50 houseplants with red and green leaves

Now we know we predominantly speak about plants outside in the garden, but just because you have a green thumb doesn’t mean that it can’t be used inside too. Many people like to decorate the inside and outside of their homes with plants.

Plants can provide a living, natural touch that many people find appealing. They also help purify the air we breathe by absorbing toxins and releasing oxygen as they grow.

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. 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:

Introduction

Some houseplant types have bright red leaves. Others have leaves that are a combination of red and green. Other indoor plant species, on the other hand, have multicoloured leaves with hues of red, green, purple, and white. Continue reading to discover some of the best houseplants with tropical colorful colourings.

Coleus

This is a popular plant with leaves of green, yellow, and red. It is native to tropical regions across the world. Caladiums are another type of flowering plant that have striking hues of red or pink throughout their foliage. They can be grown indoors in pots all year round but they require lots of sunlight.

Here are some examples of Coleus Plants with reddish leaves:

Coleus Wizard Scarlet – The leaves are bright red. They have a deep green, lance-shaped foliage that is crispy and smooth to the touch.
Solenostemon Redhead (Coleus ‘Redhead) – The leaves are a dark, red-burgundy colour. They do not wilt readily and make great indoor plants.
Coleus Kong Red – Coleus cultivar ‘Green Ice’ has dark red and cherry red coloured leaves. To preserve the brilliant tropical foliage, this houseplant should be grown in partial or full shade.
Solenostemon ‘Pineapple’ (Coleus ‘Pineapple’) – This lovely foliage plant has lime-green leaves with thin red serrated margins and is perfect for adding colour to any space. The elongated, brilliant ovate leaves are wonderful for bringing life into any environment. For optimum results, grow this coleus in full sun or partial shade.

Caladium

The leaves of this plant are a combination of red and green with white, pink or purple veins. They can be grown in pots all year round but they do need lots of warmth and sunlight to thrive indoors. Caladium plants, also known as “angel wings” plants, have enormous heart-shaped leaves and slender arrowhead leaves among the most beautiful foliage of any houseplant. The two types of caladium are fancy-leaved caladiums with huge heart-shaped leaves and strap-leaved caladiums with tiny arrowhead leaves.

Here are some examples of Cladium Plants with reddish leaves:

Caladium bicolor ‘Florida Sweetheart’ – The large leaves of this caladium cultivar are green with a red margin. Caladium ‘Florida Sweetheart’ is an excellent plant for adding colour to your home all year round, but it does need lots of sunlight in order to thrive indoors.
Caladium bicolor ‘Red Flash’ – This type has gorgeous arrowhead leaves that are dark red with light green veins and white margins on the leaf front side. They produce corsage-like flowers when they bloom during summer.
Caladium ‘Bombshell’ – The “Bombshell” caladium is a beautiful indoor plant with rich red leaves surrounded by wide green margins. The green and brilliant crimson hues provide a stunning focal point in any living space.
Caladium bicolor ‘Red Flash’ – The leaves of the fancy-leaved Caladium bicolor variety are dark red with green veins that bleed into the green color. The ‘Red Flash,’ like its name suggests, has vivid pink specks.

Anthurium

Plants from the genus Anthurium have red and green leaves that add a tropical feel to your home or garden. Anthurium plants are native to the Western Hemisphere from Mexico through Brazil, although they have been introduced in other tropical regions around the world. They grow well in containers indoors because they tolerate low light conditions but do require lots of humidity.

Here are some examples of Anthurium Plants with reddish leaves:

Flamingo Lily (Anthurium andraeanum) – This variety of anthurium has red-spotted leaves. It is a flowering plant with glossy, leathery foliage and large showy flowers in shades of pink or white during the winter months. Anthuriums are beautiful living plants that have stunning hues. To keep your houseplants healthy all year round, they should be grown in partial to full sunlight indoors but require plenty of humidity as well.
Pigtail Plant (Anthurium scherzerianum) -This tropical indoor plant, also known as the Flamingo Flower, features a curled orangey-red waxy leaf (bract) that curls up like a pig’s tail.

Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema)

Variegated red and green leaves are found on some Chinese evergreen plants. Many beautiful tones and colours can be found on Chinese evergreens’ broad, elongated elliptic leaves. Plants in the Aglaonema genus thrive when grown under indirect light and in a porous, well-draining potting mix.

Here are some examples of Chinese Evergreen Plants with reddish 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.
Aglaonema ‘Valentine’ – It is a gorgeous, tropical-looking evergreen houseplant with distinctive red leaves with green margins and speckled green colouration.

Croton (Codiaeum variegatum)

Some of the most beautiful indoor houseplants are crotons. They have colourful, shiny leaves with lots of different shapes and sizes. Their colours range from yellow to orange, pink to purple, blackish-red or green varieties as well.

Here are some examples of Croton Plants with reddish leaves:

Codiaeum variegatum ‘Mammy Red’ – The ‘Mammy Red’ croton plant has long, curling leaves with vivid red, orange, green, and yellow markings. This fiery-looking plant’s upright growth makes it a household favourite.
Codiaeum variegatum ‘Bush on Fire’ – Like other croton plants, this one has dark red and green and yellowish or orange highlights on multicoloured dark lanceolate leaves.
Codiaeum variegatum ‘Dragon Wing’ – This popular variety displays bright dark burgundy foliage that contrasts nicely against its pale cream-coloured veins. The deep colouration makes this plant a perfect choice for adding drama indoors during winter time when it is often too cold outside to enjoy your garden plants. Codiaeum variegatum ‘Sunshine Joy’ has gorgeous golden/yellow rounded waxy leaves with a reddish margin.
Codiaeum variegatum ‘Red Secretary’ – The Red Secretary croton plant has wavy edges on its oblong leaves that are red and green in color.
Codiaeum variegatum ‘Nervia’ – If you want a brightly colored plant, the ‘Nervia’ croton cultivar is ideal. The plant has bright pinkish-red leaves that are contrasted by yellow and light green hues.
Codiaeum variegatum ‘Jingle Bells’ – The foliage of this variety is extremely colorful, featuring shades of red, yellow and green on the leaves. The different tones provide an aesthetically-pleasing contrast against one another that brings out their vibrancy even more so than other varieties in the C.

Croton plants come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colours. All have variegated oblong or lanceolate leaves. Croton cultivars with green foliage include yellow splashes, whereas others have big yellow leaves and green markings.

Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya)

The polka dot plant is a popular indoor houseplant that comes in both red and pink varieties. The leaves are round with dots or splashes of either green, white, purple, orange or burgundy coloration on them.

Many plants have variegated foliage when they are grown indoors under artificial light during the wet winter months. Some people prefer to use fluorescent lighting over other types because it provides an easier environment for growth inside homes without windows where there is little natural sunlight coming through.

Here are some examples of Polka Dot Plants with reddish leaves:

‘Red Splash Select’ – This coleus has dark-red leaves with a splash of green in the centre.
‘Confetti Blush’ freckle face plant – This coleus is a cultivar that has large, green and cream-coloured leaves with splashes of red or pink.
Polka dot ‘Carmina’ – This is a cultivar that has dark green leaves with white spots on both sides.

Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima)

Poinsettia is a beautiful indoor plant with bright red, pointed leaves that grow over the winter and early spring. Poinsettias come in a variety of colours, ranging from white to scarlet and purple. Although E. pulcherrima’s normal leaf colour is scarlet red, cultivars with different hues of leaves exist. Orange, cream, pink, white, or pale green leaves are among the most popular bright houseplants.

Red Leaf Begonias

These beautiful plants have bright red leaves with green veins. They are grown for their attractive foliage and can also be grown outdoors in tropical areas such as Florida, Hawaii, Southern California and other places where the temperature is warm year-round. However, they cannot tolerate freezing conditions so it’s best to keep them indoors if you live in the UK.

Many of the thousands of begonia species have red leaves that range from deep burgundy to brilliant scarlet crimson. Wax begonias, which have glossy crimson leaves and tiny pink, red, or white flowers, are among the most beautiful red-leaved plants in the begonia family.

Here are some examples of Red Leaf with reddish leaves:

‘Omaha Beefsteak’ Begonia (Begonia rex-cultorum) – The bright crimson leaves of this medium-sized leafy begonia feature dark centres with faint markings.
‘Red Kiss’ Begonia (Begonia rex ‘Red Kiss’) – The attractive flower of this spectacular begonia cultivar has red leaves with purple-black centres. The dark crimson and purple hues make this plant look particularly beautiful.
Begonia ‘Red Bull’ (Begonia rex ‘Red Bull’) -The bright, glossy metallic red leaves of this small-leaved red begonia are wavy and have dark leaf margins.
Begonia ‘Revelation Maroon’ (Begonia) – The trailing begonia hybrid has dark green veins and deep burgundy, glossy leaves. This red-leaved plant is perfect for hanging pots.
Begonia ‘Stained Glass’ (Begonia rex ‘Stained Glass’) – The beautiful ‘Stained Glass’ begonia has ruby red leaves with bluish-white margins and black veins.

Radiator Plants (Peperomia)

Many peperomia houseplants have red or pink leaves. They are grown for their attractive foliage rather than flowers, which some peperomias may produce on occasion.

Here are some examples of Radiator Plants with reddish leaves:

Emerald Ripple Red’ (Peperomia caperata) – The beautiful dark red peperomia plant has green and reddish-purple heart-shaped leaves with a metallic sheen.
‘Red Log’ Peperomia (Peperomia verticillata) – The red log indoor plant is a bright crimson houseplant with dark red leaves on the undersides. You’ll notice that the red and green leaves are
Peperomia rubella – The red rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) is a tiny, compact houseplant with button-like green leaves that are slightly furry and
‘Jelly’ radiator plant (Peperomia clusiifolia) – The bright green, red, and cream-coloured leaves of this plant are stunning. This plant is also known as Peperomia Tricolor.

Madagascar Dragon Tree (Dracaena marginata ‘Tricolor’)

The tricolour Madagascar dragon tree has green, light pinkish-red, and creamy-yellow pointed, ribbon-like leaves. The delicate tapering leaves are green and cream with pale crimson red margins. On top of a long, slender woody stem, the beautiful colourful foliage grows in a rosette formation. The plant’s spiky crown is produced by the upward growth of the thin red and green taper leaves.

Madagascar dragon trees thrive in indirect light. The tall indoor houseplant grows to be approximately 6 ft. (1.8 m) tall. This tropical evergreen tree-like shrub is ideal for adding bright height to any living space.

Wandering Jew (Tradescantia)

Many varieties of wandering jew plants have red and pink leaves. They are grown for their attractive foliage rather than flowers, which some wandering jews may produce on occasion.

Tradescantia is a genus of perennial plants with bright lanceolate or ovate-oblong leaves. Many of the 75 species in the Tradescantia genus are easy-care houseplants with reddish leaves, some striped and others just plain red.

Here are some examples of Wandering Jew plants with reddish leaves:

Tradescantia ‘Cool Leaf’ – This low-growing houseplant has purplish pink and green leaves.
Moses-in-the-Cradle (Tradescantia spathacea) – A low-growing houseplant, this is an excellent plant for beginners. The Moses-in-the-cradle has green leaves with reddish-purple veins.
Wandering Jew ‘Red’ (Tradescantia zebrina ‘Red’) – The wandering jew plant has deep red and green leaves.
Inch Plant ‘Quadricolor’ (Tradescantia zebrina ‘Quadricolor’) – This popular houseplant has green, red and cream leaves.

Ti Plant (Cordyline fruticosa)

The ti plant is a tropical, long-lived perennial shrub native to the South Pacific. The leaves on this houseplant are green and red with cream edges. It has been used in many cultures for its decorative foliage throughout history.

Here are some examples of Ti Plants with reddish leaves:

Rubra Cordyline (Cordyline fruticosa ‘Rubra’) – The dark green leaves of the Ti plant Rubra Cordyline are deep red and scarlet.
Cordyline fruticosa ‘Firebrand’ – A red-leaved, dark red and green leaves tropical plant.
Cordyline fruticosa ‘Lilinoe’ – For full sun, a large green and purple leaf plant with a deep crimson stem.

Bromeliad plants (Bromeliaceae)

The bromeliad family is made up of plants with thick, leathery leaves that may be red, white, yellow, or variegated. Many species of bromeliad have apparent bright-coloured rosette-like blooms. These “flowers” are in fact colourful modified leaves known as bracts. The variety of colours for the rosette leaves might include scarlet red, autumn orange, brilliant yellow, or red and yellow hues.

The majority of bromeliad species can live in low-light, high-humidity conditions. As a result, they make ideal bathroom plants.

Succulents

Succulents come in a variety of shapes and sizes, with fleshy red leaves. Green leaves develop red blushing in direct sunlight, while other succulent kinds have dark crimson, burgundy, scarlet, or rose-red leaves.

Here are some examples of succulent plants with reddish leaves:

Crassula capitella ‘Red Pagoda’ – The stunning Red Pagoda succulent is a three-layered tower of crimson and green leaves. The triangular leaves develop in a rosette formation, looking like a colourful pagoda. You may also grow this succulent in hanging baskets.

Crassula capitella ‘Campfire’ -In full sunshine, a tiny colourful succulent with narrow leaves that turn from green to orange and red.

Sempervivum calcareum – Many species of succulents in the genus Sempervivum have tongue-shaped red or orange leaves. These plants form a rosette shape and thrive. Some species have bluish-green leaves with crimson tips, while others have vivid pink pointed fleshy leaves.

Sedum rubrotinctum ‘Aurora’ – Sedum succulents come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colours. Sedum succulents with bright red crimson leaves get plenty of sunshine. Sedums have bi-coloured red and green foliage in low light.

Moon Cactus (Gymnocalycium Mihanovichii) – A spectacular grafted cactus with a colourful ball-shaped top that is usually bright red, yellow, pink, or orange hues. Find out how to cultivate it in this comprehensive care guide.