Our list of eye - catching foliage plants , from fern and palms to water garden , brings the garden indoors .
BHG / Phoebe Cheong
When you require to add together a little insolence and spirit to a room , foliage plants do the trick . Houseplants with bluff or unusual leave kick it up a snick with their come to coloring material , approach pattern , and shapes . Whether you ’re intobig plants that make an eye - pick up focal pointor gravitate towards endearing small plants , these 24 options propose gorgeous foliage .
Credit:BHG / Phoebe Cheong
Iron-Cross Begonia
know for itsstriking , two - tone leafage , iron - crossbegoniagets its name from the brown markings on its leaves , which resemble the Iron Cross displayed on cuticle during the Crusades . This foliation plant does n’t mind being a trivial pot - bound but seek to ensure it does n’t completely dry out between waterings . If you see brown , crispy foliage bound , give the plant more humidness . However , if you notice yellowing or browning leaves , trim down back onthe amount of water you give it .
Keep this works away from children and pets because the roots and stems are toxic .
Name : Begonia masoniana
Credit: Dean Schoeppner
Growing Conditions : Medium to bright light ; 65 - 75 ° F ; keep land equally moist
size of it : Up to 12 inch tall and encompassing
Peacock Plant
One of the boldest , mostdramatic leaf plantsaround , peacock plant has patterned leaves resembling its namesake doll ’s tail feather . The silver and light-green markings on the upper leaf surfaces and the reddish - empurpled markings on the back of its leaves make this plant a beauty to lay eyes on from any angle . For good resolution , give this tropical houseplant a warm environment withhigh humidity .
Name : Calathea makoyana
produce condition : Medium to bright lightness ; 70 - 85 ° fluorine ; keep soil evenly moist
Credit:BHG / Phoebe Cheong
Size : Up to 2 base tall and wide
Prayer Plant
Prayer plant will fold itspretty leavestogether in the dark , creating the impression of praying hands . The green prayer industrial plant ( figure here ) is sometimes called lapin track for its purplish brown folio grading . Closely related red orison plant ( Maranta leuconeuravar.erythroneura ) has bright red leafage nervure and brownish markings like the green orison plant . petition flora appreciates eminent humidity and even soil wet except in winter when it expire semi - dormant and needs slightly drier weather .
Name : Maranta leuconeura
grow Conditions : intermediate luminosity ; 60 - 75 ° F ; keep soil evenly moist , drier in winter
Credit: Jay Wilde
size of it : Up to 1 foot tall and wide
practice orison plant life inhanging baskets — their dense leaves of course clump and spread , creating riotous , low - growing coverage .
Nerve Plant
The all right web of pinkish , red , white , or flatware veins on each leaf givesnerve plantits plebeian name . It ’s a sure wager to add colour to a brightly lit kitchen or bathroom because it appreciate high-pitched humidness and moist territory . It also combines well with other plants indish gardens and terrarium .
Name : Fittonia albivenis(Verschaffeltii Group )
maturate condition : Medium light ; 65 - 75 ° fluorine ; keep dirt evenly moist
Credit: Marty Baldwin
sizing : Up to 8 in improbable
Rex Begonia
Asflamboyant foliage plantsgo , you’re able to always matter on arex begoniato deliver . hundred of cultivar are useable in a broad array of colouring combination of silver gray , white , pink , red , purple , and green . Many have unique leaf shapes and mannequin as well . Although rex begonia is primarilygrown for its dazzle leafage , it may acquire pink or white prime in brilliant light .
Name : Begonia rex
Ti Plant
The vivacious cherry - pink leafage of ti plant life induce it an eye - catching option forcreating a focal point in a room . Also ring near chance plant and sometimes classified asC. terminalis , its colorful , strap - comparable leave-taking go forth from a central stalk . As the plant ages , it loses its lower leaf to show off a woody automobile trunk . It’seasy to propagate ; just place sections of the luggage compartment horizontally on moistpotting soil . Then be patient : Modern shoots may take several month to sprout .
Name : Cordyline fruticosa
uprise experimental condition : shiny to vivid light ; 60 - 85 ° F ; keep soil evenly moist
Credit: Dean Schoeppner
Size : Up to 6 ft marvelous
Ti plants are sore to fluoride , so use distil water supply .
China Doll
foliation plants with fine textured , fern - like leaves , like theChina chick , lend saving grace and elegance to any way . It ’s often sold with several plants in one container to give it a broad appearance . Pinch orprune shootsregularly to keep plants lush and full .
Name : Radermachera sinica
Growing Conditions : mass medium to smart light ; 60 - 75 ° F ; keep territory evenly moist
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Aluminum Plant
Named for the metallic - silver splotch on its leaves , aluminum plantmakes an attractive addition to a tabletop plant or give ear basket . Its thick size also makes it a secure prospect for mixeddish gardensorterrariums . If the plant arrive leggy , move it to brighter light and pinch it back to encourage fuller maturation .
Name : Pilea cadierei
Growing condition : Medium to bright light ; 60 - 75 ° fluorine ; reserve the soil surface to dry out between lachrymation
Credit: Denny Schrock
Inch Plant
Extra - easy - to - growinch planthas shack stem that can quickly attain impressive lengths . The most widely available variety of this leafage flora has leafage with olive and silver striping on top and purplish maroon underneath . Other form have a violet color on both surfaces of leaves .
Inbright light , these foliage plants may bear pink flowers with three petals . column inch plantroots easily from stem cuttingsstuck in moist potting territory or water . While you could leave the carving growing for months in water , they ’ll do well if you embed them in potting premix .
Name : Tradescantia zebrina
Credit: Denny Schrock
produce condition : mass medium to bright luminosity ; 55 - 75 ° F ; permit soil surface to dry between lacrimation
sizing : Up to 1 foot tall and 2 feet wide
If you ’re new to establish tutelage , the inch plant life is a outstanding option — it ’s tough , adaptable , and thrives in almost any indoor conditions .
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Fatsia
The bighearted leaves of the fatsia plant create a spectacular , tropic flavour in an blink of an eye . Unlike manytropical plants , fatsia ( also acknowledge as Japanese aralia ) like to be kept on the nerveless side but adapts well to average elbow room temperatures . Try it near a slew glass doorway or in a lowly - light entryway as a striking specimen plant . lave the leave of absence periodicallyto maintain a glossy shine and to remove any wanderer mites , which can sometimes trouble this plant .
Name : Fatsia japonica
Growing Conditions : depleted to intermediate light ; 50 - 65 ° F ; keep territory equally moist
Credit: Marty Baldwin
size of it : Up to 6 infantry magniloquent and spacious
Pleomele
A shrubby plant that mixes well in a variety of ornament style , pleomeleused to be classify asPleomele reflexaand is still sometimes sold under that name . Among foliation flora , this plant features a wild mannequin with solid green leaves , but the cream - and - viridity variegate cultivar ' Song of India ' is more wide usable .
Name : Dracaena reflexa
Growing Conditions : mass medium to bright light ; 65 - 75 ° F ; reserve soil open to dry between watering
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Size : Up to 3 ft tall and wide
lop your plantif it grow too magniloquent or loses depressed leaves to encourage fuller , more compact maturation .
Parlor Palm
One of the best palms to develop indoors , parlor palmwon’t get to a fault tall , plus it tolerates low light and low humidity reasonably well . Keep it out of cold drafts and avoid exposure to organise sun toprevent dark-brown leaf tips . shower down your living-room medallion once in a while to moisten off cumulate dust and keepspider mitesat bay .
Name : Chamaedorea elegans
Growing weather : humiliated to intermediate light ; 65 - 80 ° F ; keep soil evenly moist
Credit: Dean Schoeppner
sizing : Up to 8 foot tall and 3 metrical unit broad
Moon Valley Friendship Plant
With its puckered leaf open that resembles the surface of the moon , moon valley friendship plantis in a league of its own . In bright illumination , this foliage industrial plant offers small creamy - white bloom and waffle - similar foliage . Its bronze - green leave with deep-set empurpled veins and texture make it an first-class familiar plant for iron - cross begonia . If the plant becomes long-shanked , crimp back the stems to keep the plant life compact .
Name : Pilea mollis’Moon Valley '
Growing experimental condition : Medium to undimmed light ; 60 - 75 ° fluorine ; grant soil airfoil to dry between waterings
Credit: Dean Schoeppner
Blushing Bromeliad
Althoughsmall empurpled flowersform in the core of blushing bromeliad ’s vase , the red color near the nucleotide of its privileged leaves is the star attraction and source of this foliage plant ’s common name . When lacrimation , pour body of water straight into the centre of the industrial plant , or " vase , " form by the plant ’s leaves , rather of the soil . This mimics how the works naturally pile up rain .
Blushing bromeliad ’s green - and - ashen striped leaves have realise - tooth edge , so take care when handling the plant .
Name : Neoregelia carolinae’Tricolor '
Credit: Dean Schoeppner
Growing condition : vivid light ; 65 - 80 ° atomic number 9
Size : Up to 1 understructure tall
Watermelon Begonia
The trailing stems and foliage of watermelonbegoniacreate a charming accent mark no matter where you develop it . Each oval - shaped leaf sportspatches of silverand dark green , resemble the pattern on its namesake fruit . The trailing stem have a tinge of pinko . This foliage plant used to be class asPellionia pulchra , so you may retrieve it still sold under that name .
Name : Elatostema repens
grow condition : Medium to burnished luminosity ; 70 - 80 ° F ; keep soil equally moist
Credit: Doug Hetherington
sizing : dog to 2 feet or more
Strawberry Begonia
For foliation plants that are simple to circularize and share with protagonist , the strawberry begonia is easy to grow with beautiful parting . Although it is commonly used as alandscaping groundcoverinZone 7 and warmer , this foliation plant seduce a terrific houseplant most anywhere that receives a moderate amount of light . It ’s not closely touch to either strawberry or begonia but has some characteristics that resemble those plants . Like many begonia , it has multicolored leaves , and standardized to strawberries , it produces plantlet on runners sent out by the female parent plant .
Name : Saxifraga stolonifera
Growing Conditions : intermediate light ; 50 - 75 ° F ; keep soil evenly moist
Credit: Dean Schoeppner
size of it : Up to 6 inches tall
lay the industrial plant in gentle , collateral sunlight can help bring in out its reddish leaf flavor .
Purple Passion
The fuzzy foliation ofpurple passionis interesting and distinctive . Because of its color and texture , you may also know this classic foliation plant as purple velvet . Its fast - growing stems trail as they lengthen , making the plant adaptable to hanging handbasket . Plus , it ’s comfortable to rise more from cutting .
Name : Gynura aurantiaca’Purple Passion '
Growing stipulation : Bright light ; 60 - 75 ° F ; keep grunge equally moist
Credit: Jason Donnelly
Size : Up to 2 feet improbable
Aralia
The glossy green , scollop aralia leaves add beautiful texture toindoor space . Balfour aralia ( pictured here ) is one of several aralias commonlyavailable as houseplant . Ming aralia(Polyscias fruticosa)has deeply lobed , lacy leave . Parsley aralia ( Polyscias fruticosa’Elegans ' ) is smaller , with dull , curl leaves . All germinate corked , gnarled trunks as they senesce . aralia ask warm temperatures and high humidness . Keep them off from cold drafts .
Name : Polyscias scutellaria’Balfourii '
develop Conditions : Medium to bright light ; 65 - 85 ° farad ; keep grease evenly moist
Credit: Dean Schoeppner
size of it : Up to 6 feet tall and 3 human foot wide
Asparagus Fern
The feathery foliage ofasparagus fernlooks good in various preferences and decorating styles . Several plants go by the common name of asparagus fern . Foxtail fern has bottlebrush plumes of medium light-green needles . ' Sprengeri ' has arching stems incubate with flat needles , giving the plant a frothy appearance . Plumose fern ( Asparagus setaceus , shown here ) looks more like atrue fernbut , like the others , is an ornamental asparagus congener .
Be certain to keep this industrial plant in a secure position because the berries and sap of asparagus plant are toxic to shaver and pets .
Name : edible asparagus setaceaus
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Baby’s Tears
Perfect forterrariums , baby ’s rip quell minor and forms a mat of delicate rounded leave-taking . This finely - textured leafage flora also grows well in ahanging basket , or it can be allowed to spread around turgid , upright houseplants .
Name : Soleirolia soleirolii
acquire Conditions : Medium to shining luminance ; 55 - 75 ° atomic number 9 ; keep soil evenly moist
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Size : Up to 3 inches tall
Fiber-Optic Grass
If you lean to overwater plants , fiber - optic grassmight be for you . This play foliage plant gets its common name from its arching , threadlike , grassy leaves resemble fiber optic wire . It can even maturate in standing weewee , adding o.k. texture to a shallowwater garden .
Name : Isolepis cernua
Growing weather condition : Medium ignitor ; 55 - 75 ° F ; keep soil equally moist or wet
Credit: Dean Schoeppner
Size : Up to 12 column inch tall
Create a simpleindoor water gardenwith fibre eye plants , a spyglass container , gravel , and water , and locate it in indirect visible radiation .
Piggyback Plant
Soft , fuzzy green leaves are only part of the appeal of piggyback plant . It take in its common name because infant plantlet evolve on the independent leafage vein of older leaves , appearing to drive piggyback . To easily propagate this works , simply immobilize a foliage bearing a plantlet to the filth to further root . The weight of developing plantlets causes out parting to robe over the container ’s edge , which get piggyback works a sound alternative fora hanging basketor display ona pedestal .
treat this plant with care because all parts can do pelt irritation .
Name : Tolmiea menziesii
Credit: Marty Baldwin
grow Conditions : metier to bright light ; 60 - 75 ° F and 50 - 65 ° F in wintertime ; permit the soil open to dry out between waterings
Size : Up to 12 inches marvellous and 18 inch wide
Swedish Ivy
An easy - to - grow , cascade down plant , Swedish ivylooks especially beautiful in hanging basketful where its glossy K , scalloped - edge leaves can robe over the side . aboriginal to South Africa and Australia rather than Sweden , where it was first popularize , Swedish ivy is moreclosely related to mintthan ivy . Many foliation plants flush blossom , such as the Swedish Ivy , which demonstrate short spikes of lily-white or lilac flowers in the bounce and summertime . However , itsfoliage is the chief attraction .
Name : Plectranthus verticillatus
Growing stipulation : intermediate lighting ; 60 - 75 ° F and 50 - 65 ° farad in winter ; allow the stain open to dry between watering
Credit: Dean Schoeppner
Size : Up to 36 inch tall
If the plant has dull and droopy leaves , it may be getting too much light — move it to a shadier spot to help it recover .
Waffle Plant
Low - originate waffle plant is perfect for sum up texture to tabletop , mantlepiece , or other horizontal Earth’s surface where its creeping stems can make a richly dark-skinned carpeting . This mounding works has hang back wine - ruddy theme and glossy , ellipse , purplish leaves with escallop edges . In summer , waffle plant bearssmall white flowersat the stem tips . It also works as an annual groundcoveroutdoors in specter garden .
Name : Hemigraphis alternata’Exotica '
grow Conditions : Medium light ; 60 - 80 ° F ; keep soil evenly moist
Credit: Dean Schoeppner
sizing : Up to 9 inches tall and 18 inches spacious
Bigger Plants With More Space
If you ’re looking for larger plants for your interior infinite , abanana plantis an excellent choice to add to your collection . You may not get fruit , but you will get big , lustrous leaves that add radiance and drama to your room . For something beachy and tropic , apalm plantis the next best thing to being oceanfront . These works may postulate more humidness than your dwelling leave , so put them in the privy while you lavish every so often to add the moist aviation they fuck . Tiny - leavedjade plantscan raise to be 3 - 10 feet grandiloquent and are low - criminal maintenance , so they ’ll be around for a farseeing time . GrowMonstera deliciosafor its Brobdingnagian , interestingly shaped parting or a statuesquebird of paradise plantto work sculptural beauty into your room .
Begonia masoniana . North Carolina State University Extension .
“ Cordyline fruticosa . ”North Carolina Plant Toolbox Extension Gardener .
Mahr , Susan . “Tradescantia zebrina . ”Wisconsin Horticulture Division of Extension .
“ Saxifraga stolonifera . ”North Carolina Plant Toolbox Extension Gardener .
Common Asparagus Fern . North Carolina State University Extension .
Tolmiea menziesii . North Carolina State University Extension .
