10 Garden Plants With Red Leaves

Tuesday, January 22, 2013, 13:16 [IST]

The accepted convention is that greenery is beautiful. When people cultivate gardens in their apartment, they want to have some greenery in their house. However, you can beg to differ and say that too much of greenery is boring. Greenery is beautiful and soothing but a dash of colour can actually make a green spot interesting.

A dash of colours can come only from non-green plants. The commonest variety of these non-green plants are those plants that have red leaves. Some of these are red foliage plants and others are trees that have red leaves. Maple is a classic example of a tree with red leaves at any point in time. But there are several other foliage plants that are red.

The advantage of having a red foliage plant in your garden is that, it gives your garden volume and colour. Also, they take lesser place than the huge trees with red leaves.

So, here is a list of 10 plants that have red leaves and can be cultivated in your small apartment garden.

Carpet Bulge: Ajuga reptans

This plant is commonly called the 'Bulge' due to the shape of its leaves. This red foliage plant grows quickly and covers up the ground in no time. The best way to get some voluminous red into your garden.

Aeonium arboreum Atropurpureum: Zwartkop

This is actually a succulent plant or cactus. It has a beautiful shade of maroon and blooms like a glorious flower. It will be the chief honour of your garden if you can grow it right.

Heuchera micrantha: Coral Bells

This plant is basically wild and grows in the rocks. It is the perfect way to fit in rocks into your garden and make it more sculptured.

Salvia officinalis : Garden Sage

Not only does this plant look great but also smells divine. You can use this variety of sage to add flavour to your soups and salads.

Acer palmatum: Japanese Maple

You can grow this miniature variety of maple in your garden. In fact, this plant will give your garden a lovely Japanese look.

Cotinus coggygria: Purple Smoke Bush

This is again a foliage plant that will wow onlookers with this bushy presence. This plant has shredded leaves and rise like a cloud of smoke.

Albizia julibrissin: Silk Tree

The teetered leaves of this red plant makes it very angular. It is a good way to add some shapes to your garden.

Antirrhinum: Snapdragon

Due to their peculiar shape, these plants are also called Dragon Flowers or Snapdragons. The leaves of the plant opens in whirls like a flower.

Beta vulgaris : Swiss Chard

Not only can you decorate your garden with this common plant but also have it for dinner. Thai Swiss variety of the leafy vegetable, Chard is perfectly edible.