Filling outdoor gardens with large-leaved plants illuminates the landscape with soft textures while developing an architectural style of vibrant colors and dramatic shapes.
luxurious opulence
The giant leaves not only fill the garden space, but also add luxurious tropical textures.
Low light equals big leaves
Growing extra large leaves is an adaptation of some plant species to generate more surface area to absorb sunlight in low light conditions.
Likewise, growing giant leaves is thirsty work, making large-leaved plants perfect for rain gardens, bogs, and the edges of water sources.
leaf with foliage
Large leaves disrupt the scene, put things into perspective, enlarge small spaces, and allow the eye to take a break from busy vistas.
planned perfection
Incredibly useful, giant leaf plants not only make great background plants, but also help divide the garden landscape from smaller mixed plants.
Super large leaves, super fast growing.
Since the size and growth rate of the plant usually matches the state of its massive leaves, be sure to give giant leaf plants plenty of room to spread their sunlight-harvesting leaves.
3 things to consider with giant leaf plants
- Large-leaved plants provide shady neighbors that can provide shade and outcompete less sociable plants.
- All that chlorophyll can attract some chewing mouths, including less desirable slugs and snails, so consider protecting the plants if necessary.
- Giant leaves are easily damaged by wind and weather, so consider providing shelter or planting in sheltered areas in windy locations.
The 12 Best Giant Leaf Outdoor Plants
1. butterbur (butterflies)
Huge clumping plants 3 ½ feet tall grow 5 to 6 feet wide, unfurling giant heart-shaped leaves that reach 1 to 2 feet wide and bloom with delicate pink flowers in spring.
This edible and medicinal plant grows in partial shade on consistently moist loam to clay soils, surviving in zones 4 through 9.
Perfect for bogs or rain gardens, butterbur looks beautiful at the edge of a body of water, but it can be aggressive, so be sure to limit it.
2. Host (host)
Hosta GrandpaAmong the large selection of hosta varieties available, some hostas grow giant leaves on massive plants 5 to 6 feet tall and wide.
Hostas are incredibly popular and are known to brighten up shady gardens in a simple, low-maintenance way.
Hostas are hardy in zones 3 through 9 and prefer full to partial shade and rich, moist soil.
3. Siberian beef neck (Brunnera macrophylla)
The heart-shaped leaves of the Siberian bugloss grow up to 1 foot long on 1 to 2 foot tall plants that colonize and make attractive ground covers.
Siberian bugloss, also known as false forget-me-not, has soft, bright blue flowers that bloom for about four weeks in spring.
In full or partial shade, the Siberian bugloss thrives in zones 3 to 7, preferring moist but well-drained soils.
4. mayan apple (podophile)
Growing in native woodland gardens, Mayapple’s large, umbrella-shaped leaves make an attractive ground cover that blooms with white flowers in spring.
This colony-forming perennial spreads via underground rhizomes. Individual single stem plants that grow 12 to 18 inches tall and each have 1 to 2 giant leaves.
In moist, humus-rich soil, Mayapple thrives in part to full shade in zones 3 through 9.
5. Large-leaved ligularia (toothed ligularium)
The name says a lot about the lily-like leaves of the large-leaved Ligularia. It has huge 12 to 14 inch leaves on 3 to 4 foot tall plants.
Blooming with sunny yellow rays of daisy-like flowers in summer, this herbaceous perennial has a dense habit.
A moisture-loving plant, Big Leaf Ligularia tolerates even moist soil in full or partial shade in climate zones 3 through 8.
6. Rogersia (Rogersia)
This beautiful perennial belongs to the Steenbreek family. It welcomes a tropical jungle feel to the garden with its large, leathery webbed leaves.
The fragrant creamy-white to pinkish flowers of Rodgersia grow 3 to 5 feet tall and wide, arriving in late summer.
In the home adjacent to water sources in climate zones 5 through 7, Rodgersia thrives in full sun to partial shade in moist or wet soil.
7. Umbrella Plant (Darmera peltata)
The Jurassic quality of the huge 24 inch leaves transforms garden spaces with the wide umbrella plants 3 to 5 feet tall.
A member of the Saxifrage family, this West Coast native blooms pinkish white in early spring.
Tolerates intense shade and moist soils. Umbrella Plant provides good erosion control in zones 5 through 9.
8. Giant Rhubarb (Gunnera manicata)
Giant rhubarb is a huge, thirsty plant that is ideal for rain or swamp gardens and is best grown with plenty of space due to its gigantic 10-foot height and 15-foot width.
It bears a striking reddish-green flower spike in early summer, adding to the rainforest appeal of this giant plant.
Excellent for border ponds, water features, or in bog gardens, giant rhubarb tolerates shade and moist soil in zones 7 to 10, but be aware that some Gunnera species can be invasive.
9. Sacred Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera)
A stellar, large-leaved tropical plant that is stunning when grown in a lotus pot or drainless pot as an aquatic plant growing 4 to 6 feet tall.
The 24-inch leaves thrive in full sun. They are perfect for framing the intricate lotus flowers that rise just above the massive foliage.
Careful attention is required when growing Sacred Lotus due to the risk of damage from invasive weeds. With care, this plant adds a tropical flair in zones 4 through 11.
10. Japanese Fiber Banana (Musa Basjoo)
If the desire is for an exotic scene, nothing beats a giant, sturdy Japanese fiber banana with leaves 6 feet long on plants that reach 15 feet tall and wide.
However, these tropical garden treasures do not bear fruit and produce creamy white to yellow flowers.
Surprisingly hardy in zones 6 to 10, Japanese fiber banana is a thirsty, hungry herbaceous perennial. They prefer moist, rich soil in full sun.
11. rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum)
More commonly known as a perennial garden vegetable, rhubarb’s giant leaves can add lushness with a tenacity not found in many large-leaved, tropical-looking plants.
Bright red edible stems add to the appeal of this sturdy 3-foot-tall plant. Like the spikes of white summer flowers.
This eye-catching plant is also durable, hardy in zones 3 to 8, and tolerates full sun to partial shade.
12. Elephant Ears (Colocasia esculenta)
It is usually grown for its giant leaves with unique colors, shades and patterns. Elephant Ear varieties are grown in the spring from tender summer bulbs.
The 6ft tall and wide plants are unrivaled for bringing exotic appeal to garden spaces with their colossal heart-shaped leaves.
Elephant ears grow in hardiness zones 8 through 10, or as a summer bulbous annual in cooler climates. They prefer full sun to partial shade and tolerate medium to moist soil.
Giant leaf plants are extremely useful in the garden for developing an architectural style. They also add soft textures and create lush and luxurious scenes.