16 Best Red Tropical Plants for Growing Indoors & Outdoors

Discover the names of Best Red Tropical Plants for Growing Indoors & Outdoors to add a pop of a scarlet hue to your surrounding!

Here’s an exclusive list of the Best Red Tropical Plants for Growing Indoors & Outdoors! Some of them are popular for their spectacular red foliage, while others are valued most for their patterned, variegated leaves.

Here’s how you can create an amazing tropical garden on your balcony

Best Red Tropical Plants for Growing Indoors & Outdoors

1. Croton

Botanical Name: Croton

Croton is one of the best plants to display red with different hues. Do make sure that the plant gets 3-4 hours of sun for that pop of colors!

Here are the best types of Crotons you can grow

2. Bromeliads

Botanical Name: Bromeliaceae

This tropical plant could possibly be one of the easiest to grow! It can easily adapt to growing in containers indoors and also thrive well outdoors.

Have a look at the best types of Bromeliads here

3. Caribbean Copper Plant

Botanical Name: Euphorbia cotinifolia

Also popular as Red Spurge, the plant makes for an excellent house plant for a sunny windowsill or an outdoor summer balcony or patio.

4. Copperleaf Plant

Botanical Name: Acalypha wilkesiana

Copperleaf Plant is famous for its red-color foliage. Generally, it loves full sunlight, but it can tolerate some shade, too. The leaves have variations of red, salmon, copper, and scarlet.

5. Red Leaf Heliconia

Botanical Name: Heliconia indica ‘Rubra’

Also famous as Stripe Blood Banana, it is one of the Best Red Tropical Plants you can grow! The beautiful upright, long leaves with red veins emerge from neon red-colored stems.

6. Cordyline

Botanical Name: Cordyline

Cordyline is mostly synonymous with tropical beauty due to its bold and beautiful foliage. The plant is available in a wide range of leaf colors.

Learn all about growing Cordylines here

7. Bloodleaf Iresine

Botanical Name: Iresine

Another popular name is Beefsteak Plant, thanks to its leaf veins that have a blood-red color. It needs minimal care and does well indoors and outdoors.

8. Coleus

Botanical Name: Coleus

Coleus is famous for its ornamental foliage. Some varieties come in solid red-color leaves, while others are variegated with spots of bright colors.

Have a look at the best types of Coleus here

9. Joseph’s Coat

Botanical Name: Alternanthera

The plant looks beautiful with its vibrant ruby-red foliage. The shade is almost too dazzling for the eyes, particularly when the leaves are watered and shine in the sunlight!

10. Coast Cottonwood

Botanical Name: Hibiscus tiliaceus

Also popular as tricolor hibiscus, this huge tropical shrub has maroon-red foliage. The leaves are a bright red when they are young and then turn into maroon with age.

Check out the best types of Hibiscus here

11. Poinsettia

Botanical Name: Euphorbia pulcherrima

Poinsettias have flaming red-colored petals that are actually leaves wrapped around the small blooms in green and yellow shades. You must grow this one for sure!

Here are the best Poinsettias to grow

12. Ethiopian Banana

Botanical Name: Ensete ventricosum

Ornamental Red Banana makes for a beautiful centerpiece for a courtyard or tropical garden. This plant has stunning burgundy-red-colored foliage.

13. Polka Dot Plant

Botanical Name: Hypoestes phyllostachya

Polka dot plant is a beautiful specimen with red-maroon leaves. If you are growing it indoors, make sure that it gets bright indirect light for the best color.

Check out our article on growing polka dot plant here

14. Madagascar Dragon Tree

Botanical Name: Dracaena marginata ‘Tricolor’

Though the plant stays and looks green, give it a good sun exposure, and it will gift you with stunning red foliage. Avoid keeping it in the harsh afternoon sun for long.

Have a look at the best Dracaenas here

15. Red Hook Sedge

Botanical Name: Uncinia rubra

Include this beautiful red ornamental grass in your plant collection for its rich hues. The plant is showy and colorful in appearance.

Here are the best ornamental grasses you can grow

16. Red Latan Palm

Botanical Name: Latania lontaroides

This is one of the best palms you can grow if you want a colorful tropical look in your garden. Grow it where it gets 3-4 hours of full sun for deep red color.

Here’s a list of 62 Native Florida Plants and Trees you must check out!