Best Houseplants for Winter Foliage

Stunning color isn’t only found in flowers — the leaves of some houseplants also have beautiful colors and patterns, as well as interesting textures and shapes. Looking to perk up your home? Here are five of the best houseplants for winter foliage.

BEST HOUSEPLANTS FOR WINTER FOLIAGE

Wandering Jew The variegated leaves of this trailing plant boast shades of either green and white, green and pink, or green and deep purple. Most have semi-glossy leaves. Wandering Jews prefer low light and moist soil and are easy to start from plant cuttings. Begonia Begonias have interesting leaf patterns and textures, with hints of color and delicate flowers. From pale yellow to white, green and burgundy, the leaves of this shade-loving plant can be just as beautiful as the flowers. Begonias like low light and moist soil. Elephant Ear Plant Grown from tubers, these plants have leaves shaped like – you guessed it – elephant ears. They can grow quite large under the right conditions and make stunning potted floor plants, though they sometime require a stake or miniature trellis to keep the stems from bending over. Colors of the foliage range from purplish black to green or green and white variegated. Medium light and moist soil are the only requirements. Coleus These plants have beautiful leaf patterns in shades of green, pink and purple. They prefer very low light and damp soil, and can be transplanted to a shady area outside after the final frost in the spring. Paddle Plant This succulent, also known as desert cabbage, has flat, round leaves that grow close together. They turn pinkish red from the tips, with the color continuing downward and getting more vibrant with increased exposure to the sun. As with all succulents, these plants require high light and very little moisture. This post was first published in 2015 and has been updated.