Large foliage makes a bold statement in the gardens. If you also want them in your yard, then here are the best Big Leaf Outdoor Plants!
Plants with large foliage offer a bold look and add a tropical jungle vibe to the gardens. If you too want to add the same appeal, here are the best Big Leaf Outdoor Plants you can grow!
Have a look at the best large leaf houseplants here!
Big Leaf Outdoor Plants
1. Giant Rhubarb
Botanical Name: Gunnera manicata
USDA Zones: 6-10
This big leaf perennial has hairy, thick, veined leaves that grow up to 4-5 feet across on pink hairy stems. Plant it in full sun to partial shade using rich, moist soil on the edges of pond or stream or bog gardens.
2. Giant Silver Mullein
Botanical Name: Verbascum bombyciferum
USDA Zones: 5-9
Mulleins exhibit 12-16 inches long gray-green leaves. Its variety, ‘Arctic Summer,’ grows up to 7-8 feet tall. This drought-tolerant evergreen perennial prefer dry or gravelly soil.
3. Umbrella Plant
Botanical Name: Darmera peltata
USDA Zones: 5-9
Also known as Indian rhubarb, this plant grows 18-24 inches wide, lily-pad-like foliage. During fall, the leaves turn red, and the color gets more intense in sunny areas. This variety is an ideal choice for bog gardens.
4. Rodgersias
Botanical Name: Rodgersia spp
USDA Zones: 3-8
Varieties like Rodgersia aesculifolia (zones 5-8) have 10-12 inch long leaflets. Rodgersia podophylla produces 12-16-inches-wide toothed leaves. Rodgersia tabularis features 26-36 inches wide foliage.
5. Flowering Sea Kale
Botanical Name: Crambe cordifolia
USDA Zone: 6-9
Colewort has cabbage-like 12-16 inches wide foliage on thick stems. The dark green leaves look spectacular on the borders of the garden. It does well in fertile soil and full sun.
6. Ligularias
Botanical Name: Ligularia
USDA Zone: 4-8
Ligularias plants grow up to 3-6 feet tall and wide with 12-14 inches long foliage and daisy-like golden yellow blooms. Grow this species in damp soil in partial shade.
7. Hostas
Botanical Name: Hosta
USDA Zones: 2-10
Hostas are appreciated for large variegated leaves in the shades of silver, white, or cream. The leaves can reach up to 12-15 inches long. Check the best hosta varieties here.
8. Banana
Botanical Name: Musa
USDA Zone: 6-11
The paddle-like giant leaves and thick trunk look spectacular in gardens; you can grow the hardiest variety Musa basjoo; Ensete ventricosum ‘Maurelii’ with red and green leaves.
9. Mayapples
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Botanical Name: Podophyllum spp
USDA Zone: 3-9
The palm-like lobed leaves with black patterns look spectacular on canopy-like stems. You can grow species like Podophyllum peltatum that has 18-24 inches wide cup-shaped waxy leaves on 4 feet wide clump.
10. Canna
Botanical Name: Canna Indica
USDA Zone: 7-11
Canna shows off banana-like large leaves. Canna ‘Phasion’ offers striking leaves with purple, green, pink, orange streaks. Varieties like Skyhawk, Stuttgart, and Peach Gigantum are great choices for cold climates.
11. Siberian Bugloss
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Botanical Name: Brunnera macrophylla
USDA Zone: 3-8
Also known as Siberian bugloss, this perennial has medium to dark green leaves. Some variegated varieties like ‘Jack Frost’ have ovate, dinner-plate-sized leaves patterned in green veins on the white surface.
12. Butterbur
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Botanical Name: Petasites japonicus
USDA Zone: 5-9
Also known as coltsfoot, this perennial features 25-30 inches wide kidney-shaped gigantic green leaves. The plant has a mounding growth form.
13. Caladiums
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Botanical Name: Caladium
USDA Zone: 9-11
Also popular as ‘Angel Wings,’ the large, heart or arrowhead-shaped foliage features beautiful pink, red, green, and white combinations. Choose the best caladiums from this list for your garden.
14. Elephant Ears
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Botanical Name: Colocasia esculenta
USDA Zone: 8-11
The impressive, huge size of elephant ears brings elegance and bold texture to your garden. This tropical plant does best in bright light.
15. Grecian Pattern Plant
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Botanical Name: Acanthus mollis
USDA Zone: 7-10
This shade-tolerant perennial features large oak-shaped leaves. The plant can grow up to 3-4 feet tall and wide. You can grow it on borders or in the background.
16. Fiddle Leaf Fig
Botanical Name: Ficus Lyrata
USDA Zone: 9-11
This evergreen tree with large, fiddle-shaped green foliage with an imposing size of 15 inches long to 10 inches wide looks magnificent in gardens. Plant the tree in a sunny location sheltered from the wind.
17. Windmill Palm
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Botanical Name: Trachycarpus fortunei
USDA Zone: 7-11
Windmill palm features large, round-edged fronds that size up to 55 to 75 inches long expand outward from long petioles. It can grow up to 30-40 feet tall, but it takes time.
18. Rice Paper Tree
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Botanical Name: Tetrapanax papyrifer
USDA Zone: 8-11
The large palmate foliage grows up to 2-3 feet across. It grows up to an impressive height of 10-15 feet and looks great in small gardens.
19. Swiss Cheese Plant
realtropicals
Botanical Name: Monstera deliciosa
USDA Zone: 9-11
This evergreen tropical vine displays large and perforated heart-shaped leaves and does best in filtered, indirect light. Find the best monstera varieties here.
20. Spade-Leaf Philodendron
Botanical Name: Philodendron domesticum
USDA Zone: 9-11
This Philo variety showcases triangular 18-24 inches long deep green leaves in spade-like shape hence the name. Grow this plant in partial or full shade.
21. Papaya Tree
Botanical Name: Carica papaya
USDA Zone: 8-12
You can grow it for the fiber-rich delicious fruits and for a fantastic display of large, serrated foliage that brings a lush green appeal to the landscape. The leaves can grow up to 2-3 feet in length.
23. Big Leaf Paper Plant
Botanical Name: Fatsia japonica
USDA Zone: 8-10
This little shrub or small tree has glossy and large foliage that makes quite a bold tropical impression. It grows best in bright but indirect light.
24. Velvety Anthurium
Botanical Name: Anthurium magnificum
USDA Zone: 9-11
The large foliage of this plant measures up to 10-14 inches in length. Its leaves have a velvety feel to them, and the deep veins make them look spectacular! See more anthurium varieties here.
25. Sacred Lotus
Botanical Name: Nelumbo nucifera
USDA Zone: 5-11
If you have a pond in the garden or looking for an aquatic plant that stands out with its large leaves, then this is it! The beautiful flowers are an added bonus.
26. Giant Pothos
Botanical Name: Epipremnum aureum
USDA Zone: 9-12
Gaint pothos shows off extremely large leaves that can grow up to 2 feet in length. What makes it more attractive is the yellow variegation on the foliage.
27. Bird of Paradise
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Botanical Name: Strelitzia
USDA Zone: 9-12
Do not confuse the plant with a banana, as its leaves look a lot like it. The foliage can measure up to 3-4 feet long. It is one of the best big leaf outdoor plants that you can grow.
28. Lobster Claws
Botanical Name: Heliconia
USDA Zone: 10-12
If its large, banana-like leaves won’t get your attention, then the plant’s colorful and unusual, lobster claw-like flowers would surely do!
Large-leaved plants are especially beautiful and eye-catching both indoors and outdoors. If you are looking for something to spruce up your garden with broaded-leaved plants, we have options for you here which come in various shades of green. Do remember that wherever you place these large-leaf plants, they will be a big draw to the eye. They can even grow over smaller plants, so make sure they aren’t blocking sun for any plants which need it. They work great as a background if you want to put some taller flowering plants around them.
At oneHOWTO, we provide our list of 12 large leaf outdoor plants. We provide the names and characteristics of each, as well as photos so you can have a better idea how they might look in your home or garden.
Contents
- Rubber fig (Ficus elastica)
- Kentia palm (Howea forsteriana)
- Swiss cheese plant (Monstera deliciosa)
- Clivia
- Giant Taro (Alocasia macrorrhizos)
- Royal fern (Osmunda regalis)
- Philodendron gloriosum
- Brazilian giant-rhubarb (Gunnera manicata)
- Dumbcane (Dieffenbachia seguine)
- Marsh calla (Calla palustris)
- Malibar chestnut (Pachira aquatica)
- Anthurium (Anthurium)
1. Rubber fig (Ficus elastica)
There are hundreds of varieties of ficus and this one is particularly suited for both indoor and outdoor environments. It is a very resistant large-leaf plant which requires relatively little care. The Ficus elastic has many names, including the rubber fig, rubber tree, rubber bush and others. It has large thick dark green leaves which give the plant and very elegant appearance. They are perfect for decorating large gardens with bright spaces.
If you are looking for similar outdoor plants which won’t take up too much time to tend, you can take a look at our article on the best easy to care for outdoor plants.
2. Kentia palm (Howea forsteriana)
In a selection of large-leaved indoor and outdoor plants, the kentia palm cannot be missed,. It is a beautiful palm tree that adapts very well to many environments. One of the only things you have to keep in mind is that it needs to grow in wide spaces as it grows out as well as up. It is perhaps best known as an indoor plant, but can thrive in semi-shaded outdoor areas.
Learn here with more on how to care for a kentia palm tree.
3. Swiss cheese plant (Monstera deliciosa)
So-called because of the gaps in its leaves (reminiscent of its namesake’s cheese), the Swiss cheese plant is an ideal indoor large leaf plant. It is commonly seen in magazines and promotional material for interior decoration. This isn’t because it is run-of-the-mill. It is because it is both easy to care for and a beautiful addition to almost any home. Its bright green color, in particular, sets off against bright decor.
The Swiss cheese plant is a climbing plant, so it will require support to help it grow. Check out our list of flowering climbing plants for more information.
4. Clivia
There are many characteristics that have made clivia one of the queens of interior design with plants since it not only decorates but is very appreciative and undemanding. In spring, its orange flowers brighten up any corner and the rest of the year its lanced leaves grow lush, showing their different shades of green. A success in the form of a natural ornament.
5. Giant Taro (Alocasia macrorrhizos)
It is also known as the elephant ear plant, so you can get an idea of the size that its large leaves can reach. They have ribs which can be seen by the naked eye, but are not always as stark as the leaf in our photo. It is suitable for indoors and outdoors as long as it is grown in hot climates. It can reach a considerable size and requires frequent watering.
6. Royal fern (Osmunda regalis)
The Royal fern is a variety of large-leaved fern that is ideal to fill any garden with life and color as long as it is planted in shady areas with a temperate and humid climate. This is because it needs plenty of water and will not be ecologically viable in very arid places. The foliage of its leaves attracts the eye’s attention. They may drop their leaves in winter, but each spring they will reappear with greater strength and size.
If you live in a humid area, take a look at our article on the perfect plants for rainy climates to see what is best for you.
Philodendron gloriosum
The Philodendron gloriosum is a spectacular plant with large heart-shaped leaves that can reach up to 50 cm in width. It is perfect for decorating large indoor spaces with plants where enough natural light reaches it, but not in too much direct sun that could damage the leaves.
8. Brazilian giant-rhubarb (Gunnera manicata)
If you want a plant as exotic as it is exuberant for your garden, the giant rhubarb is a great option to consider due to its rounded, serrated and giant leaves. They can reach a meter in diameter, so they won’t go unnoticed. Originally from Brazil, this plant requires little care, although it must be protected from wind and frost.
9. Dumbcane (Dieffenbachia seguine)
Even if its name isn’t familiar to you, the dumbcane or tuftroot is one of the best large leaf indoor plants. They are oval in shape and have mottled patterns with varying shades of green, white and yellow. This gives it great value as an ornamental plant. It is ideal to put a touch of freshness in rooms that have natural light, but always avoiding direct sun.
To see similar plants, check out our list of the best large indoor plants for low light.
10. Marsh calla (Calla palustris)
Variously known as marsh calla, bog arum, wild calla or squaw claw, this plant is one of the most beautiful large-leafe plants on our list. It is ideal for discreetly decorating any room. It stands out for its unmistakable white flowers, although it can be found in other less common colors. In the spring it gives off a delicate aroma, but it is also a very hardy perennial plant.
11. Malibar chestnut (Pachira aquatica)
The Malibar chestnut is also known as the Guiana chestnut, French peanut and other monikers. It is technically a tree, but is increasingly used in plant decoration, It is especially noted for its unique braided trunk that will attract attention wherever you place it. Originally from South America, the large leaves of this perennial plant need abundant light and moderate watering to avoid puddling of its roots.
12. Anthurium (Anthurium)
There are different varieties of this plant, but they all have in common the beauty of a striking red flower. This flower can bloom at practically any time of the year. Also known as taliflower or flamingo flower, this large leaf plant stands out for its heart-shaped leaves which are of spectacular size and in striking deep and bright green tones.
If you need any more inspiration for decorating indoors, you can take a look at our article on how to grow and indoor garden.
If you want to read similar articles to Large Leaf Plants For Outdoors and Indoors, we recommend you visit our Gardening & plants category.