List of Rainforest Understory Plants

Under the rainforest canopy, light filters in thin beams and the air stays humid year-round, creating a calm, shaded world where many plants specialize in low-light survival. Walking a trail, you notice layers of foliage: tall trees, a dense understory, and a ground layer filled with unique forms and textures.

There are 20 rainforest understory plants, ranging from Bird’s nest fern to Urn bromeliad. Data is organized with the columns Scientific name,Native range,Size (height cm),Light/water notes; you’ll find below.

How much light and water do these understory plants need?

Most understory species prefer bright, indirect light or deep shade and consistent humidity rather than strong sun. Water needs vary by species—many like evenly moist but well-drained soil; others tolerate brief dry periods—so check the Light/water notes column for species-specific guidance.

Can I grow these species outside their native range?

Yes, with the right microclimate: mimic humidity and filtered light (greenhouses, terrariums, or shaded gardens), use suitable potting mixes, and protect cold-sensitive plants listed in the Native range column. Start with adaptable species and consult the Size (height cm) and Light/water notes for placement.

Rainforest Understory Plants

Images and Descriptions

Lobster-claw heliconia

Tropical perennial with showy hanging red-yellow bracts and small flowers. Common on shaded forest edges, it forms clumps from rhizomes and attracts hummingbirds. Easy to ID by pendulous lobster-claw inflorescences and large paddle-shaped leaves.

Spiral ginger

Herbaceous spiral-stem ginger with large leaves and red cone-like flower spikes. Grows in shaded, humid understory spreading from rhizomes. Notable for spiral leaf arrangement and blooms that attract pollinators like bees and hummingbirds.

Red ginger

Tall, elegant ginger with bright red bracts and tropical foliage. Often found in shaded, moist forest understory and edges. Clumping from rhizomes, it’s identifiable by upright inflorescences and large pointed leaves that persist in humid conditions.

Parlor palm

Small, clumping palm common in dark understory of Central American rainforests. Slender canes and pinnate fronds form graceful tufts. Slow-growing and shade-adapted, it indicates true rainforest understory conditions and tolerates low light well.

Calathea orbifolia

Large-leaved rosette with round, striped foliage native to Bolivian rainforest understory. Leaves fold slightly at night. Prefers steady humidity and shaded conditions in leaf-litter-rich soil; prized for dramatic, bold leaf patterning.

Prayer plant

Low, spreading perennial with oval patterned leaves that fold at night. Native to the rainforest floor, it grows in moist, shaded spots and is notable for rhythmic leaf movements and distinctive markings useful for easy field identification.

Spotted begonia

Shrubby rhizomatous begonia with glossy, wing-shaped leaves and silver spots. Grows on shaded, humid forest floors of Brazil’s Atlantic rainforest. Produces pendant flower clusters and is valued for ornamental foliage in deep shade.

Flamingo flower

Epiphytic or terrestrial aroid of Andean foothill understories with glossy heart-shaped leaves and colorful spathes. Often found on logs or trunks in shaded, humid microsites. Ornamental spathes are showy and attract pollinators.

Bird’s nest fern

Large, simple-frond fern forming a central “nest” that collects debris and water. Common on trunks and rocks in rainforest understories, notable for bold arching fronds and its role as a microhabitat for invertebrates and seedlings.

Sword fern

Clumping fern of tropical American understories with arching, sword-like fronds. Forms large colonies on shady forest floors and along streams. Tolerant of varied moisture but prefers consistent humidity and humid leaf litter.

Urn bromeliad

Epiphytic or terrestrial bromeliad with a rosette that holds water in a central cup and bright floral bracts. Found in shaded Neotropical understories; attracts pollinators and creates tiny aquatic microhabitats for invertebrates.

Hot lips

Small understory shrub with distinctive paired red bracts that resemble lips, found along forest trails. Grows in deep shade and moist soils; easily recognized and notable for bracts that draw pollinators and photographers alike.

Hoja santa

Aromatic understory shrub with large heart-shaped leaves used locally in cooking. Forms clumps in moist, shaded rainforest understory and prefers rich soils. Notable for strong anise-like scent and large foliage used as wrappers or flavoring.

Chinese evergreen

Tough, clumping understory perennial with broad patterned leaves. Found on the shaded forest floor, it tolerates low light and humidity fluctuations. Common in the understory and popular as a hardy shade-loving plant.

Shoebutton ardisia

Evergreen understory shrub with glossy leaves, clusters of pink flowers and red berries. Grows in deep shade and moist soils, often forming dense understory stands. Berries are attractive to forest birds.

Ruffled fan palm

Small, single-stemmed palm with large circular, pleated fan leaves. Grows in shaded, humid understory with slow vertical growth. Distinctive round fronds make it easy to spot among lower forest foliage.

Caladium

Tropical rhizomatous herb with colorful, arrow-shaped leaves found in shaded Amazonian understory. Forms low clumps in leaf litter-rich soil and is notable for dramatic foliage patterns adapted to dim forest light.

Mistletoe cactus

Epiphytic trailing cactus common on branches and in tree cavities of wet rainforest understories. Produces slender, pendent stems with small flowers and berries; adapted to shaded, humid microhabitats away from direct sun.

Dumb cane

Shade-loving aroid with large patterned leaves and thick stems, common on moist, humus-rich forest floors. Sap is irritating; notable for bold foliage and strong tolerance of deep understory shade.

Triostar prayer plant

Low clumping plant with striking purple undersides and variegated upper leaf surfaces, native to Brazilian understory. Prefers dim, humid conditions and rich soil. Leaves fold slightly at night and present vibrant colors in shade.

Other Rainforest Types