Plants come in a huge variety of different shapes, sizes, and colors. Though all of these things matter when it comes to making our perfect garden, color is arguably the most important thing.
Vibrant combinations of different colors bring a garden to life. One-color that does this well is a ruby-colored plant. Ruby-colored plants add interest to our gardens.
They are found throughout the world. Some grow in tropical rainforests, while others grow in deserts. Some species are native to North America, while others are native to South America.
If you live near a forest, you might even see some ruby-colored plants growing wild. But if you don’t, you could always try and grow some of your own.
If you’re interested in adding some ruby to your garden or simply want to learn more about what’s out there, you’ve come to the right place. Today in this article we will be looking at ruby plants from all around the world, giving you a better understanding of what you could add to your garden.
If this is something you like and appeals to you, be sure you keep reading to learn more.
1. Rhododendron
We’ll kick our list off with rhododendrons. These evergreen and deciduous plants are one of the most popular types of ruby-colored plants. They can grow up to 20 feet tall and have beautiful flowers with bright red petals.
Some are single-stemmed while others are multi-stemmed. Blooming in spring and early summer the rhododendron is usually the statement piece in a garden. As well as ruby, they can be pink, white, or yellow in color.
2. Foxlight Foxglove
This perennial plant is a common sight in gardens from late spring through the summer. Its thin stems grow up to 24 inches high making it easy for the plant to show off beautiful deep ruby-colored flowers.
Each stem has a cluster of delicate trumpet-shaped petals that are ruby on the outside and orange in the middle. Planting this perennial will attract hummingbirds and butterflies to your garden. Just ensure the plant has plenty of sun and enough space to spread.
3. Ruby Port Columbine
Commonly referred to as Granny’s Bonnet, the ruby port columbine plant is best known for its bell-shaped flowers that range in color. They can be found in yellow, orange, purple, multi-colored, and most importantly ruby red.
There are actually over 70 species of this plant so a ruby-colored flower isn’t always guaranteed. When planted in sandy, loamy soil that is moist but well-drained, you can expect this plant to reach 3 feet tall.
4. Ruby Ruby Miniature Rose
The ruby ruby miniature rose may be small in size but it will certainly stand out. Growing from a green mound of foliage this plant emerges with clusters of cherry red buds and ruby red double layered flowers.
The glossy dark green leaves give the plant an even more impressive appearance. This plant works well in a border or when grown in containers ready to give to your loved ones next valentines day.
5. Ruby Red Tickseed
Also known as Coreopsis, ruby red tickseed is an easily grown perennial that attracts birds, butterflies, and bees. A big lover of the sun, this plant blooms in the summer to reveal unique star-shaped flowers that have a mix of colors.
On the outer part of each flower, the petals are white. Closer to the center, the flowers become a fiery ruby red color before finally transforming into a completely orange shade in the very center. Growing up to 32 inches wide and 16 inches high, the tickseed will be a lovely addition to any garden.
6. Ruby Spider Daylily
The ruby spider daylily is a tall, very large variety of daylily that has a dark ruby-colored flower with a vibrant yellow center. This perennial typically blooms in the summer and is tolerant of urban pollution.
At the top of each 34-inch tall stem sits one solitary trumpet-like flower that not only looks amazing in the garden but also in a bouquet.
7. Little Ruby Alternanthera
Unlike the other plants on this list so far, the little ruby alternanthera plant doesn’t have a ruby flower. Instead, this plant has very dark ruby foliage with its burgundy pointed leaves being the main focal point.
Reaching heights of 18 inches and a spread of 30 inches, this plant grows comfortably in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 9.
8. Magical ‘Ruby Red’ Hydrangea
Hydrangeas are hugely popular as plants or cut flowers thanks to their big, colorful blooms. This variety of hydrangea has clusters of large gemstone-colored blooms but that’s not all. The foliage on this plant also turns into a strong burgundy color as the year progresses.
The erect climbing shrubs flowers look beautiful when included in an elegant bouquet. For best results, ensure the plant has moist but well-drained soil.
9. Euphorbia Ruby Glow
You may not have heard of this plant before. This may be because it is usually known by the name Wood Spurge. Wood spurge is a compact, branched evergreen perennial that has rosettes of soft, but leathery ruby red leaves before it matures.
As if this plant wasn’t eye-catching enough already, as it matures, it becomes a striking black color. Growing to 16 inches in size, the euphorbia ruby glow plant makes a great ornamental plant.
10. Hibiscus
Often considered to be a tropical plant, the hibiscus is actually a shrubby woody-stemmed perennial plant that varies massively giving people the chance to grow it all over the world.
Easily growing in USDA zones 4 to 9, the hibiscus has glossy leaves and a brilliantly red solitary flower featuring 5 delicate petals. Each flower can grow to 10 cm in diameter and has a prominent orange-tipped anther. As well as ruby red you can find the hibiscus in pink, purple, and blue.
11. Chrysanthemums
Chrysanthemums are arguably the most versatile plant on our list. Originally they could only be grown in yellow, but now they can be pink, white, purple, green, and of course ruby red. You will most definitely recognize a chrysanthemum because its flowers aren’t easily missed.
Shaped like a globe or large daisy, the flowers on a chrysanthemum have two or three layers of overlapping delicate petals that also come with a unique earthy, herbal scent. This species of plant exudes elegance so why not include them in your garden?
12. Cardinal Flower
The cardinal flower has been used to symbolize distinction and romantic love. Based on the appearance of the flower, it’s not hard to see why. This plant has tall spikes of delightfully red trumpet-shaped flowers that rise tall above dark green foliage.
The flower’s bright red color and sweet-tasting nectar attract many species of hummingbirds making them ideal for any wildlife lover looking to draw some nature to their garden. The scarlet red flower grows to 28 inches tall and loves full to partial shade.
13. Peony
There are 30 different species of peony plant but they all share one thing in common and that is their incredibly beautiful showy plants. Reaching a height of almost 3 feet, the herbaceous peonies are perennials that have large glossy leaves.
It is on top of these large leaves where the most beautiful flower is found. Each flower has multiple layers of bright pink or dark red petals that are commonly used to represent positivity and uniqueness.
It’s fair to say by adding these plants to your garden you will definitely be adding positivity in the form of vibrant color.
14. Zonal Geranium
Zonal geraniums have flat rounded leaves that bear clusters of fiery flowers that sit atop long sturdy stalks. This species of geranium can also be found in white, orange, red, and pink.
Part of the genus Pelargonium family this woody to herbaceous plant looks amazing in a hanging basket or flower bed that runs along a path. To grow successfully, zonal geraniums need fertile, alkaline to natural soil in a location that has plenty of access to the sun.
15. Maltese Cross Flowers
The final plant on our list is the Maltese cross flower, also called Silene chalcedonica. This plant takes its name from the shape of the lobe flowers that bloom in bunches at the top of a solitary stalk. Each vertical stem of the Maltese cross flower can grow up to 4 feet tall when cared for properly.
If looked after you can expect to see scarlet red flowers appear in midsummer. Though native to the Mediterranean, if you have plenty of sun and consistently moist, well-drained soil, you could easily grow this flower.
In Conclusion
Now you’ve made your way through our list of ruby plants, hopefully, you have a better understanding of what’s out there. In all truth, we have barely even scratched the surface with this list.
Ruby-colored plants are a great way to add an awesome burst of life, energy, and vibrancy to your home, whether it be through a gorgeous hanging basket, multicolored border, or a simple, yet beautiful houseplant.
Though the plants on our list vary massively in terms of where they’ve come from and what they look like, they can all be grown all around the world, therefore there’s no excuse but for you to try and grow some of your own ruby plants.
Take our list and find the plants you like most. Once you’ve found your favorite, why not try to grow it in your own backyard. Your neighbors will be impressed the next time they wander by.
