Botanical name: Lactuca sativa, "Bijou."

Botanical name: Lactuca sativa, "Bijou."
Attributes: Bijou is the reddest of the red-leaved lettuce varieties. It has a lightly scalloped, slightly frilled leaf, with an upright growth habit, all shiny and intensely burgundy red. This lettuce is slow to bolt and will form a head of 7 to 9 inches across. An absolute standout in a salad, Bijou is good to eat but very ornamental as well, enhancing beds and containers.
Bloom color: Intense red foliage.
Bloom time: Spring or fall.
Culture: Plant seeds in early spring in an open flat with a prepared sterile seed mix three weeks before planting out, or plant directly in a garden as soon as the soil can be worked, with good drainage and abundant organic matter. Water thoroughly and fertilize at planting time with a 20-20-20 balanced fertilizer. Harvest leaves in cool weather, and rinse lettuce under warm water to reduce bitterness.
Landscape tips: Use Bijou with White Peacock Ornamental Kale and Sunshine Orange Dimorphotheca for an eye-popping effect. Use Bijou in containers with blue pansies, orange nasturtiums and yellow snapdragons for an edible container garden.
Cost: $1.89 to $3.89, depending on seed pack size. Available at local greenhouses and nurseries that sell seed.
Source: Powell Gardens (www.powellgardens.org)