Large Indoor Trees for Green Thumbs, Beginners, and Every Plant Parent in Between

When it comes to making a bold statement in your decor, not much can beat a large indoor tree. Small houseplants, mini herb gardens, and adorably tiny succulents all still have their place, but there’s something so unexpected and striking about having a tree actually under your roof.

Large indoor trees might seem intimidating, but there are actually a range of options to suit every skill level. Whether you’re an eager houseplant beginner, or a certified green thumb who’s already figured out the best houseplants for your space, there’s a large indoor tree that’s a fit for you. Find 11 of the best picks here.

Fiddle leaf figs are needy and aren’t for the easily frustrated, but with a little extra TLC these beauties will thrive in your home.

• Features: Tall and broad-leafed
• Best for: Homes with different types of lighting and patient residents
• Soil: Nutrient-rich soil with good drainage
• Light: Both indirect and direct sunlight is ideal
• Water: Water every 7 to 10 days. Purchasing a water gauge is best, because fiddle leaf figs don’t like soil that’s too wet or too dry. A fiddle leaf fig’s leaves need to be misted every couple of days and dusted every week or so. (When we say needy, we mean needy!)
• Environment and care: Needs plenty of care and attention and does best in humid climates. Homes typically aren’t muggy enough, so a humidifier can often help these high maintenance plants thrive.
  
  Buy: Costa Farms Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant, $27.93 from Amazon

A little less high maintenance than their fiddle leaf cousins, different variations of figs can serve as great indoor trees. And yes, you can get it to give you fruit, too!

• Features: Round purple fruits and broad leaves
• Best for: Well-lit homes
• Soil: Well-draining soil and liquid fertilizer 
• Light: Bright light is best
• Water: Water about once every week, but monitor your plant. Once the soil is dry, give it a day or so, then water again.
• Environment and care: Similar to the fiddle leaf fig, the common fig prefers humid environments but isn’t quite as picky as the latter. Be aware of insects and fungal infections that can harm your tree and ruin its chances of living and producing fruit. Gently wiping down the leaves and trunk can help with this.
  
  Buy: Brown Turkey Fig Tree, $72.98 from The Home Depot

For a hint of the tropics, there’s no better plant than a palm tree. But if you’re looking for something with a more unique profile, the fishtail palm will certainly suit your fancy.

• Features: Tropical and fishtail-like leaves (hence the name)
• Best for: Spaces with bright light and humidity
• Soil: Well-draining, peat-based, and frequently moist soil 
• Light: Indirect light is ideal, but plenty of it. 
• Water:  Wet is best, but still be wary of overwatering. 
• Environment and care: Hotter more humid environments are what fishtail palms prefer. Keep your fishtail palm out of cooler, drier rooms and invest in a humidifier to keep it happy. Plus, getting a humidifier gives you an excuse to have both a fishtail palm and fiddle leaf fig.

Buy: Fishtail Palm Tree (6″-10″ height), $24.99 from Etsy

The money tree doesn’t just have a unique and lovely shape—it’s also said to be good luck for finances. Adding one to your home might not give you money, but it certainly will bring you beauty.

• Features: Twisted trunk and sprawling leaves
• Best for: Any kind of home!
• Soil: Sand, peat-based soil that drains well
• Light: Okay with lowlight, but indirect sunlight is best
• Water: It’s a hardy plant that can handle a few forgetful mishaps. It prefers to be watered every week or so, but if topsoil is super dry you’ll know it’s a good time to water.
• Environment and care: Humidity is key, but the money tree is not a fussy plant. The money tree can survive in most conditions, just make sure it’s not exposed to a consistent flow of dry air, cold, or constant darkness.
  
  Buy: Money Tree (large), $99 from The Sill

Nothing can add an instant boost of Mediterranean-inspired style like an olive tree. These elegant and minimalist plants are impeccably chic and easy to maintain.

• Features: Simple shape with elliptic leaves
• Best for: Homes with lots of light
• Soil: Well-draining soil, like a cactus mix
• Light: Plenty of bright sunlight
• Water: When the soil gets dry, you can water again.
• Environment and care: These trees come from places with arid, dry climates, so if you’re not down to by a humidifier just for a plant, this is a great option. No misting is required, but be mindful of its watering schedule. If you want olives to appear on your tree, cross-pollination is essential and you’ll want to make sure you purchase a fruit-bearing tree in the first place.
  
  Buy: Arbequina Olive Tree, $87.95 from Fast Growing Trees

The eye-catching rubber plant isn’t too high maintenance and can both soften modern rooms and bring an air of sophistication to more casual spaces.

• Features: Deep green and shiny leaves
• Best for: Most loving homes
• Soil: Well-draining and aerated soil is ideal
• Light: Rubber trees prefer bright indirect light
• Water: Keep your rubber plant fairly moist in warmer months, but make sure it’s not oversaturated. During the winter it requires less moisture.
• Environment and care: Rubber plants aren’t huge fans of dry air, so frequent light mistings can help with this.
  
  Buy: Burgundy Rubber Tree Plant, $29.99 from Home Depot

Those vibrant neon-colored flowers with the same name found on tropical islands actually come from this tree. Most birds of paradise don’t flower indoors, but if you’re lucky and take the right steps it just might.

• Features: Tropical with broad leaves similar to a banana tree
• Best for: Most homes, but light is fairly important
• Soil: Well-draining soil and fertilizer during spring, summer, and fall is best
• Light: Bright is best, but it can handle indirect light, too
• Water: Bird of paradise trees like moist soil, but shouldn’t be soaked and sitting in water. Water frequently and make sure the soil doesn’t completely dry out.
• Environment and care: Bird of paradise thrives in humidity, so frequent misting and warmer temperatures will tickle its fancy.
  
  Buy: Bird of Paradise Plant, $119 from The Sill

These pretty trees almost look flower-like with their clusters of bright green leaves. Even better: They’re not as picky as some other needy indoor trees.

• Features: Mid-sized and leafy clusters
• Best for: Any home and beginner plant parents
• Soil: Well-draining, rich soil is best
• Light: Bright indirect light is ideal, but it can handle direct sunlight as well as lower light conditions
• Water: Frequent watering is best, but be careful not to overwater. Because they like humidity, schefflera will benefit from misting.
• Environment and care: Humid environments are best, but if it’s not possible it’s not the end of the world. Just make sure your plant isn’t cold and stays away from vents and other sources of dry air.
  
  Buy: Schefflera Plant, $20.99 from Amazon

This fantastic plant provides a burst of color and sweet fruits — what more could you ask from an indoor tree?

• Features: Citrus fruits and round leaves
• Best for: Homes with bright light, but a warm location isn’t required!
• Soil: Acidic, peat-based soil is ideal
• Light: Bright sunlight is best, but LED grow lights can help when you live in colder places or areas with less sun, especially in the winter.
• Water: Moist soil is preferable, but sitting in water can lead to an early death for these plants.
• Environment and care: Sunlight and a little fresh air can all contribute to the health of your plant. When the weather gets warm, you can give these plants a little outdoor time in the sun. Also, be aware when planting that once these trees make fruit, they can easily become top heavy—a large, heavier pot can help counteract this!
  
  Buy: Clementine Tree, $104.95 from Fast Growing Trees

Like the fishtail palm, parlor palms are reminiscent of the tropics and provide a space with a burst of greenery that’s fairly easy to care for.

• Features: Tropical with thin leaves
• Best for: Any kind of home
• Soil: Potting mix that drains well
• Light: Despite this being a palm tree, direct, bright sunlight isn’t required to keep these frond-laden friends healthy. Parlor palms won’t suffer even if your home has lower light conditions.
• Water: Keep it slightly moist but if it dries more than you like it won’t suffer. During the winter, allow to dry out a bit more in the. Avoid overwatering.
• Environment and care: Humidity isn’t a necessity for parlor palms. Room temperature and warmer is perfectly fine, but these plants won’t do well in cold drafty spaces.
  
  Buy: Parlor Palm, $49 from The Sill

While you won’t find ears of corn sprouting from the corn plant, or dracaena fragrans, you’ll love its pretty display of bright leaves (that look similar to corn stalks) and its sturdy trunk.

• Features: Striped leaves and stocky trunks
• Best for: Homes with indirect light and beginner to intermediate plant parents
• Soil: Potting soil that drains well is the best option for these plants
• Light: Corn plants like diffused, indirect sunlight
• Water: Water fairly frequently to ensure the soil stays moist, but do not overwater. Keep in mind that dried out soil can be detrimental to this funky plant.
• Environment and care: Corn trees like humidity and a frequent misting or humidifier can help maintain this type of climate.
  
  Buy: Dracaena Corn Plant, $124.95 from Fast Growing Trees