Georgia gardens come alive with color throughout the seasons, but adding burgundy plants creates a special magic that transforms ordinary landscapes into extraordinary ones. These deep-hued beauties provide contrast against green foliage and make neighboring flowers pop with unexpected intensity.
For me, burgundy tones bring a sense of elegance to garden spaces, and I’ve noticed how Georgia’s evening light makes these plants particularly captivating as shadows lengthen. Let me share 16 burgundy plants that will bring depth and drama to your Georgia landscape.
1. Japanese Maple ‘Bloodgood’
This small tree transforms Georgia gardens with its delicate, star-shaped leaves in deep burgundy that hold color remarkably well even in summer heat. Many Japanese maples struggle in our humidity, but ‘Bloodgood’ shows impressive resilience.
Plant it where afternoon shade protects it from scorching summer sun. The silhouette against a sunset creates an unforgettable garden moment, especially when fall intensifies its color to a brilliant crimson.
I’ve found that mulching heavily helps this tree thrive through our unpredictable weather patterns, particularly during drought years when water restrictions are common.
2. Loropetalum ‘Burgundy’
Fringe flower shrubs have become Georgia garden staples, with the burgundy varieties creating year-round drama. Their unusual strap-like flowers appear in early spring, creating a striking display against the deep purple-burgundy foliage.
Growing up to 10 feet if left unpruned, these adaptable shrubs tolerate Georgia’s clay soil better than many ornamentals. They perform beautifully in both full sun and partial shade, though the richest color develops with more light.
My neighbor’s foundation planting of Loropetalum created such an impressive backdrop that I immediately added three to my own landscape borders.
3. Smoke Bush ‘Royal Purple’
Few plants make a statement like Smoke Bush with its billowing purple-pink plumes that appear to float above the burgundy foliage. This adaptable shrub handles Georgia’s heat and humidity without complaint, growing into a magnificent specimen over time.
Summer brings smoky plumes that give this plant its common name, creating an ethereal effect that photographs beautifully. The burgundy leaves intensify in color when planted in full Georgia sunshine.
After growing one in my front yard for seven years, I can attest to its drought tolerance once established – a valuable trait for Georgia gardens facing water restrictions.
4. Heuchera ‘Palace Purple’
Coral Bells create low-growing drama in Georgia shade gardens with their ruffled burgundy foliage that persists year-round. Their delicate flower stalks rise above the leaves in spring, attracting hummingbirds that dart through Georgia gardens.
Unlike many burgundy plants that need full sun for best color, Heuchera actually maintains its rich hues better with protection from intense afternoon heat. This makes them perfect companions for hostas and ferns in woodland settings.
My collection started with just one plant that has since been divided multiple times, creating a stunning burgundy river through my shade garden that requires minimal maintenance.
5. Forest Pansy Redbud
Heart-shaped burgundy leaves make this native tree a showstopper in Georgia landscapes. Unlike the common Eastern Redbud with its green foliage, Forest Pansy brings rich purple-burgundy color that deepens when planted in full sun.
Spring begins with a spectacular display of tiny magenta flowers that appear directly on branches before the leaves emerge. The unique growth habit creates beautiful dappled shade perfect for Georgia’s hot summers.
Having planted one near my patio, I’ve come to appreciate how the burgundy canopy creates a cooling effect both visually and literally during our long summer afternoons.
6. Burgundy Elephant Ears
Enormous heart-shaped leaves in deep burgundy create tropical drama that thrives in Georgia’s humidity. Colocasia ‘Black Magic’ and similar varieties grow rapidly during summer months, often reaching impressive sizes by August.
Planting these dramatic specimens near water features enhances their exotic appeal. Their burgundy tones look particularly striking against golden grasses or alongside bright green hostas in partially shaded locations.
Last summer, my container-grown elephant ears became conversation starters when friends visited my garden, proving that sometimes bigger really is better for creating garden focal points.
7. Ninebark ‘Diablo’
Exfoliating bark creates winter interest while burgundy foliage provides multi-season appeal in this adaptable shrub. Native to North America, Ninebark handles Georgia’s clay soil with ease while requiring minimal supplemental water once established.
White flower clusters in late spring create stunning contrast against the dark leaves. The name comes from the bark that peels in multiple layers, adding textural interest to the winter garden when many plants look dormant.
After adding Ninebark to my landscape five years ago, I’ve appreciated how it maintains its burgundy color even during Georgia’s hottest months when other plants fade.
8. Purple Fountain Grass
Graceful burgundy plumes dance in Georgia’s summer breezes, creating movement and texture in sunny borders. This ornamental grass reaches peak color in late summer just when many perennials begin to fade.
Growing about 4 feet tall, Purple Fountain Grass forms a perfect backdrop for shorter flowering plants while providing burgundy color from its arching leaves and fluffy seedheads. The burgundy tones intensify as temperatures cool in early fall.
My front yard planting catches the afternoon sun, creating a backlit effect that highlights every delicate seed plume – a garden feature I look forward to each September.
9. Burgundy Coleus Varieties
Instant color comes from these shade-loving annuals with burgundy foliage that brightens Georgia’s shadiest garden corners. Modern varieties like ‘Chocolate Mint’ and ‘Dark Star’ offer deeper, more heat-resistant colors than older selections.
Pinching stems encourages bushier growth and prevents early flowering that can reduce the plant’s ornamental value. Their ability to thrive in containers makes them perfect for Georgia patios and porches where they provide color all summer long.
My shaded front entry has featured different burgundy coleus varieties each year, proving how these affordable annuals can transform difficult growing spots with minimal effort.
10. Barberry ‘Crimson Pygmy’
Compact and spiky, this burgundy shrub creates excellent security hedges while adding rich color to Georgia landscapes. The dense growth habit makes it perfect for property boundaries where both privacy and beauty are desired.
Tiny yellow flowers appear in spring, followed by bright red berries that persist into winter. Despite Georgia’s humidity, this drought-tolerant shrub rarely suffers from fungal issues that plague many other landscape plants.
A word of caution from my own experience: wear thick gloves when pruning as the thorns are quite sharp – a feature that makes this plant naturally deer-resistant in rural Georgia gardens.
11. Ajuga ‘Burgundy Glow’
Carpeting Georgia’s shady spots with burgundy, silver, and green variegated foliage, this ground cover solves erosion problems on difficult slopes. Blue flower spikes rise above the colorful leaves in spring, attracting early pollinators to the garden.
Spreading by runners, Ajuga quickly fills spaces between larger plants and underneath trees where grass struggles to grow. Its low-growing habit makes it perfect for suppressing weeds in hard-to-maintain areas.
My woodland garden path is edged with this burgundy beauty that thrives despite competition from tree roots and remains attractive even during Georgia’s occasional drought periods.
12. Alternanthera ‘Purple Knight’
Summer heat brings out the deepest burgundy tones in this tropical-looking annual that flourishes in Georgia’s humidity. Growing up to 3 feet tall, its upright habit makes it perfect for the middle of flower beds or as a thriller in container arrangements.
The pointed leaves maintain their rich color without fading, even during August’s intense sunshine. Unlike many burgundy plants that require shade, this heat-lover performs best with maximum exposure to Georgia’s summer sun.
After discovering it at a local nursery three years ago, I’ve made it a staple in my annual plantings, appreciating how it bridges the gap between spring and fall perennials.
13. Burgundy Cannas
Tropical flair comes from these bold-leaved plants whose burgundy foliage creates dramatic vertical accents in Georgia gardens. Varieties like ‘Australia’ and ‘Wyoming’ offer the richest burgundy tones that complement their bright flower spikes.
Hummingbirds flock to the orange or red blooms that appear throughout summer and into fall. These easy-growing plants return reliably in most Georgia gardens, multiplying generously year after year.
My experience growing them along my driveway has shown they’re surprisingly drought-tolerant once established, though they’ll reward extra watering with more luxuriant growth and flowering.
14. Sedum ‘Purple Emperor’
Drought-tolerant and deer-resistant, this burgundy succulent thrives in Georgia’s poorest soils where other plants struggle. Its fleshy leaves maintain deep coloration throughout summer, culminating in pink flower clusters by early fall that attract butterflies.
Growing in a compact mound about 15 inches tall, Purple Emperor makes an excellent front-of-border plant. The burgundy stems add to its overall dark appearance, creating beautiful contrast against silver-leaved companions.
My rock garden features several clumps that have survived eight years with almost no supplemental water – a testament to their adaptability to Georgia’s occasionally harsh growing conditions.
15. Burgundy Sweet Potato Vine
Cascading from containers and spilling over retaining walls, these fast-growing vines add burgundy drama to Georgia gardens from spring until frost. Varieties like ‘Blackie’ and ‘Sweet Caroline Burgundy’ offer different leaf shapes while maintaining rich purple-burgundy color.
Morning sun followed by afternoon shade produces the best color in Georgia’s climate. Their rapid growth makes them perfect for filling bare spots while waiting for slower perennials to mature.
Last summer, I planted three small slips in May that grew to cover an entire 8-foot section of retaining wall by July – impressive performance that solved an erosion problem while adding beauty.
16. Crape Myrtle ‘Black Diamond’
Revolutionary breeding created these crape myrtles with burgundy leaves that maintain their color throughout Georgia’s long growing season. Unlike older varieties grown primarily for flowers, these newer selections offer months of foliage interest before the blooms even appear.
Red, pink, or white flowers create stunning contrast against the dark leaves from July through September. Their naturally mildew-resistant foliage stays clean despite Georgia’s humidity, requiring less maintenance than traditional varieties.
After adding one to my front yard three years ago, neighbors regularly stop to ask about this unusual tree that combines familiar flowers with unexpected burgundy foliage.