I love variegated plants -- so much so that some of my gardening friends make fun of me for it. While I enjoy the beauty of a green leaf, there's more sparkle when it's brushed, streaked, or splattered with other colors.

I particularly love variegated houseplants. The patterning in the leaves helps them stand out and feel more special -- making them more of a focal point than an accent in my home décor.

A few of my favorite variegated houseplants include:

This plant belongs in just about everyone's home. It's spectacularly easy to grow, thriving in low, medium, or bright light and having a wonderfully nonchalant attitude when it comes to watering (forget a week? Colorful Aglaonema doesn't mind!). The lush green leaves bear amazing variegation, too, in shades of red, pink, white, and even gold.

Another no-fuss, easy-to-grow houseplant, pothos shows off lustrous heart-shaped leaves that are usually streaked with shades of cream and gold. The common varieties are lovely, but it's the newer types (such as Manjula and Pearls and Jade®) that have white variegation that really appeal to me. Pothos is delightful growing in a hanging basket where you can let it cascade down, horizontally on a mantle or tabletop, or even up on totem or trellis.

It took me a while to warm up to this plant (I'm not sure why), but now that I have, I really love it. Earth star features an almost spidery look with leaves variegated with shades of red and pink. This tropical has delightfully low water needs, too, so it thrives even when I get busy and don't water it like I should. Brighter light helps bring out the best variegation. I have one on my desk at work that doesn't get as much light as it likes and the new growth comes out red but then fades to green.

Some of the most popular varieties in our Exotic Angel® Plants collection, nerve plants show off dark green leaves veined in pink, red, and white. They like more consistent watering than the other varieties I've written about above, but the big dose of color and texture they provide is worth it. Watch for varieties such as 'Frankie' that have an interesting metallic finish to the leaves.

Do you grow variegated houseplants? If so, head over to our Facebook pageand tell us about yours!

Written by Justin Hancock