Bright And Bold Indoor Plants: Growing Striking Houseplants

Red Flowering Houseplant
(Image credit: Farhad Ibrahimzade)

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with your basic green plants, but don’t be afraid to change things up a bit by adding a few brightly colored houseplants to the mix. Bright and bold indoor plants add a new and lively element to your indoor environment. 

Keep in mind that most brightly colored houseplants need light to bring out the colors, so they may not be the best choice for a shady corner or dark room. On the other hand, beware of intense sunlight that can scorch and fade the leaves. 

If you’re looking for striking houseplants that make a statement, the following plants should pique your interest.

Bright And Bold Houseplants

Crotons (Croton variegatum) are brightly colored houseplants that are bound to stand out. Depending on the variety, crotons are available in reds, yellows, pinks, greens, oranges, and purples, arranged in patterns of stripes, veins, speckles, and splashes. 

Pink polka dot plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya), also known as alternate names such as flamingo, measles, or freckle face plant, displays pink leaves with spots and splotches of dark green. Some varieties may be marked with purple, red, white, or a variety of other bright colors. 

Purple waffle plant (Hemigraphis alternata), with crinkled, purple-tinted, grayish-green leaves, is a small plant that works well in a container or hanging basket. For obvious reasons, purple waffle plant is also known as red ivy

Fittonia (Fittonia albivenis), also known as mosaic or nerve plant, is a compact plant with delicate-looking veins of bright white, pink, or red. 

Purple velvet plants (Gynura aurantiaca) are striking plants with fuzzy leaves of deep, intense purple. When it comes to houseplants that definitely make a statement, purple velvet plants should be at the top of your list. 

Persian shield (Strobilanthes dyeriana) is a fascinating plant with silvery purple foliage that appears to glow. The leaves are marked with distinctive green veins. 

Madagascar dragon plant (Dracaena marginata) is a unique specimen with spiky green leaves edges edged in bright red. These bright and bold houseplants are surprisingly easy to grow. 

Purple clover (Oxalis triangularis), also known as purple shamrock, is a delightful plant with purple, butterfly-shaped leaves.

Mary H. Dyer
Writer

A Credentialed Garden Writer, Mary H. Dyer was with Gardening Know How in the very beginning, publishing articles as early as 2007.