Newsletter Articles
Colorful House Plants That Are Easy to Grow
By Richard Flowers, ACCNP, Green Thumb Nursery Ventura
The easiest colorful house plants to grow are pothos, Chinese evergreen, snake plant, nerve plant, and prayer plant, which bring vivid foliage with little fuss. Bromeliads, anthurium, and African violets add long-lasting color from their blooms. Many are forgiving of low light and irregular watering, which makes them great for beginners. One thing worth checking before you buy: several popular colorful houseplants are toxic to cats and dogs, so pet owners should choose carefully.
Quick answer: For easy, colorful houseplants, start with pothos, snake plant, or Chinese evergreen (all low-light and low-maintenance). If you have pets, choose non-toxic options like nerve plant, prayer plant, calathea, bromeliad, or African violet. Keep toxic favorites such as pothos, peace lily, anthurium, and snake plant out of reach.
Easiest Colorful House Plants at a Glance
| Plant | Color | Light / care | Pet-safe? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pothos | Green/gold/white foliage | Low light; very easy | No (toxic) |
| Chinese evergreen | Pink/red/silver leaves | Low light; very easy | No (toxic) |
| Snake plant | Variegated green/yellow | Very low light; hard to kill | No (toxic) |
| Croton | Bold multicolor foliage | Bright light; medium care | No (irritant) |
| Anthurium | Red/pink/white blooms | Bright indirect; medium | No (toxic) |
| Peace lily | White blooms | Shade; easy | No (toxic) |
| Nerve plant | Pink/white veins | Bright indirect; easy | Yes |
| Prayer plant | Red-veined patterned leaves | Indirect; fairly easy | Yes |
| Polka dot plant | Pink/white spots | Bright filtered; medium | Yes |
| Calathea | Boldly patterned leaves | Bright shade; fussy | Yes |
| Bromeliad | Red/orange bracts | Shade; medium | Yes |
| African violet | Purple/pink/white blooms | Bright filtered; medium | Yes |
Pet-Safe Colorful House Plants
If you share your home with cats or dogs, these colorful choices are listed by the ASPCA as non-toxic. Nerve plant (Fittonia) has striking pink or white veins on compact, easy plants and is non-toxic to pets.[1] The prayer plant (Maranta) folds its red-veined, patterned leaves up at night and is also pet-safe and fairly low-maintenance.[2] Polka dot plant (Hypoestes), speckled in pink or white, is non-toxic too.[3] Calathea offers some of the boldest leaf patterns and is pet-safe, though it is honestly a fussy plant that wants high humidity, so treat it as pretty-but-demanding.[4] For long-lasting color, bromeliads hold their bright bracts for months and are listed non-toxic by the ASPCA,[5] and the classic African violet blooms in purple, pink, or white on a compact, pet-safe plant.[6]
Bold Color to Keep Away From Pets
These are some of the most colorful and easiest houseplants, but each is toxic to cats and dogs, so site them out of reach in a pet household. Pothos is about as easy and low-light-tolerant as a plant gets, with green, gold, or variegated leaves, but it contains calcium oxalates and is toxic to pets.[7] Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema), with pink, red, or silver variegation, is one of the easiest plants to grow and a low-light champion, but also toxic.[8] Snake plant is nearly indestructible and tolerates very low light, but its saponins make it toxic to pets.[9] Anthurium produces glossy red, pink, or white blooms and is likewise toxic.[10] And a surprise for many people: the easy, shade-loving peace lily is commonly assumed to be pet-safe but is actually toxic to cats and dogs.[11] Finally, croton dazzles with multicolor foliage but its sap can irritate skin and it is a low-severity poison if eaten, per NC State Extension.[12]
Easiest Picks and Care Basics
If you just want color that survives real life, the most low-maintenance and low-light-tolerant options are pothos, snake plant, and Chinese evergreen; NC State Extension describes pothos as very easy to grow and the snake plant as “difficult to kill,” and the Chinese evergreen as excellent for low-light indoor spots.[13][14] The peace lily is another easy, deep-shade bloomer if pets are not a concern.[15] As a rule, most of these plants prefer bright indirect light (direct sun scorches the tender colorful ones), and the biggest mistake is overwatering, so let the top inch of soil dry before watering again. For more ideas by room, see our guide to the best indoor plants for each room, and if a plant stretches toward the window, our tips on leggy indoor plants. For shady spots indoors or out, see our shade plants guide.
Just getting started with plants? Our team can help you pick easy, colorful houseplants to match your light and your household; visit any Green Thumb Nursery location, and new gardeners may also like our guide to the best plants for beginners.
Colorful House Plants FAQ
What are the best low-maintenance house plants?
Pothos, snake plant, and Chinese evergreen are among the easiest and most low-light-tolerant houseplants, all described by NC State Extension as very easy to grow.[13]
What colorful house plants are easy to grow?
Pothos (variegated foliage), Chinese evergreen (pink/red/silver leaves), snake plant, nerve plant, and prayer plant all deliver color with little fuss, and bromeliads and anthuriums add long-lasting bloom color.[14]
Which house plants are safe for pets?
Nerve plant, prayer plant, polka dot plant, calathea, bromeliad, and African violet are listed non-toxic to cats and dogs by the ASPCA. Note that peace lily, pothos, snake plant, anthurium, and Chinese evergreen are toxic.[1]
What house plants do well in low light?
Snake plant, pothos, Chinese evergreen, and peace lily all tolerate low to very low light, making them ideal for dim rooms and offices.[9]
What are good house plants for beginners?
Start with pothos, snake plant, or Chinese evergreen; they forgive missed waterings and low light. If you have pets, nerve plant and prayer plant are beginner-friendly and non-toxic.[13]
Sources
- [1] ASPCA, Nerve Plant (non-toxic): aspca.org
- [2] ASPCA, Prayer Plant (non-toxic): aspca.org
- [3] ASPCA, Polka Dot Plant (non-toxic): aspca.org
- [4] ASPCA, Calathea (non-toxic): aspca.org
- [5] ASPCA, Bromeliad (non-toxic): aspca.org
- [6] ASPCA, African Violet (non-toxic): aspca.org
- [7] ASPCA, Golden Pothos (toxic): aspca.org
- [8] ASPCA, Chinese Evergreen (toxic): aspca.org
- [9] ASPCA, Snake Plant (toxic): aspca.org
- [10] ASPCA, Flamingo Flower / Anthurium (toxic): aspca.org
- [11] ASPCA, Peace Lily (toxic): aspca.org
- [12] NC State Extension, Croton (Codiaeum variegatum): plants.ces.ncsu.edu
- [13] NC State Extension, Pothos (Epipremnum aureum): plants.ces.ncsu.edu
- [14] NC State Extension, Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema): plants.ces.ncsu.edu
- [15] NC State Extension, Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum): plants.ces.ncsu.edu
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