4 Foliage Plants That Look as Pretty as Flowers

You see, flowers aren’t the only pretty gifts we’ve received from Mother Earth. She has actually gifted us with a vast and diverse plant life that we’ll never run out of lovely things to see. We get to enjoy the variable nature of plants and see them in different sizes, shapes, colors, and forms. Some plants even look like animals and things, and some have leaves that look as charming as a flower.

Foliage plants with flower-like leaves do not necessarily have a single leaf resembling a bloom. Most feature colorful or attractive leaves that, as a whole, form a floral resemblance. Most of these flower-like foliage plants display good looks that surpass even the beauty of their own blossom. Let’s take a closer look at five leafy plants with spectacular leaves that can outshine the exquisiteness of flowers.

AGLAONEMA

A staple house plant, aglaonema or Chinese Evergreen is a hardy tropical plant that stands out because of its attractive foliage. Aglaonema cultivars come in different colors with different leaf patterns. While the majority come in shades of green, there are several blushing aglaonema beauties tinged with shades of red or pink.

The bold Aglaonema Ultra Pink, for example, showcases large red-pink leaves edged in dark green. Ready to bring drama to a space is Aglaonema Creta with its oval-shaped green leaves with cream spots and bright pink edging. There is also the Aglaonema Bidadari with exquisite leaves speckled with pink, cream, or green colors.

There are also green aglaonema varieties that will instantly steal your heart. Look for the Cutlass variety for dagger-like streaked leaves. Get the Pictum Tricolor for eye-catching foliage in three shades of green.

OXALIS

Also known as the Love Plant, the oxalis plant or purple shamrock features heart-shaped purple leaves, usually in threes, that sit symmetrically to one another at the end of each stem. This dainty and elegant plant produces tiny blooms in white to pink.

The oxalis triangularis plant is photophilic, meaning its leaves open and close in response to light. The leaves of oxalis also move throughout the day usually turning to face light sources.

This charming plant requires little maintenance. Irregular and random watering won’t be a problem as this plant can revive itself as soon as good conditions are restored. Oxalis also self-seeds.

COLEUS

An easy plant to grow and propagate, coleus plants are grown mainly for their stunningly colored foliage. These annuals feature leaves with distinct patterns and they come in a variety of colors ranging from yellow and orange to red and pink. Depending on the cultivar, Coleus blumei can grow from 6 inches to about 4 feet. Full sun exposure is what coleus plants prefer.

Among the coleus varieties that can surely brighten any shady spot in your home are the Wizard Mix, Watermelon, Rustic Orange, Painted Lady, Kong Rose, Fairway Mix, and Trailing Plum.

NEOREGELIA

A compact bromeliad, the neoregelia grow from 2 inches tall to about a foot. The plant grows up to 2 feet wide and forms a “cup” in the middle where it gathers water for nutrition. Neoregelia leaves feature a lot of character. The foliage of this plant is often banded, marbled, or spotted and the central leaves are brightly colored when it’s ready to bloom. Neoregelias come in a range of colors – in shades of green, orange, pink, red, purple, yellow, and white.

There are about a hundred species of neoregelias and the most popular one is Neoregelia carolinae or blushing bromeliad. Other attractive red-tinged neoregelias include Red Waif, June Night, Ritzy Red, and Rio Grande. Hybrids with lime green and brown markings include Tiramisu, Guacamole, and Tabby.

If you’re looking for neoregelias with a more fascinating appearance, consider Neoregelia ‘Sunday Best’  or Neoregelia ‘Wild Rabbit.’