Do you want to add statement plants to your garden collection? The following article tells you everything you need to know about these types of plants, from how to choose them, to growing and taking good care of them.
Statement plants are essentially the ones that capture your attention in a second. Whether by colour, size, texture or shape, these types of plants have a “wow” factor, something beautifully unusual in their appearance that truly makes them stand out.
They make a clear statement – that they have the power to demand attention, and they do it so effortlessly.
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Do you have a large garden or a small backyard? Or, perhaps, you don’t have one at all, and your plant collection is indoors, consisting of beautiful houseplants. No matter the kind of garden or plant assortment you have managed to put together and create in your home, you can find statement plants that can fit your garden’s size well without overcrowding the space in any way.
Whether you want to fit a statement plant in a small area indoors or include more than one into your large garden, the good news is that you have many options to choose from. So, thankfully, you can easily find the statement plants that fit your garden’s style and can grow beautifully.
It is equally important to choose the ones that match your personality and are in accordance with your preferences. This way, your garden will accurately portray and mirror yourself.
So, are you ready to learn more about statement plants? If the answer is yes, you’ve made the right choice, as your garden’s aesthetic will be enhanced and will be a head-turner for anyone who sees it.
Keep reading to discover more about statement plants, some of the types that could interest you, and how to plant them to maximize their beauty and functionality.
How To Plant Statement Plants for Their Fullest Potential
Indeed, statement plants are wonderful and eye-catching. But there is a way of planting them so that you can use their fullest potential.
Not only will this create a consistent aesthetic, but you will also maximize the space you have available in your garden, patio, porch or indoors. So, if you decide to grow a statement plant, it would help to know the following:
Statement plants make great focal points in your garden.
Creating a focal point essentially means creating a place where the eye is easily drawn to. Many specialized landscape designers state that having a focal point is crucial for any garden, as it can lift the spirit and provide a feeling of rest.
Not to mention that it can complement the entire garden in a seemingly effortless way, bringing all the plants and elements in a beautiful combination. Statement plants are excellent choices to create a focal point, especially those in an architectural shape.
Statement plants can effectively divide your garden.
If you have a considerably large garden, you have the opportunity of creating various paths and alleyways. You can essentially make a park out of your private garden. How stunning is this? Statement plants can easily help you achieve this and there are many different garden styles that you can choose from such as woodland gardens, cottage gardens, bog gardens, Japanese gardens, etc.
Given the architectural shape and eye-catching appearance of statement plants, there is no denying they make great division “walls” within the garden. Whether you want to create a secluded area, pathway or a natural wall with evergreen shrubs, statement plants are the way to do this.
Statement plants look great everywhere.
When it comes to the outdoors, statement plants can be grown in a variety of alternatives. You can plant them in your garden, as a focal point, to divide or simply to add eye-catching plants to your collection or around your outdoor living area.
The latter include decks, patios and porches. They can bring life to these areas in an instant. Plus, you can also use them to create a sense of privacy on your patio. So, there is no denying that statement plants can look great everywhere you put them, as long as you maximize their potential.
This being said, it can be safely assumed that statement plants have functionality, not just beauty. For extremely large gardens, statement plants can be incredibly functional. They can create pathways, guide visitors towards a specific area, or transform your patio or deck into a more private outdoor living area.
When grown in small gardens or indoors, statement plants will transform any dull corner and offer a nice view. So let’s take a look at some of the most amazing and low-maintenance statement plants.
Beautiful Statement Plants for Both Indoors and Outdoors
As mentioned earlier, regardless of whether you have a large backyard or front yard garden, a small one, or you simply want to build your houseplant collection, statement plants will improve the aesthetic in an instant.
Indeed, depending on the space you have available, you will have to choose a statement plant that fits and doesn’t overcrowd or clash the aesthetic with the other plants and overall design.
This means that if you have a fairly small area, one single statement plant should be enough, or two at maximum. On the other hand, if you are lucky to have an open space and a considerable large garden, you have the chance to play around with different types of statement plants and create an utterly stunning and lush garden.
If you need some help to get you started on this journey towards building a wonderful garden or indoor collection, we’ve got you covered. Here are ten types of plants fit for the indoors and outdoors that may inspire you:
Yucca Tree
You can never go wrong with the yucca tree plant. Native to Mexico and the Caribbean, the yucca plant will definitely make a statement with its sword-like leaves of a bright green and thick trunk. Yucca plants make perfect indoor statement plants as they are slow growers and won’t need much space.
All they need to thrive is a well-lit corner and a little water every now and then. If you live in a hot and dry climate, you can even grow this beautiful tree outdoors.
Yucca is drought tolerant so watering it is an easy job. Once a week is enough during warm seasons, and every few weeks when winter comes. An essential and noteworthy mention would be to avoid getting the yucca plant if you have a cat or a dog – even a horse –as it can be highly toxic to animals. Other than that, the yucca plant will be a great addition to your house collection, drawing most of the attention.
Want to learn more about Yucca plants? Read our complete guide to growing and caring for Yucca.
Cast Iron Plant
Another plant that will look beautiful in your houseplant collection is Aspidistra Elatior, commonly known as the Cast-iron plant. The best thing about this plant is the fact that it is very hard to kill. The Cast-iron plant has the ability to survive in growing conditions that other houseplants wouldn’t tolerate, such as low light. It can even survive neglect, hence the name as a hard-to-kill plant.
The cast iron plant foliage is beautifully arching, with a deep green tone and glossy finish. There is no wonder that the cast iron plant is a statement plant, given its leaves can grow to two feet in length and four inches in width. Cast-iron plants are popular ornamentals worldwide, so you’ll probably find them in nurseries and plant shops in your region. Curious to learn more about this hardy ornamental? Read our complete guide to Cast-iron plants!
Swiss Cheese Plant
The Swiss cheese plant, also known as Monstera Deliciosa, definitely has an appealing name. But it is not just a pretty name, as this plant has stunning heart-shaped foliage of bright green with holes in it – the reason why it has gotten the appellative of Swiss cheese. Plus, more holes develop as the plant ages. Interesting would be an understatement to describe this plant.
The Swiss cheese plant requires little maintenance, with regular water being the most critical need. If you are looking for a vining plant, you can opt for a Monstera adansonii, which is a Monstera vine. There are many different types of Monstera on the market and all have similar growth requirements and are equally stunning.
Last but not least, it is crucial to mention that it can be toxic to pets, so keep this in mind if you want to get the Swiss-cheese plant.
If you love Monstera plants as much as we do, check out our complete guides to Monstera Deliciosa, Monstera Borsigiana, and Mini Monstera.
Umbrella Plant
Isn’t it lovely when a plant’s name “steals” something from its appearance or features? In this case, it almost goes without saying that the foliage develops groups of leaves that fan out and form an umbrella shape. How can this plant not be a statement plant with such uniquely stunning foliage and a size that will surely make you notice it? Not to mention it makes an excellent houseplant for a beginner.
Schefflera Arboricola, commonly known as Umbrella Plant, Octopus Tree, Dwarf Umbrella, or Parasol Plant is an extremely popular plant that can be grown in beautiful containers indoors. Often used by interior designers, the Umbrella Plant has plenty of benefits. It doesn’t require much other than watering once a week, plenty of indirect light, warm temperatures, and well-draining soil.
If you want to grow this amazing ornamental plant, make sure you read our complete guide to growing and caring for Schefflera.
Fiddle Leaf Fig
Beloved by bloggers, Instagrammers, and interior designers, Ficus Lyrata, commonly referred to as the Fiddle Leaf Fig is an important statement plant that shouldn’t be ignored. This large plant is a great option for beginner gardeners who want to have a beautiful plant in their home. The fiddle leaf fig will thrive if you place it near a sunny window. It will also benefit if you rotate it regularly, to allow all the leaves to enjoy the sunlight.
It is important to mention that fiddle leaf figs don’t appreciate being moved around a lot. So, if you’ve found a perfect spot for your fig, it is best to avoid moving it. These stunning ornamentals will require some attention because they need to have their soil constantly moist but not waterlogged. It’s best to let the soil dry a little in-between waterings to avoid overwatering and to make sure you plant it in well-draining soil.
Learn more about this perfect statement plant from our complete guide to Fiddle Leaf Fig.
Snake Plant
Similar to the umbrella plant, Sansevieria, also known as the snake plant features stunning and one-of-a-kind foliage, with long swirled leaves that look like an amalgam of snakes with their heads pointing upwards. The good news is that you can find a variety of snake plants, so it will be pretty easy to find the one that suits you the most.
Not to mention that it has the incredible ability to endure certain conditions not many plants can tolerate – similar to the cast iron plant – such as missed watering or low to no light. For a better effect as a statement plant, plant it in a raised pot. You will certainly not regret this decision.
Snake plants are also very popular among gardeners and interior designers, so you won’t have any trouble finding them in nurseries. A smaller snake plant will be quite affordable, but a large one might be a bit expensive, but worth it if you are looking for a plant that will stand out.
Curious to learn more about this beautiful ornamental plant? Read our complete guide to Snake Plant.
Globe Artichoke Plant
Moving on from statement houseplants to statement plants that are perfect for the great outdoors. If you haven’t heard of it before, it’s time to make acquaintance with Cynara scolymus, commonly known as the globe artichoke plant, French artichoke, or green artichoke. Whether planted alone or around other plants, there is no doubt that this plant will catch your eye in an instant.
The blooming flowers of the globe artichoke plant are definitely mesmerizing, apart from having incredibly tasty buds that you can cook. The globe artichoke plant’s flowers are featured in a vibrant purple shade in late summer and are excellent pollinators when fully bloomed. It requires well-drained and moist soil and access to full sun to grow best.
Globe Thistle Plant
Echinops plants, also known as Globe thistle plants have thistle-like leaves, but they are not as prickly and pointy as they seem. These plants can look harsh, but they are incredibly friendly. With their bright steel blue or white flowers that also look spiky and a bit dangerous, globe thistle plants are eye-catching and truly unique.
They bloom sometime in the middle of summer and can last until late fall. Plant them in an area where the plant can receive full sun, grow them in dry, well-drained soil, and the globe thistle plant will thrive in your garden as a statement plant. They are an important source of nectar for beneficial pollinators such as bees and butterflies, and they can be used as a barrier for rabbits and deers, as these animals won’t have much on them.
Globe thistle is perfect for low-maintenance gardens, cottage gardens, and wildflower meadows.
Weeping Redbud Tree
Who wouldn’t want to have a rose-coloured tree in their garden? If the space allows, you have full sun areas – even part shade is permitted – and moist and well-drained soil, then this statement plant is a perfect choice. The weeping redbud tree blooms in spring and it produces a cascade of lavender-pink blooms.
The rose or purple flowers that appear in spring before the foliage are an important source of food for many beneficial pollinators. So, this isn’t just a mesmerizing plant, but also one that will benefit your garden and the entire ecosystem.
Another feature that makes this plant even more stunning is the fact that its branches grow in a cascading manner. There are plenty of cultivars to choose from, but the most common and beautiful ones are “Ruby Falls” and “Lavender Twist”.
Angel’s Trumpet
Brugmansia, commonly known in the gardening world as Angel’s Trumpet, Tree Datura, or Angel Star, produces the most stunning flowers. But apart from their unique and eye-catching shape, they also have a mesmerizing fragrance. So not only will the angel trumpet’s plant catch your attention, but it will also appeal to your olfactory sense.
The recommendation is to grow it in a container. This way, during the cooler seasons, you can easily move it under a cover to protect it. An important and noteworthy mention is that the angel’s trumpet plant is toxic, and all of its parts can cause harm if ingested. Before you add Brugmansia to your plant collection, learn more about it from our complete guide to growing and caring for Angel’s Trumpet.
Caladium
Caladium plants have unique foliage that comes in many different shades of green, red, and even white and pink. These tuberous ornamentals make perfect statement plants as their leaves look hand-painted, so they are definitely eye-catching and can complement any space. Caladiums thrive in hot, humid climates, but they can also be grown in temperate regions as annuals or as houseplants.
Caladiums don’t need much to grow healthy and happy. They are big lovers of shade and moisture, so make sure you protect them from harsh, direct sunlight. They will also benefit if you protect them from strong winds. If you grow Caladiums in containers, you can bring them outside during the summer months. When grown indoors, Caladiums will bring life to any dull corner and because they don’t require a lot of direct light, they will survive in bathrooms.
It is important to mention that Caladiums, like many beautiful ornamentals, are quite toxic. It’s recommended to wear protective gloves when handling them and to keep them within a safe distance from your kids and pets. Learn more about them from our complete guide to Caladium.
Persian Ivy
Persian ivy plant, also known as Hedera colchica, “Sulphur Hear”, or sometimes as “Paddy’s Pride”, is a vigorous statement plant. Its leaves are large, bright green with a splash of yellow and a glossy finish that glows beautifully in the summer sun.
Given it can cling easily, you should grow it by a shady wall or your garden’s fence, and this plant is sure to make a statement as soon as someone walks into your garden. It can bloom small lime green flowers during autumn, followed by blackberries.
Read our guide to trailing plants to learn more about these fascinating ornamentals and to find the ones that fit your garden best.
In Conclusion
If you are a gardener, regardless of your experience level, and whether you want to build your houseplant collection or create a beautiful lush backyard or front yard garden, you should definitely consider growing at least one statement plant.
There is a wide-ranging variety, so you will be able to find the plants that suit you and the space you have available. Whether you want one statement plant indoors or multiple ones to plant in your garden, either as a focal point or to divide it, you cannot really go wrong.
Plus, it doesn’t matter if you are an amateur gardener or an experienced one, given that the catalogue is comprehensive, you can quickly discover low-maintenance statement plants. As mentioned in the list above, some plants require little tending and can even survive well when not watered for a long time.
Indeed, it is highly recommended to be committed to taking care of your plant collection, but it is good to know that there are plants that require little attention. This makes growing statement plants less intimidating for novice gardeners.
If you have started growing a statement plant, let us know in the comment section how this experience has been for you so far!
