Some are even red in the dead of winter – and blooming!
Trees and Shrubs
There are several shrubs and trees that provide a red color in the garden.
- Many Japanese maples come in red, including the popular ‘Crimson Queen’ which holds its red color all summer. The best reds seem to come from the Acer palmatum dissectum group, especially ‘Inaba shidare’ which is consistently red – and true red in autumn. But also consider ‘Fireglow’, an upright cultivar with bright red foliage throughout the summer. A. Palmatum ‘Atrolinear'(‘Willow Leaf’) is more red-orange.
- Barberries also have possibilities here. Berberis thunbergeii ‘Red Pillar’ has the reddest leaves in the barberry family which are further accented by crimson berries.
- Another newish shrubby plant to consider is the hardy hibiscus ‘Kopper King’, which is well named when it comes to color.
Perennials
Hardy perennials are among the best red-leafed plants available.
- If seeking small shrubby plants look to the winter blooming heaths. In fact this group of plants just may provide the reddest reds of all. Calluna vulgaris ‘Winter Fire is orange-y red in summer and bright red in the colder months. ‘Winter Red’ has similar coloring but mauve flowers instead of lavender. C. ‘Cuprea’ has lavender flowers; it’s copper all summer and red in winter. Another good one is C. ‘Firefly’ which is salmon to red with brick red winter color.
- Also, look at Japanese blood grass (Imperata cylindrica ‘Rubra’) which may be green at the base but is a true flame red at the top where it really shows. And don forget Carex flagellifera (Bronze Weeping Sedge) – coppery bronze until it turns coral red in winter.
- Many of the so-called red-leafed plants appear reddest when situated so that the sun shines through the leaves. Among the most dramatic red plants are the ornamental rhubarbs, Rheum palmatum tanguticum and Rheum palmatum atrosanguineum. The leaf faces are unmistakably green – but when the sun shines through the backs of the leaves the plant is undeniably red. The leaves are huge and tropical in appearance but the plant is quite hardy as long as it gets plenty of water.
Tender Plants
Most tender perennials and annuals are closer to burgundy than red – but burgundy is a shade of deep red, and many of these plants also have brilliant red flowers..
- A tropical looking plant with red leaves is Canna Red Ambassador. It is basically burgundy colored but the sun backlighting it creates a red glow – and the red flowers are dramatic. Other good canna choices include: ‘Red Futurity’ with burgundy leaves and dark red flowers, ‘Pink Futurity’ in burgundy with pink blooms, ‘Red Wine’ with red flowers on wine colored foliage, ‘Assaut’ – dark leaves with bronze veins and large dark red blossoms, and ‘Vainquer’ with bronze -red leaves and deep scarlet flowers.
- The leaves of the castor bean plant, Ricinus communis ‘Carmencita’ are deep burgundy purple, but often appear in lists of plants with reddish foliage. The red and very odd looking flowers (kind of like gum balls covered in red Velcro) certainly help their case – and the deep tones of this plant are a fabulous foil for both red and white flowers.
- Some people talk about ‘Bishop of Llandaff’, ‘Bishop’s Children’, Midnight Sun and several New Zealand varieties of small and miniature decorative dahlias as ‚”David Howard”, ‚”Fire Mountain” and ‚”Copper Queen” as having red leaves. They are actually more burgundy. The Bishop is especially worthy for his brilliant red blooms.
- Finally, check out coleus as most seem to have some red in them and a few have foliage of a most dramatic mix of red and black.