Our Favorite Plants to Build a Budding Indoor Jungle
When you hear the phrase “indoor jungle,” you might think of lush, deep green leaves filling every corner of a room, vining and trailing plants cascading from shelves and hanging planters, and maybe even a stately tree (or three) tying things together. It all has to start somewhere, and cultivating an indoor jungle takes time and effort. Fortunately, we’ve got you on the time part and have put together a guide of our top 10 plants that will elevate your indoor jungle to the next level.
Heart Leaf Philodendron
It’s hard to pick favorites, but we love the Heart Leaf Philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum) for so many reasons. Its ease of care, adorable namesake, and quick-growing, cascading vines are only a few reasons why this plant should be added to any indoor collection. Every indoor jungle needs plants that hang and trail down, and this staple is one of the perfect plants to start with.
2. Anthurium
Jungles and rainforests have an amazing level of biodiversity within the plants that call it home, and you’ll often see plants with stately leaves taking up residency. With big, strappy, leathery leaves, Anthuriums can make a statement in any space and are an excellent way to add texture and pattern to an indoor jungle.
3. Monstera
Many plants exist within the Monstera family, with the defining trait being that as they mature, these plants begin to produce leaves with naturally-occurring holes in them, earning them the nickname “Swiss cheese plant.” Their unique foliage belongs in any indoor jungle and will instantly make it feel more tropical.
4. Ferns
Ferns are well-known across the world, with the family of plants having a casual 10.5k different species that are associated with both deciduous and tropical forests. Some of our favorites are the highly unusual staghorn ferns that grow two different kinds of fronds and the blue star fern with its pale blue foliage.
5. Ficus trees
This might be a no-brainer, but every indoor jungle needs at least one tree. If you have plenty of natural sunlight in your space, trees in the Ficus family can add height to your space while also making your jungle look more like one. With a plethora of different species and cultivated varieties, there’s a Ficus tree for every aesthetic.
6. Hoyas
Hoyas are the succulent of the tropical world. Simply put, they’re pretty easy and excel at storing water in their leaves. These plants can be grown in a variety of ways—left to hang and trail out of planters or on a mount, or they can be trellised to grow upwards. The choice is yours, and once these plants are mature and are receiving good sunlight, they’ll even reward you with beautiful flowers.
7. Sansevieria
Sansevieria, or snake plants, are naturally found in subtropical regions in Africa, but indoors, they make for one of the easiest houseplants out there, needing infrequent watering and tolerating a wide range of sunlight. Give your indoor jungle a little diversity with their thick, succulent leaves and architectural form—they fit in perfectly amongst your more leafy, tropical plants.
8. Calathea
If you like colors and patterns, meet your new best friend. Calatheas are perfect to add some variety into an indoor jungle and break up that sea of green leaves—just be sure to use filtered water and keep up with their care needs.
9. Marimo moss balls
The cutest tabletop companion there ever was, Marimo are aquatic plants, but we still think they’d be the perfect addition to a thriving indoor jungle. Keep these botanical oddities fully submerged in water and out of direct sunlight, and that’s all there is to it.
10. Air plants
You might not initially see them, as they’re found high up in the trees, but air plants are a quintessential part of an indoor jungle. We love tucking these plants in trees for a natural look, or freely displaying them across shelving with other natural elements like rocks and wood pieces.
Words by: Egan Thorne
Photos by: Egan Thorne, Emily Kellett, Caroline Twohill, Kiley Wright, Sebastian Muñoz, & Rachelle Levine