Bright hues of red can bring vibrancy and joy into any space, from vibrant crimson hues to subtle ruby shades – there is sure to be a red leaf plant to suit any setting!
These plants bring an unexpected splash of color into your house without blooms to do the trick. With speckled, striped, variegated, or mottled leaves that captivate with texture, they bring unexpectedly vibrant hue splashes without colors to do their trick.
‘Red Nerve Plant
Nerve plant (Fittonia albivenis), silver net plant or painted net leaf, is an easy tropical houseplant that thrives in bright indirect light. Perfect for terrariums, small containers, and desktops, the ideal companion for other green plants as an accent or background feature in mixed foliage gardens – easy to grow and propagate!
Tropical nerve plants thrive in warm temperatures and high humidity environments, ideal for houseplant cultivation in homes where average temperatures hover around 70 degrees, and sufficient light is provided by filtered light sources (filtered light sources should also help avoid sunburnt leaves). Nerve plants do not require frequent fertilizer additions. Still, they would benefit from periodic additions of balanced houseplant fertilizers such as time-release or water-soluble solutions in late spring through early autumn to maintain optimal health.
Choose a fertile, well-draining potting soil and water it until it is thoroughly moist but not saturated – To avoid root rot caused by standing water, check soil moisture regularly with your finger poked into it to see how wet or dry it is.
This plant is perfect for humid environments. It can benefit from periodic misting of its leaves and soil, helping prevent dusting while keeping vigor alive in its leaves – constructive during the colder winter months when many homes are heated.
Another way to encourage growth is to place the plant on a pebble tray and water it regularly, using pebbles as an evaporative humidifier and keeping out cold winter air by covering its pot with a cloche that effectively increases humidity levels.
Aphids are one of the primary threats to nerve plants. Feeding on new growth, they must be removed using a spray of water directly on them before applying natural aphid control methods such as neem oil or insecticidal soap to avoid re-infestation. Also, since aphids are predatory insects, leaving the plant outdoors can help eliminate them over time.
‘Luna Red Rubber Plant’
Ficus elastica ‘Abidjan’ provides another vibrant variation on the common rubber plant with its “burgundy” variety (Ficus elastica). This type of Ficus stands out among others with dark green leaves with subtle touches of burgundy that stand out among other rubber plants. Be sure to admire both sides of these leaves, too; their undersides are just as captivating. The sheaths around its young leaves also feature deep red tones for maximum visual impact!
The ‘Tineke’ cultivar of variegated rubber plants boasts green and white stripes on its leaves, pink midribs, and sometimes even spots of yellow! As with other variegated varieties, ‘Tineke’ thrives best with indirect light but must gradually adjust to direct sun as otherwise, its variegations could fade over time.
The Decora Rubber Plant is another striking option, boasting gorgeous emerald green leaves with vibrant pops of color in its sheaths. Introduced around 1950 as a cultivar of F. elastica species, its growth habits differ significantly and offer more desirable aesthetics than plain F. elastica species.
Decora rubber plants are susceptible to light conditions and will struggle or drop leaves if left in low-light environments for extended periods. Keep this in mind if growing alongside other plant varieties that require sunlight. Like many rubber plant varieties, Decora will perform best when repotted after it doubles in size or once every year to replenish any nutrients depleted from its potting soil – our water calculator or Greg are great ways of providing personalized recommendations tailored specifically to each plant and environment.
‘Red Palm’
Red has always held a special place in many hearts, conveying warmth and cheeriness. Plants with red leaves show this same effect; most are suitable for indoor environments with high humidity levels where they flourish – some tall enough to take advantage of spaces with high ceilings while others are compact and trim and can add beauty and clean air while providing aesthetic pleasure! These plants not only enhance our surroundings, but they help purify them, too!
There are various red-leaf plants, from those with vibrant hues to darker ones with deep shades. Tropical types may contain high concentrations of vitamin A, essential for eye and bone health, tissue development, and digestion support. Many red-leaf plants also make excellent houseplants. Plus, they make lovely gifts!
Tropical palms such as Lance-Leaf Palm (Limonoceros emeraldoides) are among the most widely grown red leaf plants, featuring large heart-shaped leaves with vibrant red hues and thin green margins, perfect for hanging baskets or containers that feature well-draining soil (e.g., loam with peat added for drainage). Regular watering will keep its soil damp but not wet.
This tree grows wild in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, typically in coastal areas and forests near the seashore. Although it can live over 100 years old, typically reaching maturity at 50-60 years.
Palmwood features high-density outer layers due to strong fibrovascular bundles and lower density near its core, with hues varying from pale yellowish-gold to deep red; its shade depends on both temperature and moisture in its surroundings.