News Gardening Trends 15 Pink-Leaved Plants That Offer Subtle Color Add a splash of color to your home or garden with these plant varieties, all of which offer rosy-hued leaves. By Jenny Krane Jenny Krane Jenny Krane graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Magazine Journalism and English in 2017, and has worked professionally in the magazine field for 5 years. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process and Andrea Beck Andrea Beck Andrea Beck served as garden editor at BHG and her work has appeared on Food & Wine, Martha Stewart, MyRecipes, and more. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on January 23, 2024 Reviewed by David McKinney Reviewed by David McKinney David McKinney is an experienced plantsman sharing his expertise in horticulture. His knowledge spans landscape management, growing plants indoors and in the greenhouse, ecological plant selection, and much more. With nearly 15 years in the industry, he is well versed in both herbaceous and woody plants with additional interest in entomology. Learn about BHG's Gardening Review Board Regardless of whether you were all in on the "millennial pink" trend, rosy hues continue to offer a vibrant splash of color to homes and gardens. One of the most beautiful ways to add it to your space is with pink-leaved plants. Plenty of flowers are pink, but plants with pink-hued foliage are a longer-lasting option for enjoying the color. Plus, their leaves often feature a mix of green and pink, and because pink and green are complementary hues, these colorful leaves are especially eye-catching. Here are some of the prettiest pink-leaved plants to brighten your home or garden, whether you want one for indoors or outdoors. 18 Stunning Blue Flowers You’ll Love Having in Your Garden Tips for Indoor Pink-Leaved Plants Using pink-leaved plants as part of your decor is an easy way to bring unexpected color into the mix. Ample foliage will add dramatic flair, while smaller, more compact foliage will add softness. You can rely on our list of pink-leaved houseplants for options that will bring a little rosiness to your indoor garden. Marty Baldwin Tips for Outdoor Pink-Leaved Plants Both sunny and shady spots can benefit from pink-leaved plants. These make for bright accents in both outdoor containers and beds. Play with height and size to make these pretty plants stand out even more in the garden. 01 of 15 Mosaic Plant Marty Baldwin Also called nerve plant, mosaic plant (Fittonia albivenis) is a trailing indoor plant with deeply veined leaves. Those veins can be white or deep pink, which makes each leaf look like a mosaic or stained-glass window. This plant will thrive in indoor containers, and because it stays small, it's especially good for terrariums. Size: Usually under 6 inches Light: Indirect light (avoid direct sunlight, which can make the leaves crisp up) Watering: Keep evenly moist, adding water when the surface of the soil is just barely dry Indoor Garden Rooms Are Here to Stay—Here's How to Pull Them Off 02 of 15 Dragon Tree Denny Schrock Dracaena marginata is notable for its long, narrow leaves and slender, woody stems. Over time, these tropical-looking pink-leaved plants can get up to eight feet tall! Dragon trees can tolerate neglect, so they're a good option if you're a forgetful or busy plant parent. Size: 3-8 feet, depending on variety Light: Can tolerate low to bright light, but its pink color will look best if it's grown in bright light (avoid full sun) Water: Whenever soil is dry to the touch 03 of 15 Polka Dot Plant Blaine Moats As the same suggests, polka dot plants have spotted mottled leaves that come in white, pink, or red. When in their natural habitat, these plants can get up to 3 feet tall; when grown indoors, they tend to stay smaller and more compact, so they work well in terrariums. Size: Up to 3 feet, but potted plants will usually be smaller Light: Bright, indirect light Watering: Keep soil moist, especially in the summer; water less during its winter dormancy 04 of 15 Aglaonema Kindra Clineff Chinese evergreens are popular, easy-care foliage houseplants, and the varieties with pink patterns on their glossy leaves are especially interesting. These plants do well in most types of light, including dimmer spaces most other plants will sulk in. Size: 1-3 feet tall Light: Can tolerate indirect sunlight or medium- to low-light conditions Watering: Water regularly, but let the plant dry out a little between waterings What's Wrong with My Plant? How to Fix 10 Houseplant Problems 05 of 15 Rex Begonia Denny Schrock These types of begonias offer an array of leaf shapes, colors, and patterns from one variety to the next; plenty are pink-leafed plants. They need bright, indirect sunlight so their leaves stay as colorful as possible. Size: Up to 2 feet tall Light: Medium to bright light Watering: Water when the soil is just beginning to dry out 06 of 15 Stromanthe Adam Albright This plant is like an optical illusion: Stromanthe looks different from almost every angle. The top of the green leaves feature white variegation, but if you look at it from below, you'll see a surprise underneath: the underside of the leaves is variegated pink and red. Stromanthe is native to rainforests, so be sure to put them in a warm and humid place. Size: 2-3 feet tall Light: Bright, indirect light Watering: Let the top inch of soil dry out before watering 07 of 15 Calathea Denny Schrock Because of its delicate and showy leaf patterns, calathea is also known as zebra plant, peacock plant, and rattlesnake plant. Calathea plants are sometimes called prayer plants, too, because they fold their leaves up at night. Size: Up to 3 feet Light: Low to medium indirect light Watering: Water regularly, but let the soil surface dry to the touch between waterings 08 of 15 Rubber Plant Marty Baldwin A close relative of the fiddle leaf fig tree, the rubber plant (Ficus elastica) can have deep green, burgundy, or even white-striped leaves. In the 1900s, the milky sap from this plant was used to make rubber, helping it earn its common name. Size: Up to six to 10 feet indoors; up to 100 feet outdoors Light: Medium to bright indirect light Watering: Water every week or two (rubber plants don't like to get too dry) How to Water Indoor Plants the Right Way 09 of 15 African Milk Tree Bob Stefko Even though it's technically a succulent and not a tree, African milk tree (Euphorbia trigona) can still reach impressive heights indoors and outside. Usually, the stems will stay green, but each can produce dozens of tiny pinkish-red leaves. Size: Up to three feet indoors; up to nine feet outdoors Light: Bright, indirect light Watering: Keep the soil evenly moist 10 of 15 Arrowhead Plant Denny Schrock At first, arrowhead plants usually grow upright for a few months, but they'll eventually start to develop trailing stems (you can prune these back at any time to help keep the plant compact). As the leaves unfurl, they can become a subtle green, white, silver, or pink-leafed plant. Size: Up to 3 feet Light: Low to medium Watering: Water when the top inch of soil is dry 11 of 15 Succulents Richard Felber You can find plenty of pink succulents, but echeverias are among the easiest to grow as houseplants. Some pink-leafed plant varieties include 'Perle von Nurnberg' (with pale pink centers) and 'Meridian' (with ruffled pink edges). Size: Up to 8 inches Light: Bright, direct light Watering: Let the soil dry out completely between waterings How to Create Succulent Wall Art with an Old Picture Frame 12 of 15 Caladium Marty Baldwin Caladiums bring guaranteed color to shady spots. Many cultivars have patterns with pink centers or veining. The colorful leaves are heart-shaped, making them even more delightful in the garden. Size: Up to 3 feet tall and 2 feet across Light: Part-shade or filtered sun Watering: Keep the soil moist 13 of 15 Cordyline Peter Krumhardt Cordyline thrives outdoors but can also be used as a houseplant. They have leathery variegated leaves that have pink or white edges. Look for varieties that produce fragrant flowers and berries for multi-season interest. Size: Up to 3 feet tall Light: Grow in the sun but can also tolerate part-sun Watering: Can tolerate drought, but don't let it completely dry out 14 of 15 Heuchera Samantha Hedum These perennials are grown for their foliage more than their flowers. Heuchera's lobed leaves come in shades of almost every color, including purple, yellow, and orange. You can rely on them to add color to a shady corner of the garden. Size: Up to 3 feet tall Light: Depending on the variety, heuchera can grow well in sun or shade Watering: Keep moist but make sure soil has good drainage because this plant doesn't like sitting in too much water 15 of 15 Coleus Denny Schrock You can find a variety of coleus for every spot in the garden. Coleus varieties have colored edges, veining patterns, spots, and textured edges. Many of the pink-leafed plants have a green or purple base color. Size: 3-5 feet Light: Shade or part-shade Watering: Keep the soil moist but well-drained Gardening Tools and Supplies We Love These are the Tools BHG Gardening Experts Recommend for Beginners and Experts The 11 Best Fertilizers to Help Your Indoor Greenery Thrive The 20 Best Plant Stands of 2024 to Stylishly Show Off Your Blooms The 8 Best Soaker Hoses of 2024 for a Thriving Garden The 9 Best Gardening Shoes in 2024, According to Testing Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit