This time of year is one of my favorites—the sparkling twinkle lights, the cozy sweaters, the tasty treats, and the art of finding the perfect gift for everyone on my list. The only downside? It can be seriously lacking in the live plants department, especially here in Minnesota.
That’s where houseplants come in. They can add a welcome burst of life to your home decor all year long, but you can also incorporate them into your holiday decorating! Here are our favorite red and green leaf plant suggestions, to add to your Christmas spirit.
There are several varieties of aglaonema, or Chinese evergreen, whose green leaves are shot through with red. Some even have red or pink stems! Look for Aglaonema ‘Ruby Red’ or Aglaonema ‘Siam Aurora Red.’ Aglaonema are low maintenance houseplants, making them a great place to start for beginners.
When given enough indirect light, the leaves of ficus elastica ‘Ruby,’ or a Ruby rubber tree, are a lovely tricolor array of green, pink, and red. Ficus elastica can be a little picky about their location, and are quick to drop leaves. If you notice this happening, make sure your plant is getting plenty of light (but not direct sunlight), and allow the soil to dry most of the way through before watering thoroughly. Once your ficus is happy again, try to leave it right where it is—if you relocate, the rubber tree will go through another acclimation process and lose more leaves for a bit.
Not feeling the Christmas tree this year? Try using a dragon tree as your focal point instead. Dracaena marginata, commonly called a dragon tree, has long, grass-shaped leaves that are lined with a reddish-pink. A dragon tree can be grown in either shrub or tree form, depending on how you prune it—these make great floor plants when shaped into a tree!
Crotons, or codiaeum variegatum, come in a riotous rainbow of colors, so you’ll have several options to choose from. For the most striking red, look for ‘Red Iceton,’ ‘Mammy,’ or ‘Magnificent.’
Crotons can be picky about their location and growing conditions, especially in places with especially cold winters. We recommend these plants for intermediate indoor plant parents, rather than beginners.
With over a thousand species of peperomia, there is sure to be one to fit whatever space you’re working with. These plants are easy to care for, and great for beginners who may be prone to forgetting a watering session. Peperomia Rosso and peperomia Graveolens both have green leaves with striking red undersides, while peperomia ‘Schumi Red’ has deep red, rippled leaves.
This plant has the botanical name cryptanthus bivittatus, but often goes by Red Earth Star, Starfish Plant, or Red Star Bromeliad. To keep your Earth star flourishing, be sure to bottom water. And don’t panic if it starts to die back after it blooms—that’s what this plant does! After flowering, Earth stars start to die back and put out pups, or baby plants.
When it comes to begonias, there are two routes you can go to bring a red and green leaf plant into your home: cane begonia or rex begonia.
For cane begonias, several angel wings have dark green leaves with bold burgundy undersides. Rex begonias’ colorful leaves come in a wide variety of shades, and there is sure to be one with red foliage that fits in with your holiday decor.
The red prayer plant’s green leaves are lined with red veins. The maranta leuconeura red has similar care needs to calathea, but tends to be a little less particular about its humidity and water purity. Like calathea, its green and red leaves fold up at night into a “praying position,” then splay outwards again in the morning.
The common name of hypoestes phyllostachya, the polka dot plant, gives away exactly what the foliage on these plants look like—they are covered in brightly colored polka dots! Available in red, purple, white, or pink, these plants are eye catching and stay fairly small when grown indoors.
Also known as the flamingo flower or painter’s palette, this houseplant comes in several colors, including red. This anthurium is great for adding some elegant height to your holiday decorations!
The holiday season is a wonderful time to decorate your home with festive colors and details. One easy way to incorporate the traditional Christmas palette into your decor is by displaying houseplants with red and green foliage. Not only do these plants look gorgeous on their own, but they can also complement your other holiday accents.
In this article, we’ll explore some of the best red and green leaf houseplants to help spread some seasonal cheer. Whether you’re a beginner looking for an easy care option or an experienced plant parent seeking a showstopper, there are plenty of great choices to give your home a festive boost.
Why Choose Red and Green Leaf Houseplants?
Houseplants with red and green leaves are perfect for the holidays for a few key reasons:
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They instantly evoke the Christmas palette The red and green color combo can’t help but bring the spirit of the season to mind. Displaying these plants helps set a festive mood
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They can accent your existing decor If you already have traditional Christmas decor up around your home, red and green plants help tie everything together beautifully by echoing those signature holiday tones
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They’re festive yet subtle. For those who prefer understated holiday decor, red and green leaf plants let you hint at the season in a simple, elegant way.
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They bring life indoors. Houseplants in general add warmth and a fresh, living element to indoor spaces, which is especially welcome in winter. Versions with festive foliage offer that benefit with some added holiday flair.
Great Red and Green Leaf Houseplant Options
From trailing vines to stately specimens, here are some fantastic houseplants that can infuse your indoor decor with festive red and green color this Christmas season:
Peperomia
One of the most popular red and green leaf houseplants is the peperomia. With over 1000 species, there is sure to be one to fit your style. Some top options include:
- Peperomia caperata ‘Rosso’ – Deep red undersides
- Peperomia caperata ‘Ripple Red’ – Rippled red leaves
- Peperomia clusiifolia ‘Jelly’ – Green leaves with red edges
Peperomias are easy to care for and stay relatively small, making them great for tables or desktops.
Prayer Plant
Known for their distinctively colored foliage, prayer plants like the red maranta feature green leaves prominently veined in red. Their leaves also fold up at night, adding charm. Keep them in bright indirect light.
Croton
Crotons offer a rainbow of color options, like ‘Petra’, with green, yellow, orange, and red leaves. Give them plenty of light to maintain their vibrant foliage.
Aglaonema
Also known as Chinese evergreen, some aglaonema varieties have striking variegation, like ‘Siam Aurora’ with streaks of pink and red. These plants tolerate low light well.
Anthurium
Anthurium houseplants are prized for their glossy green leaves and bright red flowers. Try a variety like ‘Red Hot’ for bold, festive blooms.
Begonia
Both cane begonias and rhizomatous begonias like rex begonia offer options with rich red tones on their leaves. Give them bright indirect light and moderate humidity.
Caladium
Caladiums have arrowhead-shaped leaves that combine shades of white, green, pink, and red for a festive look. Try ‘White Christmas’ or ‘Red Flash’. They love humidity.
Ti Plant
Also called good luck plants, some ti plant varieties have reddish-pink edging on their long, corn-like foliage. Keep them in a bright spot with moderate humidity.
Bromeliad
Some bromeliads have bright red bracts that make a statement. Look for types like ‘Red Star’ or ‘Painted Fingernail’ to add festive color without flowers.
Coleus
Available in a riot of colors and leaf shapes, coleus can provide just about any festive shade you’re looking for. Try ‘Sparkler’ or ‘Sedona’. Give them bright indirect light.
Caring for Red and Green Leaf Houseplants
While care varies by species, most red and green leaf houseplants thrive in the following conditions:
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Light: Bright to moderate indirect light is ideal for most. Some, like coleus, do best in direct sun.
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Water: Allow soil to dry out partially between waterings, then soak thoroughly. Reduce watering frequency in winter.
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Humidity: Average to high humidity is helpful. Group plants together or use a humidifier.
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Temperature: Average room temperature between 65-75°F is fine. Avoid drafty areas.
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Soil: Use a general houseplant potting mix and repot when rootbound. Fertilize monthly in spring and summer.
With the right care, these festive houseplants can grace your home with holiday spirit for seasons to come! Add a pop of red and green foliage this Christmas for a simple yet elegant seasonal touch.
Other Red and Green Leaf Plant Ideas (Aroids)
There are several philodendrons and other aroids that are a little more rare that also have red and green foliage. These are going to be a little pricier, but plant parents with varied collections will enjoy these:
- Syngonium Llani Carto Road
- Philodendron Imperial Red
- Philodendron Red Heart
- Philodendron Red Emerald
- Philodendron Congo Rojo
While it isn’t the foliage that is red, but rather flowers, a holiday cactus will add a beautiful splash of color—and who doesn’t love some fresh blooms in mid-winter? Often sold as an Easter cactus, Thanksgiving cactus, or Christmas cactus, the key differences between the holiday cacti are when they bloom and the shape of their leaves. To have blooms while all your holiday decorations are up, go for a Thanksgiving or Christmas cactus.
Top 10 Indoor Plants with Colorful leaves
FAQ
What is the name of the indoor plant with red and green leaves?
Poinsettia. First, a classic: poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima) are popular plants with red and green leaves during the festive season. But people are often unaware that this houseplant has red leaves, as the bracts are easily mistaken for flowers.
What is the red and green plant indoors?
One of our favorites no matter what the season, Red Prayer Plant offers showy bright green leaves boldly decorated with red veins and purplish blotches. It makes a wonderful houseplant (or gift for the gardeners on your Christmas list) that can be easily grown in low or medium light.
Which plants have red and green leaves?
Buy Red Euphorbia Plant – This succulent plant with red and green leaves is practically the most perfect indoor plant you will find for Christmas.Oct 23, 2024
What plant has green leaves with red edges?
Red-edge Dracaena’s attractive glossy narrow leaves remain green in color with distinctive red edges throughout the year. The flowers are not ornamentally significant. The dark green stems can be quite attractive and add to the plant’s interest.
Which houseplants have red and green leaves?
Paddle Plant (Kalanchoe Luciae) The Paddle plant, with its well-rounded green leaves with brilliant streaks of red on the outside, is a worthy addition to this list of beautiful houseplants with red and green leaves. You can keep the red color flaming bright if you ensure they enjoy lots of bright sunlight.
What plants have red & green leaves?
Plants with bright red or green leaves bring life into rooms while adding a touch of warmth to the décor. Coleus, Caladium, and Red Perilla are a few examples of plants with red and green leaves. These 50 house plants are some of our favourites because they come in fantastic red and green colours: Some houseplant types have bright red leaves.
What do red and green leaves on a house plant mean?
Generally speaking, red and green leaves on a house plant indicate that the plant is healthy and doing well. The red leaves are usually a sign of new growth, while the green leaves indicate that the plant is getting the nutrients it needs. Coleus is a genus of flowering plants in the family Lamiaceae.
What color is a red leaf plant?
Green leaves are usually the most vibrant in spring and summer, but red leaves provide a stunning contrast. Red leaf plants provide dramatic hues of crimson, burgundy, maroon, and deep pink to any house interior. Plants with bright red or green leaves bring life into rooms while adding a touch of warmth to the décor.
Do red leaf plants add color to a room?
Red leaf plants add dramatic shades of crimson, burgundy, maroon, and deep pink to any home interior. Plants with bright red and green leaves brighten up rooms and add a touch of warmth to the décor. Some red-leaf houseplants such as Coleus, Caladium, and Anthurium have bright red foliage.
Which Aglaonema plant has red leaves?
Aglaonema ‘Siam Aurora’ – The distinctive red and green lanceolate leaves of this Aglaonema species are stunning. The green leaves have rich red margins and veins. Aglaonema ‘Red Anjamani’ – The large red-leaved houseplant has vivid crimson oval leaves with pointed tips. The leaf blades have thin green edges and slight green veins.