AI OverviewEmbrace the season indoors with houseplants that have natural autumn colors. This guide highlights the best plants with red, orange, yellow, and deep purple foliage, such as Crotons, Rubber Plants, and Autumn Ferns, to give your home a cozy, fall-inspired feel.
🪴 In This Guide 🪴
🔥 1. Croton (Codiaeum variegatum)
Why It Has Autumn Vibes
If you want a single plant that screams “autumn,” look no further than the 👉 Croton. Its sturdy, leathery leaves are a wild explosion of red, orange, yellow, and even deep purple, often all on the same leaf. They look like a living bonfire on your windowsill.Care & Styling
Crotons crave bright, indirect light to produce their best colors and hate being moved. Find a sunny spot, keep them away from drafts, and be consistent with watering. Their vibrant foliage makes them a perfect standalone statement piece in a simple, neutral pot. For placement and supplemental light as days shorten, see light for houseplants in autumn.🖤 2. Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica 'Black Prince' or 'Burgundy')
Why It Has Autumn Vibes
For a more sophisticated, moody take on autumn, the dark varieties of the 👉 Rubber Plant are perfect. Their deep, glossy leaves in shades of burgundy and almost-black add a touch of drama and elegance, beautifully complementing the season’s rich color palette.Care & Styling
Rubber Plants are relatively easygoing. They enjoy bright, indirect light and prefer for their soil to dry out slightly between waterings. Pair their dark foliage with a metallic brass or copper pot to create a warm, striking contrast. For autumn cadence, adjust your schedule with watering and fertilizer in autumn.🍂 3. Autumn Fern (Dryopteris erythrosora)
Why It Has Autumn Vibes
The name says it all! The 👉 Autumn Fern puts on a beautiful seasonal show. Its new fronds unfurl in a stunning shade of coppery-pink or rustic orange before maturing into a deep, glossy green. You’ll almost always have a touch of fall color on display.Care & Styling
This fern is much more forgiving than many of its relatives. It prefers medium, indirect light and consistently moist soil. Its soft, feathery texture is perfect for adding a gentle, rustic touch to a bookshelf or side table.❤️ 4. Red Aglaonema (Chinese Evergreen)
Why It Has Autumn Vibes
While the standard 👉 Chinese Evergreen is green, varieties like the ‘Red Siam’ or ‘Crete’ are flushed with vibrant shades of red and pink. Their colorful variegation looks like it was painted with the colors of a crisp autumn sunset.Care & Styling
These plants are known for being tolerant of lower light conditions, making them fantastic for brightening up a dimmer corner of a room. The more red in the leaves, the more light it will appreciate. Water when the top inch of soil is dry.💜 5. Calathea 'Dottie'
Why It Has Autumn Vibes
For a dramatic, moody autumn look, the 👉 Calathea ‘Dottie’ is a showstopper. Its breathtaking, deep black-burgundy leaves are painted with electric pink veins, reminiscent of a crisp autumn evening.Care & Styling
Calatheas are famous for needing high humidity. Place them on a pebble tray or near a humidifier to prevent their delicate leaf edges from getting brown and crispy. They prefer medium, indirect light. For humidity fundamentals, see Care: Humidity.🌺 6. Ti Plant (Cordyline fruticosa)
Why It Has Autumn Vibes
The 👉 Ti Plant brings an electrifying pop of color to any space. With foliage in shades of hot pink, deep red, and burgundy, it captures the most brilliant tones of the fall season in a wonderfully tropical package.Care & Styling
Ti Plants need bright, indirect light to maintain their stunning colors. They also appreciate higher humidity and consistently moist soil. Its upright growth habit makes it a great floor plant to add a vertical splash of color. For positioning and grow-light timing in fall, see light for houseplants in autumn.🍁 7. Arrowhead Plant (Syngonium podophyllum 'Autumn')
Why It Has Autumn Vibes
Many varieties of the 👉 Arrowhead Plant come in shades of creamy pink, bronze, and deep burgundy. Cultivars like ‘Autumn’ or ‘Red Heart’ have beautifully colored leaves that perfectly echo the changing colors of the trees outside.Care & Styling
This is a versatile and easy-care plant. It thrives in medium to bright indirect light and likes to dry out slightly between waterings. Its trailing habit makes it perfect for a hanging basket or for cascading down a shelf.🐠 8. Goldfish Plant (Columnea gloriosa)
Why It Has Autumn Vibes
For a touch of whimsy, the 👉 Goldfish Plant offers a pop of pure, cheerful orange. Its small, puffy flowers look just like tiny leaping goldfish and appear among its glossy, dark green leaves. It’s a fun way to bring that classic pumpkin-orange into your home.Care & Styling
The Goldfish Plant loves bright, indirect light and humidity. It looks fantastic in a hanging basket where its trailing stems and surprising flowers can be fully appreciated.🧡 9. String of Hearts (Ceropegia woodii)
Why It Has Autumn Vibes
The delicate, trailing vines of the 👉 String of Hearts offer a softer take on the autumn theme. Its heart-shaped leaves are etched in a silvery pattern on deep green, with purple undersides. It’s the plant equivalent of a cozy, patterned sweater.Care & Styling
This succulent vine is surprisingly easy to care for. It needs bright, indirect light and should be watered only when the soil is completely dry. Let it trail from a high shelf or hanging planter for a romantic, cascading effect.❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Are 'autumn-colored' plants difficult to care for?
Not necessarily! Plants like the Autumn Fern and Rubber Plant are quite hardy. Crotons are a bit more demanding about light and consistency, but their stunning color is worth the effort. Care level varies by plant, not by color.Do these plants keep their autumn colors all year?
Yes, for the most part! The colors are part of their natural foliage. The intensity of the color, especially in Crotons and Red Aglaonemas, can deepen with brighter light. The Autumn Fern’s new fronds will eventually mature to green, but it produces new colorful growth regularly.Can I place these plants in a low-light room?
For the most vibrant colors, especially from the Croton and Ti Plant, bright, indirect light is essential. The Calathea, Rubber Plant, and Autumn Fern can tolerate medium light, but their colors will be most pronounced in a brighter setting.How can I style these plants for a fall look?
Group them together to create a ‘fall foliage’ corner. Pair them with terracotta or ceramic pots in warm, earthy tones. You can also place them near other fall decor like small pumpkins, candles, or cozy knit blankets.🪴 See also 🪴
Pest Prevention in Winter: Spider Mites and Fungus Gnats
Winter Houseplant Care Checklist
Common Winter Plant Problems (and How to Fix Them)
Keeping Plants Warm Without Overheating
Winter Fertilizing Rules: When to Stop and When to Continue
Providing Enough Light During Short Winter Days
Boosting Humidity for Indoor Plants in Winter
How to Water Houseplants in Winter
Common Autumn Houseplant Problems (and How to Fix Them)
Dealing with Shorter Days: Light for Houseplants in Autumn
Adjusting Watering and Fertilizer in Autumn
Preparing Houseplants for Winter: What to Do in Autumn
