House plants with unusual leaves

Plants are often only valued for their flowering. We present ten house plants whose foliage deserves just as much attention.

indoor plants belong to every apartment for many, after all they are not only decorative and make every room appear more homely. Especially like to be flowering plants selected as green roommates because they are considered to be particularly beautiful with their pretty flowers. But leafy plants can also attract everyone's attention: with unique patterns, unusual colors and playful shapes, they even steal the spotlight from many other flowers. But decorative leaf plants have other advantages: They increase the humidity, bind carbon dioxide and other pollutants and thus ensure a pleasant indoor climate. We have found ten unusual houseplants for you that shine with their special foliage.

10. sweetheart plant

If you are looking for an extraordinary gift for your loved ones, but do not want to resort to classic bouquets, you should sweetheart plant (Hoya kerrii) in mind: With its unique, heart-shaped leaves, the plant makes a great statement that can hardly be misunderstood. If you take care of the plant regularly, it won't stay with one heart for long, leaf after leaf will soon follow. The wonderfully uncomplicated succulent can be between 50 and 300 centimeters high and 50 to 150 centimeters wide - fortunately, the heart leaf plant grows rather slowly and therefore easily fits in everyone Apartment.

9. silver mesh sheet

Not only a unique play of colors characterizes the silver net leaf (Fittonia Verschaffeltii) from: His real passion are the enchanting patterns on the leaves, which also give him the name mosaic plant brought in. Depending on the variety, the silver netting shows a great composition of green and red or white veins. Unfortunately, the houseplant is a bit more demanding when it comes to care: the silver net leaf cannot stand full sun and drafts, but high humidity and regular watering all the more.

8. window leaf

Who cut holes in the leaves? If you do that window leaf (monstera) when you see it for the first time, you could almost think that someone has tampered with the plant with a pair of scissors. In fact, the decorative leaf incisions appear on their own if the window leaf grows in a sufficiently bright place. In addition to the unique shape, the leaves of the houseplant also impress with their imposing size and immediately bring exotic flair to every house. If you take good care of the window leaf, the entire plant can reach a size of up to five meters and become several decades old.

7. Black Head

Black flowers that compete with each other on a pretty semi-shrub? Unfortunately wrong - in fact it is rosette-shaped arranged thick leaves, which the Schwarzkopf (Aeonium arboreum ‘Zwartkop’) give it its characteristic appearance. These grow on short stems close to a semi-stem and can vary (depending on the season) between green, dark red or almost black. Despite its unique beauty, the succulent plant (Crassulaceae) but no star airs: Very robust and easy to care for, the Schwarzkopf is a suitable houseplant even for beginners.

Further black plants, which guarantee an eye-catcher in the house or garden, can be found in this article.

6. Peas on a ribbon

String of Pearls or Pea Plant - the different names of the pea on the string (Senecio rowleyanus) all point to their unusual appearance. If you didn't know better, you might think at first glance that the plants actually consist of small peas that someone painstakingly threaded onto long strings. The round, bright green leaves are also a real eye-catcher when they hang down on the long shoots. With its unique look, the pea on a ribbon is therefore a hanging plant a real eye-catcher in the hanging basket - and its particularly easy-care nature also makes the plant extremely popular.

5. trout begonia

leafy begonias (Begonia rex Hybrids) have long been popular as ornamental foliage plants because of their great coloring - their close relatives, the trout begonia (Begonia maculata), however, reaches a whole new level: Not only does the plant present beautiful leaves in an appealing heart shape, but also achieves completely new things in terms of color and pattern dimensions. The upper side of the leaves is adorned with numerous spherical white spots that are strongly the well-known "polka-dot" pattern, giving the plant the name polka-dot begonia brought in. In addition, the trout begonia also impresses with the undersides of its leaves, which, with their intense red, create a great contrast to the green upper side of the leaves. If the houseplant then shows its ornate coral-colored flowers, it becomes the undisputed eye-catcher in the house.

4. lithops

At first glance, the lithops (lithops) a rather inconspicuous fellow: In fact, one could think that someone was joking and put a pebble in the pot. In reality, however, the bizarre appearance of the lithops, also known as the "living stone", is an elaborate survival strategy. The exotic plant stores a lot of water in its knobbly leaves, which is often scarce in its native South Africa. So that thirsty animals do not refresh themselves on the juicy leaves, the plant cleverly disguises itself as a stone - a small miracle of nature. The shape of the lithops is particularly interesting in autumn when it develops its pretty flowers: After all, who expects that a stone can bloom?

3. zebra weed

A truly unique leaf coloring can arguably do that zebra leaf (Tradescantia zebrina) show: Similar to its animal namesake, the houseplant comes with a distinctive striped pattern. Red-violet and green-silver longitudinal stripes characterize the unusual look of the plant, which is also known under the name Spiderwort or Tradescantia. Together with its dense growth and the pointed leaves, the zebra herb is an elegant beauty among the ornamental foliage plants. It becomes even more enchanting in spring: then the zebra herb also shows small, three-petalled flowers.

2. basket marante

Caution addictive: The basket marante (calathea) comes in so many different leaf patterns and color combinations that you just have to start collecting them. From very simple to extravagant and exotic, you will find the right plant for every style. However, they all have one thing in common: With their large leaves, they give your home an exciting jungle atmosphere. But that's not the only thing that makes the basket marante so exciting - some species can align their leaves according to the sunlight and even close them when night falls. This makes the unusual houseplant ideal for observing. In our special article on the most beautiful Calathea species you can be inspired.

1. miracle shrub

Anyone who thinks of ornamental foliage plants immediately has an image of boring green plants in their mind. the miracle shrub (Codiaeum variegated) fortunately does not fit into this picture - in fact, the plant often not only scores with one or two colors but proudly presents countless yellows, reds, oranges and natural shades of green. With its large, leathery leaves, the plant is a wonderful soloist that draws everyone's attention and unfolds its full luminosity, especially in bright locations. In addition to ornamental leaf plants, flowering roommates can also make a powerful impression. The ten most beautiful, flowering indoor plants for your home can be found here.

tip: In order for the plants to develop their unusual foliage, they need enough nutrients. Indoor plants should therefore be regularly treated with a fertilizer like ours Plantura organic indoor & green plant fertilizer be taken care of. The liquid fertilizer is simply administered via the irrigation water.