Gout Plant

This gorgeous plant is often grown as an ornamental for its stunning purplish or reddish foliage and its dark red flowers. A much-branched, semi-succulent, deciduous to evergreen erect shrub that can grow as high as 3m, it has hairy, non-woody stems and fleshy tuberous roots. Young leaves are purplish, becoming green when mature. Leaves are rounded and covered with fine hairs which can make them feel sticky. Native of tropical Central and South America and Caribbean islands, where the plant has traditional medicinal uses.

A very easy plant to grow, it likes full sun to light shade and will grow best in well-drained, sandy or stony soils.