New houseplant varieties are constantly being introduced, bringing fabulous silhouettes, colors, and patterns that quickly become must-haves for indoor plant collectors. One trend that's been steadily gaining popularity is golden houseplants, with vibrant yellow-toned foliage standing out amongst more familiar deep greens.
Costa Farms' indoor plant expert and author of the upcoming book The New Complete Guide to Houseplants (available to pre-order from Amazon), Justin Hancock, says golden foliage is a trend he's seen gradually finding its way into households over the past year, and one he expects to continue growing as we head into 2027. Think chartreuse foliage brightening up darker corners and lime-green vines cascading down bookshelves. For Justin, the appeal reflects a growing understanding of the mood-boosting effects houseplants can have.
'The stereotypical deep green leaves of popular houseplants are starting to fade into the background, while golden foliage calls your attention and can't be ignored,' he says.
In recent years, variegated houseplants have been all the rage, bringing intriguing colors and patterns into our homes. Now, another foliage trend is catching the attention of plant parents: golden leaves.
'I've been seeing gold houseplants slowly rise in popularity,' says Justin. 'It makes sense. In darker homes, bright golden foliage really adds something, while deep green leaves don't stand out,' he continues.
This is especially true considering many golden plants (like this golden pothos from Amazon) can tolerate lower light, making them ideal picks for duller spots in the home – though, they will usually grow best in bright, indirect light.
There's also a growing interest in the ways houseplants can influence our mental and physical wellbeing. From the principles of Feng Shui, which associate certain plants with abundance and positive energy, to research into houseplants that improve our microbiome, and even indoor plants that clean the air.
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'I really appreciate having houseplants all around me. There's just something about taking a moment to look away from your work screen and observe plant leaves in your office, for example. It can soothe the eyes,' Justin describes.
Golden houseplants add to this, offering a visual lift through their brighter foliage. Their vibrant leaves bring a sense of light to interiors, exuding a richness that is emphasized when paired with a sophisticated vessel, like golden hammered plant pot from Wayfair (our collection of stylish houseplant pots has more to discover).
Justin is Costa Farms Horticulturist with 25+ years in the industry. A plant enthusiast and educator, he has a degree in horticultural science and has worked in garden centers and botanical gardens, as a garden designer, and in garden publishing. He has experience gardening across the country, from Minnesota to Oregon to Miami. Hancock is also co-host of the Costa Farms podcast Plant Rx. His book, The New Complete Guide to Houseplants comes out December 1 2026.
As for finding the perfect golden houseplant for your home, Justin has a few recommendations (and don't forget to stock up on your essential houseplant care kit to help keep your new plant happy).
'Neon pothos is a classic,' says Justin.
With bright chartreuse foliage and a fast-growing trailing habit, this is one of the best pothos varieties for golden and lime-green foliage. The best part? It's super straightforward to care for.
'I have been seeing more interest and uptake in a lot of the, the easy care varieties. As our collections grow, there's something to be said for having those plants that I don't need to fuss over,' Justin says.
Find a neon pothos at Walmart. Give it a bright-medium light position out of direct sun (which may scorch its delicate leaves), allow the top two inches of soil to dry out before watering, and use a pebble humidity tray (like this from Amazon) to give it a humidity boost.
Something a little bit more unusual, 'Golden Crocodile' is Justin's favorite golden houseplant.
'It's really fun. It has toothed leaves that are long and narrow,' he describes.
Only introduced to the market within the last three years, this philodendron is one of the best for bright yellow color and interesting texture. It's almost fern-like in its foliage, doing best in bright light, out of direct sunlight and cold drafts.
You can find a 'Golden Crocodile' at Lowe's.
As for an indoor tree, 'Limelight' reaches a height of 5-7ft, topped with sword-shaped glossy golden foliage.
These golden houseplants are best kept in brighter light to maintain their vibrancy and should be kept warm in temperatures between 65-85°F to avoid discoloration and drooping. A soil moisture meter (like this from Amazon) can also help identify when the top 1-2 inches of soil have dried out, indicating it's time to water again.
Pick up a 'Limelight' from Amazon.
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The bonus of introducing some golden houseplants to your interiors now is that it'll bring some fall color indoors. Alongside the best indoor plants for fall, and even golden fall plants in your yard, you can turn your home and garden into the ultimate seasonal display.
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