9 Tall Houseplants That Will Add Drama to Your Interior

A collection of petite houseplants on a sunny windowsill offers a subtle, garden-inspired accent to your home—but to make a decorative statement with your indoor greenery, go big. The tall houseplants our experts recommend include creeping vines that soar upward on trellises, towering potted trees, and ceiling-brushing tropical favorites. Add organic color, texture, and architectural shapes to your living, sleeping, and working spaces to embrace the benefits of houseplants while refining your decor.

Different Types of Tall Houseplants

Whether you're looking for vibrant color, fascinating shapes, or stunning growth, these houseplants offer an expert-approved combination of height and visual interest.

Global Green Pothos

The common pathos plant usually drapes down from a hanging pot, "but if you grow it upward, this vine can as tall as you’ll let it," says Justin Hancock, horticulturist with Costa Farms. In tropical outdoor gardens, it grows as high as 30 feet. "One benefit to growing Global Green Pothos up vertically (such as on a totem or moss pole) is that the leaves get much larger and more dramatic," says. Hancock. "Over time, it transforms from a beautiful houseplant to an absolute showstopper."

• Growing conditions: Medium to bright light; average temperature; average to above-average humidity

Monstera

Prune this striking, dark green vine to keep it manageable, says Hancock. "If you allow it to climb, it will grow as tall as you let it," he says. "In addition to its size, one of the most noteworthy things about this houseplant is its fenestrated leaves: As it matures, the leaves come out with eye-catching slits or holes. Upgrade your look with its cousin, Monstera Esqueleto, which has even more highly fenestrated leaves. This collector’s plant appreciates the same growing conditions and climbs to a similar size."

• Growing conditions: Medium to bright light; average temperature; average to above-average humidity

Snake Plant

Beginner-friendly snake plants are drought-tolerant and resilient, even in low light. "Snake plants need very minimal care, but that doesn't stop them from growing and growing," says Liz Baessler of Gardening Know How. "Pot it up, look away for a while, and you'll be surprised how much taller it is when you look back!"

• Growing conditions: Bright to low light; dry soil

Yucca

"While this plant isn’t new or super trendy, I love it because of how easy-going it is," says Hancock. "As long as it gets good light, it’s delightfully forgiving if you forget to water it. While you typically see this yucca about 3 feet tall or so at garden centers, with time and good care, it can easily reach 6 feet or more."

• Growing conditions: Bright light; average temperatures; average humidity
  

White Bird of Paradise

This tropical plant is usually 36 to 48 inches tall when you buy it in-store, but can reach 60 inches as it continues to grow. Paddle-shaped, 24-inch long leaves stem from a central trunk, says Hancock.

• Growing conditions: Bright light; average to above-average humidity

Heart Leaf Philodendron

The draping vines of this lovely plant are ideal for draping around a window, says Baessler, where they grow in bright, indirect sunlight. "That’s where my biggest one lives, at 11 feet and counting," she says. "This philodendron is technically more long than it is tall, but it’s so easy to mount along a wall that it fills out the vertical space in your room, and then some."

• Growing conditions: Bright, indirect light; average to below-average humidity

Money Tree

Watch your money tree double in size—growing up to 6 feet tall—throughout its lifespan. "With good conditions, it’s a relatively quick grower. I love the texture its hand-shaped leaves offer—the texture stands out from a lot of other common houseplants," says Hancock. "You’ll commonly see multiple plants grown together with braided trunks for additional visual interest. As it matures, the trunks naturally fuse together."

• Growing conditions: Medium to bright light; average temperatures; average to above-average humidity

Red African Milk Tree

If low-maintenance succulents are more your style, opt for this 5-foot-tall tree. With red, ribbed stems and reddish-green leaves, "It’s as bold and architectural as it is easy to grow," says Hancock.

• Growing conditions: Bright light; average to below-average humidity
  

Norfolk Island Pine

Take your tabletop Christmas tree from mini to major as it grows up to 6 feet tall inside. "Its branches are artfully clothed in needle-like leaves, and it tends to branch in horizontal tiers, giving it elegant architecture over time," says Hancock.

• Growing conditions: Bright to medium light; average to above-average humidity
  

How to Care for and Maintain Tall Houseplants

Average temperatures and indoor humidity are appropriate for these indoor plants—greenhouse conditions are not required.

Light

The indoor houseplants on this list prefer bright light, which Hancock defines as "within 3 to 4 feet of an unobstructed east- or west-facing window" (artificial lights work, too). Though they will survive in lower light levels, if you're going for height, make sure they get as much sun as possible.

Soil

As with other indoor plants, using the right potting mix for your watering style can improve the health and vibrancy of your plant. "None are particularly fussy about potting mix—so any general-purpose potting mix that's labeled for use on indoor or container plants should be fine," says Hancock. "But if you tend to water heavily, then a mix formulated to have better drainage (such as aroid mixes) can be your friend."

Fertilizer

"All of the plants below can be fertilized if you want them to grow faster," says Hancock. He recommends a general-purpose fertilizer in spring and summer—seasons where maximum light levels give your plant it's best chance to gain height. "Different fertilizers have different recommended application rates; the application rates on the packaging are the maximum you can/should use," he says. "It’s fine to use them less frequently if you don’t want to push as much growth."

Temperature

While all of the plants on this list are happy in average indoor temperatures and humidity ranges, a good rule of thumb is to keep them away from air vents, where sudden temperature changes from drafts of heat or air conditioning can impact their growth.