Foliage Plants List

Definition of Foliage Plants

People value foliage plants for their leaves rather than their flowers or fruit. Their leaf shapes range from small, coin-sized disks to wide paddles. Any flowers they produce tend to fade into the background.

A complete foliage plants list covers many families and forms, from trees and shrubs to perennials and houseplants. Over 500 species are grown primarily for their leaves, and many thrive indoors. Some, such as ferns, may never bloom indoors.

How Are Foliage Plants Classified by Leaf Type?

They are generally divided into three types: variegated, colored, or textured. Variegated leaves have light spots without chlorophyll, often due to genetic changes or a harmless virus. Colored leaves replace green with other pigments, usually dark red or purple. 

Textured leaves have grooves, fine hairs, or a quilted finish across the surface. You can find leaf types and common examples below.

What the List on This Page Provides?

Our list covers all three types, including species across variegated, colored, and textured leaf categories. You get foliage plant names and photos on one page — scroll the grid above to find more information about desired species.