These 7 Big, Leafy Indoor Trees Give You the Benefits of Forest Bathing – When It's Too Cold to Get Outside

Forest bathing isn't just a trendy term. Decades of research back up how time around trees lowers stress, eases blood pressure, and lifts mood. But in winter, our time around trees pretty much disappears as the temperatures drop and daylight fades. Many of us are stuck indoors during long stretches of cold and we can’t reap the benefits of this calming practice.

But thankfully, the restorative effects you get from being near trees doesn’t have to happen outdoors only. Big, leafy indoor trees deliver a lot of benefits of forest bathing for your body and mind. Studies show tree exposure calms the nervous system – heart rate slows, cortisol drops, sleep improves. Trees release phytoncides that bolster immunity too.

Growing small trees inside all winter maintains that tie to nature and several types of indoor trees handle home conditions better than you’d expect. I’ll share seven of the best big, indoor trees to bring the same calm you get from outdoor forest bathing into your home when winter keeps you stuck inside.

What Is Forest Bathing?

Forest bathing is a Japanese practice called shinrin-yoku. It simply means being around trees and letting your senses take in your surroundings. Japan certified specific trials for the practice back in the 1980s after research showed clear health gains from regular time spent among trees.

There are tons of benefits of being outdoors and in the trees. Clinical studies have shown that forest bathing lowers blood pressure, lessens anxiety, builds a stronger immune response, and brightens your mood.

Though there are many physical and mental health benefits of gardening, there’s something special about being around trees specifically. The magic comes from sensory contact with the forest setting itself. Phytoncides move through skin and breath, boosting natural killer cells that fight illnesses.

Best Indoor Trees for Forest Bathing

If you want to reap those same benefits indoors during the winter months, there are a few indoor trees that can help you replicate the same results. Bringing this practice indoors calls for as much living tree presence as possible. Here are the best trees to help you soak in all the goodness of an indoor forest bath this winter.

1. Fiddle Leaf Fig

Fiddle leaf figs (Ficus lyrata) carry real weight in any room. Their large violin-shaped leaves are thick and glossy and catch light in a way smaller plants can never match. Mature plants stretch to 6 feet (1.8 m) or taller indoors, forming a true canopy overhead that's well-suited to forest bathing.

These figs want bright indirect light and steady watering. Let soil dry between drinks, but avoid bone-dry spells. Plenty of humidity helps, too. Mist plants weekly or group with other plants to raise humidity in the area. Once settled in a spot, leave them be. Fiddle leaf figs don’t like to be moved.

Get a 5-6 foot (1.5-1.8 m) tall fiddle leaf fig from Costa Farms on Amazon.

2. Rubber Tree

Rubber trees (Ficus elastica) throw out thick glossy leaves. They're deep green most often, though the burgundy varieties look especially rich. Foliage has a slightly waxy feel when you run a finger across it, which adds a unique sensory element to your indoor forest.

These plants are pretty forgiving compared to a lot of indoor trees. They can put up with lower light without much fuss and recover nicely, even when watering is a bit inconsistent. Water once the top inch (2.5 cm) of soil feels dry. A monthly wipe with a damp cloth will remove dust, keep leaves shiny, and ensure they're working properly.

Rubber trees grow at a steady but unhurried pace, adding around 1 to 2 feet (30-60 cm) a year when conditions are correct. Over time, they can reach 6 to 8 feet (1.8-2.4 m) indoors.

Buy an extra large 'Burgundy' rubber tree from Lively Root for an instant forest feel in your home.

3. Bird of Paradise

Though it's technically a houseplant, bird of paradise (Strelitzia reginae) feels like a true indoor tree. Huge paddle leaves fan out from sturdy stems, bringing a tropical canopy to ordinary indoor spaces. Mature plants hit 5 to 6 feet (1.5-1.8 m) tall, with single leaves spanning up to 2 to 3 feet (60-90 cm) long.

Bright light is key for these plants and south-facing windows work best. Water thoroughly when soil dries and let pots drain completely after. Bird of paradise can handle occasional drought, but hates soggy roots. All that foliage creates a deeply enveloping green pocket through dull winter days.

Get a 2-3 foot (60-90 cm) tall bird of paradise plant from Costa Farms at the Home Depot.

4. Dwarf Umbrella Tree

Umbrella trees (Schefflera arboricola) form clusters of glossy finger-like leaves that spread outward like open umbrellas. The canopy fills out surprisingly well indoors and adapts to indoor conditions better than many other plants. Schefflera reaches 4 to 6 feet (1.2-1.8 m) when grown in pots indoors.

They take lower light than fiddle leaf figs or birds of paradise, making them one of the best plants for dark and moody rooms. Water when the top inch or two (2.5-5 cm) of soil dries. Light pruning keeps the shape full instead of stretched. Dense leaves add real visual depth.

Get a mature schefflera tree from Amazon that will fill in your indoor forest quickly.

5. Weeping Fig

Weeping figs (Ficus benjamina) produce tons of small glossy leaves on drooping branches, building an actual overhead canopy. This beautiful houseplant is one of the closest things to a real tree indoors, branches included. Mature ones push out to 6 feet (1.8 m) or more in length, making them ideal for an indoor forest bath.

However, ficuses get touchy about light shifts. Pick a bright spot and keep them there – moving plants triggers an alarming leaf drop, even if recovery follows. Steady watering and humidity suit them well.

Get a lovely variegated 'Anastasia' weeping fig tree from Home Depot.

6. Banana Plant

Indoor banana trees (Musa spp.) throw out massive paddle-like leaves that unroll from the central trunk. Leaves feel rubbery and grab light beautifully – some hit 4 to 5 feet (1.2-1.5 m). Whole plants reach 5 to 7 feet (1.5-2.1 m) with consistent care.

They need bright light and even moisture. These plants love high humidity, too – their tropical background means dry heated air brings trouble. Fruit rarely develops indoors, yet the thick foliage alone provides lush immersion. Winter feels far away standing near an indoor banana tree.

Explore tons of different banana trees you can grow indoors from Fast Growing Trees.

7. Eureka Variegated Pink Lemon

Now we are in personal favorite territory. 'Eureka Variegated Pink' lemons (Citrus limon 'Eureka Variegated Pink') stand out with really striking foliage – variegated green and cream leaves with new growth that blushes to soft pink. White and pink flowers smell incredible when they arrive and the fantastic fruit has unusual, but appealing, pink flesh.

In containers with regular pruning, these indoor lemon trees stay around 6 to 8 feet (1.8-2.4 m) and often fruit early, sometimes in their first or second year. Give plants strong light, 6 to 8 hours from southern windows or grow lights.

Water once the top inch (2.5 cm) of soil dries and feed every six to eight weeks during the growing season with something like this citrus fertilizer from Amazon made for potted trees. Brush pollen gently between blooms for pollination. Bold leaves, fragrance, and actual lemons all combine into a standout indoor tree that you can bathe yourself with all winter.

Get this uniquely stunning lemon variety from Fast Growing Trees.

Tips for Thriving Indoor Trees

Place indoor trees near the brightest windows possible. South and west exposures deliver most light when winter days are short and light is weak. Add grow lights if needed, like this LED panel from Amazon. Most trees want at least 6 hours of strong light to hold a lush form and the forest bathing benefits you want.

Group plants together when space allows. Clustered trees raise local humidity through transpiration, keeping leaves vibrant in dry heated air. Something like these humidifiers from Amazon helps where grouping isn't practical.

Spend actual time sitting near the trees, not just sharing the room. Subtle leaf scents, overhead canopy depth, and other sensory elements trigger the calm response that forest bathing provides.