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Last updated: April 2024 – I removed the dead links for plant sources and added new links where you can buy colorful houseplants. I’m checking for dead links every couple of months, so you can subscribe to the newsletter and I’ll let you know when I update sources. Most of the links open to collections of the plants for sale from different vendors.
Green has always been my all-time favorite color. I have a love affair with green foliage. I love green so much that I would paint the town green, if that were a thing. The name of this website is “green with purpose” after all.
But I’ll be the first to admit that a dash of color brightens up even the moodiest of moods and the darkest of places. And this became crystal clear to me when I brought my first croton home. For a whole month, I just couldn’t take my eyes off it every time I walked by. Wow! That guy was handsome.
If you have been stuck in the “houseplants must be green” mindset, allow me to introduce these vibrant colorful houseplants that will bring a dash of color to your abode.
7 Colorful houseplants that are easy to grow
1. Croton (Codiaeum variegatum)
If you like shades of: green, yellow, orange, pink, red, burgundy, purple, white.
If you’re in the US, you can buy crotons from these plant shops.
The colorful foliage and variegation of crotons make them the showstoppers of the houseplant world. There are so many varieties of croton available in nurseries and plant shops, so it’s hard to recommend one. The varieties come in different patterns (splashed, spotted, dotted) and textures (glossy, rubbery, smooth, twisted). A few common cultivars include Gold dust, Revolutions, Petra, Majesticum, and Picasso’s Paintbrush.
Keep your crotons happy
Crotons are happy when you place them in a bright spot, but not in direct sunlight – this might scorch their leaves. When they have enough light, they’ll produce colorful leaves. If the new growth comes out green (sometimes dark green), that’s a hint that your croton might not be getting enough light.
Crotons like humidity, but they don’t like to be drenched. Don’t let them stay too wet or too dry for an extended period of time. Water crotons regularly when you notice the soil is starting to dry out.
2. Dracaena marginata ‘Tricolor’
If you like shades of: red, orange, yellow, peach.
Also called dragon trees, dracaenas are hardy plants that like water. The Tricolor cultivar is especially pretty if you’re looking for a bit of color in the house. Its wispy leaves will cascade perfectly over the top of a color-blocked flower pot.
Here’s a list of colorful dracaena for sale.
Keep them happy
Dracaenas thrive in well-drained soil and in bright, indirect sunlight. Water the plant when the top of the soil feels dry. It doesn’t like to get overly dry, and it might drop some leaves if you stress it out with an irregular watering schedule.
For older dracaenas, it’s perfectly normal for the bottom leaves to dry out and drop. It’s just the natural plant cycle. As long as there is still new growth from the top, your plant is in top shape.
3. Sempervivum
If you like shades of: purple, crimson, burgundy.
Sempervivum is a hardy succulent that’s sometimes called “hens and chicks” due to its proclivity for growing in a rather tight community. You can cut off the baby plants and plant them separately. The mother-plant will keep producing offspring. And in about a year or so, the baby plants will start producing their own “chicks.”
Click here for a collection of cheerful and colorful succulents for sale.
Keep them happy
Like any succulent, sempervivums don’t require a lot of water, but they do need quite a bit of bright light (especially if you want them to keep their bright colors). Because succulents retain a lot of water in their juicy leaves, make sure you’re growing it in a well-drained planter in soil that’s mixed especially for succulents.
You can find gorgeous varieties of Sempervivum from a California-based small business called Queen of Succulents.
4. Begonias
If you like shades of: red, orange, yellow, burgundy, black, metallic silver, purple, chocolate-brown.
Here are stunning colorful begonias for sale from different vendors via Etsy.
There are over 900 species of begonia and even more cultivars, so picking one to grow is either very easy (so many choices!) or very hard (soooo many choices!). Begonia growers are dedicated and passionate about their plant, and there’s even a begonia convention organized by the American Begonia Society (an excellent source of information).
Keep begonias happy
Rex begonias like bright, indirect light year-round, but they can also tolerate lower light levels. Water them when the soil feels dry, but don’t overwater, and especially don’t let their roots get soggy. My begonias get a droopy look when they’re thirsty but not all cultivars do.
5. Purple passion (Gynura aurantiaca)
If you like shades of: purple, pretty much.
Here’s a list of purple plants (including Purple Passion) for sale on Etsy.
Be warned – if you get one of these purple passion plants, you’ll often be tempted to pet them. No, they’re not as soft as a kitty, but they’re pretty close. Their soft velvety texture is due to the purple fuzz that covers the dark green leaves.
Keep them happy
Purple passion plants enjoy a bright spot and regular watering. They tend to get leggy and stretch towards the light if they don’t have enough sun. They’re quite easy to root, so if they do get lanky, just give them a good trim and root the cuttings in water.
6. Aluminum plant (Pilea cadierei)
If you like shades of: silver, bronze, chocolate-brown.
You may be thinking of Pilea peperomioides – the plant du jour on Instagram. But that’s not the silver one I’m talking about here. Pilea cadierei has a unique silver pattern on every leaf with vines that look like bronze carvings in the right light.
You can buy silver houseplants, including the Aluminum plant (Pilea cadierei) from these shops.
Keep them happy
This plant needs medium light to thrive. But don’t expose it to direct sunlight, as this might cause discoloration of the leaves and, in extreme circumstances, the leaves will turn crispy and brown. Aluminum plant loves water, so keep the soil moist but not too soggy. Don’t let it dry too much between watering sessions.
I found Pilea cadierei for sale from and Home Plant Inspiration
7. Coleus
If you like shades of: red, pink, peach, burgundy, maroon,yellow, creamy white.
Here is a beautiful collection of colorful coleus plants for sale from different plant shops.
Remember how I said that the croton is definitely the king of the colorful houseplant clan. That’s until you meet a coleus. Then you’ll want to dethrone croton and strip it off its crown. The trouble with coleus is that it’s a bit more finicky than a croton, so keep that in mind when you pick favorites.
Keep them happy
Every coleus owner I’ve ever met told me to pinch the flowers off when they start shooting out (should you be so lucky with an indoor plant). That’s because you don’t want the plant to waste its energy on flowers. That’s a good tip if you’re growing a coleus indoors, but if you’re planting it outdoors, the butterflies and the bees will appreciate the flowers.
Keep in mind that if you let the flowers go to seed, that’s the end of the life cycle for this plant.
Coleus plants like moisture and lots of sun, and they really hate drafts and dry rooms. They’re not the happiest of campers in the winter, so you might want to time your purchase for a milder season.
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Disclaimer: Please do your due diligence before buying a houseplant or any other supplies. Some houseplants may be toxic if ingested (especially for pets and children). You can check the ASPCA website for a list of plants that are poisonous to cats and dogs.
