22 Beautiful Plants With Stunning Red-Colored Stems
Table of Contents
Are you looking for plants with red stems that can give a distinct look to your garden or home? We have prepared this catalogue of red-stemmed plants especially for you! Plants with a red stem will always act as a standout display item in a garden. Most of them can even withstand the winters and can forever add a dramatic touch to the place.
Though the plants you will find in this compiled catalogue have the common feature of having a red stem, many of them might require varied handling and care. While some of these plants are common, others are rare and require good attention.
Scroll down to explore the list of some beautiful, exotic-looking plants that appear with red stems at least once during their growing stages.
Captivating Plants with Red Stems to Beautify Your Garden
1. Elephant Bush
Elephant Bush is one of the plants with red stems that can be used indoors as well as outdoors. With small, round green leaves protruding from their red stems, they give off an exotic look. Their stems usually have a waxy finish, making them look more ornamental in nature. These plants can grow up to 2.5 metres in height. One of the reasons most gardeners prefer elephant bush is because of its low-maintenance nature. Make sure not to overwater the plant, as it does well when left in a dry environment with intermittent watering throughout the year.
2. Pokeweed
Pokeweed, also known as American pokeweed or dragon berries, is a perennial shrub with attractive foliage. This is a plant with a red stem. You should consider turning some heads. These plants produce flowers in pink and white during the summer and autumn. Pokeweed not only produces flowers but also blackberries during the season of autumn, making it a perfectly ornamental plant to consider. Pokeweed grows best when planted in a sheltered location with a clay-based base.
3. Wineberry
With large leaves with a green colour at the top and a silver colour at the bottom, wineberries have excellent foliage. The surface of these leaves and the plant’s stems are covered with thin, red spikes, giving it a captivating look. During the summer or the start of the fall, wineberries produce fruits that are edible and taste similar to raspberries. One thing to be noted is that these plants require good care and shouldn’t be abandoned as they are considered invasive species.
4. Pigweed
Pigweed, or amaranthus, comes with a varied colour of foliage, giving your garden a colourful look. One of the main advantages of growing pigweed is that not only are they a great addition to your garden, but they can also be used as leaf vegetables, as all of their species are edible. Not all species of pigweed have red stems, so if you are specifically looking for a plant with red stems, you might have to choose the one that matches your interests. Though, in general, when pigweed ages, it tends to acquire a reddish colour as a whole.
5. Caster Bean
The caster bean or caster oil plant is usually classified as a weed and grows best in tropical environments. These red-stemmed plants will add an ornamental touch to your garden but are toxic if consumed directly. Consumption of cater beans may cause various allergies, but you can extract caster oil from the plant, which will be useful. To obtain the best results, plant caster beans in fertile, nutrient-rich, well-drained, and moist soil.
6. Himalayan Balsam
Himalayan balsams are red-stemmed plants that have their origins in the Himalayas. They are annual plants and are fast-growing in nature. With green leaves, these plants grow in an upright position. On attaining maturity, these plants will have a hard stem that is usually red in colour. Himalayan balsam produces flowers that are white or pink in colour, and this adds more colour to your gardens. With an explosive seed dispensing mechanism, this plant grows very rapidly and is considered invasive by nature. Hence, good care is demanded if you are going for this plant.
7. Peonies
The peony is not only a plant with red stems but also a plant that produces beautiful flowers. If you are looking for an attractive flowering plant for your garden that also comes with a red stem, this is your find! Peonies grow best when grown in direct sunlight and planted in well-drained soil. These plants are popular among florists as well as gardeners due to their easy-to-grow nature. Peonies might get fungal diseases, so it is recommended to check on their foliage every now and then.
8. Red-Stemmed Thalia
Thalias are red-stemmed herbaceous plants with an overall stunning look. These shrubs will grow up to 8 meters in height. This plant is certainly a stand-out in this list of red-stemmed plants due to some peculiarities. If you are looking for a plant that can grow quickly and are wondering how to cover the area beside a water body in your garden, this is your find. These plants grow well in water-clogged areas and are a great addition to such places.
9. Common Purslane
There are plants that hate shade. Common purslane is one such succulent plant that thrives in areas with direct sunlight. If you are looking for red-stemmed plants that can withstand hot weather, you must consider getting a common purslane. These plants give the best results when planted in dry soil. Just scatter the seeds rather than burying them, and they’ll grow fine and well.
10. Mountain Pepper
The mountain pepper, or Tasmanian pepper berry, is a shrub native to Australia. Mountain pepper has dark green leaves and a deep red stem, making it a stunner when it comes to appearance. Their leaves have a particularly long shape, similar to a lance tip. Not only does the foliage of this plant add beauty to your garden, but it also produces attractive flowers during the summer that are white or cream in colour. These flowers eventually turn into berries during the fall. Another perk of having mountain pepper in your house is that it can be used as a substitute for black pepper and has a pungent aroma.
11. Lady’s Mantle
Lady’s Mantle is a low-maintenance perennial plant that grows in late spring and early summer. They have beautiful foliage of semi-round leaves protruding from red stems. These plants do well in direct sunlight, but it is better to keep them in partial shade during the summer. The reason why these plants are gardeners’ favourites is that they require watering only when the temperature is too high and don’t require any fertilisers either. As Lady’s Mantle can’t handle frost, it is recommended to move them indoors during frost season, and pruning should be done to keep them in good shape.
12. Japanese Barberry
If you prefer growing a red-stemmed plant that won’t reach more than 1.5 metres in height, then Japanese barberry is a choice you should consider. Their red, woody stems, surrounded by small, attractive leaves, make sure to give your garden a very attractive touch. During the spring, these leaves will be green in colour, protruding from the stem as buds and turning green before falling by September. These plants are low-maintenance in nature and are recommended to grow along the edges of your garden or in groups for a stunning display.
13. Winged Spindle
The winged spindle will be a stunning addition to your garden, for sure, hence its inclusion in this catalogue. This shrub has woody, red-coloured stems with curled leaves in green and red. To add more to their beauty, they produce yellowish-green flowers during the spring. And that’s not all; during the autumn, they produce colourful berries as well! There are no strict rules to be followed when it comes to planting these stunningly beautiful shrubs. Though it is recommended to try some informal ways of displaying them to enhance the overall look of your garden,
14. Crimson Glory Wine
This shrub is a perennial climber and can reach a height of 12 m. If you’re looking for a red-stemmed climber that can beautify your garden walls or trees, Crimson Glory Vine will be a nice choice. With red stems and large leaves that turn red during the season of autumn, they provide a breathtaking overall look. It is to be noted that, to grow well, this plant grows well when planted on soil neutralised using an alkaline in a sheltered atmosphere.
15. Bloody Stromanthe
Bloody Stromanthe is an attractive houseplant with bright red stems. With beautiful foliage of cream and green leaves, these plants produce flowers that are orange during the summer and spring. Because of the colour variations they provide during various seasons, they are a great addition to gardens. To get the best results out of these plants, bury them in slightly acidic, loam-based soil away from direct sunlight.
16. Bronze Leaf Begonia
These thick-stemmed plants produce beautiful pink and red flowers during the summer, adding a punch to your garden with their presence. They’re grown as annual plants in the UK. You can find a variety of Begonias, but the reason for adding this particular cultivar to our list is because of their thick stems. This makes the plant stay strong even during the winter. These plants are recommended to be grown in pots to make a great display.
17. Wings of Fire
“Wings of Fire,” as the name implies, is a plant that can give a flaring touch to your garden or room. These small shrubs grow to a height of 1.5 metres and have stunning foliage. With leaves of red, orange, and pink growing in abundance, these small plants make a big impact in the space in which they’re grown. There are no strict rules to be followed when it comes to their location of growth, and you can plant them at your convenience to create a captivating display!
18. Virginia Creeper
If you are particularly looking for a plant that looks as if it were painted red from head to root, then this one’s for you. From its foliage to its stems, Virginia Creeper is all about being red. During the season of autumn, their leaves turn a fiery red, making them look ornamental. Once established, these plants can do well on their own, even in harsh conditions. These plants, also known as ‘American Ivy’, will make a great display if grown on a trellis or fence.
19. Christmas Berry, aka “Red Robin”
The Red Robin gives your garden a burst of colour to make people go “awe!” They’re very popular among gardeners for their stunning looks in bright red. With a dark red stem and darker leaves that turn green before falling, they make excellent ornamental plants. These plants grow best when planted on a soil base that is acidic to neutral in nature. Red Robins is not just about their attractive foliage; they also produce creamy white flowers during the spring, making them look extra colourful.
20. Common Dogwood
The plant varieties that fall under the dogwood species are popular for their stunning foliage. The common dogwood is a shrub that will make a great display plant in your garden. You will see the real beauty of these shrubs during the winter season. By winter, the plant will lose all its leaves, exposing its bright red branches. At this time, it acts as a nest for a variety of species. If you are looking for a plant with red stems that is easy to maintain, you must consider the common dogwood.
21. Coral Black Willow
The coral black willow is more of a tree than a plant, but it is a great choice for a garden. These medium-sized trees are similar to the common dogwood in that they have bright red to orange bushes of stems. It is this colour that makes them a captivating addition to your garden. If you have a garden that attracts wildlife species, the black coral willow will be of great help in sheltering them. These trees are known for being nesting grounds for a wide variety of birds during the winter.
22. Purple Bergenia
We can’t conclude this catalogue without suggesting the purple bergenia to you. This is an attractive plant with red stems that produce pink flowers. These trumpet-shaped flowers add to the beauty of this plant and your garden. As we all know, the presence of bees and butterflies adds to the beauty of your garden, and this plant is an excellent point of attraction for pollinators. These easy-to-maintain flowering plants will make an excellent display item for your garden and grow really well once they are established.
End Note
Being able to recognise plants by their appearance is a good trait, especially in situations where you want to know whether their product is edible or poisonous in nature.
We hope this catalogue will help you not only to identify a wide variety of red-stemmed plants but also to learn about the options you have when it comes to cultivating them.
All of the cultivars included in this article will make a captivating display for your garden and can be grown indoors and outdoors as per your needs. Learn about the soil base, availability of light, and style of the decor of your place before making the best pick from this list.
With the right amount of treatment and care, you can make your garden look prettier with such shrubs and plants.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Plants with Red Stems Edible?
It is a debatable question, and as red-stemmed cultivars include a wide variety of species, there can’t be a specific answer. You should first know enough details about the plant you are going to include in your garden to avoid risks such as the consumption of toxic berries. Seeds of plants such as pigweed are rich in vitamins and are considered edible.
What Makes My Peonies Turn Red?
This is a common complaint about people who have peonies in their gardens. The reason for such an issue is that either the plant is affected by fungus or is placed under excessive sunlight. Move the plant to shade or use medicinal water to cure this problem, as per your observations.
Why Do Some Plants Have Red Stems?
Red pigmentation in the stems of certain cultivars is caused by the presence of anthocyanins. It is due to this pigmentation that certain herbaceous plants are seen to have red stems in abundance.
