Get out of your houseplant rut and try these brassy beauties. Their foliage shouts with stripes, patterns, and pretty hues to perk you up until spring arrives.
Peacock plant (Calathea makoyana). Bold oval shapes on a background of sweeping stripes make this plant a head-turner. Give it lots of humidity; leaves turn brown at the tips if they’re too dry.
Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema spp.). New varieties offer bright colors on plants that thrive in cooler house temperatures and lower light. ‘Silverado’ and ‘Silver Ribbon’ have attractive deep green and grayish green hues, but the rare hybrids from Thailand, such as ‘Christmas Day’ and ‘Easter Parade’, are even more breathtaking.
Ti tree (Cordyline fruticosa, pictured). This woody, light-loving houseplant sports strappy leaves with brilliant color. Most houseplant varieties grow 2 to 6 feet tall, and propagating is easy.