These Plants With Red Stems Make For A Captivating Garden Design Feature
Reviewed By PETER LICKORISH
Peter is a Horticulture Lecturer and self-employed Horticulturist, with a passion for diverse areas of the industry - from garden design to the science behind plant growth and propagation. He has completed the Royal Horticultural Society’s Master of Horticulture (MHort) Award and lectures on RHS courses at Bedford College.
IN THIS GUIDE
- 1) Purple Bergenia
- 2) Common Dogwood
- 3) American Pokeweed
- 4) Japanese Barberry
- 5) Christmas Berry ‘Red Robin’
- 6) Purple Amaranth
- 7) Bromeliad
- 8) Elephant Bush
- 9) Winged Spindle
- 10) Bronze-Leaf Begonia
- 11) Mountain Pepper
- 12) Crimson Glory Vine
- 13) Coral Bark Willow
- 14) Bloody Stromanthe
- 15) Wings Of Fire
- 16) Castor Oil Plant
- 17) Virginia Creeper
- 18) Red Osier Dogwood
- 19) Sorbaria ‘Sem’
- 20) Wineberry
If you’re looking for plants that specifically bear red stems then this list should make for the ideal catalogue.
Red branches can look great in garden displays, adding dramatic colour that can persist even through the winter months with some plants such as Dogwood.
“A simple palette of vivid greens and strong reds, from flowers, berries and stems, can be a very powerful design feature and can even give a nod to Japanese gardens,” says Master Horticulturist Peter Lickorish.
In this article, I share twenty of my favourite plants with red stems that can be grown here in the UK, as well as some tips on how and where you can plant them.
1) 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.
The thick red stems from this perennial bear pink, trumpet-shaped flowers in the springtime that are adored by pollinators and should help attract bees and butterflies in masses to your garden displays.
Once established, purple bergenias are easy to care for and can be used in lots of displays around your garden.
2) Common Dogwood
- BOTANICAL NAME: Cornus sanguinea
- HARDINESS RATING: H6
- PLANT TYPE: shrub
- FOLIAGE TYPE: deciduous
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer
- SIZE: 1.5-2.5m in height, 1.5-2.5m spread
Dogwood is a hardy shrub that is known for its colourful foliage, and this common variety is no exception.
This plant is particularly stunning over winter when the leaves have died back, revealing an abundance of fiery red branches and stems that make great shelter for lots of wildlife.
Cornus sanguinea would make a bold choice for a low-maintenance, informal garden hedge.
“The ‘Midwinter Fire’ cultivar is perhaps the best option for a warming display,” says Peter.
“To get the best colour on stems, especially for larger cultivars in this species, prune to within 15cm of ground level every 2-3 years in mid spring.”
3) American Pokeweed
- BOTANICAL NAME: Phytolacca americana
- HARDINESS RATING: H7
- PLANT TYPE: perennial
- FOLIAGE TYPE: deciduous
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer / autumn
- SIZE: 2.5-4m in height, 1-1.5m spread
With pinky-red stems that bear large, oval leaves and racemes of pink and white flowers in the summer and autumn, American pokeweed is a unique shrub that is great for UK gardens for a multitude of reasons.
Not only is its foliage beautiful, but it also produces black berries in the autumn that hang from their own red stems, which are an ornamental statement in their own right.
If grown in a sheltered location in a clay or loam-based growing medium, this plant would make a delightful addition to any garden.
4) Japanese Barberry
- BOTANICAL NAME: Berberis thunbergii
- HARDINESS RATING: H7
- PLANT TYPE: shrub
- FOLIAGE TYPE: deciduous
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring
- SIZE: 1-1.5m in height, 1-1.5m spread
The Japanese Barberry is a small shrub which only grows up to 1.5m in height and spread, but it can still pack a punch in your garden displays.
Its red woody stems are lined with small, rounded leaves that also turn red from around September before falling off and returning as green buds again in spring.
A relatively low-maintenance shrub, grow Japanese barberry at the edges of your garden or plant multiple in a row to create a bushy hedge or screen.
5) Christmas Berry ‘Red Robin’
- BOTANICAL NAME: Photinia × fraseri ‘Red Robin’
- HARDINESS RATING: H5
- PLANT TYPE: shrub
- FOLIAGE TYPE: evergreen
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring
- SIZE: 2.5-4m in height, 2.5-4m spread
A shrub known for its bright red leaves that turn green as they mature, the red stems of photinia ‘red robin’ are not the only burst of colour that this evergreen will provide if planted in your garden.
Like the Japanese barberry, this shrub is also suitable for hedging, but ‘red robin’ can be slightly fussier and will require its soil to have an acidic to neutral pH.
However, caring for this photinia variety is definitely worth it, as you will also be rewarded with creamy-white flowers that appear in the spring.
6) Purple Amaranth
- BOTANICAL NAME: Amaranthus paniculatus
- HARDINESS RATING: H2
- PLANT TYPE: annual
- FOLIAGE TYPE: deciduous
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer / autumn
- SIZE: 1.5-2.5m in height, 0.1-0.5m spread
Amaranthus paniculatus, also known as the purple amaranth is a frost-tender annual that produces a flurry of purple flowers during summer and autumn that grow from arching red stems.
When grown in a sheltered position that gets plenty of sunshine throughout the day, this floriferous plant can grow up to 2.5m tall.
This plant is suited to traditional cottage garden displays but can also be planted in your flower borders or beds.
7) Bromeliad
- BOTANICAL NAME: Aechmea triticina
- HARDINESS RATING: H2
- PLANT TYPE: houseplant / perennial
- FOLIAGE TYPE: evergreen
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring / summer / autumn / winter
- SIZE: 0.1-0.5m in height, 0.1-0.5m spread
Bromeliads are usually grown indoors in the UK and are popular because of their evergreen foliage and long-lasting flowers, which can sometimes bloom all year long.
This particular variety is native to Brazil and is not commonly grown here in the UK.
However, if you can get your hands on Aechmea triticina, its bright red flowers, stems and leaves are certain to brighten up your displays, regardless of whether you grow it as an annual outside or as a perennial houseplant.
8) Elephant Bush
- BOTANICAL NAME: Portulacaria afra
- HARDINESS RATING: H1B
- PLANT TYPE: shrub / succulent / houseplant
- FOLIAGE TYPE: evergreen
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer
- SIZE: 1.5-2.5m in height, 1-1.5m spread (IN NATIVE CONDITIONS)
Another houseplant, Portulacaria afra, also known as the elephant bush, bears tiny, round green leaves from its thick red stems that have a waxy finish.
Although this shrub can reach up to 2.5m tall with a slightly smaller spread, in the UK they tend to not get much bigger than 1m.
Make sure that you do not overwater this plant, as it will prefer its loam or sand-based medium to be dry throughout most of the year.
9) Winged Spindle
- BOTANICAL NAME: Euonymus alatus
- HARDINESS RATING: H6
- PLANT TYPE: shrub
- FOLIAGE TYPE: deciduous
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring
- SIZE: 1.5-2.5m in height, 1.5-2.5m spread
The winged spindle is a medium-sized shrub that has woody red stems, curled green and red leaves and yellowy-green flowers that appear in the spring.
Not only that, but this low-maintenance plant also produces colourful berries in the autumn.
This hardy shrub can be grown wherever you please, but I’d recommend planting it at the back of your garden borders or in an informal planting scheme.
“I love to plant it near water to get double the impact, using its reflection,” adds Peter.
“Make sure to give it the shelter it needs for the best autumn colour.”
10) Bronze-Leaf Begonia
- BOTANICAL NAME: Begonia x benariensi
- HARDINESS RATING: H3
- PLANT TYPE: annual / perennial
- FOLIAGE TYPE: evergreen
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer
- SIZE: 0.5-1m in height, 0.1-0.5m spread
A half-hardy evergreen that is usually grown as an annual in the UK, bronze-leaf begonia produces beautiful pink and red flowers from thick red stems throughout the summer months.
With many varieties of begonia fashioning bright red stems, this cultivar stands out thanks to its H4 hardiness rating which means it can withstand cooler temperatures than that of its parent plant.
I think begonias look great in container displays and would recommend planting them with other annuals or in their own stand-alone pot.
11) Mountain Pepper
- BOTANICAL NAME: Tasmannia lanceolata
- HARDINESS RATING: H4
- PLANT TYPE: shrub
- FOLIAGE TYPE: evergreen
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring
- SIZE: 2.5-4m in height, 1.5-2.5m spread
A beautiful evergreen shrub, the mountain pepper is one of my favourite picks from this list.
With bright red stems that produce an aroma that is similar to that of cinnamon that bear yellowy-pink, star-shaped clusters of slender flowers, it is easy to see why I think so highly of this shrub.
Mountain pepper should be grown in acidic soil somewhere in the shade where it will also be sheltered from any harsh winds.
It can be grown as a hedge or in a garden bed, but I’d recommend planting it in your garden borders near paths and doorways so you can enjoy its fragrant foliage as often as possible.
12) Crimson Glory Vine
- BOTANICAL NAME: Vitis coignetiae
- HARDINESS RATING: H5
- PLANT TYPE: shrub / climber
- FOLIAGE TYPE: deciduous
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer
- SIZE: 12m in height, 2.5-4m spread
Vitis coignetiae, or crimson glory vine, is a hardy climbing shrub that can reach up to a huge 12m in height.
With bright red stems and large leaves that turn red in autumn, this climber is great for injecting a fiery flare into your displays.
This otherwise unfussy plant needs an alkaline to neutral soil pH and a sheltered position, making it ideal for growing against a wall where it will also add some colour.
13) Coral Bark Willow
- BOTANICAL NAME: Salix alba ‘Chermesina’
- HARDINESS RATING: H6
- PLANT TYPE: tree
- FOLIAGE TYPE: deciduous
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring
- SIZE: 12m in height, 8m spread
Similar to dogwood in that it has bare, colourful branches in the winter months, coral bark willow is a medium-sized tree that has red and orange stems that will brighten up your garden over the darkest stretches.
This tree is ideal for hedging but will also work brilliantly in wildlife-friendly gardens, acting as a wonderful shelter for small animals during the winter and a great place for birds to create their nests.
“Hard prune this back to a trunk or near ground level every 2-3 years in early spring, for a fresh profusion of highly coloured stems,” shares Peter.
14) Bloody Stromanthe
- BOTANICAL NAME: Stromanthe sanguinea
- HARDINESS RATING: H1B
- PLANT TYPE: houseplant / perennial
- FOLIAGE TYPE: evergreen
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): winter / spring
- SIZE: 1-1.5m in height, 0.5-1m spread
A houseplant with red stems that stand out against the variegated cream and green leaves, bloody stromanthe is a perennial that also produces lovely orange flowers throughout winter and spring.
This evergreen needs to be grown in a slightly acidic, loam-based medium and placed in a location within your home that is kept out of any direct sunlight.
15) Wings Of Fire
- BOTANICAL NAME: Weigela florida ‘Wings of Fire’
- HARDINESS RATING: H6
- PLANT TYPE: shrub
- FOLIAGE TYPE: deciduous
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring / summer
- SIZE: 1-1.5m in height, 1-1.5m spread
If you’re after a smaller plant that is sure to add some dramatic flare to your beds and borders, then ‘wings of fire’ might just be the one for you.
This shrub only reaches 1.5m in height and spread but its red stems bear an abundance of red, orange and bronze leaves throughout the year that are sure to make up for its smaller size.
As a relatively unfussy bush, plant this shrub wherever you please, but I think it will look great in shrubby borders with other foliage plants that are perhaps lacking in colour.
16) 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
Another smaller shrub, the castor oil plant is an annual that produces unusual spiky seed pods after flowering that grow in clusters along the plant’s red stems.
This frost-tender plant needs to be grown in a sheltered position in full sun, making it a great choice for potting up and placing against the walls of your home near windows and entrances.
It is the perfect way to inject ruby tones to the green palette of a tropical garden.
17) Virginia Creeper
- BOTANICAL NAME: Parthenocissus quinquefolia
- HARDINESS RATING: H6
- PLANT TYPE: shrub / climber
- FOLIAGE TYPE: deciduous
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer
- SIZE: 12m in height, 4-8m spread
If you’re looking for a plant that is practically red all over, including its thin stems, then the Virginia creeper might just be for you.
With slender leaves that turn a fiery red in autumn, the Virginia creeper, also known as American ivy, is easy to care for once established and will cope in harsh conditions or soils that are less than ideal.
Grow this shrub against a wall or trellis at the back of your flowering beds or borders to add a colourful backdrop to your garden displays.
Keep it trimmed regularly to prevent it from becoming too invasive however – this is a plant that grows fast and unruly!
“I find that regular trimming produces slightly different red tones in autumn, depending on the age of each leaf, adding a textured appearance,” Peter adds.
18) Red Osier Dogwood
- BOTANICAL NAME: Cornus sericea
- HARDINESS RATING: H7
- PLANT TYPE: shrub
- FOLIAGE TYPE: deciduous
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer
- SIZE: 1.5-2.5m in height, 2.5-4m spread
With white berries that appear in clusters from the red and brown stems in the autumn months, Cornus sericea, or red osier dogwood, is a medium-sized shrub with red stems that are left bare over winter.
The second dogwood variety on this list, this fully hardy plant is slightly larger than the first, so if you are looking for a cultivar with more of a spreading habit, perhaps for hedging or natural screening, then this might be the better choice of the two.
The cultivar ‘Cardinal’ is especially good for red stems.
19) Sorbaria ‘Sem’
- BOTANICAL NAME: Sorbaria sorbifolia ‘Sem’
- HARDINESS RATING: H5
- PLANT TYPE: shrub
- FOLIAGE TYPE: deciduous
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer
- SIZE: 1-1.5m in height, 1-1.5m spread
Sorbaria sorbifolia ‘Sem’ is another shrub with thick red stems that produce colourful leaves that are often tinged with a red flush.
The upright stems, which can reach up to 1.5m in height, bear clusters of white flowers that appear from spring.
Grow this deciduous shrub in your flower borders and beds or in an informal, low-maintenance planting scheme.
20) Wineberry
- BOTANICAL NAME: Rubus phoenicolasius
- HARDINESS RATING: H5
- PLANT TYPE: climber / shrub
- FOLIAGE TYPE: deciduous
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer
- SIZE: 1.5-2.5m in height, 2.5-4m spread
To conclude this list, I’ve chosen a unique shrub that produces red, frilly flowers from equally fuzzy stems during the summer months.
Wineberry is a low-maintenance climber that can spread up to 4m underground by its stems that only reach up to 2.5m tall.
Over the winter, the bare stems still provide plenty of colourful interest where planted and can also be a great shelter for any wildlife that frequents your garden during the colder months of the year.
