12 Best Tropical Plants That’ll Turn Any Space Into Pure Paradise
For the ultimate staycation.
Whether you live on a rural ranch like Ree Drummond or a coastal town in the Northeast, everyone can benefit from a taste of the tropics to transport them to a vacation-worthy paradise! And no, we don't mean that in the literal sense, although you can't go wrong with making some tropical pineapple or mango recipes to spice things up. Sure, you could buy some palm tree printed pillows, or you can add the real thing, like a majesty or parlor palm, plus some more tropical plants to your indoor or outdoor garden!
The best tropical plants hail from exotic locales like Southeast Asia, Australia, and South America, but can thrive in a multitude of climates and places around the world, including in your own living room, foyer, or backyard! Growing conditions vary for tropical plants, but humidity reflective of their native conditions, such as the warm, muggy air in your bathroom, is a must. Many of these houseplants are easy to maintain and beautiful to look at, like monsteras, rubber trees, and philodendrons, which require partial sunlight and watering every one to two weeks.
Not only are tropical plants a way to add luscious shades of green, from lime to emerald, to your space, but lots of bright red, orange, and purple hues, thanks to the tropical flowers they bring! Take the striking blooms of birds of paradise or anthuriums, to name a few. So, if you're looking for a way to add life and color to your at-home jungle, look no further than the best tropical plants listed below! After all, adding a tropical plant or two to your collection is the ultimate way to experience nature's beauty sans the flight.
Craving more playful plant inspiration? Your search ends here:
Monstera Deliciosa
Known for its heart shape and Swiss cheese-like holes, a bright, glossy monstera is an instant way to add tropical flair to your home. This easy-to-maintain plant requires partial sunlight, regular waterings about once a week, and a pot with draining holes to prevent root rot and overwatering.
Strelitzia (Bird of Paradise)
Like it's common name suggests, this stunning and bright plant resembles a tropical bird taking flight! It's known for its spiky orange leaves, which will add a burst of color and energy to your space. This exotic plant is versatile, taking well to both full sun and partial shade, although it does require an area sheltered from the wind to protect its delicate, wing-shaped leaves.
Philodendron
For a maintenance way to add a burst of glossy greenery to your space, look no further than the philodendron. Depending on the variety, this decorative tropical plant can grow upright, climb, or trail, so the placement possibilities are endless. On average, the dark-green, heart-shaped leaf adorned plant requires water every one to two weeks and takes well to medium to bright indirect sunlight.
Kentia Palm
Even if you don't live anywhere near a beach, you can still enjoy the beauty of a luscious palm tree in your home! This spiky palm is an easygoing houseplant that can grow up to 40 feet tall in the right conditions (although if grown inside, it's more likely to be around 12 feet tall). The Kentia palm prefers bright, indirect light indoors or dappled sunlight outside and is moderately drought tolerant.
Ficus Elastica (Rubber Plant)
This gorgeous, glossy-leafed plant hails from Southern Asia, but it makes for a great addition in any household. The rubber plant prefers medium to bright indirect light and waterings every one to two weeks, when the soil is dry to the touch.
Anthurium
Also known as flamingo flowers, these bright blooms are an instant way to add tropical flair to your houseplant collection. Anthuriums are known for their gorgeous and glossy red, green, and white flowers, which can bloom for long periods of time. To thrive, this tropical plant requires a well-draining pot, high humidity (such as a bathroom), six hours of bright, indirect sunlight, and waterings about once a week or when the top of the soil is dry.
Banana Leaf Plant
Like the palm tree, the dark green, paddle-shaped leaves of the banana leaf plant are synonymous with the tropics! This tropical plant requires conditions that reflect its native ones, like full sunlight, humidity, and daily waterings.
Orchid
Orchids grow in many corners and climates of the world, including the tropics, where their colorful flowers peek out from the branches of wild trees. These stunning tropical flowering plants require bright, indirect sunlight, high humidity, weekly waterings, and proper air circulation.
Fiddle Leaf Fig
Despite their fickle reputation, this tropical tree remains an extremely popular way to add lush greenery to any home. It's known for its dark green, violin-shaped leaves which can be up to 18 inches long and grow upright on the tall plant. For optimum growth, this tropical plant takes well to bright, indirect sunlight and a consistent spot in your home.
Watermelon Peperomia
Named for its stunning watermelon-esque striped leaves, this South American native is a fan-favorite tropical plant for good reason! The watermelon peperomia thrives in bright to medium indirect light and warm, slightly humid conditions. Water it when the top couple inches of soil dry out as this rainforest-dwelling plant loves moisture!
ZZ Plant
It may have "ZZ" in the name, but this pretty plant is anything but a snooze! This tropical perennial houseplant is characterized by its shiny, dark green leaves and upright form. ZZ plants are perfect for the low-maintenance plant mom, as they can handle low light and prefer complete dryness between waterings.
Majesty Palm
What better way to bring paradise to your pad than with a majestic palm tree? This popular palm requires bright indirect light, waterings every two weeks, and a humid environment, if possible. Plus, it's pet friendly!
Nitya Rao is the editorial assistant at The Pioneer Woman, covering stories ranging from food, fashion, beauty, lifestyle, news, and more.
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