House Plants With Red Stems and Red & Green Leaves

The bright foliage of red-stemmed and red-leaved house plants provides variety and interest for indoor gardeners. Plants with colored or multi-colored leaves lack chlorophyll in colored portions, requiring additional light to achieve optimal growth.

Philodendron

• Philodendron grows easily indoors, preferring humid conditions and well-fertilized soil. The Erubescens species includes plants with red stems and red or burgundy leaves or veins.

Blood Red Spiral Ginger

• Botanically known as Costus erythrophyllus, blood red spiral ginger offers dark green, waxy leaves with a deep red color on the undersides. The red stems reach 3 to 4 feet in height and produce pink and white flowers. The plant grows best in moist, well-drained soil in shady areas.

Peperomia

• Peperomia develops thick, red stems with oval or heart-shaped leaves in green, red and white. It tolerates a wide range of lighting conditions, performing best when allowed to dry out between waterings. It sometimes produces small, white flowers, although it rarely develops these in an indoor setting.

Caladium

• With brightly colored red leaves, caladium adds a natural focal point to any room. It should be placed near a window where it may receive at least half its daily light from the sun. Caladium performs best in moist, well-drained soil and prefers monthly fertilizer applications.