surface of the pot. I basically only have one tiny hole to access the soil to water it.
From this angle you can appreciate the Stag-Horns, and why the plant is named this way.
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5. ponytail palm, (beaucarnea Recurvata)
The Ponytail Palm is the first plant I bought when I moved to Canada and into our new home in 2004. Fast forward 19 years, I still have that same plant!
Talk about hardy plants.
The Ponytail Palm is one of the lowest maintenance tropical plants one can have.
If you have a busy life-style with very little time to care for plants, this is the plant for you.
It has so many perks!
It is low maintenance, drought tolerant and even non-toxic for children and pets!
It is highly decorative with its fountain like fronds and can fill up any empty corners with little effort.
What more do you need?
Did you know that this plant is an actual succulent??
Interesting, isn’t it?
Since I’ve had mine for so long indoors, I was completely blown away when I saw one growing in nature; it was enormous!
It was planted in the Dr. Seuss section of Universal Studios and thought it made so much sense! It is a total Cat in the Hat plant!!!
I knew these plants can grow really old and big in their natural habitat but I never realized their scale until saw one in person.
Native to Mexico, the Ponytail Palm is actually in a threatened conservation status.
They thrive in bright, indirect light but can adapt to several light condition. Avoid very low light and direct sunlight.
Since this plant is drought tolerant, it is quite forgiving if you forget a watering or two.
I water mine every three weeks.
The Ponytail Palm is not a big feeder and too much fertilizer can burn its leaves.
Fertilize it three times per year with liquid plant food.
Since this plant doesn’t grow much at all indoors, it rarely needs to be repotted. It is a good practice to replace its soil every two years.
in the wild
This is the huge Ponytail Palm I found walking around the Seuss Character Zone at Universal Studio in Florida.
at home
My one-trunk Ponytail Palm at home
My three-trunks Ponytail Palm.
6. norfolk pine, (araucaria heterophylla)
I bet you would have never imagined to find the Norfolk Pine in a list of the best tropical plants!
Well, yes!
Despite the fact the Norfolk Pine is mostly sold as a novelty plant around Christmas time, it is actual a tropical plant.
Indoor Norfolk Pines are quite small compared to the ones in the wild.
Once again, I thought I had a quite big species in our home.
And once again, I was wrong!
I encountered massive Norfolk Pines in Florida and I was amazed by their beauty and size.
Native to the Norfolk Island, located in the Pacific Ocean between New Zealand and New Caledonia, this “pine’s” needs are much closer to the needs of Orchids and Gardenias than the actual pines’.
The Norfolk Pine thrives in plenty of bright light, even direct light.
Moderate light is not enough to maintain this plant healthy.
It is critical to keep it away from any drafts as it does not tolerate cold temperatures. (See? It is NOT a Christmas plant, despite all the marketing!).
This beautiful plant does need a lot of humidity to do well.
The average home humidity is ok, provided that you keep humidity levels high around your plant. You can either group it with other plants or mist it frequently, like I do.
I water my Norfolk Pine regularly as it likes to have its soil moist but not soggy. If the top 2″-3″ of soil feel dry, it’s time to water it.
Proper drainage is critical for any plant, but when it comes to the Norfolk Pine, it’s a priority. Make sure your plant is in a pot with draining holes and well draining soil.
Fertilize it every two weeks with liquid plant food from Spring to Fall.
Repot it when the roots grow out if the draining holes.
in the wild
A massive Norfolk Pine I came across in a park in Florida.
Norfolk Pine fronds and trunk details.
at home
My lovely Norfolk Pine in my home office.
7. hibiscus
The Hibiscus is a beautiful flower plant that brings colour into a home!
There are so many different colours to choose from.
I had a beautiful Tropical Hibiscus for a while until it succumbed to aphids.
That’s when I learned I will never bring my houseplants outside for the summer ever again.
Native to Vanuatu, and naturalized in many tropical and sub-tropical regions, this beautiful tropical plant thrives in plenty of bright, direct light. The more sun it gets, the better it is!
Watering varies depending on the season.
Water it often in the summer, provided that your Hibiscus is planted in a draining pot with well draining soil, which it’s essential for the health of this plant.
In winter, only water when the soil feels dry to the touch. Allow the plant to dry out between waterings.
Fertilize it once a month from Spring to Fall.
Repot your Hibiscus only when the roots grow out of the draining holes.
It is important to replace its soil once a year, even when a bigger pot is not required. Fresh soil, with fresh nutrients is important to sustain this plant indoors.
in the wild
I’ve seen all sorts of beautiful Hibiscus flower colours walking around Florida. I’ve only posted the brightest colours!
I liked this monochromatic yellow flower. All other flower colours had different coloured petals and pistils but this one was special!
at home
This is a flower of what used to be my Hibiscus. I am glad I took the time to enjoy the beauty of it and take a picture!
8. Moth orchid, (PHALAENOPSIS orchid)
Orchids are beautiful tropical plants.
But they are not for everyone.
Many only keep Orchids while they are in bloom. They toss them once all the flowers are decayed as they believe they are dead.
That is not the case though. Orchids can bloom twice per year if properly cared for.
And Orchids are actually quite easy to care for!
They don’t have many needs.
They are epiphytes, and in nature they grow on other plants and trees, requiring very little soil to survive.
I only saw my first wild Orchid a couple of months ago. I just stumbled upon it in a Floridian park. I don’t know if it was originally planted there as part of the landscape design. All I know is that it was a legitimate Orchid, growing outdoors among many other plants.
I almost cried when I found it. I thought it was the rarest opportunity ever to see an Orchid growing outdoors on a tree, like a real epiphytes does.
It was beautiful and so perfect trailing from a tree, right next to a Staghorn Fern!
I have been taking care of my Mini-Orchid at home for many years now and I know how precious those blooms are. I simply couldn’t believe it!
I called my whole family to see this miracle of nature and they all ran like I saw a wild cougar or something like that. My daughter was the only one not disappointed by the sight of the Orchid…😒
Moth Orchids are native to India, Taiwan, China, South-East Asia, New Guinea, Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines.
They thrive in bright, indirect light and high humidity.
It is quite easy to over-water and under-water them, because most of the times they get transplanted into soil, rather than keeping them in Orchid mix or sphagnum moss.
Orchids are epiphytes and don’t need soil to grow. They rely on the organic matter on other trees and plants for nutrients, as well as moisture from the air and rain.
Keep your Orchids in their moss container while they are in bloom. Do not repot them until all flowers have decayed.
Only then you can replace their small pot, (even if it is not necessary for a while), with a bigger Orchid specific, fenestrated plastic pot filled with Orchid Mix.
If you have a big Orchid, water it by adding three ice cubes at the base of its stems once a week.
If, like me, you have a mini-Orchid, add one ice cube once a week.
in the wild
Orchid trailing from a tree, next to a couple of Staghorn Ferns. (You can see an Orchid stem trailing down on the bottom left too.)
A close-in picture of the beautiful Orchid in the park.
at home
My mini-Orchid. I keep it in its Orchid specific plastic pot with sphagnum moss and place it inside more attractive containers. I put decorative rocks or pebbles to fill the spaces between the actual Orchid pot and the decorative container to enhance the look of the plant, but also to provide some drainage when the ice cube melts.
9. birds of paradise plant, (strelitzia nicolai)
The Birds of Paradise is one of the most popular tropical plants grown indoors.
It is often used as decor element in many interiors, whether residential or commercial.
Their lean and tall stem ending with giant fan-shaped leaves are both elegant and bold.
I knew this plant grew very big because I’ve been dealing with two of them at home. In-fact, I am running out of ceiling space for one of them and I have to resort to root pruning to stop its growth.
Native to the evergreen coastal forests of Eastern-South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana, and Zimbabwe, the Birds of Paradise is naturalized in Eastern Mexico.
If you want to grow this tropical plant indoors you need to make sure you have the space for it.
You might see a relatively small tree at the greenhouse, but it grows very big, very fast! You mostly need a tall ceiling, or a vaulted ceiling.
The Strelitzia Nicolai thrives in plenty of bright light. Southern windows are ideal for this plant, as it can indulge in a few hours of morning direct sunlight.
This plant does not tolerate cold temperatures, nor drafts of any kind, so keep it away from operable windows, vents and doors.
It is quite flexible in terms of humidity, and does well in any average home humidity conditions.
Allow the 50% of the soil to dry out between waterings. You’d rather under-water than over-water this plant. I water mine every two weeks.
As this plant grows fast, it gets hungry for fertilizer. However, balance is key.
Too much fertilizer can burn its roots.
I fertilize mine with a liquid plant food every three weeks from Spring to Fall, and once a month from Fall to Spring.
Repotting becomes tricky as the plant grows in size.
I find that this plant needs annual repotting into bigger pots.
You’ll reach a point in which the size and height of the plant will become too much for your home and repotting no longer sustainable.
That is when root pruning becomes handy!
I had to do it with my Fiddle Leaf Fig and it worked really well.
Root pruning is used indoors to stop a plant from growing and to maintain its size.
in the wild
One of the biggest Strelitzias I saw in nature. I get why they are called “Giant White Bird of Paradise”.
Another Giant White Bird of Paradise sporting its split leaves.
at home
My Bird of Paradise. A much smaller plant compared to those growing wild, but still quite big for my standards.
I periodically have to re-arrange my plant supporting structure to prevent the heavy stems from leaning over.
10. fiddle leaf fig, (ficus lyrata)
The Fiddle Leaf Fig is another “Designer” tropical plant.
It’s featured in many interior design and decor magazines as part of beautiful interiors.
But one thing are the straight and perfect trees you see in greenhouses and magazines.
And another completely different thing is the trees growing in parks or in the wild; They are bushy, lush and even messy!
I was actually in disbelief looking at a Fiddle Leaf Fig tree size as I was walking at the park!
The Fiddle Leaf Fig is not one of the easiest tropical plants to care for.
Or at least not until you find its perfect spot! That’s what happened to me.
I have a special relationship with my 16 years old Fiddle Leaf Fig.
My husband and I bought it as our one year wedding anniversary present for one another.
We brought it into our first home, which was surrounded by many oak trees, not leaving much natural light into the house.
We watched our Ficus Lyrata loose one leaf after another, until it was left with very few.
We eventually moved to a new home and we placed it by the very same South facing window it is still sitting by today.
Slowly, month after month, it grew new leaves. It eventually flourished and even grew new branches.
It grew so much that I couldn’t repot it anymore and I had to root prune it in order to stop its growth and maintain its size.
This tale tells you that the Fiddle Leaf Fig needs a lot of bright light.
Let me repeat that; a lot or bright light.
Do you want to be successful with a Fiddle Leaf Fig? Place it by a South Facing window and don’t move it!
In-fact, the Fiddle Leaf Fig does not like to be moved! Just leave it where it is, (unless it’s in the wrong spot!).
Do not over-water your Fiddle Leaf Fig!
I water mine one litre (4 cups) of water once a week, or 2 litres (8 cups) every two weeks, depending on the season and the humidity levels in the house.
This plant thrives in high humidity so it is a very good idea to mist it regularly and to cluster it with other plant. I keep mine in my home office jungle so there is a lot of humidity for it.
I fertilize it with liquid plant food every two weeks between Spring and Fall and once a month between Fall and Spring.
Repot it when the roots grows out of the draining holes at the bottom of its pot.
in the wild
A close up of this Fiddle Leaf Fig tree to show you the leaves. This is really a Fiddle Leaf Fig, believe it or not!
And a far away shot of the same plant to show you the whole Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree size!
at home
This is my Fiddle Leaf Fig at the age of 13 years.
This is the same Fiddle Leaf Fig at age 15. (This is no indication of its actual age; this is how long I’ve had it for. It must be older than that!)
And there you have it!
This is my top 10 list of tropical plants to grow indoors.
However, plants such as Krotons, Umbrella Trees, Bromeliads and Elephant Ears are also beautiful tropical plants to grow indoors. (Perhaps not as low maintenance, but close enough!).
Do you have some pictures of these plants in the wild?
I would love to see them!
Feel free to share them in the comments below!
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Wow! You have gorgeous plants!
Thank you so much!
You made my day!