Who says fall color has to stay outside? ð
While the trees are putting on their big show, you can bring those same warm reds, oranges and bronzes right into your living room, and keep them glowing all year long.
These are not flowers that fade in a week.
They are houseplants whose leaves are permanently painted in fall tones, from fiery statement pieces to jewel-colored little succulents.
Here are fifteen of the most beautiful. But first, one quick thing to know, because it is the whole difference between rich, glowing color and a disappointing plain green.
The secret to keeping the color is light.
Every warm red, orange and bronze on this list is driven by light.
Tuck these plants into a dim corner and most will quietly fade back to ordinary green.
Give them a bright spot instead, and the color deepens and sings. So your brightest window is where the real magic happens.
1. Croton ‘Petra’
The loudest foliage on the whole list, splashed with red, orange, yellow and green all at once on a single plant.
Here is the catch: it only keeps those fiery colors in bright light.
Give it your sunniest spot, and try not to shuffle it around, since a sudden move can make it sulk and drop leaves.
2. Philodendron ‘Prince of Orange’
A living color-change trick, and a very easy one to grow.
Every new leaf unfurls a glowing bright orange, then slowly matures to green, so the plant always wears a beautiful mix of both at once.
Happy in bright, indirect light and very forgiving.
3. Alocasia Cuprea
Simply jaw-dropping.
The leaves look hammered out of copper and metallic pink, and they shimmer as the light shifts across them.
It likes warmth, humidity and bright indirect light, so it rewards a slightly more attentive plant parent.
4. Coleus ‘Campfire’
Blazing orange leaves that genuinely look like dancing flames.
Pinch the growing tips regularly to keep it full and bushy rather than tall and leggy.
It loves bright light, and you can root the pinched-off tips in water to make even more plants for free.
5. Aglaonema ‘Red Siam’
The easygoing one of the bunch.
Soft red margins trace every leaf, and it is famously forgiving, shrugging off lower light and the odd missed watering better than most.
A brilliant pick for beginners who want color without the fuss.
6. Oxalis Triangularis
The famous purple shamrock.
Deep plum, triangular leaves fold up and “sleep” at night, then open again by morning, which is genuinely fun to watch day to day.
Dainty little pink flowers pop up on and off as a bonus.
7. Cordyline ‘Red Sister’
Tall, upright and seriously dramatic.
Its sword-like leaves come in deep wine and hot pink, all glossy and bold.
Use it to bring height and a real tropical punch to a bright corner of the room.
8. Peperomia ‘Rosso’
Compact, charming and endlessly likeable.
Its glossy, deeply textured leaves are dark green on top and flip to reveal a rich red underside.
It stays small and tidy, and here is the bonus: it is completely pet safe.
9. Crassula ‘Campfire’
A fun, sprawling little succulent with a party trick.
It reads plain green in shade, then flushes an incredible flame-red in bright, cool light.
Chase that red by giving it loads of sun and a cool windowsill through winter.
10. Kalanchoe Luciae
Better known as the paddle plant.
Its flat, rounded leaves stack up like clam shells, and they blush a deeper and deeper red along the edges as the light gets stronger.
A tough, drought-tolerant succulent that practically looks after itself.
11. Echeveria ‘Black Prince’
A moody, gothic stunner.
It forms near-black rosettes with a soft, dusty bloom across the leaves that looks almost velvety.
A compact succulent that loves bright light, and happily, it is pet safe too.
12. Iresine Herbstii
Known as bloodleaf, and it earns the name.
Electric crimson veining runs right through the leaves and even the stems, so the whole plant seems to glow from within.
It wants bright light to keep that intensity, and it is another pet-safe pick.
13. Maranta Leuconeura ‘Fascinator’
A gorgeous prayer plant with striking red veins that branch across each leaf like little twigs.
Best of all, it folds its leaves up at dusk as if praying, then opens them back out at dawn.
Pet safe, and happy in medium light, so it suits a spot the sun-lovers would not.
14. Dracaena Marginata ‘Colorama’
Thin, arching, sword-like leaves edged in bright candy red, all sprouting from a slim, architectural stem.
It is tough, drought-tolerant and copes with a range of light levels.
An easy way to add height and a splash of red to a bright room.
15. Syngonium ‘Maria Allusion’
Soft, bronze-pink arrowhead leaves on a wonderfully adaptable little plant.
It is happy to trail down from a shelf or climb a small support, whichever you prefer.
Easy, quick to fill out, and a lovely muted contrast to the bolder reds.
Did you know? Why the leaves turn these colors.
Here is the lovely part.
Those warm tones come from the very same pigments that set the outdoor trees ablaze every fall: anthocyanins for the reds and purples, and carotenoids for the oranges and yellows.
The only difference is that in these houseplants the color is permanent, not a fleeting three-week show. You get fall foliage all year round.
Got pets? Start with these four.
Most colorful houseplants are mildly toxic if a curious cat or dog decides to take a nibble, so many are best kept up high.
The happy exceptions on this list are peperomia ‘Rosso’, echeveria ‘Black Prince’, iresine and the maranta prayer plant, all pet safe.
How to keep them happy and colorful
- Give them bright, indirect light. It is the single biggest factor, and the key to strong, lasting color.
- Water only when the top inch of soil is dry. Most of these dislike soggy roots, and the succulents especially.
- Use a well-draining potting mix so water runs through freely instead of pooling.
- Remember, more light means more color. If a plant looks dull or greener than you hoped, move it somewhere brighter.
Your questions, answered
Why did my colorful plant turn green?
Almost always not enough light. These warm colors need bright conditions to develop, so move the plant to a brighter spot and the color should return on the new growth.
Which ones are safe for cats and dogs?
Four on this list are pet safe: peperomia ‘Rosso’, echeveria ‘Black Prince’, iresine and maranta. Treat all the others as toxic and keep them out of reach.
Do they need different care in winter?
A little. As the days shorten and growth slows, water less often, and shift them to your brightest window to make the most of the weaker light.
Which is easiest for a total beginner?
Aglaonema ‘Red Siam’ is the most forgiving, and the succulents like echeveria and kalanchoe are tough as nails, as long as you resist the urge to overwater.
Bring fall indoors all year
And there you have it: a whole year of warm, fiery color, with no need to wait for the leaves to turn outside.
Pick a couple that caught your eye, pop them in your brightest window, and enjoy those rich fall tones every single day.
Save this one to your plant wishlist, and happy growing. ðŠī
