If you love the bold, tropical look of elephant ears, you’re probably looking for other plants with a similar vibe. Finding plants similar to elephant ears can help you create that lush, jungle-like feel in your garden or home. These statement plants bring drama and texture with their huge leaves, turning any space into a focal point. They’re perfect for adding instant impact.
This guide will walk you through the best options, from shade-loving giants to sun-worshipping specimens. You’ll learn how to choose, care for, and arrange these dramatic foliage plants. Let’s look at some fantastic alternatives that can stand toe-to-toe with your favorite colocasia or alocasia.
Plants Similar To Elephant Ears
The world of large-leaved plants is vast and exciting. While elephant ears (usually Colocasia or Alocasia species) are iconic, many other plants offer comparable or even larger foliage. These plants can be grouped by their growing conditions, such as those for shady spots, sunny areas, or indoor containers. Understanding these groups will help you pick the right plant for your specific space.
Why Choose Large Foliage Plants?
Big leaves make a big statement. They create a sense of depth and fullness in a garden bed. They can also act as a living mulch, shading the soil and helping to retain moisture. Indoors, they improve air quality and add a calming, natural element. Their architectural shapes work well in modern and tropical designs alike.
Key Considerations Before You Plant
Before you run to the nursery, think about a few important factors. This will save you time and money, ensuring your new plants thrive.
* Light: Is your spot full sun, partial shade, or deep shade? Matching the plant to the light is the most critical step.
* Space: How much horizontal and vertical room do you have? Some of these plants get very wide or very tall.
* Climate: Are you in a warm, frost-free zone, or do you have cold winters? This determines if you need to grow in pots you can bring inside.
* Soil: Most big-leaf plants prefer rich, moist, well-draining soil. You might need to amend your garden bed with compost.
* Water: Dramatic foliage often requires consistent moisture. Be prepared to water regularly, especially in hot weather.
Top Picks for Shady & Partly Shady Gardens
Many large-leaf plants naturally grow on forest floors, making them perfect for darker corners of your yard.
Gunnera (Gunnera manicata)
Often called “dinosaur food,” Gunnera has leaves that can span over 6 feet wide on thick, prickly stalks. It’s arguably the most dramatic foliage plant you can grow in temperate climates. It needs constant moisture and lots of space. In colder areas, you must protect its crown in winter with a layer of its own cut leaves.
Rodgersia (Rodgersia pinnata or aesculifolia)
Rodgersia is a tough, perennial choice with large, palmate (chestnut-like) or pinnate leaves. It produces plumes of pink or white flowers in early summer. It thrives in damp, shady conditions and forms impressive clumps. The foliage often has a bronze tint when it first emerges in spring.
Japanese Aralia (Fatsia japonica)
This evergreen shrub boasts large, glossy, deeply lobed leaves that look great year-round. It’s very low-maintenance and tolerates deep shade and coastal conditions. It can grow quite large, but there are more compact cultivars available. Small white flower balls appear in fall.
Bigleaf Ligularia (Ligularia dentata)
Known for its large, rounded or kidney-shaped leaves, Ligularia loves wet soil. It’s an excellent choice for the edge of a pond or a consistently damp border. In summer, it sends up bright orange or yellow daisy-like flowers. Slugs can be a problem, so be prepared to manage them.
Top Picks for Sunny & Warm Spots
If your garden gets plenty of light, these sun-loving giants will perform brilliantly.
Banana (Musa species)
Banana plants are fast growers with massive, paddle-shaped leaves that tear in the wind, giving them an authentic tropical look. Hardy varieties like Musa basjoo can survive colder winters with protection. They need rich soil, plenty of water, and full sun to reach their full potential.
Canna Lily (Canna spp.)
While known for their bright flowers, Canna lilies also have stunning large leaves. Cultivars like ‘Phasion’ (Tropicanna) have striped leaves in shades of green, purple, orange, and pink. They love heat, full sun, and moist soil. You’ll need to dig up the rhizomes in fall if you live where the ground freezes.
Tree Philodendron (Philodendron bipinnatifidum)
In warm climates, this plant becomes a large, shrubby specimen with deeply cut, enormous leaves. It can handle full sun to part shade. It’s not frost-tolerant, so in cooler zones it makes a spectacular container plant that can be moved indoors.
Melianthus major (Honey Bush)
This shrub has incredible blue-green foliage with serrated, toothed edges. The leaves are pinnate and can be over a foot long. It produces unusual maroon flowers. It prefers full sun and well-drained soil. The foliage has a distinct peanut butter scent when crushed.
Excellent Choices for Containers & Indoors
Don’t have garden space? Many dramatic foliage plants thrive in pots.
Monstera (Monstera deliciosa)
The iconic “Swiss Cheese Plant” is a must for indoor jungle vibes. Its large, heart-shaped leaves develop deep splits and holes as they mature. It prefers bright, indirect light and a moss pole to climb. It’s generally easy to care for and grows quickly.
Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia nicolai)
The White Bird of Paradise is the one you want for foliage. It looks like a banana plant but with a more upright, tidy growth habit. Its leaves are huge, paddle-shaped, and arranged in a fan. It makes a stunning architectural statement in a bright room.
Caladium
Grown for their incredibly colorful, heart-shaped leaves, Caladiums are like living stained glass. They come in endless combinations of red, pink, white, and green. They need warm soil, shade, and consistent moisture. They are grown from tubers and often treated as annuals or overwintered indoors.
Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata)
This popular houseplant has large, violin-shaped leaves with prominent veining. It needs stable conditions, bright indirect light, and careful watering. While it can be fussy, its impact in a room is unmatched when its happy.
How to Plant and Care for Large-Leaf Plants
Getting these plants off to a good start is key. Here’s a simple step-by-step guide for planting in the garden.
1. Pick the Right Time: Plant in late spring or early summer after the danger of frost has passed. The soil should be warm.
2. Prepare the Hole: Dig a hole twice as wide as the plant’s root ball and just as deep.
3. Amend the Soil: Mix the excavated soil with a generous amount of compost or well-rotted manure. This improves fertility and drainage.
4. Position the Plant: Place the plant in the hole, ensuring the top of the root ball is level with the surrounding soil.
5. Backfill and Water: Fill the hole with your amended soil, firming gently. Water thoroughly to settle the soil and eliminate air pockets.
6. Mulch: Apply a 2-3 inch layer of organic mulch (like bark chips) around the plant. Keep the mulch a few inches away from the stem to prevent rot.
Ongoing Maintenance Tips
Caring for these plants isn’t usually difficult, but they do have some specific needs.
* Watering: Deep, regular watering is crucial, especially in the first year and during dry spells. The goal is consistently moist, not soggy, soil.
* Feeding: These are heavy feeders. Apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in spring and again in mid-summer. Container plants may need liquid fertilizer every few weeks during the growing season.
* Cleaning: Dust can collect on large indoor leaves. Wipe them gently with a damp cloth every few weeks to allow them to breathe and photosynthesize efficiently.
* Winter Care: For tender perennials in cold climates, you have two options. You can dig up the tubers or rhizomes after frost, let them dry, and store them in a cool, dark place in peat moss. Or, you can grow the plant in a pot and bring the entire pot indoors to a dormant state.
Design Ideas for Using Dramatic Foliage
Think beyond just planting one specimen. Use these plants to create specific effects in your landscape.
Create a Tropical Oasis
Group several different large-leaf plants together. Combine Elephant Ears with Cannas, Banana plants, and a clump of bamboo in the background. Add in ferns and hostas for lower-level texture. The mix of leaf shapes and sizes will feel like a secluded jungle corner.
Use as a Focal Point
A single, well-placed Gunnera or large Fatsia at the end of a path or in the center of a circular bed draws the eye immediately. It becomes a living sculpture in your garden.
Frame an Entrance
Place matching large plants in big pots on either side of a front door or garden gate. Tree Philodendrons or Birds of Paradise work beautifully for this, offering a grand, welcoming feel.
Hide Unsightly Features
Use a fast-growing, dense plant like a banana or a large clump of Ligularia to camouflage an air conditioning unit, a utility box, or a plain fence.
Common Problems and Solutions
Even the best gardeners face issues. Here’s how to tackle common problems with big-leaf plants.
* Yellowing Leaves: This is often a sign of overwatering or poor drainage. Check the soil moisture. It could also be a nutrient deficiency, so consider applying fertilizer.
* Brown Leaf Edges: Usually caused by low humidity, underwatering, or salt buildup (from fertilizer or softened water). Increase humidity around indoor plants, water more consistently, and flush container soil with plain water every few months.
* Leggy or Stretched Growth: This means the plant isn’t getting enough light. Move it to a brighter location, if possible.
* Pests: Watch for spider mites (especially indoors), aphids, and slugs. Treat spider mites with insecticidal soap or neem oil. Hand-pick slugs or use pet-safe slug bait.
FAQ: Plants Similar To Elephant Ears
Q: What plant looks like an elephant ear but smaller?
A: Alocasia ‘Polly’ or ‘Amazonica’ are compact varieties of elephant ear themselves. For a different genus, try a small Caladium or a young Monstera adansonii.
Q: What outdoor plant has very large leaves?
A: Gunnera manicata has the largest leaves commonly grown in gardens. Banana plants and Tree Philodendrons also produce exceptionally large leaves in warm climates.
Q: What is the name of the plant with giant leaves?
A: The title often goes to Giant Rhubarb (Gunnera manicata) or the Giant Taro (Alocasia macrorrhizos), which is a type of elephant ear. In the rainforest, the title belongs to plants like Rafflesia, but those aren’t garden plants.
Q: What tropical plant has large round leaves?
A: Ligularia (Bigleaf Ligularia) has large, rounded leaves. The Victorian-era houseplant, the Velvet Leaf Philodendron (Philodendron gloriosum), also has beautiful large, heart-shaped leaves.
Q: Can I grow these plants in cold climates?
A: Yes, but many are not winter-hardy. Your best options are to treat them as annuals, grow them in containers to bring indoors, or choose hardy varieties like Rodgersia, Japanese Aralia, or the hardy banana (Musa basjoo) with winter protection.
Finding the right plants to complement or substitute for elephant ears opens up a world of design possibilities. Whether you have a shady nook that needs life or a sunny patio begging for a tropical touch, there’s a large-leaf plant waiting for you. Start with one that matches your light and space, and you’ll be well on your way to creating your own dramatic, leafy paradise. Remember, the key is consistent moisture and good soil for most of these botanical giants. With a little care, they’ll reward you with an stunning display season after season.