9 Types of Ruby Plants

Last Updated on February 6, 2023 by Derek

Is There a Plant Called Ruby?

Yes, red Ruby plants do exist. The Roof Houseleek (Sempervivum tectorum), also referred to as ‘Hens and Chicks’ or simply houseleek, is an example of a Ruby plant. It is a succulent ruby plant that produces beautiful red or mauve-pink flowers.

These Ruby plants can grow as tall as 6 inches and spread up to twelve inches. It will thrive well in well-drained sandy soil with a neutral pH of 6.6 to 7.5. 

They also grow well in full sun but will need partial shade in extreme heat, especially the afternoon sun. If roof houseleek is grown in the late spring and the right conditions are present, it will bloom in summer. 

Common Name	Botanical Name	Soil pH Range	Soil Type	Sunshine	Growing Zones
Roof Houseleek	Sempervivum tectorum	5.5 – 7.5	Well-draining, rocky soil	Full sun to partial shade	3-9

The Roof Houseleek (Sempervivum tectorum) is native to the mountain regions of Europe, particularly the Pyrenees and the Alps.

Houseleek – EDU

Little Ruby Plant

Native to Brazil, Joseph’s coat (Alternanthera dentata), also called the little ruby plant, is an excellent ground cover with a great compact, spreading behavior.

 It is an ideal cover plant because it grows 10 to 12 inches tall and spreads between 14 to 16 inches. It would be best to space it 10 to 12 inches apart if you want a dense area cover. Alternanthera dentata grow well in moist, well-drained soil rich in organic matter and with a neutral pH of 6.6 to 7.3.

In addition, the plant requires partial shade to full sun exposure for best performance. Foliage becomes more intense in full sun throughout the day. Grow little ruby in early spring to evade the danger of frost. 

Joseph’s Coat Care Sheet

Common Name	Botanical Name	Soil pH Range	Soil Type	Sunshine	Growing Zones
Joseph’s Coat	Alternanthera ficoidea	5.5 – 7.5	Well-draining	Partial to full sun	9-11

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How Do You Take Care of a Little Ruby Plant?

To get the best out of the little ruby plant, you must provide all the requirements and maintain them properly. Consider this care guide.

Feeding and watering

The plant requires daily watering in the first few weeks of growing. Adjust the watering schedule depending on the weather and soil type; clay soil needs less water than sandy soils. Alternanthera dentata does not require extra fertilizer besides the organic matter in the soil as too much plant feed will kill the plant. 

Transplanting and soil 

The little ruby plant will grow in almost all soil types as long as it drains well. If you need to boost the soil drainage before transplanting, add organic matter like peat moss, manure, or garden compost. 

Maintenance 

Alternanthera dentata is a low-maintenance plant as long as it grows in full sunlight and well-draining soil. It is best to grow it after the last phase of frost. When necessary, pruning the plant will help maintain its compact size.

Ensure that it stands in full sun and water appropriately throughout its growing period in a greenhouse. Water sparingly during winter and pitch the tips to remain neat and appear formal. 

It would help to know that you can grow joseph’s coat indoors in a container. If this is the case, ensure you place it in good ventilation and water scarcely in winter, increasing water during dry and hot seasons. 

Ruby Coloured Flowers

Ruby-colored flowers make beautiful decorations at important events like weddings. To add to that, ruby-colored flowering plants are the ideal ornamental plants for an attractive garden. Here are some ruby-colored flowers you can find.

Common flower name	Botanical name	Growing conditions
Ruby glow or Foxglove	Digitalis x ‘Takforugl’	Ruby glow is a succulent ornamental plant that grows well in moist, organic-rich, well-drained soil with slightly acidic to neutral pH. It requires full sun to flourish and produces whitish-yellow blossoms in spring.
Magical ‘Ruby Red’ hydrangea	Hydrangea macrophylla	The magical hydrangea is a shrub that thrives in moist, well-draining fertile soil. The magical hydrangea plant blooms in summer and fall, producing white, red, pink, green, or purple flowers. Some varieties can flourish in full sun to a partial shade, while others require full shade.
‘Ruby Ruby’ miniature rose	Rosa WEKsactrumi	Ruby Ruby’ miniature rose is a perennial plant that grows up to a mature size of eighteen to twenty-four inches in height and width. It grows in well-drained soil and partial shade to full sun exposure. It produces red blooms from late spring to fall.
‘Ruby Frost’ tickseed/ hybrid tickseed	Coreopsis ‘Ruby Frost’	‘Ruby Frost’ tickseed thrives in loamy, chalky, or sandy moist but well-drained soil with neutral, acidic, or alkaline PH. It produces red blossoms in early to late summer. The plant will bloom best in partial shade to full sun exposure.
‘Ruby Port’ columbine	Aquilegia vulgaris v. stellata	‘Ruby Port’ columbine is a perennial plant that grows 60cm to 90cm tall and spreads up to 30cm to 60cm. It grows best in loamy, chalky, sandy, or clay moist but well-drained soil with alkaline, acidic, or neutral PH. It requires full to partial sun to bloom in late spring to early summer. The flowers of ‘Ruby Port’ columbine are wine-red and conspicuous.

Infographic: Ruby Coloured Flowers

 
9 Varieties of Ruby Plants

1. Gaura lindheimeri ‘Ruby Ruby’

Gaura lindheimeri ‘Ruby Ruby,’ also called Beeblossom ‘Ruby Ruby’ is a deciduous plant with purple foliage that can turn dark green in spring. It is ideal for ground cover, prairie planting, beds and borders, and wildflowers. Ruby Ruby plant grows well in fertile, moist, well-draining loamy, sandy, and chalky soil with alkaline, neutral, or acidic PH. 

Although Gaura Ruby Ruby thrives in full sun exposure, it tolerates partial shade. It reaches 0.5 meters in height and width within two and half years of growing. 

Beeblossom ‘Ruby Ruby’ Care Sheet

Common Name	Botanical Name	Soil pH Range	Soil Type	Sunshine	Growing Zones
Beeblossom ‘Ruby Ruby’	Gaura lindheimeri ‘Ruby Ruby’	6.0 – 7.0	Well-draining	Full sun to partial shade	5-9

Beeblossom ‘Ruby Ruby’

2. Bergenia Ciliate

Bergenia Ciliate, commonly called fringed Bergenia or winter begonia, is an herbaceous perennial plant that can grow up to 0.75 to 1.00 feet tall and spreads to 1.00 to 2.00 feet. It originates in the Himalayan region of Asia.

It is an effortless plant that grows best in well-drained soil and partial to full shade. The winter begonia blooms from March to April and produces pink blossoms with rose-pink calyces.

Bergenia Ciliate Care Sheet

Common Name	Botanical Name	Soil pH Range	Soil Type	Sunshine	Growing Zones
Bergenia Ciliate	Bergenia ciliata	5.5 – 7.5	Moist, well-draining	Partial to full shade	3-8

3. Gladiolus ‘Ruby’

Gladiolus ‘Ruby’ (Gladiolus papilio ‘Ruby’) is an herbaceous plant that produces excellent cut flowers. It has luxurious crimson ruby-red blossoms in mid to late summer. The plant flourishes best in well-drained soil and full sun exposure. 

Gladiolus ‘Ruby’

Common Name	Botanical Name	Soil pH Range	Soil Type	Sunshine	Growing Zones
Gladiolus ‘Ruby’	Gladiolus ‘Ruby’	6.0 – 7.0	Well-draining	Full sun	5-9

4. Red Ruby Rubber Plant

Red Ruby Rubber Plant (Ficus Elastica Ruby), also referred to as variegated Rubber tree, is a native plant to India and Malaysia and requires brighter light for more robust, more defined colors.

It requires full sunlight but indirectly to avoid scorching the leaves with intense direct sun. The red ruby rubber plant blossoms throughout the spring and summer. It thrives in all types of soil as long as it is well-drained and slightly acidic.

Red Ruby Rubber Plant

Common Name	Botanical Name	Soil pH Range	Soil Type	Sunshine	Growing Zones
Red Ruby Rubber Plant	Ficus elastica ‘Red Ruby’	6.0 – 7.0	Well-draining	Bright, indirect light	N/A (Houseplant)

5. Penstemon ‘Garnet’

Penstemon ‘Garnet’ bears slender, elegant wine-red flowers that look like Foxglove. The blossoms appear from July to October against fresh and green leaves. It requires full sun to flourish. It grows well in light sandy, chalky, or clay moist, well-drained soil with acidic or alkaline PH.

Penstemon ‘Garnet’

Common Name	Botanical Name	Soil pH Range	Soil Type	Sunshine	Growing Zones
Penstemon ‘Garnet’	Penstemon ‘Garnet’	6.0 – 7.5	Well-draining	Full sun to partial shade	3-9

6. Primula X Pubescens (Primula auricula)

Primula X Pubescens is an elegant primrose seedling mix that appears in assorted brilliant shades. It bears leathery green, paddle foliage where the large clusters of flowers rest. The blossoms come in red, yellow, pink, purple, or peach and they all have a yellowish-white eye at the center. 

Auricula primrose prefers rich, moist, well-drained soils and partial shade. The plant blooms in spring.

Primula X Pubescens

Common Name	Botanical Name	Soil pH Range	Soil Type	Sunshine	Growing Zones
Primula X Pubescens	Primula X Pubescens	5.5 – 7.0	Moist, well-draining	Partial shade	4-9

7. Saxifraga Ruby Red

Saxifraga Ruby Red or Mossy saxifrage is a perennial ornamental plant that grows 10cm tall and spreads 25cm. It produces ruby-red blossoms from spring to summer. It grows in moderately dry to moist, well-drained soil with neutral, alkaline, or mildly acidic PH.

Mossy saxifrage is excellent for the alpine garden, garden border, or growing in containers as long as it is in full sun or partial shade. 

Saxifraga Ruby Red

Common Name	Botanical Name	Soil pH Range	Soil Type	Sunshine	Growing Zones
Saxifraga Ruby Red	Saxifraga ‘Ruby Red’	5.5 – 7.5	Well-draining, moist	Partial shade to full shade	4-8

8. Alternanthera dentata ‘Little Ruby’

Alternanthera dentata or little ruby is a low-maintenance plant ideal for ground cover, although it grows well in containers. It grows in well-drained soil rich in organic manure and neutral PH of 6.6 to 7.3 and performs best in full sun to partial shade. It is particularly useful for warm-season bedding. 

The little ruby plant can grow as tall as 10 to 12 inches and spread to 14 to 16 inches. It blooms in spring with inconspicuous white and greenish flowers. The little ruby plant is tolerant to heat, humidity, and a wide range of soils. 

Alternanthera dentata ‘Little Ruby’

Common Name	Botanical Name	Soil pH Range	Soil Type	Sunshine	Growing Zones
Alternanthera dentata ‘Little Ruby’	Alternanthera dentata ‘Little Ruby’	5.5 – 7.5	Well-draining	Full sun to partial shade	10-11

9. Ruby Ann Strawberry

Ruby Ann Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) is a high-maintenance fruit-bearing plant, also called the everbearing strawberry. It blossoms from early summer all through to fall.

It thrives best in moist but well-drained sandy or loamy soil with a neutral PH and is that is organically rich. The plant prefers full sun exposure for maximum blooming and fruit production. 

Ruby Ann Strawberry is semi-evergreen and produces showy ruby-red flowers that yield strawberry fruits. It is tolerant of deer and attracts birds with bright-colored flowers and berries.

The red Ruby plant is ideal for growing in terrace pots, patio, or hanging baskets. Proper use of fertilizers and sufficient watering will ensure continued flowering and fruit production.

Ruby Ann Strawberry

Common Name	Botanical Name	Soil pH Range	Soil Type	Sunshine	Growing Zones
Ruby Ann Strawberry	Fragaria ‘Ruby Ann’	6.0 – 7.0	Well-draining, moist	Full sun	3-9

Other resources related to Ruby plants:

String of Rubies: Care and Growing Guide – The Spruce

Ruby Plants (Formerly Plant for Thought) Nursery – Interview

Ruby Rubber Tree – Plant Care – Ansel & Ivy

Little Ruby Alternanthera – Warm-Season Bedding Plant …