Recommendations for purple/red leaved plants

I'm planting up a new rose border and want to chuck in some perennials or smaller shrubs. I'm looking for something with reliably purple or red leaves. I'd like it to be quite small (say around 60cm or so).

Not keen on anything with small leaves (like Berberis) or 'shredded' leaves.

Any suggestions please?

 

@merleworld ...hope the link(s) help you can see from the images what takes your fancy ...i luv the Heucherea Purple Palace ...well all the Heuchs have such fab coloured leaves/foliage but purple palace changes to a fiery red in the autumn so that might suit your colur scheme...i also luv Ajuga very dark almost aubergine colur ground cover
Lots of dark leafed varieties in Dahlias too

for a shrub i dont think you cant beat
WEIGELA, JAVA RED



Links for Heuchs http://www.heucheraholics.co.uk/
http://www.plantagogo.com/

PURPLE LEAFED PERENNIALS:https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=p...X&ved=0ahUKEwjA9d6FtoHMAhUzSJoKHUuCCzMQsAQIQg

 

As above, there are a lot of purple dark leaved heuchera, some of them look very good in pots but haven't necessarily taken to my garden "Palace Purple" is good. There are purple leaved sedums.
Bergenia purpurascens var. delavayi, Ophiopogon planiscapus, Ajuga reptans "Braunherz". For something taller there are dark leaved elders and Japanese acers.

 

Thanks for the suggestions. I have Heucheras in various colours but wanted something a little bit bigger if possible, but smaller than a Weigela (don't want much do I?)

Bergenia might be a goer. Do the leaves stay purple?

Just remembered I have a Ligularia 'Britt Marie Crawford' which I bought last year and never planted out. Gorgeous purple leaves but prefers mottled shade and a bit too tall for where I want it.

While I'm on the subject, why can't we have a purple leaved Hosta? Now that would be fabulous (although not in a sunny border).

 

FABULOUS FOLIAGE http://extension.illinois.edu/foliage/ great link for ideas!!


Also what about Cordyline's super colours...small compact very easy care and suits the space your wanting to plant up for sun

 

I'm not sure if it would survive permanently outdoors for you but it would do well as a summer bedder.

Try Iresine, I grow a lot of it. It's really easy and is pure red in leaf colour.

 

Lobelia Queen Victoria or some of the Lobelia x speciosa.
Penstemon "Huskers Red".

Eucomis "Sparkling Burgundy" and "Oakhurst"................


You didn't ask about ground cover but I'll suggest Tradescantia purpurea.............


This has surprised me by surviving the last winter in the ground.

 

Ooohh, quite taken with the Eucomis @longk must go and read all about it.

 

How about Actaea, these are my new favourite plants, those flowers really stand out against the foliage, and fragrant too!

http://www.plantsforshade.co.uk/acatalog/Actaea.html

 

I love posts like this - added quite a few plants to my wish list that are new to me

 

one of my favourites of all time has to be Pittosporum "Tom thumb" its just such a smashing plant