Tropical Houseplants With Red Leaves

Coleus

• While coleus generally are considered annuals, they actually are tropical tender perennials collected for their brightly colored leaves. Some of the red varieties include: "Alabama Sunset," which has mottled rusty-red over lime green leaves; "Red Ruffles" whose rose-red leaves have burgundy-black spots and lime green edges; "Red Velvet," whose deep red leaves turn darker at edges and "Wizard Scarlet," a compact variety with scarlet-red leaves edged in pale green. Most coleus don't like strong sunlight and maintain their color indoors in a brightly lit south or east facing window.

Philodendron

• While we think of philodendrons as being green and usually vining, there are self-heading cultivars that have red, orange and purple leaves. "Imperial Red" has deep red leaves, "Red Emerald" has deep red emerging leaves that become dark green when mature and "Red Empress," a patented variety, has leaves emerging dark red and aging to dark reddish-green. These plants need bright light to show the best color.

Bromeliad

• Bromeliads with red leaves must receive almost full sun to maintain their color, therefore, growing them under lights is recommended. Bromelia balansae has leaves with sharp, curved spines. Right before it blooms, the middle leaves turn fire red. Fascicularia bicolor's leaves flush bright red in the summer before flowering. Neoregelia "Fireball" is a trailing bromeliad with small fire-red leaves that grow in rosettes. Its color is more intense when it is in flower.

Cordyline

• Tiplant (Cordyline terminalis) is a widely grown indoor plant. Its papery, strap-shaped leaves on slender stalks give it a graceful look. There are several culitvars with leaves that start out red and turn deeper colors, such as "Red Sister," "Dr. Brown," "Firebrand" and the compact "Hawaiian Bonsai." Cabbage palm (Cordyline australis) "Red Star" has long, narrow, pointed burgundy-red leaves.