A colorful houseplant can change a room’s feel without new furniture or a fresh coat of paint. While green foliage has its own appeal, plants with pink, purple, red, orange, and neon-green leaves add an extra splash of color.
Place one on a desk, bookshelf, windowsill, or side table to brighten an empty spot. Many are suitable for indoor growing, though each has its own light and watering needs.
Croton (Codiaeum variegatum)
Crotons have bold leaves in shades of yellow, orange, red, and green, with patterns that can make each leaf look different. Give them plenty of bright, indirect light and water when the top layer of soil begins to dry.
Related: 13 Houseplants That Thrive on Neglect
Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya)
The polka dot plant has small leaves dotted with pink, white, red, or purple, making it a cheerful choice for desks and windowsills. It does best in bright, indirect light with evenly moist soil, and its colorful markings may fade if it gets too little light.
Related: The Sweetest Houseplants With Naturally Heart-Shaped Leaves
Caladium
Caladiums have large, heart-shaped leaves marked with striking combinations of pink, red, white, and green. They prefer warmth, humidity, and bright, indirect light, though some varieties may go dormant at times.
Related: These Variegated Houseplants Practically Decorate the Room Themselves
Coleus
Coleus comes in a wide range of leaf colors, including neon pink, lime green, deep purple, orange, and red. Keep it in a bright spot, water when the soil begins to dry, and pinch back the growing tips to encourage a bushier plant.
Related: 10 Striking Houseplants That Pop With Bright Neon Color
Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema)
Chinese evergreen is a good choice for homes with limited natural light, and some varieties have pink, red, silver, or pale green markings on their leaves. Let the top layer of soil dry before watering again, and keep the plant away from cold drafts.
Rex Begonia
Rex begonias are grown mainly for their patterned foliage, which can feature swirls and markings in silver, purple, pink, red, and green. They prefer bright, indirect light and some humidity, with soil that stays lightly moist but never waterlogged.
Persian Shield (Strobilanthes dyerianus)
Persian shield has glossy purple leaves with silvery markings that give the foliage a metallic sheen. Place it in bright, indirect light, keep the soil lightly moist, and trim the stems occasionally to encourage fuller growth.
Prayer Plant (Maranta leuconeura)
Prayer plants have detailed leaf patterns in shades of green, red, and cream, making them a lovely addition to a shelf or side table. Their leaves fold upward at night and open during the day, and they grow best with indirect light and consistently moist soil.
Pothos
Some pothos varieties, especially Neon pothos, have bright lime-green leaves that stand out from the darker foliage of many other houseplants. They tolerate a range of indoor conditions, and their trailing stems look lovely in hanging baskets or draped over a high shelf.
Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima)
Poinsettias are famous for their red and green holiday colors, though pink, cream, and white varieties are also available. Keep them in bright, indirect light and water when the soil surface begins to dry, making sure excess water can drain away.
