10 of the best tall indoor plants
Love to grow house plants? We've picked out 10 of our favourite tall indoor plants.
House plants bring an extra dimension to your home. Many have evergreen foliage that adds colour and texture, and they create a natural atmosphere that helps promote feelings of calm. Tall house plants are ideal to add structural elements to a room and define the style of the space. With the huge amount of choice that's now available, you can opt for the dramatic impact of a plant with bold foliage, such as the fiddle leaf fig, or go for a softer look with the wispy fronds of the asparagus fern or the cascading leaves of the ponytail palm.
Caring for tall house plants
As with all house plants, check first that you are growing them in suitable conditions in terms of light levels, humidity levels and temperature. Read plant labels for advice on what conditions each plant requires. If you are concerned about not having enough time to look after your plants, opt for species that are low-maintenance, such as the kentia palm or the African milk tree. Your plants will also need room to grow, so consider their final heights and put them in places where they won’t be cramped. Keep watch for pests and disease on your house plants. The earlier problems are spotted, the easier it is to deal with them.
Knowing how much water your plants require is key to enabling them to thrive long-term. Over-watering leading to root rot can be a real issue with house plants. Equally, plants lacking sufficient moisture are likely to shrivel and die. Avoid routinely watering – instead check if the top 3cm of soil feels dry before deciding whether or not to water. Many plants need rainwater and it's always worth checking that water has reached room temperature as using very cold water can damage or kill plants. After watering, make sure that plants aren’t sitting in water. Check individual species for feeding requirements.
Advice on growing tall house plants
- Buy from a reputable nursery or garden centre to ensure your plants have had the best start in life
- Check that the plant will thrive in the conditions you have and that you'll have time to look after it. If you're short on time, opt for low maintenance plants
- Consider what pot or container you'll need. Tall house plants can be top-heavy, so select a pot that's sturdy and able to support the weight of the plant
Where to buy tall house plants
Best tall house plants to grow
Asparagus fern (Asparagus setaceus)
With its loose, feathery fronds, asparagus fern creates a delicate, soft look. It contrasts beautifully with large-leaved plants such as the fiddle leaf fig. Although not actually a fern, it grows well in bright indirect light in a humid environment such as a light kitchen or bathroom. Mature plants have small thorns. Asparagus fern is a skin allergen and fruits are harmful if eaten.
H x S: 3m x 1m
Ponytail palm (Beaucarnea recurvata)
Ponytail palm is a lovely, low-maintenance plant that creates height and impact. It is slow-growing and long-lived. Its swollen stem stores water, so ponytail palm only needs watering when the top of the compost has dried out – around once a week in summer. In winter, let the compost dry out almost completely between watering. Grow in a sunny spot in indirect light.
H x S: 2m x 1m
Kentia palm (Howea forsteriana)
This popular house plant has a graceful, structural form. It grows well in light shade, for example, in front of an east- or north-facing window. Although generally undemanding, kentia palm thrives in a humid environment and benefits from regular misting. From spring until the end of autumn, water plants when the top of the compost feels mostly dry and allow plants to become root-bound for a while before repotting.
H x S: 3m x 2m
Bamboo palm (Rhapsis excelsa)
Great for a beginner, this unusual palm has stems which look like bamboo, and large, blunt-ended leaves. Bamboo palm is ideal for shady rooms as it copes well in low light levels. It thrives at normal humidity and will also grow in more humid conditions. Mist leaves once a week in summer. Keep the compost moist, but not waterlogged, and you’ll enjoy this slow-growing palm for many years to come.
H x S: 3m x 2m
Fishtail palm (Caryota mitis)
With its unusually-shaped leaves resembling triangular, fanned fishtails, this striking palm is perfect for a bright bathroom or kitchen where humidity levels are high. The ideal spot for fishtail palm would be in bright indirect light. Keep soil evenly moist and reduce watering in winter. Fishtail palm is a skin allergen and it's harmful if eaten.
H x S: 2.5 x 1.5
Weeping fig (Ficus benjamina)
This beautiful tree has a cascading canopy of dark green (or sometimes variegated) leaves. It grows best in filtered sunlight and should be kept away from draughts and radiators. Avoid moving your weeping fig once you’ve found the right place as it has a tendency to drop its leaves when moved. Weeping fig is a skin allergen. It may cause asthma symptoms and is harmful if eaten.
H x S: 3m x 2m
Areca palm (Dypsis lutescens)
The areca palm has large fronds with long, strap-like leaves that give it a tall, elegant form. It thrives in a warm room with a humid atmosphere. Water with rainwater as soon as the top of the compost feels dry and mist plants several times a week. Reduce the frequency of watering in winter, letting the compost almost dry out. Areca palm grows best in bright indirect light.
H x S: 2m x 1m
Money tree (Pachira aquatica)
The money tree has a rounded head of glossy green leaves held above an intricate trunk of plaited stems. It thrives in bright indirect light or light shade, and copes well with fluorescent lighting too. Money trees need a humid atmosphere, so mist regularly and stand on a tray of water and pebbles to maintain as high a humidity level as possible. Keep your plant well-watered, but don’t allow it to become waterlogged.
H x S: 1.8m x 1.2m
African milk tree (Euphorbia trigona)
This stately succulent has tall, spiny stems that give it the alternative name of ‘cathedral cactus’. It's easy to grow, as it copes well in direct sunlight or bright indirect light, and requires very little watering. Avoid humid rooms and take care not to overwater. African milk tree is poisonous to humans and pets, and the sap is an eye and skin irritant.
H x S: 1m x 60cm
Fiddle leaf fig (Ficus lyrata)
Fiddle leaf fig is a tall, upright plant with huge, fiddle-shaped leaves – among the most spectacular of all house plants. Like weeping fig, fiddle leaf fig will drop its leaves if conditions don’t suit it, so ensure it has plenty of indirect light and is kept away from draughts and radiators. Do not overwater. Mist leaves in summer and water once the top of the compost has dried out. Fiddle leaf fig is a skin allergen. It may cause asthma symptoms and is harmful if eaten.
H x S: 1.8m x 1.2m
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