Anthurium, which is also called the flamingo flower, flamingo lily, boy flower, oilcloth flower, or laceleaf, is an indoor plant that looks exotic. It has big, glossy leaves and a red flower. Its name comes from the Greek words anthos, which means “flower,” and oura, which means “tail.” This is why it is also known as the “tail flower.”
Anthurium flowers are actually ‘spathes’ – brightly coloured leaves that attract insects in the wild. The flower is actually the central ‘spadix’, made up of lots of tiny blooms. It blooms at different times of the year and for six to eight weeks at a time, with a “rest period” of up to three months in between.
Anthurium comes in more than 1,000 different types, but the one you’ll most often find is Anthurium andreanum, which has heart-shaped leaves and shiny flowers in many colors. Most of the time, these are red, pink, or white, but you can also find shades of green, yellow, burgundy, lilac, and even flowers that are two colors and have spots on them. Anthurium scherzianum looks a lot like this one, but its flowers are less shiny and its center is curly. It is also sometimes called the pigtail plant. Anthurium clarinervium and Anthurium ellipticum “Jungle King” are two types that are grown for their unique and eye-catching leaves.
Wild, anthuriums grow in the rainforests of South America and the Caribbean. They are epiphytes, which means they grow on trees. You should try to create this environment in your home by giving your plant warm air, bright, filtered light, and lots of water. This should keep it blooming regularly throughout the year.
Flowers come in every color of the rainbow, but there’s just something special about plants with red and green flowers. The striking contrast between these two bold colors makes them really stand out in any garden or home. Plus, red and green have the added bonus of evoking the festive colors of Christmas when displayed together.
If you’re looking to add a lively pop of color to your indoor or outdoor space, plants with flowers or foliage in vibrant shades of red and green are sure to fit the bill. From tropical houseplants to hardy outdoor perennials, keep reading to discover 27 plants boasting beautiful red and green flowers.
Indoor Plants with Red and Green Flowers
Bringing a touch of the tropics indoors, the following houseplants produce showy red and green blooms that will brighten up any living space. Be sure to provide them with the right care and conditions to keep them happy and flowering.
Anthurium
Anthurium, also known as flamingo flower or painter’s palette, is arguably one of the most popular indoor plants with red and green flowers. Its glossy green, heart-shaped leaves contrast elegantly with its bright red, waxy spathes that resemble flowers. Keep anthurium in bright, indirect light and water when the top of the soil begins to dry out.
Bromeliad
From the pineapple plant to the striking earth star, bromeliads are prized for their rosettes of stiff, green leaves and central colored bracts ranging from red and orange to purple. Keep their central cup filled with water and give them bright, indirect light. Different bromeliad species and cultivars offer blooms in various shades.
Christmas Cactus
Around the holidays, the Christmas cactus bursts forth with gorgeous, trumpet-shaped blooms in shades of red, pink, orange, purple, and white atop its green, segmented stems. Give this epiphytic cactus medium to bright, indirect light. Only water when the soil has dried out to avoid rot.
Croton
Crotons are beloved for their colorful foliage, which comes in different combinations of red, yellow, orange, green, pink, and brown. With their wildly patterned leaves, these tropical plants offer year-round interest. Provide them with warm temperatures, humidity, and bright indirect sunlight.
Hoya
Also called wax plant, Hoya produces clusters of star-shaped, waxy flowers atop vining stems lined with thick, succulent leaves. Different Hoya cultivars offer blooms ranging from red and pink to white, purple, and orange. Give them a spot with plenty of bright, indirect sunlight to encourage flowering.
Orchids
Available in countless colorful hybrids, orchids are epiphytic tropical plants that produce elegant spikes of delicate blooms in just about any hue, including green and red. Phalaenopsis and Cattleya orchids are particularly prized for their showy red and green flowers, which can bloom for months.
Outdoor Plants with Red and Green Flowers
The following perennials, annuals, shrubs, and trees bearing red and green blooms are perfect for planting in flower beds, borders, containers, and other spots around the yard.
Bee Balm
With its shaggy clusters of tubular red, pink, purple, or white flowers atop aromatic green foliage, bee balm (Monarda spp.) is a magnet for pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Deadhead spent blooms to encourage more flowers. Grow bee balm in full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil.
Coleus
Available in a rainbow of colors, coleus features vividly patterned leaves that provide constant color from spring to frost. Some cultivars have striking red and green foliage. Coleus thrives in partial shade and moist, well-draining soil. Pinch back stems to encourage bushy growth. Bring plants indoors before the first frost.
Daylily
If you’re looking for a carefree perennial that pumps out colorful blooms all season long, you can’t go wrong with daylilies (Hemerocallis spp.). They come in a huge range of colors, including red and green varieties like ‘Green Flutter’ and ‘Ruby Spider’. Plant them in full sun or partial shade.
Dianthus
Commonly called pinks, dianthus offers profuse single, double, or semi-double flowers in white, pink, red, yellow, and purple, sometimes combined with contrasting centers and picotee edges. The flowers arise on short stems above grassy, blue-green foliage. Give dianthus full sun and well-drained soil. Deadhead to prolong bloom.
Geranium
Available as annuals and perennials, geraniums are prized for their rounded clusters of flowers borne atop mounded, lobed foliage. The most common garden geranium (Pelargonium x hortorum) comes in colors like red, pink, white, purple, and bicolors. Give them full sun to thrive. Grow them as annuals in colder climates.
Rose
What would a list of plants with red and green flowers be without the classic rose? Available in numerous species and thousands of hybrids, roses offer sumptuous, old-fashioned blooms in every color. Varieties like ‘Francis Meilland’ (the famous ‘Peace’ rose) and ‘Viridiflora’ offer green and red bicolored flowers.
Begonia
From hardy perennials to tender bedding plants, begonias are prized for their colorful and uniquely shaped flowers and foliage. Some tuberous begonia hybrids produce exquisite rose-like red and green blooms. Grow tuberous begonias in partial shade in rich, moist, well-draining soil. Lift the tubers and store them dormant over winter in colder regions.
Canna Lily
Beloved for their huge, tropical-looking leaves and flowers that resemble orchids, cannas offer blooms in fiery shades of red, orange, yellow, pink, and white, sometimes combined with contrasting spots and flecks. Give them full sun to partial shade and plenty of water. Dig up rhizomes and store them over winter where not hardy.
Colocasia
Closely related to cannas, colocasias produce enormous, arrow-shaped or heart-shaped leaves that make a bold statement in the garden. Some varieties also produce tiny red, yellow, or white blooms nestled in the foliage. Provide colocasias with partial shade to full sun and consistent moisture for best growth. Dig up the tubers before frost.
Crocosmia
Also called montbretia, crocosmias offer graceful spikes of funnel-shaped orange, yellow, pink, red, or bicolored blooms atop arching, sword-like green leaves. They thrive in full sun to partial shade and moist soil. Cut back foliage after bloom. Lift corms and store them in winter where not hardy. Popular varieties include ‘Lucifer’ and ‘Emily McKenzie’.
Dahlia
Available as petite bedding plants or giant dinner plate blooms, dahlias come in every color except blue. Bicolored varieties like ‘Rhône Smoking’ offer striking red and green blooms. Grow dahlias in full sun and fertile soil. Provide sufficient water and stake tall varieties. Dig up tubers after frost and store them dry over winter.
Gladiolus
With their tall, dramatic flower spikes, gladiolus are popular cut flowers, particularly in the south. They’re available in just about every color, including red and green varieties like ‘Jester’ and ‘Green Star’. Plant the corms in full sun and well-drained soil once the threat of frost has passed.
Lantana
Arguably one of the best plants for attracting butterflies, lantanas produce clustered flowers reminiscent of verbena. Different cultivars offer blooms in shades of red, pink, yellow, orange, purple, and white. Give lantanas full sun to thrive. Grow them as annuals or bring indoors before frost.
Lobelia
Available as compact bedding plants and bushy perennials, lobelias offer dainty flowers in shades of blue, purple, pink, red, and white, sometimes combined with contrasting centers or veining. Red and green varieties include ‘Monet Moment’ and ‘Hot Shots Green’. Site lobelias in partial shade to full sun. Deadhead to prolong bloom.
Choosing the Right Plants with Red and Green Flowers
When selecting plants with red and green flowers for your garden, be sure to consider factors like their growing requirements and your USDA Hardiness Zone. Tropical plants will need to be overwintered indoors in colder climates, while hardy perennials, shrubs and trees can withstand winter outdoors in their suitable zones.
Also think about the site conditions where you plan to grow them – things like sun exposure, soil type and moisture. For the healthiest, most floriferous plants, always choose varieties suited to the conditions your location offers. With the right care, you’ll be rewarded with vibrant red and green blooms that you can enjoy indoors or out.
How to propagate flamingo flower
Anthurium can be spread by dividing it. When you repot it is a good time to do this. Gently pull the plant apart and plant the resulting divisions into their own pots.
You can also take cuttings. Choose a stem that is about 10 cm long and has two or three sets of leaves. Cut the end of the stem and put it in a small pot of compost.
Make a cut in an aerial root, dip it in hormone rooting powder, and put it in a small pot of compost. This will help the cutting grow roots.
How to grow flamingo flower
Tropical rainforests are where anthuriums come from, which tells you a lot about how to take care of them. They do best in a warm, bright room with lots of humidity, like a bathroom or conservatory. Mist your plant regularly, or place on a tray of moist pebbles. Water whenever the top few centimetres of compost feel dry. Repot only when the roots have filled the pot, in spring.
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FAQ
How do you keep an anthurium blooming?
Is anthurium an indoor plant?
What is the name of the green and red plant?
What plants have red and green leaves?
It has poor tolerance towards salt content in the soil. Plants with red and green leaves are the Angel Wings, Bromeliad, Crosby’s Prolific, Fittonia, Jelly Bean Plant, Lipstick Echeveria, Madagascar Dragon Tree, Painter’s Palette, Red Heart Philodendron, Salsa Rex Begonia, Ti Plant, Wandering Jew, and many more!
What are the best Houseplants with red and green leaves?
Explore the best Houseplants with Red and Green Leaves for a more colorful hue in your home decor! They are also easy to grow and maintain! Add a striking color combination to your rooms by growing these Houseplants with Red and Green Leaves! 1. Anthurium 2. Poinsettia 3. Red Heart Philodendron 4. Salsa Rex Begonia 5. Lipstick Echeveria 6.
How do I choose a houseplant with red leaves?
Adding a houseplant with red leaves, or some red leaf variegation to your collection might be exactly what your indoor garden needs. One of the first considerations when looking for a houseplant with red leaves is to look around your home or office, as well as your lifestyle, and decide what kind of plant you want.
What does a red leaf plant look like?
This Red Leaf Plant features a unique mix of rich maroon, deep green, and hints of copper. The leaves also have a velvety texture that you won’t be able to resist touching. 9. Diablo Ninebark Botanical Name: Physocarpus opulifolius Little Angel USDA Zones: 3-7 This shrub with dark purple leaves resembles a glass of red wine.