Bloodleaf

Bloodleaf (Iresine herbstii)

Bloodleaf is a bold foliage plant that brings deep burgundy to purple-red color with bright veining, giving beds and containers instant contrast. It fills in quickly and holds its color through the heat of summer, making it an easy way to keep plantings looking finished even between flower flushes. In warm climates it can grow as a tender perennial, and in colder regions it shines as a seasonal accent or an indoor houseplant. If you want dramatic color without relying on constant blooms, this plant delivers all season.

Distinctive Features

This tropical foliage plant is grown for its vivid leaves, typically maroon to purple-red with pink to red veins and stems that intensify the look. The habit is upright and bushy, and regular pinching encourages a denser, more compact shape. Flowers are small and usually not ornamental, so the main show is the foliage from spring through frost outdoors, or year-round indoors with good light. Outdoors as a seasonal planting it commonly reaches about 12 to 24 inches tall and wide, with the potential to grow larger in frost-free conditions.

Growing Conditions

• Sun: Full sun to part shade, with brighter light generally producing stronger foliage color and afternoon shade helpful in very hot locations.
• Soil: Rich, well-drained soil that holds some moisture, and containers should use a high-quality potting mix with good drainage.
• Water: Moderate, keep evenly moist during active growth and avoid letting the soil dry out completely.
• Zones: USDA Zones 10 to 11, and grown as an annual or houseplant in colder regions.
• Notable Traits: Fast growth and strong color response to light, with pinching improving fullness.

Ideal Uses

• Focal Point: Use in a large container as a focal point where the dark foliage can anchor the design and make surrounding colors look richer.
• Mixed Containers: Pair with bright flowers or chartreuse foliage to create high contrast that reads from a distance.
• Border Edging: Mass in the front of sunny beds for a clean ribbon of dark color that sharpens bed lines.
• Houseplant Color: Grow indoors near bright light to bring bold foliage contrast to shelves, windows, and desktops.

Low Maintenance Care

• Pinching: Pinch growing tips regularly to keep plants compact and encourage bushy branching.
• Watering: Water when the surface begins to dry, since consistent moisture supports the best leaf quality.
• Feeding: Feed lightly during the growing season to maintain steady growth and strong color, especially in containers.
• Temperature: Protect from cold, since it is frost-tender and growth slows in cool conditions.

Why Choose Bloodleaf?

• Bold Foliage Color: Deep burgundy to purple-red leaves with bright veining create instant contrast in any planting.
• Fast Fill: Quickly builds a full, upright mound that makes beds and pots look finished.
• Flexible Use: Works as a seasonal accent outdoors and transitions easily to indoor growing in colder climates.
• Easy Shaping: Responds well to pinching, letting you control size and density without complicated pruning.

Bloodleaf is most effective when you treat it like a color anchor, repeating it to create rhythm and contrast across the planting. Combine it with light greens, silvers, or bright flowers to make the foliage look even deeper and more intentional. Give it good light, consistent moisture, and occasional pinching, and it will stay dense and dramatic. If you want foliage that performs like a design element, this is a strong choice.