Garden Houseplants 12 Colorful Houseplants to Brighten Up Your Living Space From vivid hues to intricate patterns, these gorgeous plants double as décor. By Madeline Buiano Madeline Buiano Madeline Buiano is an editor at MarthaStewart.com, sharing her knowledge on a range of topics—from gardening and cleaning to home. Editorial Guidelines Published on November 22, 2024 Close Photo: DigiPub/Getty Images No matter the species or variety, houseplants add style and elegance to any living space. Plus, few things are more rewarding than seeing your plants sprout new leaves. But if you want to add a pop of color to your houseplant collection and break up the sea of green foliage, there are plenty of colorful houseplants to choose from. From flowering varieties to species with striking purple leaves, these expert-recommended houseplants are beautiful and low maintenance. Justin Hancock, horticulturist for Costa Farms Adrienne Roethling, plant expert and former garden director for Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden 27 Common Houseplants That Are Popular for Good Reason 01 of 12 Chinese Evergreen Getty Images Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema) is available in a range of colorful varieties, with green leaves variegated in shades of red, pink, white, gold, yellow, and orange. "Leaf shape varies; some have long, narrow leaves, whereas others are more rounded, so if you shop around, you should be able to find the perfect variety for your own customized look," says Justin Hancock, horticulturist for Costa Farms. "Leaves may be streaked, spotted, or otherwise shaded with a variety of colors." Size: 2 to 3 feet tall x 2 to 3 feet wideCare requirements: Bright light but tolerates medium to low light; general-purpose potting mix 02 of 12 Nerve Plant Getty Images Nerve plant (Fittonia) boasts green leaves with bright red, pink, or white veins. "Over time, they grow a low mound of colorful leaves, and they may produce spikes of insignificant-looking yellowish flowers," says Hancock. "One personal favorite variety is Frankie, which features ruffled, metallic-ink leaves edged in green." These plants like to stay moist, so water when the top 25 percent of the potting mix is dry to the touch. Size: 12 inches tall x 12 inches wideCare requirements: Bright light but tolerates medium to low light; general-purpose potting mix 03 of 12 Begonia Stramyk/Getty Images The sky is the limit when it comes to begonias (Begonia spp.)—varieties include rex, dragon wing, wax, hardy and many more, says plant expert Adrienne Roethling. "Dragon wing begonias have robust stems that give way to angel wing-like foliage, often green, purple, or chartreuse with clusters of pink or red exotic blooms," she says. "They bloom all summer long and will do equally well when brought indoors." Rex begonias are another popular variety that have colorful two-tone leaves. Size: 12 inches tall x 12 inches wideCare requirements: Bright light to medium light; general-purpose potting mix 04 of 12 Philodendron Pink Princess Getty Images A popular variety of a beloved houseplant, philodendron pink princess (Philodendron 'Pink Princess') has arrowhead-shaped dark green leaves that are variegated with streaks of pink. "The pink coloration varies from plant to plant and based on growing conditions, but it can range from the faintest pink blush to hot pink," says Hancock. "As it grows, it wants to climb and after a couple of years it can become an amazing specimen." Size: 4 to 6 feet tall x 2 to 4 feet wideCare requirements: Bright light to medium light; general-purpose potting mix How to Care for Philodendron—a Popular, Low-Maintenance Houseplant 05 of 12 Croton Natalia Kopyltsova/Getty Images Croton plants (Croton spp.) have thick, waxy, colorful leaves that look beautiful in containers. "Leaves are green, red, yellow, purple, and orange. They can be solid with yellow veins or a combination of colors with yellow veins," says Roethling. "They are native to southeast Asia and do not like temperatures below 30 degrees Fahrenheit." Wait for the soil to dry out slightly before watering and do not let it sit in water. Size: 3 to 5 feet tall x 3 to 5 feet wideCare requirements: Bright light to medium light; general-purpose potting mix 06 of 12 Bromeliad Getty/ Daniela Duncan The bromeliad (Bromeliaceae) family consists of about 80 different types of plants. "Among those are thousands of species, varieties, and cultivars," says Roethling. Blushing bromeliad (Neoregelia) is one of the more colorful types of bromeliad. They are round and form a rosette of reddish-pink and green leaves. Size: Depends on varietyCare requirements: Depends on variety 07 of 12 Cordyline Cordylines (Cordyline spp.), like the Red Sister variety, infuse spaces with a pop of hot pink, magenta, or cerise. "This tropical shrub boasts long, narrow, purple leaves with reddish-pink variegation, especially when they’re young," says Hancock. "It has higher light needs than the average houseplant to look its best, but if you have a generous window or plant lights, it can be an absolute showstopper." Size: 6 feet tall x 3 feet wideCare requirements: Bright light; general-purpose potting mix, high humidity 08 of 12 Anthurium Ludmila Kapustkina / Getty Images Many common houseplants don't flower because they don't get enough light, but anthurium can bloom even in low light levels. "It produces heart-shaped, dark green leaves and colorful heart-shaped blooms in shades of red, pink, lavender, white, and orange," says Hancock. "Some varieties will flower throughout the year if they get enough light, and with flowers that can last a month or more, that means it can appear to be in nearly constant bloom." Size: 1 to 3 feet tall x 1 to 3 feet wideCare requirements: Bright light but tolerates medium to low light; general-purpose potting mix 09 of 12 Peacock Plant Getty Images Peacock plant (Calathea) consists of 60 species and numerous cultivars. The large leaves are either long and narrow or rounded. "They are also colorful, mostly variegated with hints of pink, purple, white, and red," says Roethling. "The variegation in each leaf can be mottled, margined, veined, or streaked depending on the variety." These plants can burn in direct sun and are sensitive to cold and overwatering. Size: 2 feet tall x 2 feet wideCare requirements: Low to indirect light; potting soil rich in organic matter 10 of 12 Inch Plant Getty Images Inch plant (Tradescantia) is a timeless trailing plant that features rich burgundy-purple leaves with contrasting silver stripes, says Hancock. In bright light, the leaves seem to sparkle. "The stems can trail a foot or two long, but if you don’t have that much space, it’s easy to trim and keep more compact," he says. "Plus, it’s super-easy to propagate, so you can easily root the trimmings to share with friends and family." Size: 6 to 9 inches tall x 12 to 24 inches wideCare requirements: Bright light; general-purpose potting mix; high humidity 11 of 12 Pothos Variegated pothos varieties will show more color in bright, indirect light. FeelPic/Getty. Getty Images Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is a climbing plant that comes in a range of colors and sizes. "Some forms possess a variegation such as creamy white or chartreuse, often mottled, or margined," says Roethling. "Other forms are like monstera with deep sinuses or holes." Size: 20 to 40 feet long x 3 to 5 feet wideCare requirements: Low to medium light; average, organic-based potting soil 12 of 12 Elephant Ears Kseniya Ovchinnikova/Getty Images Elephant ears (Caladium) are one of the easiest plants to transition from indoors to outdoors. These plants like hot and dry climates so you don't need to water it as often as some other plants. "Caladiums are grown primarily for their leaves," says Roethling, adding that the long, spade-shaped leaves come in colors of green, red, white, or chartreuse. They like hot and dry climates, minimal watering, and shade. Size: 6 to 24 inches tall x 12 to 30 inches wideCare requirements: Low to medium light; rich, well-draining potting soil Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit