Quite a few years ago my living room only had a few plants in it. They were small, tidy and carefully arranged so they didn’t take up much space or draw too much attention.
The room was nice enough but it felt a bit sterile and cold. Like it could do with some else to make it feel more homely.
Then I visited a friend who had turned her apartment into what I can only describe as a jungle. She had massive plants with huge leaves in every corner.
Vining plants trailed down from shelves. Medium sized plants filled every gaps between the furniture. The whole place felt alive.
I went home and straightaway started to plan how to make my own home similar.
Now my living room has plants everywhere – a giant monstera in the corner, a fiddle leaf fig near the window, pothos trailing from shelves and smaller plants filling in gaps.
That jungle vibe made a huge difference to how the room feels. It’s cozier now, and interesting in a way it wasn’t before.
If you want to create a look like this then you have to choose plants with dramatic foliage, layer different sizes and fill all the spaces, both horizontal and vertical, with greenery.
This guide will show you the best houseplants for getting that tropical jungle aesthetic in your own home.
What Makes a Plant Jungle-Like?
Jungle plants usually share some characteristics: large leaves; lush, full growth; tropical appearance and the are able to fill space quickly or make a big impact immediately.
Most big leaf plants are tropical, which means they often have bold foliage, feel interesting to the touch and look untamed which all together makes for that jungle feel.
The best way to get the jungle aesthetic isn’t just buying one big plant. What you want to do is layer multiple plants of different sizes and types. You need tall plants that make a statement, medium fillers and smaller plants all working together.
So let’s take a look at some of the best options.
Monstera Deliciosa (Swiss Cheese Plant)
Monstera (Swiss Cheese Plant) is one of the most iconic big leaf indoor plants and is going go be a big part of any jungle inspired room. The massive, fenestrated leaves are instantly recognizable very dramatic.
Monstera’s have large leaves that split as the plant gets older. These mature leaves can easily get to 2 or 3 feet across.
Monstera can grow 1 to 2 feet per year with the right care and grow a new leaf every few weeks during the spring and summer.
I have a monstera that started as a small 6 inch plant with three leaves and it’s now over 6 feet tall with massive split leaves that dominate my living room corner. Give them bright, indirect light and something to climb (like a moss pole), and they’ll give you increasingly bigger and more dramatic leaves.
They’re relatively easy to care for despite that impressive and somewhat intimidating appearance.
Fiddle Leaf Fig
The fiddle leaf fig is perfect for creating a jungle feel. It has huge leaves that are sort of violin shaped. They’re absolutely stunning and instantly make an impact.
These trees can grow quite tall indoors (up to 10 feet with the right care), making them excellent vertical statement pieces. They like bright, indirect light and don’t want to be moved around once they find a happy spot.
Watering is the tricky part though – they want to dry out between watering but will drop their leaves if they get too dry or too wet. I struggled with mine for the first year until I figured out the watering schedule but now it’s thriving and grows new leaves regularly.
The leaves do collect dust though so you’ll want to wipe them clean every month to keep them looking their best and healthy. These are more demanding than some plants on this list but when you see how good they look you’ll realize its worth the effort.
Bird of Paradise
The bird of paradise has large, dark green leaves that can reach up to 18 inches long and 6 inches wide. These plants can reach 5 to 8 feet tall indoors with their paddle shaped leaves spreading wide.
On average they will grow one new leaf each month when the conditions are right.
Bird of paradise needs bright light – ideally several hours of direct sun – to really do well. They love heat and humidity which makes them perfect for bright, warm rooms.
Water when the top inch or two of soil is dry and expect steady growth during the spring and summer. The leaves naturally develop splits along the edges as they mature which adds to the jungle like appearance. While they rarely bloom indoors the foliage alone makes them big statement plants.
Alocasia (Elephant Ear)
Alocasia is available in many different varieties but they all have big, bold leaves. Elephant Ears are fast growing big leaf houseplants with leaves that can reach absolutely monstrous sizes – some varieties produce leaves 2-3 feet long.
The arrow or heart shaped leaves with often have noticeable veins and make for that jungle feel.
They like bright, indirect light and consistently moist soil. What they love most is high humidity, so keep them around other houseplants or run a small humidifier near them.
They’re slightly more demanding than some jungle plants but their leaves make them worth it. I keep mine in my living room grouped with other plants so they improve the humidity for each other and it’s give me three massive new leaves in the past six months. They go through a natural dormancy in winter where they might drop leaves, which is normal.
Philodendron (Large Varieties)
Large philodendrons have massive, often deeply lobed leaves. The Philodendron Selloum (also called Tree Philodendron) has impressive leaves that can reach up to three feet in length.
They grow into substantial mounds, eventually reaching 3 to 4 feet tall and wide. They’re much easier to care for than many other big leaved tropicals – just give them bright, indirect light and water when the top few inches of soil are dry.
Growth should be steady with new leaves unfurling regularly during the growing season.
I have a Philodendron Selloum that fills a corner of my living room with its massive leaves. Unlike climbing philodendrons these grow up and look a full and bushy that works perfectly for filling the floor in a room that’s going for a jungle look.
Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica)
Rubber plants have thick leaves that look tropical and bold. The burgundy variety in particular is really stunning – it’s a versatile plant with dramatic leaves that turn from burgundy red to green as they unfurl.
These plants can grow 4 to 6 feet indoors with leaves reaching 8 to 12 inches long. They grow relatively fast for a tree like houseplant, growing several new leaves during the spring and summer.
Rubber plants need bright, indirect light and prefer to dry out slightly between each watering. I have a burgundy rubber plant that’s become a focal point in my living room – the deep, rich color contrasts beautifully against the green from other plants.
Wipe the leaves occasionally to keep them shiny and free of dust. They’re relatively easy to care for and look fantastic.
Banana Plant (Musa)
Banana plants bring serious jungle vibes with their large leaves. Those leaves are similar to bird of paradise but often larger and more dramatic.
You can get dwarf varieties too for indoor growing but even these can reach 4 to 6 feet tall with leaves over 2 feet long.
Banana plants need bright light and consistently moist soil – they’re one of the few houseplants that actually like to stay quite wet. They grow quickly during the growing season, regularly giving you new leaves from the center. They appreciate higher humidity and benefit from occasional misting.
The leaves tear along the veins as they mature which adds to the wild look. They need space as the leaves spread out quite a bit but they create a real jungle atmosphere.
Calathea
The Calathea family includes several species with beautiful foliage and while they have smaller leaves than some jungle plants their patterns and colors add a lot of variety.
Calathea Medallion has large, round leaves with deep green, white and purple patterns. Calathea Orbifolia has broad, silver/green leaves with stripes.
These plants move their leaves – folding up at night and opening in the morning – which makes them even more interesting to look at. They like low to medium light and consistently moist soil.
Calatheas also prefer bright, indirect light and need consistently moist soil to retain their vibrant leaf colors. They appreciate more humidity and work well grouped with other tropical plants.
I keep several calatheas in my jungle collection specifically because the patterned leaves break up the solid green of other plants.
Dieffenbachia (Dumb Cane)
Dieffenbachia, also known as Dumb Cane, has large, broad leaves with lovely patterns and variegation. The leaves can reach over 12 inches long with beautiful cream, yellow and green patterns.
They can grow quite tall (up to 5 to 6 feet indoors) with a full and bushy appearance. They need medium, indirect light and prefer to stay lightly moist.
Dieffenbachia grows steadily, producing new leaves from the center regularly during the spring and summer. The variegated patterns add to a jungle display making a good contrast against solid green plants.
They’re relatively easy to care for as long as you get the light right – too little and growth will slow down and too much and the leaves get burnt. The name “dumb cane” comes from the toxic sap that can temporarily affect speech if eaten, so keep it away from pets and children.
Pothos (Large Varieties)
Pothos is often thought of as a small trailing plant but if you given it something to climb it can grow massive leaves and be perfect for a jungle look. Golden pothos or jade pothos trained up a moss pole will grow leaves 8 to 12 inches long – much larger than when trailing.
The vines can grow incredibly fast and reach more than 10 feet within a year or two. I have a pothos climbing up a 6 foot moss pole in my living room and the leaves near the top are huge compared to the small leaves it started with.
These are super easy to care for – tolerating low to bright indirect light and needing water only when the soil is dry. Let them climb instead of trail and you’ll see massive leaf sizes. The fast growth helps fill space quickly when you’re building your jungle room.
Kentia Palm
Palms are essential for a jungle vibe and Kentia palms are one of the best for indoors. They have fronds that make a lush, tropical canopy.
They can reach 6 to 8 feet tall indoors, filling up space really well. Kentias don’t mind low to medium light and deal with it better better than most palms, making them more versatile for different rooms.
They grow slowly but steadily and a larger pot helps make for a bushier plant over time. Water when the top inch of soil is dry and they appreciate a little misting.
I have a Kentia palm near my monstera and the combination of palm fronds and monstera leaves is the best tropical layering. These are also pet safe, which is a huge advantage. The slow growth means they’re a long term investment but they’re worth it for the tropical atmosphere they make.
Heartleaf Philodendron
The Heart Leaf Philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum) is beloved for how easy it is to care for, how quickly it grows and it’s cascading vines. While individual leaves are smaller the sheer volume of growth creates a jungle look.
These vines can grow 6 to 10 feet long within a year and have cascading curtains of green. They don’t mind a wide range of light conditions and need water only when soil is dry.
I have heartleaf philodendron trailing from the tops of my bookshelves. The fast growth helps fill empty spaces quickly.
You can let them trail naturally or train them to climb walls using hooks. These are perfect for adding that overgrown jungle feel without needing any complicated care.
Swiss Cheese Vine (Monstera adansonii)
The Swiss Cheese Plant (Monstera adansonii) got its name from the distinctive holes in its leaves, resembling famous cheese. Unlike its larger cousin Monstera deliciosa, this species naturally trails or climbs with smaller but still fenestrated leaves.
The vines can grow a few feet per year, producing leaves 4 to 8 inches long with characteristic holes. They like bright, indirect light and to dry out slightly between waterings.
I have one climbing a moss pole where it’s developed into a column of split leaves and another trailing from a shelf creating that looks great cascading. The fenestrations make it look interesting even though the leaves are smaller than other jungle plants.
It’s easier to fit in tighter spaces than the massive Monstera deliciosa while still providing that split leaf jungle look.
Tradescantia (Purple Varieties)
While not tropical in origin, purple tradescantia adds some color variation to a jungle display. The purple leaves with silver stripes contrast well against all the green.
They grow incredibly fast – 4 to 6 inches per week during the peak season – making cascading growth quickly. They prefer bright light to maintain vibrant purple color and need water when the top inch of soil is dry.
I use purple tradescantia trailing from high shelves in my jungle room specifically because the purple color breaks up the monotony of green. The fast growth means you can quickly create that overgrown jungle feel. They are perfect for filling gaps between larger plants or adding color to upper levels of your display.
Snake Plant (Large Varieties)
Large snake plants give some upright structure to jungle displays without taking up a lot of floor space. The tall, upright leaves contrast against the rounded leaves of most tropical plants.
Some varieties can reach 4 to 5 feet tall, creating a lot presence. They tolerate low to bright indirect light and need very infrequent watering – every 2 to 4 weeks is plenty.
I use tall snake plants as anchor plants throughout my jungle room as their vertical lines give structure while other plants cascade and sprawl around them. The contrast between the rigid snake plant leaves and the soft, flowing leaves of philodendrons and monsteras is amazing.
They’re also excellent air purifiers and nearly indestructible. Basically the perfect low maintenance additions to a jungle room.
Layering and Styling
Having the right plants is just the start. To really make a true jungle aesthetic needs some proper placement and layering.
Start with large statement plants. Monstera, fiddle leaf fig, bird of paradise or banana plants should anchor corners or be the focal points. These big plants are going to be the foundation of your jungle.
Add medium fillers. Rubber plants, philodendrons, alocasias and palms fill the gaps between your statement plants and make everything fuller. They should be put at different heights and depths to create layers.
Include trailing plants. Pothos, heartleaf philodendron and tradescantia cascade from shelves and hang from ceiling hooks which adds some movement and fills the vertical spaces.
Mix leaf shapes and sizes. Mix up large rounded leaves (monstera) with palm fronds (Kentia palm) and upright (snake plant). The variety makes it all more interesting.
Group plants together. Don’t spread plants evenly around the room. Cluster them in corners, along the walls or around furniture to make an area that’s concentrated and makes more of an impact.
Use varying heights. Put plants on the floor, on plant stands, on shelves and hanging from the ceiling to use all the vertical space and make depth.
I started with one corner – a large monstera on the floor, a smaller philodendron on a plant stand next to it and pothos trailing from a shelf above. That single jungle corner ended up turning into the entire feel of the room. Then I added more corners and more clusters until the whole space felt tropical.
Final Thoughts
Creating a space that has a jungle n feel to it was the best plant decision I ever made. Instead of trying to fit plants discretely into my decor I made plants the decor.
It didn’t happen overnight though. I started with one or two large plants then added more gradually as I figured out what worked in my space. Some plants did well and became focal points. Others struggled and got moved to different places or taken away and rehomed.
I had to full commit to the aesthetic to make it work. If I’d gone at it half heartedly adding a plant here and there it wouldn’t have worked.
Once I had enough plants to make the jungle look, everything clicked. The room felt warmer, more inviting and more alive.
The best part is that most jungle plants are surprisingly easy to care for. Monsteras, philodendrons, pothos and snake plants are all great for beginners. Even the slightly more demanding ones like alocasia and calathea aren’t difficult once you figure out what they like.
My advice: start with one statement plant (monstera or fiddle leaf fig), add a palm for structure, throw in some trailing pothos or philodendron and go from there. Don’t worry about perfection – jungle aesthetic is supposed to look wild and overgrown.
