This heirloom selection of Gossypium hirsutum brings a different temperament to the cotton genus. Where the species is utilitarian and upright, the Burgundy cultivar is theatrical. The deeply lobed leaves hold a rich burgundy tone through the season, providing the kind of dark foliage contrast that designers often seek from dahlias or cannas but rarely find in a plant this relaxed and low-maintenance. Growing 3 to 5 feet tall, it works as a mid-border anchor or a centerpiece in a large container.

The flowers, pink rather than the yellow of the species, arrive in early summer and continue through fall in zones 9 to 11, where the plant behaves as a perennial. In cooler climates it is treated as a tender annual, started under glass and moved out after all frost risk passes. Sun is essential for the best foliage color; shade tends to push the leaves toward green and reduces flowering. No significant pest or disease problems have been documented, making it easier in practice than its dramatic appearance might suggest.