7 Herbs with Striking Red Stems and Green Leaves

This list should be the best resource for you if you’re looking for plants with red stems.

It’s great to use red branches in garden displays because they add a splash of color that can last all winter on some plants, like Dogwood.

Master Horticulturist Peter Lickorish says, “A simple palette of bright greens and strong reds from flowers, berries, and stems can be a very powerful design element and can even give a nod to Japanese gardens.”

It has twenty of my favorite plants with red stems that you can grow in the UK. It also has some planting tips, like how and where to put them.

Herbs come in a stunning array of colors textures and forms. While green stems and green leaves are the norm for most herbs, some varieties boast eye-catching red stems contrasting vibrantly with green leaves. These herbs with red stems and green leaves add visual intrigue and flair to any garden bed or container.

If you’re looking to punch up your plantings with exciting colors and textures consider incorporating one of these 7 herbs with red stems and green leaves

1. Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)

With its daisy-like purple flowers and bristly central cones, purple coneflower is a familiar sight in meadows and gardens. As a bonus, its stems take on a rich reddish-purple hue. The leaves are medium green and lance-shaped. This cheerful prairie native does well in full sun and average soil. It reaches 3-4 feet tall when in bloom. Butterflies and bees flock to its nectar-rich flowers.

2. Bronze Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare ‘Rubrum’)

Bronze fennel boasts striking dark red stems and ferny green leaves with a subtle bronze cast. This variety can grow up to 5 feet tall and spreads 2-3 feet wide. Tiny yellow flowers appear in summer attracting beneficial insects. All parts of fennel have a licorice-anise aroma and flavor. Use leaves and seeds to season foods and teas. Grow bronze fennel in full sun and well-drained soil. Cut back flower stalks to prolong harvest.

3. Red Vein Sorrel (Rumex sanguineus)

A tapestry of green leaves intricately traced with red veins makes red vein sorrel an eye-catcher. The spear-shaped leaves have a tart, lemony taste perfect for salads, soups, and sauces. Red vein sorrel thrives in part shade in rich, moist soil. It spreads into a clump up to 18 inches tall and wide when mature. Small green flowers give way to rusty-red seeds in summer. Sorrel leaves can be harvested a few at a time all season long.

4. Bloody Dock (Rumex sanguineus ‘Sanguineus’)

Closely related to sorrel, bloody dock displays dramatically dark red stems and veins contrasting its deep green leaves. It reaches 2 feet tall and spreads slowly. Blood-red veins intensify when plants grow in full sun. Use young leaves raw in salads and sandwiches or cooked in soups and stews. This vigorous herb tolerates part shade and nearly any soil. Cut leaves frequently to keep plants looking their best.

5. Red Rubin Basil (Ocimum basilicum ‘Red Rubin’)

With deep purple stems and leaves so dark they’re nearly black, red rubin basil makes a stunning edible accent plant. White flowers create a pretty contrast in summer. This basil boasts the same sweet, spicy flavor essential for pesto, herbed oils, and all your favorite Italian dishes. Grow red rubin basil in full sun and fertile, well-drained soil. Pinch off flower spikes to prolong leaf production. Bring containers indoors before frost.

6. Cuban Oregano (Plectranthus amboinicus)

Sometimes called Spanish thyme, Cuban oregano has slender, square, olive-green stems with a distinct reddish cast. The succulent, aromatic leaves are 2 inches long. Crushed leaves exude a strong oregano-thyme scent. Cuban oregano thrives in warm climates across the southern U.S. Grow it in containers you can move indoors in winter. Use the leaves to flavor mojitos, marinades, soups, meat and fish dishes. Pinch back regularly for bushy growth.

7. Persian Shield (Strobilanthes dyerianus)

Grown for its colorful foliage, Persian shield boasts iridescent purple stems and vivid blue-green leaves with purple undersides. Left unpinched, this tender perennial can reach heights of 4-6 feet. Regular pruning produces a bushy 2-3 foot plant. Persian shield thrives in partly shaded beds and mixed containers. Provide rich, moist well-drained soil. Although technically edible, Persian shield is usually grown ornamentally. Its long-lasting leaves work beautifully in cut flower arrangements.

The unique red stems and green leaves of these herbs provide ample opportunities to brighten your garden, containers, and cuisine. Their versatility extends from ornamental accents to culinary flavors to cut arrangements. Give one or more a try this growing season and see what a splash of red can do for your plantings.

herb with red stem and green leaves

Purple Bergenia

  • BOTANICAL NAME: Bergenia purpurascens
  • HARDINESS RATING: H5
  • PLANT TYPE: perennial
  • FOLIAGE TYPE: evergreen
  • FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring
  • SIZE: 0.1-0.5m in height, 0.1-0.5m spread

The purple bergenia is the perfect way to kick off this list.

This perennial has thick red stems that bear pink trumpet-shaped flowers in the spring. Pollinators love these flowers, so they should help bring a lot of bees and butterflies to your garden displays.

There are many ways to use purple bergenias in your garden. They are easy to take care of once they are established.

1 Castor Oil Plant

  • BOTANICAL NAME: Ricinus communis
  • HARDINESS RATING: H2
  • PLANT TYPE: shrub / annual
  • FOLIAGE TYPE: deciduous
  • FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer
  • SIZE: 1.5-2.5m in height, 0.5-1m spread

The castor oil plant is an annual that grows unusual, spiky seed pods that form clusters along the red stems of the plant after it flowers. It is another smaller shrub.

This plant can handle frost, but it needs to be grown in a protected spot with full sun. This makes it a great choice for pots that you can put against the walls of your home near windows and doors.

It is the perfect way to inject ruby tones to the green palette of a tropical garden.

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FAQ

What plant has a red stem and green leaf?

Pilea glauca, also known as Red stem Tears, is a trailing plant with small, round, thick green leaves that grows in clumps against red stems.

What is a green leaf with red stem edible?

Red Swiss chard’s flavor profile shares the earthiness of a beet green with the salinity of spinach. The red stalks are fibrous, often bitter and succulent, as they carry the bulk of the plant’s water content. Both the leaves and the stalk are edible.

What herb has a red stem?

History Red Veined Sorrel is indigenous to Europe as well as Asia. This plant has dark-red stems and veins, suggestive of dripping blood. The botanical epithet is from the Latin sanguineus meaning “blood-red”. Sorrel is a cleansing herb that has been used for culinary and medicinal purposes.

What is the name of the plant with red and green leaves?

Poinsettia. First, a classic: poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima) are popular plants with red and green leaves during the festive season. But people are often unaware that this houseplant has red leaves, as the bracts are easily mistaken for flowers.

What plants have red stems & green leaves?

Some plants with red stems are sometimes edible; some are dangerous to humans, while others are not. Some of the most beautiful plants that has red stems and green leaves include castor beans, Himalayan balsam, Pokeweed, lady’s mantle, elephant bush, pigweed, mountain peppers, etc. Let’s quickly learn more about these plants! 1. Castor bean

What plants have fuzzy red stems?

One plant with fuzzy red stems is the Stachys byzantina, also known as lamb’s ear. This plant is known for its soft, velvety leaves and tall spikes of purple flowers. The fuzzy red stems add an interesting pop of color to the garden, making it a unique addition to any landscape. What philodendron has red stems?

Why do some plants have red stems and green leaves?

Plants with red stems and green leaves are common in many plants characterized by the presence of conducting tissues known as vascular plants, even though their green may be green. In some plants, the red pigment is only found slender parts between two nodes or points. The red shade can either be seen or the whole branch or partially.

What plants have red stems in winter?

Another plant with red stems in winter is the red osier dogwood (Cornus stolonifera), also known as the American dogwood. This deciduous shrub is native to North America and grows up to 10 feet tall. In winter, the leaves of the red osier dogwood drop, and the stems turn a bright red, making it a popular choice for winter gardens and landscaping.

Are red stemmed plants edible?

These plants come in different shades and beauty, making them stand out in any indoor garden. Red-stemmed plants that can brighten up your indoor living space include Red-leafed Rubber Plant, Red Aglaonema, Red-veined Nerve Plant, Red-veined Prayer Plant, and Red Stemmed Parrot’s Feather. Some of these options also double up as edible plants.

Is red stem Thalia a good plant for a pond?

Red Stem Thalia Red stem Thalia is a good choice when considering plants for your pond. It has wide, lime green leaves and little violent flowers and can grow up to 4 feet high. It’s among the types of plants in the ocean. Propagation of red stem Thalia plants can be in planters (pots) or small groups in wet soil.

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