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One of these plants folds its leaves upright every night, and another has leaves so dark they look almost black. If you are looking for beautiful indoor plants, leaves are the place to start: color, pattern and shape matter more than flowers. Here are the top 20 indoor plants with the most beautiful leaves, counted down from 20 to 1, with a short note on what makes each one special and what it needs.

20. Polka Dot Plant

The polka dot plant has green leaves freckled with spots or splashes of pink, red or white. Pinch off the growing tips regularly and it stays compact and bushy. Left alone, it tends to turn leggy, especially in low light.

19. Coleus

Coleus leaves come in green, yellow, pink, red, rust and maroon, often mixed together on a single plant. Most types look best in morning sun or dappled light, because strong afternoon heat can fade their colors. Pinching off the flower spikes encourages fuller branches and more foliage.

18. Nerve Plant

Each small, deep green leaf of the nerve plant is webbed with white, pink or red veins. It likes humid air, and when conditions get too dry it droops and wilts, though it usually recovers once it gets water and moisture again.

17. Chinese Money Plant

The Chinese money plant has round, shiny, coin-like leaves, with the stalk attached near the center of each one. In 1945, the Norwegian missionary Agnar Espegren found the plant in Yunnan Province, China. When he left China he took cuttings with him and brought them to Norway, where he shared them with friends. From there it spread from collector to collector by cuttings.

16. Satin Pothos

Satin pothos has heart-shaped leaves marked with silvery splashes that shimmer in the light. It can trail from a shelf or climb a support such as a moss pole.

15. Chinese Evergreen

Chinese evergreen, or aglaonema, ranges from solid green to leaves patterned with silver, pink and red. The plainer green and silver types handle dim rooms well, while the brightly colored pink and red varieties need bright, indirect light to keep their color.

14. Raven ZZ

The new leaves of the Raven ZZ emerge green and slowly darken to a deep, glossy purple-black. It stores water in its thick stems and underground rhizome, so it is highly drought tolerant. Let the soil dry out between waterings, because wet roots are the main danger.

13. Rex Begonia

Rex begonia leaves come in pink, purple and silver, often with swirling patterns and metallic sheens. They need bright, filtered light rather than direct sun, and they prefer humid air, since dry air can crisp the leaf edges.

12. Croton

Few leaves are as loud as the croton’s, with red, orange, yellow and green blotches and splashes on a single plant. The milky sap can irritate skin and eyes, so wear gloves when pruning, and keep the plant away from children and pets because it is toxic.

11. Ti Plant

The ti plant is native to Australia and the western Pacific, and its long leaves come in deep red, pink and purple. Bright, indirect light keeps the colors vivid. It is toxic to cats and dogs.

10. Alocasia

Alocasia has large, glossy, arrow-shaped leaves with pale veins that stand out boldly against the dark green. Every part of the plant contains calcium oxalate crystals that irritate the mouth, and it is a problem for cats, dogs and children, so keep it out of reach.

9. Fiddle Leaf Fig

The fiddle leaf fig has big, violin-shaped leaves with prominent veins. It comes from tropical western and central Africa, and its leaves are commonly 8 to 15 inches (20 to 38 centimeters) long.

8. Dieffenbachia

Dieffenbachia is also known as dumb cane. Its leaves and stems contain calcium oxalate crystals, and chewing them or getting the sap in the mouth can cause pain and swelling in the mouth and throat. Keep it away from pets and children.

7. Caladium

Caladium’s large heart-shaped leaves are splashed and streaked with pink, red and white, so they look hand-painted. The plant goes dormant in winter as the leaves fade, and the tubers usually resprout in spring.

6. Prayer Plant

The prayer plant’s leaves lie flat during the day and rise upright at night, like hands in prayer. The daily movement is called nyctinasty and is driven by a joint-like structure at the base of each leaf. The plant comes from the rainforests of South America.

5. Peacock Plant

The peacock plant has pale green leaves marked with dark green blotches and lines in a feather-like pattern. It needs high humidity, around 60 percent, and bright, filtered light. Direct sun can scorch the leaves.

4. Pink Princess Philodendron

Pink Princess has dark, glossy leaves splashed with bright pink. The pink comes from a mutation that stops some leaf cells from making chlorophyll, which is also why the pattern is unstable: a plant that gets too little light can turn greener over time.

3. Philodendron Birkin

Birkin has deep green leaves with thin, creamy-white pinstripes that become bolder as each leaf matures. It grows upright and slowly, up to about 3 feet (90 centimeters), which keeps it manageable on a desk or shelf.

2. Calathea Orbifolia

Calathea orbifolia has broad, almost circular leaves, green on top with pale silvery stripes running across them.

1. Monstera Deliciosa

Monstera deliciosa comes from the tropical rainforests of Central America, from southern Mexico to Panama. Its very large, glossy leaves develop deep splits and holes as the plant matures. Scientists have suggested several reasons, including capturing more light and letting wind pass through, but no explanation has been confirmed. Too little light can prevent the holes from forming at all.

Frequently asked questions

Which of these beautiful indoor plants are toxic to pets?

The croton, ti plant, alocasia and dieffenbachia are all toxic if chewed or swallowed, so keep them out of reach of cats, dogs and children.

Which of these indoor plants need high humidity?

The nerve plant, rex begonia and peacock plant all prefer humid air. A pebble tray or grouping plants together can help.

Which colorful indoor plants handle lower light?

The green and silver types of Chinese evergreen handle dim spaces well. Brightly colored plants such as the ti plant and the pink and red Chinese evergreens keep their color best in bright, indirect light.

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