7 Plants With Red Stems To Add Color to Your Garden

Plants with red stems are ones that add striking color to most garden landscapes. Knowing how to recognize a plant by the color of its stem is a skill not many have. So, whether you are passionate about growing different plants or simply seeking more knowledge about each, this guide is for you.

Each of these red-stem plants will have its description, which is why you can learn how and where to grow it, as you continue reading, you will know the right ones.

List of Red Stem Plants To Grow

1. Japanese Barberry Plants

The Japanese Barberry is a small shrub that only reaches a height and spread of almost five feet, but it nevertheless packs a visual punch in your garden displays. With the right care, you will see this plant growing in such an amazing way as it thrives and adds a stunning feature.

Small, spherical leaves that are lined by crimson woody stalks and turn red themselves starting around September fall off and are replaced by green buds again in the spring.

Grow Japanese plants around the margins of your garden or plant several in a row to make a bushy hedge or screen. It’s a reasonably low-maintenance shrub. In full sun, this barberry plant thrives; however, it can handle some shade, particularly in the warmest parts of its growing zones.

For vivid, rich foliage, seven hours of sunlight daily is excellent. In typical soil, this shrub can be grown quickly and you must also know that as long as there is exceptional drainage, it can withstand various soil conditions, quite similar to the phytolacca Americana plant and also very close to the Christmas berry.

Root rot may result from wet soil, if you go ahead and water it too much, which is why you must consider how it can withstand drought well. You won’t need to water your shrub except during harsh heat.

If you notice the plant’s leaves are falling low or even dropping off during the growing season, it usually indicates that it needs some water. Regularly water a newly planted shrub to keep the soil slightly damp during the first growing season.

2. Elephant Bush

Another indoor plant, Portulacaria afra, or the elephant bush, has tiny, spherical, green leaves that grow from its thick, waxy red stems. This shrub has a significantly narrower spread and can reach a height of eight feet. Be careful not to over-hydrate this plant because it spends the bulk of the year dry like its loam or sand-based soil.

The peculiar reddish-brown stems of this drought-tolerant jade-plant clone contrast exquisitely with the glossy, spherical, variegated, three-fourth-inch succulent leaves. It grows slowly, but as it gets older, the red stems get thicker, giving the plant an aged appearance even while it’s young.

These bushes are ideal for growing in hanging baskets because of their somewhat expansive or cascading habits. Because it is evergreen, it can be used as a screen or hedge.

When it comes to care, watering sparingly, and so you must consider how this plant thrives on neglect, like the majority of succulents. Simply plant it in sandy soil with full sun to ensure quick drying and prevent root damage. Try to make sure that whatever container you use to grow it has holes at the bottom so that water can readily drain through.

The plant hates having its feet wet, so if there is a saucer underneath the pot, it must be empty after watering, and this would also place it in a risk of having fungi around the roots that will develop. Use a pre-made cactus mix or make your own by combining potting soil, sand, or vermiculite in equal amounts.

Elephant bush grows slowly, either in the ground or in a container, so it won’t take over the area you give it. It steadily grows many feet tall and wide when planted, but it can be kept smaller by cutting the tips.

As it grows slowly, you may wish to fill up the area with other little plants as it matures and then remove them if things get congested. If you wish to see the plant reach its full size, plant it in enough space. These bushes can be planted in groups and can be spaced as little as a foot apart, giving the impression that they are one large shrub.

3. Red Osier Dogwood

The bright red branches of red twig dogwood will give color to your winter scene, but the bushes may also enhance your environment all year long with colorful spring blossoms, beautiful foliage, and berries from the summer to fall. There are cultivars of various dogwood species that include the term “red twig” as a part of their common name.

Depending on the variety, red osier dogwood shrubs have dark green or variegated leaves, which are significantly greenish-gray with a white edge and small, flat clusters of white flowers. Red twig dogwoods are one of the few species of plants that thrive in damp situations and have a good tolerance for most types of soil and light, and for this, you would notice that the best color is on young red stems.

Thus, it’s advised to remove a few of the oldest red stems on a regular basis each year, so go ahead and trim the roots around the plant’s base with a spade if the bushes start to spread out too much. The plants can be cut completely back to the ground on a regular basis to both revive them and restrict their development.

These plants thrive in low locations, by streams or ponds, and prefer damp environments. If there isn’t much rain in the initial months of planting, water new plants once a week to keep the soil constantly moist.

Mature plants require watering only during dry spells lasting longer than a week, and you must also know that this shrub can withstand a variety of climates. It struggles to survive in highly hot and muggy environments where it may be susceptible to illnesses.

4. Mountain Pepper

One of our top choices for red-stemmed plants is mountain pepper, a lovely evergreen shrub. It is simple to understand why this shrub is thought so highly because it has brilliant red stems with a cinnamon-like scent and bears yellowy-pink, star-shaped clusters of delicate flowers.

Mountain pepper should be planted in an area with acidic soil that is shaded and protected from strong winds. Although it may be planted as a hedge or in a garden bed, which is why what you can do is go ahead and plant them in your garden borders close to pathways and entrances so that you can use its fragrant foliage as frequently as possible; so, they will fill the space with the aroma in their growing season.

To keep the pepper healthy, give it regular watering and periodic fertilizer applications. Keep an eye out for insects or illnesses and remove any dead or unhealthy branches. Mulch surrounding the plant’s base can also aid in moisture retention and weed control, and when they are ready, you can go ahead and cultivate them, as they are also beneficial in this way as well.

When the berries attain a dark red color, these peppers are typically ready for harvest. Carefully select the berries and include them in a range of recipes and beverages. You can enjoy the beauty of this unusual plant in addition to adding flavor to your meals. The red stems on the plant also make for vibrant landscapes.

5. Castor Bean

What makes castor bean plants so famous? Castor oil plants are indigenous to Africa and the Middle East. They have star-shaped leaves and bright red seeds, and they grow swiftly, gaining six to ten feet per growing season. Also note that while the stunning red stems on this plant look beautiful, humans, cats, and dogs can all be poisoned by these castor plants.

In most areas, castor plants are normally grown in the summer and quickly develop to vast heights, making them a focal point in your landscape or an excellent choice for a living privacy fence if grown together. However, castor plants stand out in your environment for more reasons than just their height. When placed next to plants with smaller leaves, their coarsely textured leaves offer striking textural contrasts.

Castor plants prefer the sun to be constant and strong, and this is why, they should be placed in your landscaping, where they will have easily found access to direct sunlight each day, which should be around eight hours of full sun. Avoid placing the plant beneath large trees, as this may limit the amount of light it receives. Additionally, remember that your plant will be fuller and more fruitful the more sunlight it receives.

Although they prefer dependably moist soil, these castor plants should not be overwatered. The plant prefers to receive an inch of water every week, either naturally occurring rain or artificially applied water. So make sure to water it properly but not in an immeasurable way.

The finest results for this plant will be obtained in moist, rich soil. The combination shouldn’t be soggy or easily waterlogged but should be nutrient-dense and retain moisture properly. If the soil mixture in the area where you wish to plant doesn’t have a good reputation, you can add some organic matter to make the soil more nutrient-dense.

6. Himalayan Balsam

The Himalayan mountains are home to the flowering perennial plant known as Himalayan balsam, or it is also known as the Impatiens glandulifera. Although it is a pretty ornamental plant, people have caused it to grow invasive throughout North America. It is necessary to remove the plant from its roots to eradicate the invasive species.

Although these balsam plants prefer adequate moisture, they are not drought- or waterlogging-resistant. Water that is applied in excess can readily collect, leading to root rot and wilted foliage; so note that the plants will suffer and lose their leaves and blossoms if they don’t receive enough water.

When it’s scorching outside, plants often get watered every two days or so in the summer, so it is best that you go ahead and hydrate your plants earlier in the morning or evening rather than at noon when the temperature is at its peak. Himalayan plants prefer a setting with direct sunlight, and a sufficient amount of sunlight can improve a plant’s growth and encourage flowering.

In short, each day must be assured to have at least eight hours of light. Although you may also try to use shade and caution when exposed to direct sunlight during hot summer to prevent sunburns.

These plants must be moved to an area with lots of sunlight if plants are being grown indoors during the winter, and this promotes plant growth and prolongs the blooming period. Himalayan plants can typically be pinched, or the buds on the tops of branches removed, when it reaches a height of almost ten inches.

While the fragile branches can be carefully pruned as necessary, the thick, ancient branches need to be clipped severely to encourage the re-germination of new branches. Too-dense branches should be frequently pruned to ensure that the plant’s development is uniform throughout and that light can reach inside the plant to encourage nutrient accumulation and flowering.

7. Peonies

Beautiful flowering plants called peonies have red stems when they are newly emerging. For optimum growth, they prefer sunny environments and well-drained soil. Peonies are low-maintenance plants that add beauty to your yard by producing wonderful blooms. Take extra care because they are susceptible to fungi-related illnesses.

A peony may bloom for up to 100 years with little to no care if it is content and in a good location. This indicates that investing some time upfront in selecting the ideal planting area and improving the soil is worthwhile.

However, several tales of abandoned peony plants are discovered in blooming condition next to ancient cellar openings in the wood, in short, if peonies have the best growing conditions, they will be healthier, more vivacious, and much more vibrant when they are blooming in a great way.

Peonies prefer an area with good soil drainage and sunlight. A healthy airflow around the plant is also crucial. Peonies are able to avoid their sole significant disease issue, botrytis, thanks to these growing circumstances.

Conclusion

There you have it, our entire list of plants with luscious, red stems. Remember:

• Wineberries or barberry plants may be susceptible to root rot, so thoroughly consider their watering schedule.
• Peonies have some of the most beautiful blooms; just beware of the fungi diseases that could occur under incorrect conditions.
• Castor plants can be highly toxic; if you plan to work with them, practice caution.

Now that you have such further knowledge about these plants, it would be a great choice to add them in your garden to promote such a pleasing touch to the surrounding aesthetics.

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