Someone gave my husband a flat of a pretty redish leafy plant. He said they are called Chicken Gizards and like shade. I can't google this name anywhere. Does anyone know about them? thanks in advance.
Chicken Gizards plants
Your plant is either Iresine lindenii (Chicken Gizzard, Beefsteak Plant, Bloodleaf, Blood Leaf) which has pointed leaves:
http://www.callutheran.edu/Academic_Programs/Departments/Biology/Wildflowers/gf/plants/category/gar-4413.htm
OR
Iresine herbstii (Chicken Gizzard, Beefsteak Plant, Bloodleaf, Blood Leaf) which has more rounded leaves:
http://davesgarden.com/pf/showimage/12349/
These 2 plants are often confused with each other because they have the same common names. In fact, I believe the photo that I posted in the PlantFiles as Iresine herbstii is really a photo of Iresine lindenii because it appears to have pointed leaves. Several of the other photos have been entered incorrectly. I need to fix these errors. Thank you for asking about your plant. I learned something today. I didn't know that there were 2 types of Iresine that look so similar.
My plants (and I have grown both types) do best in part shade or bright filtered shade. If they are in total shade, they become very "leggy" as they reach for more light. To make them more "bushy", pinch them back eevery once in a while if the stems are becoming too long and falling over (if you want for them to be more upright). If you want them to fall over the edges of a container, just let them do their thing. All day full sun here in San Antonio will fry them when the temperatures become really hot.
Ooo.. those are really pretty! Thanks for posting about them, ssdogwood and htop!!