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.
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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.
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.
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Mosaic Plant
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
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Dragon Tree
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
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Polka Dot Plant
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
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Aglaonema
Chinese evergreensare 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
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Rex Begonia
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
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Stromanthe
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
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Calathea
Because of its delicate and showy leaf patterns, calathea is also known as zebra plant, peaco*ck 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
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Rubber Plant
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)
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African Milk Tree
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
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Arrowhead Plant
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
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Succulents
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
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Caladium
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
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Cordyline
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
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Heuchera
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
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Coleus
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