6. Citrus
Though they’re fun to have around in any climate, growing citrus trees as houseplants in cold climates is an extra-special treat.
Yours might not produce more than a fruit or two each year, but each juicy reward is far more exciting than plucking a thousand lemons off of an outdoor citrus.
But even if you don’t ever see any fruit, they’re beautiful plants in their own right. Depending on the species you choose, citrus can grow anywhere from four to 10 feet tall indoors.
You have lots of options, so choose one that you’ll actually use the fruit from when it appears. Just be sure to give them tons and tons of sun. Even better, take them out to your patio in the summer.
If you’re a fan of sweet lemons, a Meyer lemon (Citrus x meyeri) might be the way to go.
Fast Growing Trees has Meyer lemon in one-, two-, three-, and 15-gallon containers.
Limes more your style?
Key limes (C. aurantifolia) make particularly good indoor plants. Fast Growing Trees has plants in a variety of sizes to suit your needs.
7. Corn Plant
Corn plant is a variety of dracaena (Dracaena fragrans) that can grow up to six feet tall. It’s a tropical evergreen that has a thick central cane.
From this cane, long, arching leaves emerge that somewhat resemble palm fronds. They’re drought-tolerant and pretty darn tough.
Bring a tropical vibe to your home by picking up a plant in a three-gallon decorative pot at Fast Growing Trees.
Read more about growing corn plants here.
8. Dragon Tree
A close relative of the corn plant, dragon trees (Dracaena draco) grow to about six feet tall indoors, with attractive strappy foliage.
Give them just about any level of light – as long as it isn’t exceedingly dim, they’ll put on a show.
The leaves can have a range of colors, including pink and red or even multicolor stripes.
9. False Banana
As delightful indoors as out, the false banana tree (Ensete ventricosum) doesn’t produce edible bananas, but it does grow some pretty impressive green and red leaves. They’re huge!
Each individual leaf can be up to six feet long – that’s a lot of drama packed into one houseplant.
If you put one in your yard the plants can grow to 20 feet tall, but indoors they stay closer to six feet in height.
Make this tall plant yours by snatching a four-inch pot at Home Depot.
10. Ficus Alii
While not one of the most common houseplants, ficus alii (Ficus maclellandii) is worth hunting down.
Also known as banana leaf figs, these plants are much easier to care for than their weeping and fiddle-leaf cousins.
The long, banana-shaped leaves won’t fall as readily as those of its cousins either. Just place it in bright, indirect light, and watch it grow up to 10 feet tall.
You can find can find one at Fast Growing Trees.
Find tips on banana leaf fig care here.
11. Fiddle-Leaf Fig
You knew there would have to be a fiddle-leaf fig (Ficus lyrata) on this list, right?
And I know I just mentioned that it can be a bit finicky.
But these plants remain a perpetual favorite because it’s hard to match those Jurassic-looking leaves when it comes to making an architectural statement in your space.
While they aren’t super fast growers, they can stretch to your ceiling – and beyond! – if they receive good light.
Despite what you may have read, they can handle some direct morning light and they’ll be better for it.
For a three- to four-foot tree in a plain or decorative pot, or a four- to five-, five- to six-, or six- to seven-foot-tree, pay Fast Growing Trees a visit.
Learn more about fiddle-leaf fig plants here.
12. Fishtail Palm
I need to preface this by saying that I am completely in love with fishtail palms (Caryota spp.).
The leaves are so unique and elegant, it’s like having a bright green betta fish swimming around in your living room.
So this is not an unbiased description. To be totally honest, they’re a little fussy, but don’t write them off.
Fishtail palms can grow over 12 feet tall indoors and they make a huge statement with all that pretty foliage.
I’ll level with you, though – they do much better if you can put them outdoors for part of the year. At the very least, give them direct morning light but protect them from the afternoon sun.
Learn more about fishtail palms here.
13. Hawaiian Ti
Green is lovely, but sometimes a little color is what you need. If that’s the case, check out the Hawaiian ti (Cordyline fruticosa).
The violet, red, or pink leaves are a stand-out against all the greenery you often find in houseplants, though there are green cultivars, too.
While these tree-like shrubs can grow taller outdoors, indoors they stop at about 10 feet tall. Just be sure to give them bright, filtered light. These shouldn’t be left in a dark corner.
Find some color at Fast Growing Trees. They offer two- to three-foot plants and plants in three-gallon nursery pots.
Find tips on growing Hawaiian ti plants here.
14. Lady Fern
Lady ferns (Athyrium filix-femina) might not immediately jump to mind when you’re thinking of tall houseplants, but they can grow up to five feet tall.
Add a foot-deep container and a plant stand, and you’re stretching to the ceiling.
They thrive in low light and average humidity, so these aren’t fussy ferns.
If you’re hoping to bring a forest vibe into your space, invite this lady into your abode.
You can find plants available at Nature Hills Nursery.
15. Majesty Palm
Majesty palms (Ravenea rivularis) are truly majestic.
The strappy, massive, pinnate leaves sway in even the gentlest breeze and they can grow up to an astounding 20 feet tall indoors if you let them.
Keep the pot smaller if you don’t want that kind of growth.
Just remember that if that breeze is coming from your HVAC system you might want to run a humidifier in the room.
These palms like humidity. Also, give them partial sunlight but protect them from the hot afternoon sun.
Up for the challenge of growing this persnickety palm? It’s worth the effort. Perfect Plants Nursery carries plants in 10-inch pots.
16. Money Tree
Money trees (Pachira aquatica) are popular houseplants because they don’t ask for much from you in terms of maintenance, but they offer up a lot in terms of display.
They often come with three braided stems, and they’re always topped with glossy, large, feather-shaped leaves.
They’re fairly quick-growing and top out at about eight feet within about a decade or so. Bring home the money by heading to Nature Hills Nursery.
They carry live plants in four-inch containers.
Read our guide to growing money trees for more information.
17. Natal Mahogany
Feeling adventurous? Natal mahogany trees (Trichilia emetica) are gorgeous but they’re a bit fussy. I don’t tell you that to scare you off but to prepare you.
The feather-shaped leaves covering a seven-foot-tall plant make a real statement in the home, so those who aren’t afraid of a gardening challenge shouldn’t hesitate.
This species needs moderate light and lots of moisture, plus warm temperatures.
18. Norfolk Pine
Outdoors, Norfolk pines (Araucaria heterophylla) can reach hundreds of feet in height, but indoors, they stay closer to 10 feet tall when mature.
These lovely miniature Christmas trees bring an evergreen forest vibe to your interior. They’re happiest in bright, direct light and are sensitive to overwatering.
You can find trees in a variety of sizes available at Fast Growing Trees.
Learn more about growing Norfolk Island pines here.
19. Olive
Olive trees (Olea europaea) can grow indoors as houseplants, but be aware that they need a lot of sun to produce fruit.
They might not produce many olives, or any at all. But they’re beautiful houseplants when grown for their foliage alone.
Indoors, they stay about seven feet tall.
Fast Growing Trees carries ‘Koroneiki’ Greek olive trees if you’re dreaming of bringing the Mediterranean into your home.
20. Parlor Palm
If you love palms but want something easier to care for than, say, a majesty palm, parlor palms (Chamaedorea elegans) are where it’s at.
They can reach up to 12 feet tall but stay smaller if you keep the roots constrained.
They aren’t demanding about humidity and if you forget to water one week it won’t turn into a crumbly mess, unlike some palms I could mention (looking at you, areca!).
Find tips for growing parlor palms here.
21. Rubber Tree
Rubber trees (Ficus elastica or F. robusta) live up to their name.
While you often see them as smaller specimens, given a big pot and several hours of direct light each day, yours can grow into a 10-foot-tall tree-like plant with those characteristic, huge, fleshy leaves.
You have lots of options when choosing the perfect one for your decor, from those with solid-colored green leaves to highly variegated multicolored leaves.
‘Ruby’ is a variegated cultivar that features new growth in a bright ruby shade with magenta midribs.
As they age, the color changes – green leaves are striped with white and light pink. Be sure to give this cultivar some bright light to preserve the variegation.
Fast Growing Trees carries ‘Ruby’ in six-inch as well as one- and three-gallon nursery pots, as well as several different three-gallon decorative pot options.
Check out our guide to growing rubber trees to learn more.
22. Tree Philodendron
For a dramatic statement, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a specimen that’s more impressive than a big, healthy tree philodendron (Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum, syn. Philodendron selloum and P. bipinnatifidum).
These plants can grow up to 10 feet tall with massive, elegant leaves that are unmistakable – though it’s worth noting that they can take 20 years to reach maturity.
The secret to success with this plant is to flush the soil regularly to remove any salt buildup. Tree philodendrons don’t like salt one bit.
You can find plants available at Fast Growing Trees.
23. Triangle Ficus
Triangle ficuses (Ficus triangularis) are named for their triangle-shaped leaves, which come in solid and variegated types.
While good old F. benjamina and F. lyrata have a reputation for needing a bit of babying, this particular ficus isn’t going to drop its leaves whenever so much as a slight breeze moves through the room.
This slow grower reaches up to eight feet in height, but it takes some time. Keep your plant in bright, indirect light for the best growth.
24. Umbrella Tree
Umbrella trees (Schefflera actinophylla) are incredibly forgiving.
I had one that moved with me across thousands of miles, was left in my office for weeks in a dark corner before I remembered it, had a visiting cat pee in its pot, and fell off my patio.
None of these misadventures even caused it to flinch. It’s still cooking after 35 years.
They grow up to 10 feet tall indoors and all they want is some indirect light and a little water now and then. You can find them with solid or variegated foliage.
Bring home this easygoing tree in three- to four- or four- to five-foot-tall heights from Fast Growing Trees.
Learn more about growing umbrella trees here.
25. Weeping Fig
Weeping figs (Ficus benjamina) are fabulous despite their reputation for being demanding. In reality, these plants are pretty resilient and forgiving.
You just need to understand that they can and will drop their leaves at the merest breath of change.
If you even think about moving yours to another part of the room, expect this houseplant to drop those leaves in a huff. But don’t worry, they’ll come back – it’s just the tree’s coping mechanism. We all get stressed out sometimes, right?
Indoors, these figs can grow up to 10 feet tall if you let them.
For a traditional houseplant with a tree-like form, weeping figs are perfect. Sound like just what you’re looking for?
Grab a tree with a braided trunk in a three-gallon container at Fast Growing Trees.
Check out our guide to growing weeping figs here.
Bring the Forest Indoors
Tall houseplants bring height and texture to your interior decor. Plus, they make a much bigger statement than your average pothos or African violet.
Better yet, they don’t demand more care than smaller houseplants to keep them happy and healthy. Find the right light conditions, supply the water and food they need, and you’re off to the races.
Which species is calling your name? Tell us about your favorites in the comment section below. And feel free to share your photos – we love to see what you’ve got growing indoors!
The houseplant goodness doesn’t stop here. We have a bunch of other guides to help you bring even more nature indoors, starting with these:
