Remember the ubiquitous Boston fern, the baskets of Wandering Jew vines and the Swedish ivy trailing from macramé-hung pots? Thanks to innovations among breeders, those oldies have evolved into exciting, modern houseplants.

There's a new interest in houseplants with technicolor flowers and foliage. Check out some of the variegated leaf patterns from the Tropical Plant Industry Exhibition in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in January 2012. You'll be inspired by these exciting new indoor plants and creative ways to display them. Debra Prinzing Miniature African violets in 2-inch pots look pretty sweet displayed in a tiered cupcake tree. This creative idea would be perfect for a brunch or birthday party centerpiece. Debra Prinzing Horrors! Or maybe you find this mesmerizing. Plainview Growers of Pompton Plains, New Jersey, has imported Dutch technology to offer American orchid lovers a 'Blue Diamond' flower. The "color-fused" system turns an ordinary white phalaenopsis orchid into something you've never quite seen before. Debra Prinzing This is the type of blue tropical flower that occurs naturally. Aechmea 'Blue Tango' is a hybrid bromeliad with a stunning fuschia and purplish-blue flower. Debra Prinzing A rainbow of hot new bromeliad varieties spreads over a wall display by Bullis Bromeliads from Princeton, Florida. This species is called Neoregelia, and it comes in speckled, splashed, streaked and striped hues. Debra Prinzing From Stewart's Greenhouse in Mount Dora, Florida, this Calathea lancifolia was named Best New Introduction of the 2012 Tropical Plant Industry Exhibition. You can see why: The striking marks of dark green against the lighter green make this a dazzling indoor houseplant. Debra Prinzing Kalanchoe 'Fantastic' is also known as the paddle plant. Green forms abound, but this rare tricolor variety is a superb choice for containers. Move it to the patio in the summer months. Debra Prinzing What a gorgeous piece of living wall art. These tillandsias, or air plants, are displayed in a cast-stone frame by artist John Lamos of Viducci's Garden USA. Debra Prinzing Stroke this little "pet" air plant (Tillandsia xerographica) and you'll want to own it. Its gray-green foliage is stunning, and the curved blades make it feel soft, not spiky. Debra Prinzing This is a bird's nest fern (Asplenium nidus 'Victoria'), its roots contained in a patent-pending cocofiber ball called a Root Orb. It's a clever way to display a houseplant without all the dirt. See the next photo for how I set it inside a glass bowl. Debra Prinzing My bird's nest fern rests on a bed of pebbles inside a footed glass compote. The Root Orb removes the fern from the traditional pot setting and turns it into a decorative and interesting houseplant.

More:
Bring on the Green: Decorating With Indoor Plants
5 Reasons to Design With Houseplants
Cultivating a Porch Garden
The Succulence of Succulents in the Home