30 Best Tropical Foliage Plants with Names and Care Guides

Swiss Cheese Plant is a popular foliage plant on account of its large deeply perforated leaves, ability to adapt to a wide range of growing conditions and its ease of care even for a beginner.

Monstera deliciosa is one of the Monstera varieties that is a perfect stand alone plant for occupying the large empty spaces and requires a moss stick to support it to grow upright.

Swiss Cheese Plant thrives in bright to medium, indirect light, warm and humid conditions and moderately moist, fertile, well-drained soil. Learn more on Monstera deliciosa Care Indoors, Propagation and Common Problems.

Heartleaf Philodedron or Sweetheart Plant is low maintenance, versatile plant with air cleaning properties and is perfect for the limited spaces in the home.

Sweetheart Plant like many other Philodendrons is a vining plant that is ideal for a table-top, a hanging basket, a pedestal, plant shelf, a trellis or a moss-pole.

Philodedron scandens is an easy care plant that will adapt in a wide range of conditions. It grows best in medium to bright indirect light away from direct sunlight, warm and humid conditions and moderately moist, fertile, well-drained soils. Read more on how to Grow and Care for Heartleaf Philodendron Indoors.

Pothos also called Devil's Ivy, Devil's Vine or Money Plant is a popular, easy care, low maintenance, colourful plants with indoor air cleaning properties.

Scindapsus aureus also called Epipremnum aureum is one of the popular Pothos Plants for a hanging basket, a table-top, a shelf, a moss pole or trellis and is ideal for the small spaces.

Devil's Ivy thrives in medium to bright, indirect light, moderately warm and humid conditions and moderately moist, rich, well-drained soil. Learn more on Scindapsus aureus Indoor Care, Propagation, Growing Problems and Solutions.

Rubber Plant also called Rubber Fig, Rubber Tree, Rubber Bush, Indian Rubber Tree or Indian Rubber Bush is low maintenance, tree-like plant that readily adapts to indoor growing conditions.

There are many Ficus elastica varieties which come with a wide range of leaf colors and patterns that you can choose from. Rubber Plants are also known to be good indoor air cleaners.

Rubber Fig thrives in bright light with some direct sunlight, warm and humid conditions and moderately moist, fertile, well-drained soil. Read more on how to Grow and Care for Ficus elastica Indoors.

Corn Palm or Corn Plant is an low maintenance plant whose glossy, large, yellow-striped leaves will brighten up any space in the home.

On account of its large size and colorful foliage, Corn Plant like many Dracaena Varieties can be grown as a statement plant to provide a bold and attractive focal point.

Dracaena fragrans grows best in bright, indirect light away from direct sunlight, average warmth and consistently moist, rich, well-drained soil. Learn more on Dracaena fragrans Indoor Care and Common Problems with Solutions.

Areca Palm also called Butterfly Palm or Golden Cane Palm is a popular, easy care, low maintenance palm that is a perfect stand alone plant for large spaces.

With its long, feathery fronds and yellowish cane-like stems, Golden Cane Palm like other Indoor Palms will render an air of elegance and sophistication in any space.

Butterfly Palm thrives in bright, indirect light, average warmth and humidity and moderately moist, fertile, well-drained soil. Read more on how to Grow and Care for Dypsis lutescens (Areca Palm).

Snake Plant also called Mother in-law's Tongue is ideal for the home on account of its long beautifully colored foliage and ability to clean indoor air in addition to increasing oxygen concentration.

Like other Sanseviera Varieties, Sanseviera trifasciata is a CAM plant which harvest Carbon dioxide at night and use it during the day to make their food. As they make their food they store the oxygen they produce in the process and release it at night.

Snake Plants thrive in bright light with some direct sunlight, average warmth and moderately moist, loose, fertile, free-draining soil. Learn more on Sanseviera Indoor Care, Propagation, Growing Problems and Solutions.

Chinese Evergreens are popular foliage plants on account of their spectacular foliage, low maintenance, air cleaning properties and ability to adapt to indoor growing conditions.

There are many varieties of Chinese Evergreens like Aglaonema silver queen, Aglaonema pseudobracteatum (Golden Evergreen, Aglaonema commutatum, Aglaonema nitidum and Aglaonema pictum among many others.

Aglaonemas grow best in medium to bright light away from direct sunlight, warm and humid conditions and moderately moist, well-drained soils. Read more on Chinese Evergreen Indoor Care, Propagation, Growing Problems and Solutions.

Croton Plant or Joseph's Coat are popular plants on account of their vivid foliage colors and varied leaf shapes which are usually large and lobed with distinctly colored veins.

Most varieties of Croton Plants have laurel-like foliage, but there are also forked leaves, long ribbons, lobed leaves, twisted and curled types. They include Norma, Bravo, Reidii, aucubifolium, Craigii, Gold star, Gold Moon, Mrs Iceton and Holuffiana among many others.

Croton Plant care is easy as it requires bright light with some direct morning or evening sunlight, warm and humid conditions and consistently moist, rich, well-drained soil. Learn more on how to Grow and Care for Codiaeum variegatum.

Calathea Plants are popular foliage plants grown for their ornately patterned leaves which will add a splash of color to any space and make a spectacular focal point in any room.

Calatheas are also popular plants on account of their curious characteristic of raising and closing their leaves at night. Many Calathea varieties can be grown indoors successfully as once the right growing requirements are met, they can last for years.

Like the shaded floors of their native tropical canopies, Calatheas prefer medium to bright, indirect light away from direct sunlight, warm and humid conditions and moderately moist, fertile, well-drained soil. Read more on how to grow and care for Calathea Plants.

Dwarf Umbrella Tree also called Hawaiian Schefflera or Dwarf Schefflera is a popular foliage plant on account of its tolerance to neglect and poor growing conditions.

Dwarf Schefflera is much easier to grow than its close relative Schefflera actinophylla (Umbrella Tree) as it will happily grow as a bush if the growing tip is removed.

Schefflera arboricola thrives in medium to bright light away from direct sunshine, moderate warmth and moderately moist, rich, well-drained soil. Read more on Dwarf Umbrella Tree Indoor Care, Propagation, Growing Problems and Solutions.

Ti Plant also called Hawaiian Goodluck Plant, Hawaiian Ti Plant, Polynesian Ti, is a popular foliage plant ideal for adding a splash of color among the greenery and is also believed to bring good luck.

There are many varieties of Hawaiian Goodluck Plant where Rededge which has green leaves streaked with red is the favorite one. Others are tricolor, Prince Albert, Firebrand, Amabilis, Baptistii, Kiwi and Atom among others.

Hawaiian Ti Plant thrives in bright, indirect light away from direct sunlight average warmth and moderately moist, fertile, well-drained soil. Learn more on Ti Plant Indoor Care, Propagation and Common Growing Issues.

ZZ Plant also called Zanzibar Gem, Zuzu Plant, Aroid Palm or Emerald Palm is a highly tolerant plant with attractive glossy foliage and is ideal for limited spaces.

The foliage in Zuzu Plant contains unusually high content of water up to 90% and has an individual leaf longevity of at least 6 months which enable it to survive extremely well under interior low light levels for up to 4 months without water.

Emerald Palm grows best in bright, indirect light, average warmth and moderately moist, fertile, free-draining soil. Learn more on ZZ Plant Indoor Care, Propagation, Problems and Solutions.

Weeping Fig is a popular, tree-like foliage plant due to its elegant growth and tolerance to poor growing conditions but it does not like sudden changes in light conditions.

Weeping Fig like many Ficus Varieties was found to be effective in cleaning the indoor air of common household toxins like xylene, toulene and trichloroethylene.

Ficus benjamina thrives in bright light with some direct sunlight, warm and humid conditions and moderately moist, fertile, well-drained soil. Read more on Weeping Fig Care Indoors, Propagation and Problems.

Crystal Anthurium is an eye-catching foliage Anthurium species whose heart-shaped leaves are velvety on the surface and the leaf color changes from bronzy-purple to deep-green with age.

Anthurium Plants are native to tropical Americas, being distributed from northern Mexico to northern Argentina and parts of the Caribbean where they grow as understory plants on the forest floors.

Crystal Anthurium thrives bright, indirect light away from direct sunlight, warm and humid conditions and consistently moist, rich, well-drained soils. Learn more on Crystal Anthurium Indoor Care, Propagation, Problems and Solutions.

Alocasia longiloba is a foliage plant that bears large, arrow-shaped, bluish-green leaves with silver margins and veining and light-green or purple undersides which are held on mottled brown leaf stalks.

Alocasia Plants bear very spectacular foliage and are a delight to add to any houseplant collection for a touch of an exotic feel. They come in many varieties and sizes and are not very difficult to grow if the growing conditions are met.

Alocasia longiloba thrives in bright, indirect light away from direct sunlight, warm and humid conditions and moderately moist, fertile, well-drained soils in addition to regular feeding during the growing season. Read more on Alocasia longiloba Indoor Care, Propagation, Problems and Solutions.

Polka Dot Begonia also called Trout Begonia or Spotted Begonia is an evergreen shrubby plant which bears large, glossy, olive-green leaves blotched with white dot-like spots.

There are about 2000 species of Begonia Plants Varieties which are native to the moist subtropical and tropical regions in South and Central America, Africa and Southern Asia.

Polka Dot Begonia grows best in bright, indirect light, average warmth, average humidity and consistently moist, fertile, well-drained soil. Learn more on Begonia maculata Indoor Care, Propagation, Problems and Solutions.

Dumb Cane is a popular foliage plant with large and highly decorative leaves, easy to grow and a good air cleaner which can grow to a height of 5 ft under room conditions.

There are many varieties of Dumb Cane available with varied leaf patterns like Dieffenbachia amoena, Dieffenbachia picta, Dieffenbachia oerstedii, Dieffenbachia bausei, Dieffenbachia bowmannii among many others.

Dieffenbachia thrives in bright indirect light away from direct sunshine, warm and humid conditions and moderately moist, fertile, well-drained soils. Read more on Dumb Cane Indoor Care, Propagation and Common Problems.

Arrowhead Vine also called Goosefoot Vine, Arrowhead Plant, African Evergreen, Arrowhead Philodendron, American Evergreen or Nephthytis is a popular foliage plant whose leaves dramatically change in shape as the plant ages.

There are many variegated cultivars of Goosefoot Vine; the main difference being in the position and extent of the cream or white markings. Some leaves are almost entirely white, pink or yellow.

Arrowhead Plant thrives in bright light away from direct sunlight, warm and humid conditions and consistently moist, rich, well-drained soil. Learn more on Syngonium podophyllum Indoor Care, Propagation and Growing Problems.

Maranta leuconeura are low growing plants with long leaves known for their curious habit of folding and raising at night and hence their common name, Prayer Plant.

Many varieties and cultivars of Maranta Plants are available which include Maranta tricolor (Herringbone Plant) with prominent red leaf veins, Maranta leuconeura kerchoveana (Rabbit's Tracks) with brown leaf blotches which turn green with age and Maranta leuconeura massangeana with blackish green leaves and silvery veins among others.

Maranta Plants thrive in partial light, a warm and humid enviroment and consistently moist, fertile, well-drained soil coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season. Read more on How to Grow and Care for Maranta Plant (Maranta leuconeura) Indoors.

Bird's Nest Fern or Asplenium Fern is a large, bold, foliage plant beautiful enough to be displayed as a focal point plant in the home.

Some varieties of Bird's Nest Fern include Asplenium nidus 'Crispy Wave' which bears sword-shaped, ruffled leaves, Asplenium nidus 'Osaka', Asplenium nidus 'Antiquum' and Asplenium nidus 'Victoria'.

Asplenium Fern thrives in bright, indirect light, warm and humid conditions and consistently moist, rich, well drained soils. Learn more on Bird's Nest Fern Indoor Care, Propagation, Problems and Solutions.

Small-leaf Spiderwort is one of the most popular of the hanging basket foliage plants. Its leaves clasp the creeping or trailing stems and the undersides of leaves are pale purple (mauve).

Tradescantia varieties exhibits varied colors, leaf shape, texture and growth habits. Majority of them are perfect for a hanging basket and it is not unusual to find at least one in the home.

Tradescantia fluminensis thrives in bright, indirect light away from direct sunlight, average warmth and consistently moist, fertile, well-drained soil. Read more on Small-leaf Spiderwort Indoor Care, Propagation and Problems with Solutions.

Pepper Face Plant also called Baby Rubber Plant or American Rubber Plant is a compact upright growing Peperomia with cupped leathery leaves which resembles a rubber plant.

Peperomia Varieties are found in all tropical and subtropical regions of the world but being concentrated in northern South America and Central America, but are also found in Africa, southern Asia, and Oceania.

Peperomia obtusifolia thrives in bright light away from direct sunlight, moderately warm and humid conditions and moderately moist, fertile, well-drained soil. Learn more on Pepper Face Plant Care and Propagation Guide.

Rhaphidophora tetrasperma, often incorrectly labelled as Mini Monstera, is an evergreen vine which bears leaves with split lobes and easily adapts to indoor growing conditions.

The Rhaphidophora tetrasperma is native to Southern Thailand and Malaysia where it grows as an hemiepiphyte and climbs by means of aerial roots to the top of trees in its natural habitat.

Rhaphidophora tetrasperma thrives in bright, indirect light away from direct sunlight, warm and humid conditions and moderately moist, well drained soil that is rich in organic matter. Read more on Rhaphidophora tetrasperma Indoor Care, Propagation, Growing Problems and Solutions.

String of Pearls Plant or String of Beads Plant is a unique plant which bears pendant thread-like stems on which spherical green leaves grow and it resembles a neck-lace of beads or pearls.

There are about 1200 species of Senecio Plants which belong to the daisy family, Asteraceae, mostly native to Africa with interesting leaf shapes and colors as an adaptation to dry conditions.

Senecio rowleyanus thrives in bright light with some direct sunlight, moderate warmth and moderately moist, fertile, well-drained soil. Learn more on String of Pearls Plant Indoor Care, Propagation and Growing Problems.

String of Nickels Plant also called Button Orchid is a trailing succulent plant which forms a dense mass of greenish-yellow foliage whose stems can grow upto 3 metres long and cascade beautifully downwards.

Button Orchid is one of the popular String of Plants that is ideal for the limited spaces where it can be displayed in a hanging basket, on a table-top, a pedestal or plant shelf.

Dischidia nummularia thrives in bright light with some morning sunshine, average warmth, moderately moist, rich, well-drained soil and two feedings during the growing season. Read more on String of Nickels Plant Indoor Care, Propagation and Common Problems.

Jade Plant is a popular succulent plant that can withstand a great deal of neglect and mismanagement and is easy to grow even for a beginner as it can survive a considerable period of time without water due to the fleshy leaves and stems.

Jade Plant belongs to the family, Crassulaceae which comprises of about 200 Crassula species that are mainly native to Southern Africa and are considered toxic to human and pets. Take a look at these Popular Crassula Varieties for indoors.

Crassula ovata thrives in bright light with some direct sunlight, average warmth and moderately moist, rich, well-drained soil coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season. Learn more on Jade Plant Indoor Care, Propagation, Common Problems and Solutions.

Penwiper Plant is a popular foliage plant that is grown for its large scalloped and brown-blotched leaves which grows to a height of 16 in. and about 16 in. wide.

The Kalanchoe genus comprises of about 125 species, native to the arid regions of Madagascar and tropical Africa but only a few are in cultivation either indoors or outdoors. Check out these Kalanchoe Varieties ideal for home growing.

Kalanchoe marmorata thrives in bright light to full sunlight, average warmth and moderately moist, rich, well-drained soil coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season. Read more on Penwiper Plant Indoor Care, Propagation and Common Problems.

Stromanthe triostar also called Triostar Stromanthe or Tricolor Prayer Plant is a herbaceous perennial plant with strikingly beautiful foliage and is a pleasant addition in any houseplant collection.

The Triostar Stromanthe is native to the tropical regions of the Americas from Mexico to Trinidad to northern Argentina. It is non-toxic to both humans and pets.

Stromanthe sanguinea thrives in bright, indirect light, warm and humid conditions and consistently moist, rich, well-drained soil. Read more on Stromanthe Triostar (Stromanthe sanguinea) Indoor Care, Propagation, Problems and Solutions.

Purple Waffle Plant also called Red Flame Ivy, Metal Leaf Plant or Red Ivy is a climbing plant whose leaves are silvery in the shade and metallic purple when grown under some direct sunshine.

Red Flame Ivy is perfect for a hanging basket where the stems can beautifully cascade downwards to display the beauty of the metallic leaves and is non-toxic to humans and pets as indicated by ASPCA.

Hemigraphis alternata thrives in bright light with some direct sunlight, warm and humid conditions and consistently moist, rich, well-drained soils. Read more on Purple waffle Plant Care Indoors, Propagation and Problems.

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