Red is undoubtedly the most vibrant color out there that can make any plant species appear unique and tropical. Homeowners who are tired of the typical green plants often seek out red evergreen shrubs to give their gardens a new lease of life. Red plants not only add a refreshing touch to your outdoor space but also bring a distinct aura to your living area.
The autumn season with its foliage turning red is undoubtedly a beautiful sight to behold. But have you ever thought about having red bushes in your garden all year round? If not, let me introduce you to a diverse range of red evergreen shrubs that will undoubtedly captivate your heart.
Table of Contents
Red Evergreen Shrubs
It’s widely accepted that red is one of the most appealing colors, and when plants are adorned with red foliage, they exude an exotic appearance. Let’s have a look at our top 10 at a glance:
- Red Majestic
- Chinese Witch Hazel
- Red Robin
- Double Play Big Bang Spiraea
- Smoke Bush
- Burgundy Loropetalum
- Purple Leaf Sand Cherry
- Wine and Roses
- Burning Bush
- Nandina
1. Red Majestic
The red majestic can reach up to 4m in height and spread widely, making it one of the largest plants on the list. It is gifted with profoundly reddish-purple foliage, interweaving branches, and a mystic touch. It makes for a truly unique plant with its intricately twisted stems, which add a sense of intrigue to your space.
As the dark tint of its large, crinkly leaves endures throughout the year, the purplish-pink catkins that appear in late winter seem to add a whole new dimension to its visual appeal.
Place the red majestic shrub in moist but well-drained soil and expose it to partial or full sun. The plant often tends to itself, so maintaining it is a breeze. If you have enough space for a large shrub in your garden and you’re fond of red plants, the red majestic should have a place in your garden.
2. Chinese Witch Hazel
The Chinese native, with its fantastic red-hued foliage, will be a great addition to your garden. The leaves of this “EverRed” variety of Loropetalum start life with a pinkish hue that turns to rich red and in their advanced years, darken to a unique olive color.
In addition, the shrub boasts fabulous floral displays of vibrant pink blooms in tassel form in the late winter and early spring months.
The elegant contrast of the foliage and the flowers, coupled with the mild perfume from the blossoms, make the Chinese witch hazel an appealing addition to your garden.
3. Red Robin
The foliage of this attractive photinia begins life as a deep red, giving the shrub its common name. While the Red Robin tends to gradually soften into a richer green as it matures, you can be sure that you’ll have a lot of red in the display by just pruning back the green stems.
Aside from the lovely contrast of red and green that the plant boasts, it also features tiny clusters of cute little flowers in the spring, wonderfully complementing the season.
Red Robin grows up to 4m in spread as well as height, so you can plant these plants as a hedge as well. Overall, it is a low-maintenance plant that doesn’t demand much in terms of its preservation. Moreover, you don’t have to hydrate it much; the natural rainfall will do the needful. However, if you water it occasionally, aim for the soil and not the foliage.
4. Double Play Big Bang Spiraea
This is one of the most gorgeous shrubs you can have in your garden. Its leaves switch between shades of red, yellow, and orange, creating magic in your garden. You’ll love this plant if you are fond of autumn colors. Having a few of these plants would be like having autumn in your garden throughout the year. Spiraea shrubs are also referred to as meadowsweets.
There are a range of Spiraea shrubs. In fact, each of them looks a little different from each other and has unique characteristics. In the summer, the shrubs grow small pink flowers, eventually adding another beautiful shade to your garden.
As far as the growth of these plants is concerned, it depends on where exactly they are placed and the way they are treated. However, typically, they grow anywhere from 2 to 3 feet in height and spread.
The Spiraea shrubs love the sun, so plant them in a place that gets a good amount of sunlight. Make sure you plant them in well-draining soil.
5. Smoke Bush
The smoke bush is a showy plant that adds purple-red tones to your garden. The plum-colored to lavender-colored shade leaves will add to the aesthetic appeal of your garden all year.
It is a large shrub and with its lovely colors, it enhances the uniqueness of any landscape. Its leaves are ovate and come in either green or purple. Make sure you pick the purple-colored variety.
The smoke bush can grow up to a whopping 10 to 15 feet in height and spread! No wonder it’ll be the focal point of any landscape. It is a highly durable plant that demands full sun exposure. However, it is tolerant of droughts. The plant can tolerate most soil types, making it a less fussy shrub to have in your garden.
6. Burgundy Loropetalum
The ‘Burgundy’ Loropetalum or Chinese fringe is one of the most beautiful shrubs you can have in your garden. While some red shrubs change colors slightly throughout the year, this plant stands out! The red and purple leaves of the Chinese fringe stay year-round. What’s more, you can cherish the sight of bright and beautiful pink blooms in the spring.
The plant is known as the Chinese fringe flower for a reason. Its pink flowers have fringe-like petals. The shrub typically grows 4 to 5 feet in height and 4 feet in width.
You should plant the Chinese fringe in full to partial sun, as this variety generally thrives when it’s exposed to some shade. While you need to water these plants regularly, don’t forget that you shouldn’t overwater them, as that can be quite damaging for them.
7. Purple Leaf Sand Cherry
Belonging to the rose bush family, this little shrub is a stunner! Due to the purplish tones of its leaves that are reminiscent of the color of a plum, it is also known as plum leaf sand cherry.
The foliage and leaves of this lovely shrub are tones of red, purple, brown, and maroon. It produces picturesque whitish-pink flowers in the spring season. The medium-sized shrub can grow up to 8 feet in height and spread when it is fully mature.
The purple leaf sand cherry plant needs moist, well-draining soil to thrive. To reach its maximum potential, plant it in an area that receives partial to full sunlight. Needless to mention, it is an amazing red evergreen shrub that has the most gorgeous blossoming flowers that will make any landscape look exquisite.
8. Wine and Roses
The botanical name of ‘wine and roses’ is Weigela Florida. It is an excellent shrub option for beds and borders, thanks to its evergreen nature, expansive size, and easy-going temperament.
Its foliage has a lovely, purple-red tint, but it becomes more pronounced as the plant matures. In the spring, the plant produces clusters of pink blooms that add a charismatic sparkle to the plant. Some of these plants also offer a second flowering season in the summer, thereby sprucing up your garden display for an extended period.
The shrub normally grows a little less than 2m in height. You can consider aggressive pruning all through the year to keep it in shape. ‘Wine and roses’ are unfussy about the growing conditions. They adapt well to almost any soil they inhabit if it is fertile and well-draining. They need partial or full sun exposure.
9. Burning Bush
The burning bush starts with lush green foliage; however, as autumn is around the corner, its leaves turn bright ruby to reddish-orange in color. The whole shrub looks like it’s on fire! Of course, that is how it got its name—burning bush!
On reaching maturity, the shrub stands at about 8 feet in height and spread. The burning bush plants are an ideal choice if you wish to pad the flower beds in your garden with a vibrant dash of color by growing just a couple of plants or creating a statement hedge.
The shrub grows well in most types of soil. Just make sure that you plant these plants in an area that receives partial to full sunlight.
10. Nandina
Also known as heavenly bamboo or sacred bamboo, Nandina is a visually appealing evergreen shrub. In particular, the ‘Obsession’ Nandina is glitzier than other Nandina varieties. Its leaves are in rich burgundy tones, and over time, they turn bright green.
The plant grows up to 4 feet tall and 3 feet wide and can easily serve as a standalone ornamental shrub. What’s more, ‘Obsession’ Nandina is an amazing option for new gardeners, as it is insect-resistant, disease-resistant, and deer-resistant.
It’s also easy to maintain these plants; moderate watering every week will do because they are semi-drought-tolerant plants. If you want to, you can prune them occasionally; however, it’s purely your wish. Just make sure you plant them in moist, well-drained soil, where there is a moderate amount of sunlight.
Conclusion
So now we have a list of stunning red evergreen shrubs that we’ve provided for your garden. To ensure that you make the most of these gorgeous plants, here are some key points to keep in mind while working with red shrubs:
- Understand how the plant changes with the seasons
- Whether you need plants with red stems, flowers, or leaves, each one provides a different look to your garden
- How to include a variety of plant sections to come up with a coherent garden
- Whether the weather, soil, and water conditions meet the requirements of the red shrub you choose
