7 houseplants feature bold textures

 Maximal Houseplants for a Lush Indoor Jungle

Maximalists embrace a diverse collection, lots of color and texture, and a sense of whimsy. The right houseplants can be key to completing a maximalist look. Think tall plants with big, dramatic leaves and twining vines that can climb a shelf or climb out of a container. There’s more to a maximalist look than a minimalist, so leave the single statement plant to the minimalists and Swedish Death Cleaners and opt for the following multi-stemmed plants to elevate your decor.

1. Monstera

Monstera (Monstera deliciosa) has been starring in Instagram’s indoor jungles for years. The large, spiky leaves on a mature plant almost exude a maximalist vibe. Train this climbing plant to grow as a mossy pillar or, for more drama, up a wall or banister. It can grow up to 15 feet tall indoors. In its native Mexico or anywhere in hardiness zone 10 and above, the monstera can grow up to 60 feet tall. Surrounding it are smaller plants with a variety of leaf textures, such as mini-miniatures, peace lilies, and ferns, which can put a maximalist spin on a room.

2. Bird of Paradise

The bird of paradise (Strelitzia reginae) gets its nickname from its orange flowers, which resemble a bird in flight. Its leaves make it a houseplant that is perfect for a maximalist aesthetic. It has deep green, leathery leaves that grow up to three feet long and look similar to banana leaves. The bird of paradise will grow up to 5 feet tall and 4 feet wide indoors, with an upright habit that makes it a wonderful ground cover plant. A bird of paradise can fill a room by itself, but for a truly maximalist feel, group it with other larger, leafier plants.

3. Split Leaf Philodendron

Split leaf philodendron is the nickname given to a large tropical plant that resembles a monstera. Two types of plants are nicknamed split leaf philodendron: Philodendron bipinnatifidum and Philodendron sellum. Like monstera, split leaf philodendron has large, patterned green leaves that bring a whimsical, maximalist feel to a room. Split leaf philodendron does not climb like a monstera, and it grows much faster. Split leaf philodendron grows up to 10 feet tall indoors, so it is a natural choice for a maximalist room.

4. Swiss Cheese Vine

Swiss Cheese Vine, also known as Adanson's Monstera, (Monstera adansonii) is a fast-growing tropical vine native to Central and South America. Its eye-catching leaves have holes and slits, similar to slices of Swiss cheese, hence the plant’s nickname. Place Swiss cheese vine in a container in a sunny room, and train it to grow on a trellis or hang from a hanging basket. Swiss cheese vine’s long, dramatic leaves bring a touch of greenery to any room. Best of all, it’s easy to grow. Indoors, its vines can grow up to 10 feet long.

5. Pothos

Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is a fast-growing, low-maintenance houseplant that looks great hung from the ceiling in a maxi room or with its vines trailing behind it on a shelf or plant stand. Pothos is grown for its leaves, which come in a variety of colors, from lime green to variegated. For a more maximalist look, train pothos vines to grow along a wall or across a ceiling.

6. Palms

Palms are a symbol of a lush landscape, so they are the perfect houseplant for maximum aesthetics. A tall palm in a large garden draws the eye upward, adding instant drama to a room. The Victorians, experts in maximalism, were big fans of placing palms in pots in a room. Palms can grow in low light and don’t need much water or attention to thrive. Some good palms to grow indoors include the bamboo palm (Chamaedoria seffrizii,) lady palm (Rabis excelsa,) and areca palm (Typsis lutescens).

7. Hoya

Commonly known as the wax plant, the hoya (Hoya carnosa) is a trailing tropical vine native to Taiwan, Vietnam and India. Hoya produces stems that grow up to 4 feet long and can be trained to climb a plant stand, trellis or, for maximum drama, a light fixture. Hoya has thick, glossy leaves that range in color from dark green to pink. 'Variegata' has white edges on the leaves. 'Crimson Queen' has variegated leaves.