Top 15 House Plants with Red Leaves

If your space lacks a subtle hint of warmth and color, then house plants with red leaves are the ones you should go for.

Although many house plants have vibrant red leaves, some stand out the most with cultural significance, meaning and easy care and maintenance. So, incorporate plants like Poinsettia, Caladium ‘Red Flash,’ Red Aglaonema to spice the interior decor.

Wait! They are not the only ones that would add aesthetic value to your space. So, keep reading till the end to learn all house plants with red leaves.

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Top 10 House Plants with Red Leaves

House plants with red leaves are a great way to add a subtle aesthetic warm look to the space.

Some plants have young red leaves that stay red throughout their life span, while some turn red with gradual old age.

Nonetheless, I have curated a list of the best house plants with red leaves that are readily available and relatively low maintenance.

1. Poinsettia

Hailing its fiery red leaves from Mexico, Poinsettia is believed to bring good luck and is said to be a reminder of Christ’s blood during the crucifixion.

They produce vibrant crimson, pointy ornamental bracts with a small insignificant flower at the center from winter to early spring.

They can grow up to 12 to 24 inches tall even with minimal primary care making them ideal indoor plants.

In addition to aesthetic looks, Poinsettias provide excellent air purifying and other health benefits.

So, maintain 60-70°F temperature and 50-75% humidity with weekly watering to leverage such benefits.

2. Caladium ‘Red Flash’

Also known as Angel Wings or Heart of Jesus, Caladium ‘Red Flash’ is prized for its striking red and green broad foliage.

The crimson color emerges exclusively in the center of the leaves, much like blood-pumping veins.

They can grow over 24-36 inches tall with a spread of 2 feet and thrives flawlessly with minimal care.

Iconic red foliage gets more pronounced when grown in a natural habitat-like condition.

Thus, place them in partial to full shade and let them have a few hours of direct morning sunlight aided with organic compost.

3. Red Aglaonema

Aglaonema Red, also known as Aglaonema Red Siam Aurora, is a low-maintenance house plant with boat-shaped leaves with red and pink variegation.

Native to the Philippines, they symbolize purity, nature and positivity with greater Feng Shui significance.

Despite their sluggish growth, they can reach 2-3 feet tall with the same value spread.

You can encourage more pronounced red foliage by providing them with indirect bright daylight and copper-rich fertilizer every two months.

Remember, direct sunlight can scorch the leaves, causing them to turn yellow. So, mind the light along with other basic Aglaonema care.

4. Flame Nettle (Coleus)

Coleus offers a wide range of magenta, pink or brilliant red hues with dramatic patterned foliage.

They are fragile tropical perennial shrub endemic to equatorial regions that prefer to sit in partial shade.

red leaves of Flame nettle coleus house plant — Do you know there are over 300+ Coleus species?

Under excellent care, they can grow over 2-3 feet tall with a 1-1.5 feet spread.

Give them well-draining soil with a loose texture and pH 6-7 and if you live within the 10-11 USDA zone, plant them outside in early spring.

5. Polka Dot Plant

The Polka dot plant (Hypoestes Phyllostachya) has vividly variegated leaves with dramatic freckles and colorful veins.

They are herbaceous perennials with ovate pink-tinged leaves with green dots that can grow over 3 feet tall outdoors in USDA 10 to 11.

Polka dot plant grows relatively better in warmer temperatures, so maintain 70-80°F for ideal growth.

Generously pinch or deadhead flowers that bloom sporadically in the summer to encourage better foliage growth.

6. Red Star Plant

Cordyline australis ‘Red Star,’ also known as Cabbage palm, has stunning spiky, arching bronze-red leaves.

Native to New Zealand, they are an evergreen plant that can grow over 3 feet in height and spread.

They give out a close resemblance to a Dracaena, but with gradual growth, their trunks or canes branch out.

If you live in USDA 9 to 11 zones, keep them outdoors in partial to full sun to enjoy sweet-scented white flowers.

Despite being drought-tolerant, they require watering whenever the top inch of soil dries out.

In an outdoor bed, surround it with blooms that peak from spring through fall, or plant it as a focal point in the garden.

7. King Begonias (Rex Begonias)

As its name suggests, King Begonia is a semi-tropical perennial with broad, vibrant leaves with dramatic patterns.

Also known as Painted-leaf Begonias, they are prized for foliage instead of their small, pink flowers.

They feature up to 6 inches long leaves of different shapes like heart, spear or star-shaped with a leathery, ruffled texture.

Furthermore, their leaves offer a mixed color palette of green, pink, red or burgundy and grayish silver.

Interestingly, despite their royal presence, they are relatively easy to care for. So, place them in bright indirect sunlight with 60-70°F and 50% humidity.

8. Fruticosa (Hawaiian Ti Plant)

Prized for lanceolate shape broad leaves, Hawaiian Ti plant leaves feature a burgundy, red, pink and lavender color palette.

Their colorful leaves are 1 to 2 feet long and 2-4 inches wide with a grooved petiole.

Although unusual, they produce terminal panicle flower inflorescence and produce berry-like fruit.

Hawaiian ti plant with philodendron house plant in the background — In Hawaii, all parts of the Hawaiian Ti plant is used from its leaves to root for various purpose.

Remember, lighting is the key to keeping the vivid, eye-catching colors of the plant intact.

So, place them somewhere they get daily 4 to 6 hours of dappled or bright indirect sunlight.

Also, do not let the temperature drop below 50°F as they can not tolerate frosts that can cause leaf discoloration.

9. Heuchera ‘Fire Chief’

Also known as Alum root, Fire Chief is a hybrid perennial prized for clumping mounds of vibrant wine-red foliage.

They grow over 1-2 feet tall and 12-20 inch wide, producing pink and white towering bell-shaped bloom stalks from June to September.

Interestingly, the leaves with gradual aging add maroon markings, making foliage more refined.

They can withstand a wide range of sun exposure from full sun to full shade and thrives easily when provided with a sandy, loamy potting mix.

10. Croton Petra

Indigenous to Southeast Asia, Croton Petra is a prized plant for its alluring, vibrant, glossy foliage with prominent lemon-colored veins.

The broad oval-shaped leaves are 5-10 inches long with leathery texture and smooth margins.

Depending upon the variegation and leaves’ age, the foliage color ranges from orange, red, white, yellow and even purple.

Generally, the leaves emerge green in the spring and become plum purple with spectacular crimson variegation and yellow tinges.

At maturity, these plants will reach a height of 6 feet and a spread of 5 feet.

To ensure they thrive flawlessly, maintain temperatures between 60-70°F & 40-60% humidity aided with a flexible weekly watering routine.

5 Additional House Plants with Red Leaves

Here are other aesthetic house plants featuring vibrant red leaves.

House Plant with Red Leaves	Growth Size	Features
Emerald Ripple Peperomia	Height: 1-2 Feet Spread: 1-2 Feet	Dark green heart-shaped, waxy, wrinkled leaves with reddish hue
Japanese Red Maple Bonsai	Height: 5-6 Feet Spread: 1-2 Feet	Unique red leaves in winter that turn green during the warmer months
Red Pencil Tree	Height: 2-6 Feet Spread: 1-3 Feet	Thin pencil like reddish branches with tiny, inconspicuous leaves
Copper Leaf Plant	Height: 5-8 Feet Spread: 5-6 Feet	Dramatic variegation featuring bronze red to muted red leaves
Iresine Bloodleaf Plant	Height: 4-5 Feet Spread: 3 Feet	Heart-shaped beetroot colored leaves with bright reddish pink stems and leaf petioles

Final Thoughts!

Remember, the red coloration in these house plant leaves gets somehow more pronounced when kept under ideal lighting.

Thus, carefully run a background check and provide them with basic care like light, water, fertilizer and soil.

All The Best!