Vibrant Indoor Plants with Color to Transform Your Living Space

Introduction to Indoor Plants

Looking to brighten up your home with a splash of natural color? This blog explores a wide selection of colorful houseplants that go beyond the basic green. We've carefully selected the most eye catching indoor plants that add personality and charm to any space. Whether you're a seasoned plant parent or just starting your plant collection, these stunning varieties are sure to inspire your next plant purchase!

Choosing Plants for Direct Sun

When choosing plants for direct sun, be sure to select those that can tolerate full sun and won’t suffer from leaf burn or other problems. If you notice significant leaf burn on the foliage, you can add a sheer curtain to your window treatment to provide filtered light. This will help reduce the intensity of sun for your houseplants.

Additionally, be mindful of watering practices to avoid root rot, which can be caused by overwatering and poor drainage.

Tradescantia

Tradescantia, also known as the Inch plant, is a popular, easy growing houseplant. It’s known for its long trailing vines and vibrant foliage. In more recent years, you’ll find a few different varieties of Tradescantias in plant nurseries:

Tradescantia Zebrina

The most iconic in the Tradescantia family. It's foliage has sparkly, silver edges with a deep purple inside as well as deep purple vines.

Tradescantia cuttings propagating in water
Photo by Griselidis Gaillet on Unsplash

Tradescantia Fluminensis

This is a variegated version of the Trandescantia. All green leaves, with white or cream color edges.

Close up photo of different vines of the Tradescantia Fluminensis
Photo by Christian Petzold on Unsplash

Thick, slightly succulent, and oval shaped foliage. Each leaf is striped with shades of pink, purple, green and white.

Tradescantia Nanouk foliage with a singular bloom
Photo by Emils Nemse on Unsplash

Polka Dot Plant

The polka dot plant (also has the scientific name Hypoestes phyllostachya) is another great option for direct sun, adding a little color with its colorful foliage and low-maintenance requirements. It is particularly suitable for small spaces, such as terrariums or compact indoor areas. However, these plants tend to get a little leggy when not given the correct amount of sunlight. Be sure to pinch back the foliage to keep a nice, bushy look.

Different variations of the Polka Dot plant
Photo by Parker Sturdivant on Unsplash

Rubber Plant

For a more dramatic look, try the rubber plant, with its deep green leaves and ability to grow well in bright indirect light. If you want more color, go for a variegated Rubber plant or the deep burgundy. These have beautiful foliage with colors of white, red and pink.

A juvenile variegated Rubber Plant
Photo by Scott Webb on Unsplash

Unique sun loving plants

White Ghost Euphorbia

White Ghost Euphorbia is an uncommon cultivar of Euphorbia lactea. This plant lacks most of that green pigment and instead is almost completely all white/cream with hints of green. Giving it a ghostly look, hence the name. It grows upright and will start growing arms out to the side when cut. This Euphorbia loves bright light and is a bit of a slower grower, but so much fun to grow. Additionally, it is very low maintenance, making it an excellent choice for those seeking an easy-to-care-for plant.

Hoya Sunrise

Hoya are some of the most fun houseplants to grow in a bright sunny window. When given enough light, Hoyas will start to sun stress and turn colors like bright orange, deep red and sometimes even pink or purple. Depending on the type of Hoya you get will determine the type of color it’ll sun-stress.

One Hoya in particular, Hoya Sunrise, turns a beautiful red color when it starts to sun-stress. And unlike the other Hoyas, Hoya Sunrises’ foliage will turn almost completely red with a little bit of green at the edge. It basically turns into a completely different plant!

Want help styling or taking care of your Hoya? Read the Hoya styling and care guide.

Variegated Epipremnum Pinnatum

Love the look of tropical plant? Love big leaves and fenestrations? This houseplant might be the one for you! The Variegated Epipremnum Pinnatum is a tropical vine with variegated patterns in shades of green, yellow, cream and white. As this plant grows, new leaves can display various hues, cream, white, or mottled yellow and green, depending on sunlight exposure. As this plant grows and matures, it will start to develop splits and fenestrations (similar to a Monstera deliciosa).

A close up of a single Variegated Pinnatum leaf with splits

If you have enough space to grow a bigger plant, attach this plant to a plant support (like the Zella trellis by Treleaf) and watch how easy it is to achieve that split leaf look! Offer it plenty of indirect light to keep the variegation.

Low Light Plant Options

If you have a space with limited natural light, don’t worry, there are still plenty of options for indoor plants that can thrive in low light environments. And, keep in mind, houseplants left in lower light areas will dry out slower than plants in bright light. Make sure to check the soil before watering to help prevent root rot.

Snake plant

The snake plant is one of the easiest houseplants (more tips on how to style and care for them here), with its ability to grow well in low light and infrequent watering, making it perfect for busy people. You can choose a variegated type snake plant, a silver streak snake plant, or the classic Laurentii. The Snake Plant family is huge and offers many different colors!

Snake plant with yellow edges planted in a terracotta pot

Prayer Plant

Prayer plants are one of my favorite low light trailing houseplants! The all green Prayer Plant is perfect for a more easy going Prayer plant. These plants do require more frequent waterings and moderate humidity, but when you meet the right requirements, they’re a show stopper. They thrive in environments with medium light conditions and a medium level of maintenance, making them suitable for both novice and experienced plant owners. You can enjoy the leaves moving and dancing through out the day and watching as their leaves fold up at night, giving them the common name of “Prayer Plant”.

Assortment of trailing plants hanging on a wall and in the Klara propagation station by Treleaf

If you want a more colorful option, look for a variegated houseplant or the Red Maranta. Which has thick red veins running through the dark green leaves.

Pothos

Pothos are the perfect low light houseplant. Pothos comes in so many different shapes (see our blog on Pothos varieties) and colors. If you like yellow variegation, go for a Golden Green Pothos. If you like white variegation, look for a Manjula Pothos or a Snow Queen. Love just all green foliage? Get the standard, but very iconic, all green Pothos. They thrive off minimum effort and will always show you love.

You can even style it with a cute Treleaf trellis. There are so many ways to style these vining plants. Add a pop of color to a dark corner in a room!

Incorporating colorful houseplants into your plant space and home, is a simple yet impactful way to add personality and a touch of nature to your space. Whether you prefer bold, dramatic foliage or softer hues, there’s a vibrant houseplant out there to match your style. With the right care and a little creativity, these pops of color can transform any room! Consider creating an indoor garden to further enhance your home’s aesthetics.