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Bloodleaf Wikimedia Commons
Amaranthaceae

Bloodleaf

Iresine herbstii

Vibrant energy.

Family
Amaranthaceae
Genus
Iresine
Native to
South America, Brazil
Bloom season
Summer
Type
herbaceous perennial
Height
1-3 ft
Sunlight
full sun to part shade
Soil
Rich, moist, well-drained
Water
moderate
Hardiness
10-12
Lifespan
perennial

Did you know

  • Bloodleaf is grown primarily for its strikingly colorful crimson and magenta foliage rather than its flowers.
  • The tiny white flowers are relatively insignificant compared to the dramatic leaf display.
  • It was a favorite bedding plant in Victorian-era carpet bedding garden designs.
  • Bloodleaf can be easily propagated from stem cuttings that root in just a few days in water.
  • The genus name Iresine comes from the Greek 'eiros' meaning wool, referring to the woolly flower clusters.

Color meanings

0

vitality

1

boldness

Uses

  • ornamental bedding
  • container planting
  • houseplant