Tropical House Plants

In a high-tech world, splashy and bold tropical house plants put us in touch with nature in a big way. 

Are they difficult to grow?

Not really. Most common house plants originated in tropical or subtropical regions, growing under the canopies of tall trees, which makes them well-suited to living under the shade of a roof.

And because tropical climates never dip below freezing temperatures, tropical house plants can thrive in our warm homes year-round. One thing indoor tropical plants likely won't have in our homes is high humidity -- but we can add that.

Image ©Aleksandr Proshkin

Under the Tropic Sun

Brightly colored Croton Plants thrive beautifully in their native habitats of Malaysia, the Pacific Islands and Northern Australia. Provide the same bright light and high humidity and you'll make them feel right at home.

Like many rain forest plants, crotons have slick, shiny leaves.

Why? Tropical rain forests are wet. Really wet. Many regions average 100 inches of rain a year (some A LOT more!) and along with it, humidity levels around 80%. During the rainy season, tropical rainforest plants often get more moisture than they need, so their leaves have slick coatings to easily shrug off the rain.

Broad leaves, handsomely marbled with white, have made Dumb Cane (Dieffenbachia maculata 'Tropic Snow') a favorite for decades.

It's so familiar in our homes, it's difficult to imagine it growing wild in Brazil. Despite its tropical beginnings, Dumb Cane adapts well to average humidity and light. Its low-maintenance lifestyle and boldly patterned leaves make it easy to live with.

Red Guzmania lingulata plants. © Publicdomainphotos | Dreamstime.com

Yes, Bromeliads DO Grow on Trees

In the wild, you'll find bromeliads growing in the Central and South American rain forests where they make their homes on tree branches.

Bromes grow in a rosette of stiff, upright leaves, forming a cup that serves as a reservoir to hold rainwater. One of the most popular of the species is Guzmania lingulata, pictured above). Because it's less demanding of high humidity than other bromeliads, it adapts well to growing indoors.

They're just one of many epiphytes (plants that grow on other plants) that don't have roots on the ground. Some types of ferns also grow as epiphytes, nestled high in trees in tropical Asia and South America.

Image © Ganna Aibetova

Schefflera hardly needs an introduction. Easy to please, it is among the most popular house plants. And that's not all. Its pinwheel-style leaflets lend a lush, tropical feel to a room. 

Stunning all on its own, this tropical Australian native also makes a nice leafy backdrop for your indoor tropical house plant collection.

Group it with bright bromeliads, sun-loving orchids in bloom or colorful croton.

Bird of Paradise plant. © Khine / istockphoto

A (not so) Rare Bird

Not many tropical flower bouquets are without a Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae) in all its splendor.

This showy bird makes an eye-catching houseplant -- that is, if you're patient. It's slow-growing and can take a few years to bloom. When not in bloom, its large, leathery leaves look like a banana plant.

Because of its need for high humidity and sunshine, this tropical beauty is not easy to please in most homes and grows best in a greenhouse. Discover more types of tropical flowers here.

Monstera deliciosa is highly recognizable by the slits and holes in its leaves. Also called Swiss Cheese Plant, this jungle native has become one of the coolest plants to hit the houseplant scene (again). With foot-long foliage, it certainly makes a big impression in a room.

Give Monstera deliciosa added humidity, indirect light and some space to sprawl out. You'll love this handsome tropical house plant for many years.

More Tropical House Plants to Explore

Discover the many types of Bromeliads you can grow indoors. This family includes captivating flowers... and they're easy to grow. 

Explore these rare tropical flowers. They're some of the showiest blooms you'll ever grow indoors...if you can find them.