Forget flowers—this plant’s leaves put on a show that stops traffic. Bloodleaf, also known as Beefsteak Plant or Chicken Gizzard, is a soft-wooded, evergreen perennial treasured for its intensely colourful, ornamental foliage. It features striking, rounded to heart-shaped leaves in rich shades of deep purplish-red or burgundy, often dramatically veined with hot pink, light red, or purple. The fleshy, red-tinged stems add to the plant’s vibrant appearance, creating a luminous, almost glowing effect. While it produces small, insignificant greenish-white flowers, they are rarely seen in cultivation and are typically pinched out to keep the plant’s energy focused on its magnificent leaves.
Native to Brazil, this tropical beauty does well in the Western Cape with the right care. It needs full sun to part shade—morning sun with afternoon shade is ideal, especially in hotter inland gardens, since harsh direct sun can scorch the leaves. Give it well-drained, compost-rich soil and consistent moisture. It’s sensitive to cold and severe frost, so treat it as a seasonal annual or grow it in a container that can be moved to shelter in winter. Reaching up to 1m tall and wide, it’s perfect for mixed borders, containers, or hanging baskets.
Key Features:
- Dazzling leaves in crimson, burgundy, and purple-red provide intense, year-round visual interest
- Grown for foliage—insignificant flowers are pinched out to keep energy on the leaves
- Fast-growing and bushy, quickly filling space with a lush, tropical feel
- Leaf colour intensifies in brighter light conditions
Gardening Note: Plant in well-drained, fertile soil in full sun to partial shade. Water regularly to keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Pinch back growing tips regularly to encourage a bushier habit. Protect from frost—move containers to a sheltered spot over winter. Easily propagated from stem cuttings taken in spring or summer.
