Maroon, Burgundy, or Purplish-Red Foliage/Stems

Glossy dark burgundy erect foliage is the trademark of this diminutive tropical Crinum. Baby Burgundy or probably more correctly Menehune Crinum Lily produces loads of offsets and quickly creates a mass of foliage and once mature produces clusters of starry light pink flowers atop short sturdy stalks. This dwarf Crinum is grown more for its foliage than for its flower production and makes a statement when planted near contrasting colored garden companions. Grow it as an interesting container specimen or as part of the garden and landscape. Item# 10908.

Noted for its dark chocolate to maroon colored foliage, in summer Black Truffle Lobelia produces tall dark spikes of deep true red tubular flowers that are truly a hummingbird's delight. Combine this beauty with chartreuse elephant ears or other light colored moisture loving plants for a wonderful contrast. Black Truffle Cardinal Flower is a hybrid selection with Lobelia cardinalis parentage which by some accounts is considered to be the most beautiful of North America's red flowered species. Provide consistently moist to wet sites, such as a bog garden, for full sun conditions as well as the deepest foliage coloration. Image courtesy of Plants Nouveau, all rights reserved. Item# 11705

The dark purple to deep burgundy foliage nearly black foliage of this sturdy perennial is topped by spikes of sweetly contrasting purple to lilac flowers in mid to late spring. Flowers attract native bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Blackbeard Penstemon or Beardtongue is hybrid selection of our native species (Penstemon species are found native only in North America) whose intensely colored foliage is sure to provide wonderful contrast with surrounding perennials in the garden and landscape or use it as a specimen in containers. Provide a full to mostly sunny location for the darkest foliage coloration and a well-drained, average moist soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Blackbeard Penstemon was selected not only for its foliage color but also for its compact habit and flower power. Images courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 11904

For several weeks in mid to late spring, the mounds of large, apple-green, heart-shaped, quilted foliage with maroon veining is topped by a multitude of conical spike-like clusters, or racemes, that are adorned in fragrant dainty white flowers that attract a variety of smaller pollinators. In fall and winter, its foliage deepens into bronze tones. Brandywine Foam Flower or Tiarella, a selection of our native Tiarella cordifolia, is a stoloniferous, ^†semi-evergreen, perennial groundcover perfectly suited to shaded gardens and landscapes. They can tolerate more sun in areas with cool summer climates but will still likely prefer to be in the shade during the heat of the day. Tiarellas prefer a moist soil with ample organic matter and average or better drainage and are resistant to be being browsed by deer and rabbits. Dr. Allen Armitage in his Herbaceous Perennial Plants, 4th Edition states that he "puts these plants on the A list for shady areas." Images courtesy of North Creek Nurseries, all rights reserved. Item# 13272

Like a midnight sky Carolina Midnight Loropetalum is definitely one of the darkest that we have come across. Dark burgundy rounded foliage contrasts with the near red frilly flowers in spring. New growth emerges a light reddish maroon. Chinese Witch Hazel is a nearly indestructible evergreen and can be pruned to form or allowed to grow into a large rounded shrub. These are well-rooted, and nicely branched.  Item# 9947.

A dwarf Loropetalum! The deep burgundy, purple, to near black foliage is accented by frilly bright cerise pink flowers in spring flowering a few weeks later than most Loropetalums and are so the flowers are less likely to get burned by a late freeze or frost. Cerise Charm™ Loropetalum, a.k.a Chinese Witch Hazel, is a new dwarf and compact selection that naturally develops into a dense rounded mound of dark foliage making this a great low-maintenance choice for small hedges, as accent plants, and even as a container specimens. Chinese Witch Hazel has few pests or disease problems when grown in an average to well-drained, acidic to neutral soil with average fertility in a full sun to partly shaded site. Images courtesy of Star Roses and Plants®, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12747

Bronze new growth on red stems quickly matures into large, dark green, glossy foliage with a serrated edge. Spring brings large clusters of white flowers that are followed by large red berries. A close kin of Red-Tip Photinia but with a more disease resistant disposition. Chinese Photinia has a moderate rate of growth and develops into a large evergreen shrub or small tree. Grow it as a specimen or as a hedge. Item# 10319.

In spring dainty 3-4" spikes of pink, Hyacinth-like flowers emerge from the soil to nestle among the often still unfurling rich green, burgundy pinstriped foliage. A winner in fairy gardens, rock gardens, in a border, or in containers! The tiny bulbs of Ledebouria quickly multiply and aren't picky about depth and will often be stacked one atop the other. Provide good drainage and average moisture in sun to light shade. Tough and easy yet dainty! 20+ bulbs/plants per pot. Item# 10466.

The huge 8-9" wide ruffled white flowers sporting darker pink veining with a dark burgundy eye shine like spotlights against the foil of dark burgundy to near black foliage and are produced throughout summer. A top performing selection, Dark Mystery Hardy Hibiscus is a vigorous and reliable clump forming perennial Hibiscus with a good branching habit. It is sure to be a star in almost any garden or landscape! Like most other Walter's Gardens introductions, Dark Mystery is an indeterminate plant producing flowers from the top to the bottom of the plants creating a knockout display in the garden and landscape. Provide a full to mostly sunny location in moist to average moist to wet, moderately fertile soils. Caterpillar host: Gray hairstreak. Images courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12060

One of the earliest to begin flowering and an RHS Award of Garden Merit winner! Clusters of lilac-pink tubular flowers are produced in abundance beginning in midspring and continuing into fall and are held against a contrasting foil of long-lasting showy deep bronze-red bracts and exceptionally dark green glossy foliage that takes on purple and bronze tones in winter. The flowers of Abelias attract a variety of pollinators including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Edward Goucher Glossy Abelia, considered to be a hybrid of Abelia x grandiflora x A. shumanii, has a naturally dense, rounded to vase-shaped habit on this medium-sized, evergreen to semi-evergreen shrub. Abelias are known for their toughness and adaptability to a variety of soil types provided they have average or better drainage. Deer resistant, somewhat salt tolerant, and mature, well-established plants are moderately drought resistant. Provide a full sun to part shade site with moderately fertile, average moist soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Long one of our personal favorites! Item# 3041

Deep red to bronze foliage on a bromeliad that multiplies readily creating a dense beautiful basket of medium-sized cascading plants. The Fire Ball Bromeliad, a type of Neoregelia, makes an easy low maintenance tropical-looking hanging basket plant or grow it as an epiphyte on wood or cork. The more intense the lighting is the more this Bromeliad looks like it is on fire! Item# 415

The mounding to trailing stems are adorned with beautifully variegated rounded foliage that is brushed with a patch of creamy white to pale yellow at its base that creates a stark contrast with the patches of burgundy, purple, and magenta all edged in a narrow band of blue-green. Great Falls™ Iguazu Coleus is a compact well-branched selection that is perfectly suited to create colorful hanging baskets, window boxes, specimen container plants, as a filler or spiller in mixed container gardens, as well as in the garden and landscape. This was the top-rated Coleus in 2017 trials at Penn State receiving a 4.96 out of a possible 5! Great Falls™ Iguazu Coleus is suitable for both shade and full sun conditions and it will prefer a moist to average moist, fertile, average to well-drained soil. Item# 12406

Won numerous Top Performer trial awards across the US in 2020 as an annual! The large tropical looking new foliage emerges a deep bluish green maturing to rich deep green with a matte finish and are held atop deep purple to near black stems. Heart of the Jungle® Elephant Ear or Colocasia is a naturally evergreen, rhizomatous tropical that acts like a die-back perennial in zones 8-9 returning from the roots and crown in spring. This cultivar does produce runners in late summer to fall which can be removed to prevent spreading it can also be enjoyed as a container plant. Be sure to dispose of any plant parts responsibly to ensure that it does not escape. Elephant Ears grow best in a moist to wet, fertile soil in a full to mostly sunny site. Photos courtesy of Proven Winners©, www.provenwinners.com, all rights reserved. Item# 12883

The large rounded flower clusters, to 12" more across, are of composed of hundreds of dainty pinkish-purple flowers are produced in mid to late summer and into fall atop tall, sturdy, upright to arching, hollow, purple spotted stems with whorled, medium green, rugose foliage. Joe Pye Weed, Eupatorium fistulosum but now classified Eutrochium fistulosum, is a long-lived, clump forming, deciduous, herbaceous, native perennial that is typically found growing along stream banks and in other relatively consistently moist areas but it does just fine under average garden conditions as well. Joe Pye Weed's nectar rich flowers attract butterflies and a variety of smaller pollinators including honeybees. Provide a full sun to partly shaded site in a moist to wet to average moist, fertile soil for optimum vigor, the sturdiest stems, and maximum flower production. Item# 475

Grown mainly for its neat form and large leathery deep green foliage, the new growth of the Japanese Blueberry Tree emerges in bronze and reddish tones, ultimately maturing to deep dark green, and as the older foliage prepares to drop it takes on deep bright red tones. In late spring to early summer, large racemes of white to light pink, fragrant, frilly flowers that are commonly hidden among the foliage attract bees and butterflies. The flowers are followed by olive like fruits that ripen to deep blue, purple, or black and give the plant its common name. The Japanese Blueberry Tree, Elaeocarpus decipiens, is a naturally evergreen small to medium-sized tree with a slow to moderate rate of growth and can be used as a screen, hedge, or specimen providing a holly or Magnolia look in areas with mild winters. These can be shaped into very nice specimens if desired and are typically maintained with the foliage going all the way to the ground. Provide a full to mostly sunny site, in a neutral to mildly acidic, fertile, quality soil with average moisture and good drainage. Item# 13419

Grown for its evergreen burgundy foliage more so than its large deep purplish-red, Formosa Azalea-like flowers. Little John Evergreen Azalea matures into a small to medium-sized evergreen shrub with a naturally rounded habit. It does not always flower after harsh winters in our zone 8B gardens but it is still a standout amongst its peers adding yearround color and interest. Provide your evergreen Azaleas with a well-drained, average moist, humus rich, acid soil and topdress with an organic mulch for the best results. Item# 494

Intense dark magenta-red 6-8" wide heavily textured flowers have a compimentary deep red halo surrounding the burgundy eye with the summer to fall display held against a foil of purple and bronzed tinged young maple-like foliage that matures to deep green. Mars Madness Perennial or Hardy Hibiscus is a vigorous clump-forming perennial that develops into a full, well-branched plant with great flower power!  Like most other Walter's Gardens introductions, Mars Madness is an indeterminate plant producing flowers from the top to the bottom of the plants creating an amazing summer into fall display in the garden and landscape. Provide a full to mostly sunny location in moist to average moist to wet, moderately fertile soils. Caterpillar host: Gray hairstreak. Images courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12499

Large 8-9" wide glowing deep red flowers are held against the dark burgundy maple-like foliage of this hardy Hibiscus. Midnight Marvel Perennial Hibiscus is a show stopper that absolutely pops in the summer and early fall landscape! Another excellent Walter's Gardens introduction, this hardy Hibiscus is sure to make a statement whether in the garden and landscape or all on its own. Like some of the other Walter's Gardens Hibiscus introduction, Midnight Marvel flowers all the way from the top to the bottom of these naturally rounded plants. Provide full to mostly sun and a moderately rich moist soil. Caterpillar host: Gray hairstreak. Item# 11420

Deep glowing red full Hibiscus flowers are held against the deep burgundy foliage of this exceptionally beautiful hardy and compact Hibiscus and Mimi is sure to be a conversation piece in any garden. Begins flowering early and at a young age. This is a cold hardy perennial Hibiscus that is well suited to container culture or in moist garden settings as well as in the shallow edges of water gardens, ponds, and in bog gardens. Caterpillar host: Gray hairstreak. Item# 11149

 A knockout combination! The large, 7-8" wide, white to very pale pink flowers with large starkly contrasting scarlet eye that is surrounded by a narrow fuchsia halo that bleeds out into overlapping petals and are set against a dark backdrop of deep burgundy to deep green maple-like foliage. Mocha Moon Perennial or Hardy Hibiscus is a moderately vigorous growing, clump forming, herbaceous perennial building to about 4' high and 5-6' at maturity. Like most of the newer Hibiscus developed by Walter's Gardens, Mocha Moon is an indeterminate type meaning that the plants both begin flowering earlier and flower all up and down the stems instead of just on the upper half of the plant creating a knockout display in the garden and landscape. *Provide full sun for the darkest foliage and provide a location in moist to average moist to wet, moderately fertile soils. Caterpillar host: Gray hairstreak. Images courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 13329

A vigorous, naturally evergreen shrub bearing large clusters of tubular maroon flowers at the ends of arching branches from spring to fall and or nearly year round under warm frost free conditions. Pollinated flowers may be followed by reddish purple berries. The fuzzy bronze-red green foliage adds to its interest. An excellent choice for hummingbirds and larger butterflies. Newell's Red Cestrum can easily be enjoyed as a container plant where not hardy. Item# 526

This new variety of variegated Hibiscus is absolutely Red Hot with it's burgundy, red, pink, green, and white foliage. The new growth starts out nearly maroon and lightens to a hot pink that sticks with it all season long adding its color to the landscape in broad strokes. 3-4" wide glowing red flowers add to its elegance in spring and summer and are sure to attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators. Caterpillar host: Gray hairstreak. Item# 9348

An earlier flowering and cold hardy selection of the Forsythia Sage developed by Plant Delights, Red Neck Girl boasts dark maroon red stems that contrast nicely with the 12-18" spikes of yellow tubular flowers in late summer and fall. This is a vigorous growing Salvia that can reach 7' high and wide in a single season so plan to give it plenty of space as it will tower over most other perennials in the late summer garden. Enjoys a moist, but not wet or soggy location, and a full to mostly sunny location. Item# 11517