If you think about some of the standout homes you’ve seen before, that had a feeling of botanical abundance and fullness – there’s a good chance they included a balanced mix of flowering indoor plants and foliage plants.

But how do you get that balance right, and what is the secret to selecting the best foliage plants for your home, especially in the cooler months?

In this blog, we dive into the best foliage plants for beginners in South Africa, which foliage plants grow well indoors, and how to keep indoor plant leaves green and healthy.

What are foliage plants?

As the name suggests, foliage plants are plants grown and admired for just that – their foliage, or leaves.

With these plants, the focus is something unique in their leaves, like their colour, texture, size and/or shape.

Foliage plants add visual interest to any home, and also have a practical use – filling in gaps for a look of abundance and fullness.

Why foliage plants are perfect for indoor spaces

Flowering plants may be the obvious choice that comes to mind when thinking about house plants or indoor plants – they add a fresh, natural and complimentary focal point to a desk, a coffee table or an otherwise empty corner, instantly breathing life and possibly even a pop of colour into a space.

While there is always a place for these standout stars, foliage plants, when put to work, really do their part to add extra dimension that you often only expect in a garden setting.

An unexpected pop of red or purple, or an unusual shape or texture, add a layer of interest and intrigue to a space.

Besides the aesthetic benefits, think about the added health benefits of bringing foliage plants into your home. Purified air, for one. A calmer environment, another. Better sleep, too. Read more about the health benefits of trees and plants here.

Best foliage plants for beginners

There are so many foliage plants that work well for indoor settings. Here are just some of our favourites.

Alocasia Amazonica Bambino

Known for its striking dark green, arrow-shaped leaves covered with bold silver-white veins, this foliage plant is perfect for tabletops, shelves or as part of a curated plant collection.

Other foliage plants in the Alocasia family include dwarf elephant ear (Alocasia Gageana ‘California’) and regal shield (Alocasia Odora Reginula).

Peperomia Aargyreia (Watermelon Peperomia)

This striking plant’s fleshy leaves are covered with bands of green and grey, and they elegantly sway on red-purple stems, giving it the nickname ‘watermelon peperomia’.

Native to South America, Peperomia Aargyreia thrives in dappled light, making it well-suited for lower indoor light conditions, not unlike the jungle floor.

Calathea

Possibly the First Family of foliage plants, Calathea can always be counted on to bring the flare to any space it’s added to.

Our pick is the ‘misty red’, a dramatic beauty with deep burgundy undersides and painterly green tops that look like they’ve been dusted with mist. Needless to say, it matches perfectly to moody interiors.

Others in the family also worthy of a spot on your browse list are: Calathea Freddy, Calathea Maria, Calathea Rosea Picta and Calathea Moonlight, all available at Stodels Garden Centres.

Strobilanthes Anisophyllus (Persian shield)

A stunning tropical perennial that captivates with its vibrant foliage, this Myanmar native is prized for its ability to add dramatic colour as a standalone feature in pots.

The quilted leaves of a strobilanthes anisophyllus add a striking contrast to bright, indirectly lit environments.

How to keep indoor plant leaves green and healthy

Follow these guidelines for keeping your indoor foliage plant in tip-top shape.

• Water consistently but moderately, ensuring that soil has good drainage to prevent waterlogging and potential root rot.
• Dust can collect quite easily on plant leaves, blogging your plants’ intake of natural light. So get in the habit of removing dust from leaf surfaces with a damp cloth.
• Plant health starts at the root, so if you’re following the above tips but aren’t seeing results, check that the soil your plant is growing in is healthy. A nitrogen-rich fertiliser can balance out the nutrient content of nutrient-poor soil.