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Plants and shrubs are a great way to add natural beauty and a feeling of tranquillity to our living spaces. We love decorating our lawns, gardens, or small corners of our houses with them to add natural beauty and aesthetic appeal.
Green plants are widely used and are very common; it is lovely how they change colour with the seasons, especially in autumn when the leaves turn different shades of red, like crimson, mauve, and deep burgundy. They look so attractive and pleasing that we wish it stays the same for the year.
Red-leaved shrubs look very attractive; whether you plant them on your lawn or in pots for the corners of your home, they are sure to get all the attention. The pop of colour feels exotic and vibrant, sets a tropical aura, and elevates the overall look of your space.
If you are pondering upon the idea of adding red-leaved shrubs to your plant collection, here are 16 shrubs that have red leaves all year round.
1. Red Majestic
Red Majesty is an ever-beautiful red-leaved shrub with reddish-purple foliage that adds excitement and uniqueness to any garden. The dark tint of its leaves and interweaving branches create a stunning aesthetic that is sure to catch your eye. In late winter, the shrub produces purplish-pink catkins, further enhancing its appeal.
While Red Majesty is a larger shrub that can grow up to 4m in height, it is slow-growing and takes around a decade to reach its full length. However, it can flourish in a well-draining and adequately moist soil composition with ease.
2. Japanese Barberry
Japanese Barberry is a stunning shrub that boasts a beautiful mix of red, purple, and pink foliage throughout the year. In spring, it produces spectacular flowers that range from buttery yellow to shades of pink. But its beauty doesn’t stop there; during fall, the leaves turn a dramatic orange-red, creating a striking contrast to the surrounding greenery.
If its watered regularly in its initial year, it will grow beautifully no matter where it is placed in the garden. These red-leaved shrubs grow a maximum of up to 1.5 m in length and have small spiky thorns, which makes them suitable for creating hedges.
3. Purple Leaf Sand Cherry
Purple leaf sand cherry is a member of the rose bush family, renowned for adding a bold splash of colour to any garden with its deep red and purple leaves. In spring, it shows fragrant pink flowers, which look not only very pleasing but also attract other bees and pollinators. It grows up to 1m in height and around the same in width.
This shrub asks for low maintenance and compact, which makes it a popular choice for home gardeners. To help it flourish, ensure it receives plenty of sunshine and plant it in well-drained soil.
- Planting Conditions: Suitable for moist well-drained soil, grows in sun or semi-shade and adaptable...
4. Smoke Bush
Smoke bush is a unique appearing shrub with leaves that range from green to a deep dark purple-red, and in the summertime, Its soft pink flowers create fluffy clouds that resemble smoke. Its purple foliage turns scarlet in the fall to add to its seasonal appeal. With a height and spread of 4m, it’s perfect for creating hedges and bushes for natural boundaries.
Smoke bush requires mulching once a year, but no pruning is necessary to maintain its shape. Expose them to full or partial sunshine and watch them blossom.
5. Ninebark Diablo
Ninebark is a beautiful shrub with deep red-purple leaves which turns burgundy in the fall. It is also known for its attractive white flowers that bloom early in summer and turn into pretty reddish fruits, which look very attractive against the foliage. One interesting thing about Ninebark Diablo is it has a peeling papery bark that exposes a reddish-brown layer, providing an ornamental look to the shrubs.
These red-leaved shrubs can reach a mature height of 8 to 10 feet, hence requiring plenty of space to grow. It is a fast-growing shrub that prefers to be planted in slightly acidic soil and requires regular watering to maintain its beautiful colour.
6. Double Play Big Bang
Double play big bang is one of the gorgeous red-leaved shrubs, as its leaves change colour every season from red to orange to yellow, making it feel like fall all year long. It also produces tiny pink blossoms in summer to add to the appeal.
There are wide varieties of double-play big bang, each with slightly different characteristics that come in all shapes and sizes. This shrub loves the sun, plant it in a sunny location with well-drained soil, and they are all set. It typically grows up to 4 feet tall and wide with an upright form.
7. Chinese Loropetalum
Chinese Loropetalum, also known as the Chinese fringe flower, is a hardy shrub admired for its bright pink fringe-like flowers and bold, reddish-purple leaves, which emit a delicate fragrance and creates a lovely vibe in the garden. This versatile plant can thrive in a variety of light, soil, and moisture conditions and can be grown as a hedge, specimen plant, or in containers.
Individual branches of a Chinese Loropetalum can grow up to 2 meters in length, with the overall height of the plant exceeding that. While fertilization isn’t required often, it’s recommended to fertilize every three months for optimal growth.
8. Red Tip Photinia
Red Tip Photinia produces shiny crimson-red leaves, which gradually turn into deep olive green as they mature. In spring, it yields beautiful clusters of white flowers that turn into small red fruits during fall. With an untrimmed height of up to 5 meters and a width of 4 meters, when planted in close proximity to each other, they intertwine and make a gorgeous dense hedge.
Making it a great option for those who want to create a dense hedge on their property line as a defined border. This particular shrub is incredibly versatile and can grow in a variety of soil types. However, it requires daily watering during its first year and weekly watering thereafter once it is well established.
9. Elderberry Black Beauty
The beauty of Elderberry Black Beauty is truly majestic. Its purple stems compliment its unique fern-like deep burgundy leaves, creating a serene display. The leaves are encircled by reddish blossoms with a lemony aroma that attracts butterflies and humans alike. The shrubs further produce delicious fruits called elderberries in summer, which makes this red-leaved shrubs a full package.
It can grow up to 8 feet tall if left unpruned, but pruning in the first year is highly recommended to keep the plant from looking leggy. Provide it with full sun and moist but well-drained soil to grow to its full beauty. The best part is Black Beauty elderberry berries and flowers are edible and are used to make wine, pies, and delicious jams.
10. Little Miss Maiden Grass
Little Miss Maiden Grass has lush green foliage that emerges in the early spring and transitions to brilliant carmine and purple tones in the summer, which further intensifies in the fall. The foliage clumps retain their green colouration in the centre, providing a two-tone effect.
In late summer, Little Miss Maiden Grass produces red flowers that turn into showy buff-coloured seed heads that persist through the fall. It is a compact grass that grows about 2-3 feet tall and wide, making it an excellent choice for containers or small gardens. It prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil.
11. Epimedium – After Midnight
Everything about these red-leaved shrubs is beautiful- the foliage, the flowers, and the colours it shows in spring and autumn. The new leaves come in dark brown, which becomes green in the centre with a maroon band around the leaf during springtime, and they finally turn all green by mid-summer.
They are very easygoing, and they fear neither drought nor cold, hence requiring very little to no care. It prefers open shade because a deep shade will reduce its flowering to a great extent. Plant it in well-drained soil and water it regularly to witness healthy growth.
12. Heuchera – Coral Bells
We love coral bells because of their distinctive and wide and high stature and for the fact that their leaves and colour stay throughout the winter. Its stems grow above the foliage and display tiny, bell-shaped, bright red blooms. These blooms look so delicate and lovely and make a nice cut flower. Coral bells do well in heat and humidity and are tolerant of clay or rocky soils and salt.
They grow happily in moist, well-drained organic soil in partial shade. Coral bells are versatile plants that can be grown as a hedge, used as a specimen plant, or potted in containers. Their resilience and beauty make them a favourite among gardeners.
13. Ajuga Black Scallop
Ajuga’s black scallop is known for its dark foliage. Its leaves are a deep, glossy black with scalloped edges, and it produces blue-violet flower spikes in the spring, which look very attractive and pleasing. When in full bloom, they make your garden look stunning.
This plant grows quickly and forms a dense mat of foliage, making it an excellent choice for ground cover in areas where other plants may struggle to thrive. It is also tolerant of different soil types and can handle both sun and shade, although it prefers partial shade.
14. Wine & Roses Weigela
Wine & Roses Weigela is a shrub that is noted for its foliage of narrowly ovate, shiny, dark burgundy-purple leaves and stunning pink flowers. These leaves have a deep, wine-coloured hue that intensifies as the summer progresses. The trumpet-shaped flowers bloom in large quantities during spring and sometimes re-bloom in the summer.
This shrub grows to a height of 4-5 feet with a similar spread, making it a great choice for border planting or as a specimen plant. It is low maintenance and easy to care for, thriving in full sun to partial shade with regular watering and fertilization.
15. Panicle Hydrangea Quick Fire
‘Quick Fire’ gets its name from its ability to bloom earlier in the season than most other hydrangeas, usually starting in mid to late June and continuing into the fall, giving months of bloom. The flowers are cone-shaped panicles that start white and gradually turn pink as they age, eventually taking on a deep rosy-red hue.
This hydrangea is very easy to care for and prefers moist, well-drained soil in a location with full sun to partial shade. It is also tolerant of heat and drought once established. Pruning should be done in late winter or early spring before new growth begins to remove the spent blooms and get them ready for new ones.
16. Penstemon ‘Onyx & Pearls’
Named after two polar opposite colours of gemstones, “onyx” refers to the dark-coloured leaves, and “pearls” refers to its soft lavender flowers with white interiors. The contrast between these two makes an awe-inspiring sight. Bees and Hummingbirds love its nectar and are frequent visitors.
Penstemon ‘Onyx & Pearls’ are easy to grow and fairly resistant to insects and diseases. They love the sun but can also grow in cold weather. They are extremely sensitive to poorly draining soil, so Planting them in raised beds or sloped areas will help them survive wet conditions.
Enhance Your Garden with Red-Leaved Shrubs
To enhance the exotic appeal of your garden all year round, consider incorporating one or more of these 16 red-leaved shrubs. With their unique flowers, leaves, and fragrances, these shrubs offer a variety of options suitable for different climates and growing conditions.
Additionally, many of them are easy to care for, making them a low-maintenance addition to your garden. By selecting the ones that best suit your preferences and landscape, you can add a pop of vibrant red colour and visual interest to your garden that is sure to impress.
Red-leaved shrubs are not only ornamental but also attract birds, bees, and other pollinators to your garden while providing a colourful backdrop for your plants all year round. Whether you prefer a bold or subtle style, there are red-leaved shrubs that can perfectly fit your taste and style.
Experiment with different arrangements to create your own uniquely designed garden space with these stunning shrubs and enjoy their beautiful colours throughout the year.
