Geogenanthus
COSTA FARMS
Although geo is a dark foliage plant, its purple-black color makes it a standout for bright white or boldly colorful spaces. Justin Hancock, a horticulturist at Costa Farms, says that geo does prefer average to above-average humidity. “It’s a good choice for kitchens, bathrooms, terrariums, or other places there’s a bit more moisture in the air.”
Light: Medium to high
Water: Medium, but high humidity
Color: Dark purple
Baltic Blue Pothos
COSTA FARMS
Pothos plants are one of the easiest indoor plants to grow, and Baltic blue is absolutely a showstopper for bright spots. Featuring elongated bluish-green leaves and a trailing growth habit, Baltic blue is a lovely addition to a room with bright, indirect light. “It’s especially effective in a living room, den, or other space where you can let it grow vertically, so the leaves become bigger and even more fenestrated with time,” says Hancock.
Light: Medium to high
Water: Medium, but allow to dry in between waterings
Color: Blue-green
Silver Dragon Alocasia
COSTA FARMS
Featuring thick green leaves with a silver overlay, silver dragon alocasia makes an elegant addition to your house plant collection. Hancock says it makes an excellent partner for geo due to similar growing needs, and they look great together.
Light: Medium to high
Water: Medium, but high humidity
Color: Silvery green
Global Green Pothos
COSTA FARMS
This brightly colored pothos is a new variety that features lovely green-on-green variegation. “We’ve found it’s just as tolerant to a range of light and humidity conditions as good old-fashioned golden pothos—just with a fresh new look,” says Hancock.
Light: Tolerates low light, but grows best in medium and high light
Water: Medium, but allow to dry in between waterings
Color: Variegated green on green
Schumi Red Peperomia
This plant beauty offers metallic red-purple leaves with an interesting corrugated texture. It will provide a burst of color in a bright corner of your home. “It’s a small houseplant, which makes it a perfect workmate on your desk,” says Hancock.
Light: Medium to high
Water: Medium
Color: Reddish purple
Stromanthe Plant
GREENDIGS
Stromanthe will convert you to a pink person. This pastel, variegated beauty features a pretty combination of pinks, creams, and greens. “We’re suckers for plants in motion,” says Sadie Oldham, the brand director at Greendigs. “As daylight fades, Stromanthe leaves raise toward the skies, showing off not just their mobility, but the striking color under their leaves.”
Light: Medium to high
Water: Medium, but high humidity
Color: Variegated green with pink, cream, and purple
Moonlight Philodendron
GREENDIGS
Moonlight philodendron features frilly, deeply cut leaves in brilliant green. Like other philodendrons, it’s easy to grow virtually anywhere. “Any plant that gives this much greenery without demanding much in return is worth having in your home,” says Oldham.
Light: Tolerates low light but will thrive in medium to high light
Water: Medium, but allow to dry in between waterings
Color: Lime green
Dragon Tree
GREENDIGS
The dragon tree is a slow-growing and maintenance-free plant—perfect for a beginner plant parent. It features long green and pink spiky leaves with pops of pink on its edges. “Its versatility means that the dragon tree is great as the center of attention, but it also slips neatly into a quiet corner,” says Oldham.
Light: Medium
Water: Medium
Color: Green and pink
Anthurium
GREENDIGS
Anthurium features long-lasting, bold red blooms contrasted by large, glossy leaves. “Every home has a spot that needs a plant with diva status, and this is where your anthurium goes,” says Oldham. This plant does need attention, but will reward you with its eye-catching flowers.
Light: Bright, indirect light
Water: Medium, but high humidity
Color: Green leaves with bold red blooms
Echeveria ‘Pink Frills’
GREENDIGS
Echeveria ‘Pink Frills’ features plump, rose-shaped compact leaves. It’s almost hard to believe it is a succulent. “It’s no surprise that it’s popular with interior decorators, florists, and wedding planners alike,” says Oldham. Like other echeveria, ‘Pink Frills’ will reward you with delicate blooms in the spring if you give it what it needs.
Light: Bright, high light
Water: Low, allow soil to dry out completely between waterings
Color: Green and dusty rose
Begonia Maculata
ANASTASIIA TRETIAK
This colorful houseplant features some seriously show-stopping leaves, with silver polka dots on top, and bold crimson beneath—and eventually, white or pink flowers will bloom, too. Keep this in a warm, sunny, and humid environment, to match its tropical origins.
Light: Bright, indirect light Water: Medium, but high humidity Color: Green, silver, and red, with white or pink flowers
Raven ZZ Plant
ANSYVANYCH/GETTY IMAGES
If your ideal houseplant color is more dramatic than bright, the rich black leaves of the raven ZZ plant will be a perfect addition to your plant collection. (Note that new growth is bright green, before mellowing out to that black hue.) Like most ZZ plants, it’s a low-maintenance, easy-care houseplant, which can survive in low-light conditions, but thrives in brighter light. Bonus: In feng shui, this plant can bring wealth and good fortune.
Light: Tolerates low light but will thrive in medium to high light
Water: Low, allow soil to dry out completely between waterings
Color: Green and dark purple-black
Prayer Plant
ANDREY NIKITIN/GETTY IMAGES
Known officially as Maranta leuconeura, the prayer plant will brighten up your home with its boldly striped leaves, which feature striking red veins and yellow patches beside the deep, emerald green. For the prayer plant to thrive, give it an environment similar to its Brazilian roots—warm and humid, with moist soil and indirect light. (It can also take low light conditions as well.)
Light: Bright, indirect light, tolerates low light
Water: Medium, but allow to dry in between waterings
Color: Green, red, and yellow
Rose Succulents
VINSTOREFINDS/ETSY.COM
If you’re looking for colorful plants, succulents can come in an array of bright hues that’ll go with any decorating style. But the rose succulents, which feature a pretty pink hue and a rose-like shape, may be the perfect way to “gift” roses that’ll last. Like many succulents, these are pretty low-maintenance plants, requiring low humidity, with bright, but indirect light. Let the soil dry out between waterings.
Light: Bright, high light
Water: Low, allow soil to dry out completely between waterings
Color: Dusty rose
Prince of Orange Philodendron
THE SILL
New leaves on this pretty philodendron start out a shocking yellow-orange before mellowing out to green. It’ll grow up to two feet tall, so find the perfect corner for it to brighten up.
Light: Bright, indirect light
Water: Medium, but allow to dry in between waterings
Color: Green, yellow, and orange
Coleus
This low-maintenance plant is a favorite addition to large outdoor planters, but its beautifully variegated leaves make it a striking colorful houseplant, too. You can find variations that present with yellow, cream, pink, burgundy, and purple leaves. The plant can handle bright sunlight, as long as it’s sheltered during the midday hours when the light is strongest, when it can fade or even burn the leaves. It thrives in moist soil, so make sure you water it regularly.
Light: Bright light
Water: Medium
Color: Burgundy, pink, purple, yellow, cream, or green