Fresh blooms and colorful cuttings are beautiful additions to your space, but despite the many tips to make flowers last longer, sooner or later, they fade. Instead of chasing petals and adding different species that bloom in various seasons, there’s a better way to keep the color in your home: With plants that bear vibrant tones on their leaves year-round.
These bright, beautiful houseplants range from compact, low-light lovers to large, sun-soaking tropical species. Their eye-catching shades can liven up your indoor garden—with no vase needed.
We’ve compiled a list of easy-to-care-for indoor house plants you’re sure to love. Read on to choose your favorites!
Calathea
It’s easy to see why these are nicknamed “peacock plants.” Their variegated, tropical foliage spans from green to purple, and the unique pattern of the leaves does indeed recall peacock feathers. It may be a tad more fussy than other tropical plants, preferring shade or dappled light and some humidity, but the final result is well worth it.
Christmas Cactus
Okay, if you really think you’re too hopeless to care for a houseplant, don’t throw in the towel until you try caring for a cactus. Especially this one, which blooms around the holidays.
Kalanchoe
These pretty little flowers are low effort. That’s because kalanchoe is actually a succulent that can survive in either full sun or partial shade.
Croton
They like warmth, humidity and a brightly lit spot, so they’re best placed on a window sill. Croton plants don’t like being moved and can lose their leaves if they’re relocated.
They prefer soil that is moist, but not overly wet and they need to be misted regularly.
Anthurium
Also known as the Painted Tongue, the Tail Flower and the Flamingo Flower, this red blooming plant, native to the forests of Central and South America, provides serious eye candy year-round.
This plant prefers a coarse, well-draining soil, an ideal mix being equal parts peat moss, perlite and pine bark. As this plant can easily burn, avoid placing it in direct sunlight. Water thoroughly once or twice a week and allow soil to dry completely between watering sessions. During the winter, discontinue watering for six weeks. Doing so allows the plant to flower plentifully in the following season. This plant can be harmful if ingested so keep out of the reach of small children and pets.
Bromeliads
Bromeliads
They need a well-draining potting mix to avoid rot and during the warmer months their leaves can be misted with water.
Chinese Evergreen
These upright, leafy plants with colorful speckled leaves are beloved by home gardeners because they’re attractive and easy to care for. With marbled pinks, reds, silvers, and yellows on their green leaves, Chinese evergreens can bring beautiful patterns to your space. Their leaves are often streaked or spotted, and incorporate several colors in each plant.
Coleus
It’s a low maintenance houseplant, and can handle a range of indirect light situations, from low to bright. Coleus should not be allowed to dry out completely, but make sure you don’t overwater it either. Its soil should be moist but not waterlogged.
The gorgeous foliage on this variety, enticingly called ‘Chocolate Covered Cherry,’ will bring your home a splash of color – and you’ll have the pride of knowing you grew your plant from seed.