20 Stunning Shrubs With Red Leaves For Landscaping

Shrubs with red leaves add dramatic burgundy, scarlet, crimson, and red wine colors to garden landscapes. Incorporating shrubs with red leaves into landscaping projects helps to improve the aesthetics of outdoor spaces. The vibrant red colors of standout shrubs contrast beautifully with bushy green foliage plants.

Many shrubs develop red foliage in the fall, adding warm autumn colors to the landscape. However, some of the most spectacular red-leaved shrubs retain their vibrant red shade throughout the year. Therefore, you can enjoy shrubs with red foliage in your garden, whether in spring, summer, or fall.

This article explores some of the best shrubs with red leaves to incorporate into your landscaping design. From vibrant crimson tones to deep burgundy hues, there are assorted options to choose from. The red-leaved shrubs will add visual interest and create a focal point in your garden with a splash of dramatic color.

What Are Red Shrubs for Landscaping?

Examples of the best shrubs with red leaves for landscaping include Chinese fringe flowers, Japanese barberry, common ninebark, and ornamental maples. Some shrubs, like Japanese pieris or photinia, have red leaves that emerge in spring before turning green. In contrast, crape myrtle shrub foliage turns red in the fall.

How to Identify Shrubs With Red Leaves

To identify shrubs with red leaves effectively, examine the leaf shape, arrangement, and color intensity. Additionally, consider the plant’s mature height, growth pattern, and the type of flowers it produces. Pay attention to other characteristics such as the shrub’s preferred habitat—whether it thrives in sun or shade, its soil moisture preferences, and its hardiness zone. The bloom time is also crucial; some shrubs may display red foliage in spring, while others turn red in the fall. Each of these factors can provide valuable clues to accurately identify the species of a red-leaved shrub.

Shrubs With Red Leaves For Landscaping — Pictures and Descriptions

Let’s look in detail at stunning shrubs with red leaves perfect for landscaping a front or backyard.

Common Ninebark ‘Lady in Red’ (Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Lady in Red’)

Common ninebark ‘Lady in Red’ is a stunning deciduous shrub with striking bronze-red leaves. The three-lobed leaves with serrated margins emerge red in spring, turning coppery-red in summer and fall. Its red foliage contrasts with rounded clusters of creamy-white flowers in spring, followed by red fruit in the fall.

The striking red shrub grows up to 8 ft. (2.4 m) tall in full sun or partial shade. Other ornamental features of the shrub include its exfoliating bark, fountain shape, white flowers, and eye-catching red leaves. Its ovate, three-lobed leaves measure 3” (7.5 cm) long.

The deep red color of the common ninebark shrub’s leaves provides a beautiful contrast to the white flowers. These features make it popular for landscaping, such as a hedge, shrub border, or privacy screen. The low-maintenance, colorful shrub has excellent drought tolerance and pest resistance.

• USDA Growing Zone: 2 to 8
• Mature Shrub Size: 5 to 8 ft. (1.5 – 2.4 m) tall and 4 to 6 ft. (1.2 – 1.8 m) wide
• Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade

Chinese Fringe Flower ‘Razzle Dazzle’ (Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum ‘Razzle Dazzle’)

The Chinese fringe flower ‘Razzle Dazzle’ cultivar is a striking broadleaf evergreen shrub with red to burgundy leaves. The attractive landscaping shrub’s colorful foliage complements the vibrant pink flowers blooming in early spring. The dark burgundy-red ovate leaves have asymmetrical bases and a pointed apex and measure 2.5” (6 cm) long.

The ‘Razzle Dazzle’ fringe flower shrub grows up to 8 ft. (2.4 m) tall. It has fragrant, showy, spring-blooming fringe-like flowers. This colorful landscaping shrub is ideal as an evergreen hedge, privacy screen, or specimen plant. It’s also an excellent choice for small gardens or container planting.

This Chinese fringe flower cultivar is a low-maintenance shrub requiring minimal pruning to keep its shape. It thrives in full sun and well-drained acidic soil in warm climates. The ‘Razzle Dazzle’ may continue to bloom sporadically throughout the year.

• USDA Growing Zone: 7 to 10
• Mature Shrub Size: 3 to 8 ft. (0.9 – 2.4 m) tall and up to 6 ft. (1.8 m) wide
• Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade

Japanese Maple Inaba Shidare (Acer palmatum var. dissectum ‘Inaba Shidare’)

Japanese maple ‘Inaba Shidare’ cultivar is a stunning deciduous shrub or dwarf tree with cascading, finely dissected red-purple leaves. The dark palmate leaves emerge purple before turning deep purplish-red in summer and bright red in the fall. Its lace-like foliage has seven lobes, and its leaves measure 6” (15 cm) long.

The ‘Inaba Shidare’ dwarf Japanese maple is a slow-growing shrub that matures around 10 ft. (3 m) tall. It has a cascading form and attractive reddish flowers, adding to its ornamental value as a red shrub in landscaping. You can plant the low-growing shrub as a specimen, accent, border, foundation, or container plant.

• USDA Growing Zone: 5 to 9
• Mature Shrub Size: 6 to 10 ft. (1.8 – 3 m) tall and 8 to 15 ft. (2.4 – 4.5) wide
• Sunlight: Partial shade or full sun

Japanese Maple Bloodgood (Acer palmatum var. atropurpureum ‘Bloodgood’)

Japanese maple ‘Bloodgood’ is one of the best ornamental shrubs with deep red leaves. It’s a deciduous rounded shrub or small tree with wine-red to burgundy leaves, each with five to seven lobes. The stunning red leaves turn vibrant crimson red in the fall before dropping to expose eye-catching red bark. The landscaping shrub also produces small purplish flowers and red fruits.

Japanese maple ‘Bloodgood’ grows up to 20 ft. (6 m) tall, adding bold colors and texture to front gardens or backyards. The low-maintenance shrub or small maple tree is easy to grow and requires little pruning. It’s ideal for growing as a focal point or specimen plant. Its red bark also adds interest to winter landscapes.

• USDA Growing Zone: 5 to 8
• Mature Shrub Size: 15 to 20 ft. (4.5 – 6 m) tall and wide
• Sunlight: Full sun or partial shade

Caribbean Copper Plant (Euphorbia cotinifolia)

The Caribbean copper plant—also called red spurge or tropical smokebush—is a stunning tropical shrub or small tree with vibrant coppery-red leaves. Native to South America and Mexico, the bushy plant has red-burgundy fleshy, ovate leaves 4” (10 cm) long, light brown bark, and clusters of tiny white flowers. It’s grown for its colorful leaves resembling copper.

The Caribbean copper perennial shrub-like tree grows up to 30 ft. (9 m) in tropical landscapes. It’s resistant to drought, deer, rabbits, and other pests. However, the small ornamental tree or shrub doesn’t perform well in salty or windy conditions. Also, its milky latex sap can cause skin irritation.

Landscaping uses for the Caribbean copper plant include growing it as an ornamental shrub, accent plant, or in mixed borders to add dramatic deep coppery-red colors to a landscape. In colder climates, the red shrub performs well in containers and overwintered indoors.

• USDA Growing Zone: 10 and 11
• Mature Shrub Size: 10 to 30 ft. (3 – 9 m) tall and 15 ft. (4.5 m) wide
• Sunlight: Full sun or partial shade

Purpleleaf Sand Cherry (Prunus x cistena ‘Crimson Dwarf’)

Prized for its striking deep purple-red leaves, the purpleleaf sand cherry dwarf shrub creates a dramatic statement in garden landscapes. The deciduous shrub is identified by its deep red foliage contrasting with white to pale pink spring blossoms. The ‘Crimson Dwarf’ cultivar is a standout decorative plant in garden landscapes.

The ‘Crimson Dwarf’ purpleleaf sand cherry grows up to 10 ft. (3 m) tall. Its red, deciduous foliage and cherry blossoms make for a beautiful landscaping plant in temperate climates. The compact, rounded shrub performs well as a specimen plant, hedge, or screen. Its dark-colored red foliage makes it a stunning companion plant for shrubs with lighter foliage or flowers.

• USDA Growing Zone: 2 to 8
• Mature Shrub Size: 6 to 10 ft. (1.8 – 3 m) tall and 5 to 8 ft. (1.5 – 2.4 m) wide
• Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade

Japanese Barberry Shrubs (Berberis thunbergii spp.) With Red Leaves

Red-leaf Japanese barberry shrubs are attractive additions to landscapes. The shrubs’ colorful foliage, ornamental berries, and bushy growth habits add color, texture, and year-round interest to landscapes. Barberry shrubs tend to have arching, zig-zag spiny branches covered in a rosette of small, oval red leaves. Depending on the cultivar, the red-leaved shrubs grow up to 6 ft. (1.8 m).

• USDA Growing Zone: 4 to 8
• Mature Shrub Size: 2 to 6 ft. (0.6 – 1.8 m) tall and wide
• Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade

Here are some outstanding Japanese barberry shrubs with red leaves to consider adding to your garden landscape.

Japanese Barberry ‘Admiration’ (Berberis thunbergii f. atropurpurea ‘Admiration’)

Japanese barberry ‘Admiration’ features showy foliage consisting of coral-red oval leaves with golden-yellow edges. The red and yellow leaves retain their color in full sun and become more vibrant in the fall. The compact, dwarf shrub grows 1 to 2 ft. (0.3 – 0.6 m) tall and wide.

Japanese Barberry ‘Nana’ (Berberis thunbergii atropurpurea ‘Nana’)

Also called crimson pygmy, the Japanese barberry ‘Nana’ cultivar is a compact, deciduous shrub with deep red to purple-burgundy obovate leaves. Not growing more than two feet tall (0.6 m), the thorny shrub makes for a stunning foundation planting, informal hedge or barrier, or shrub border.

Japanese Barberry ‘Rose Glow’ (Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea ‘Rose Glow’)

Japanese barberry ‘Rose Glow’ is a bushy, ornamental shrub known for its rose-red leaves with pink and white mottled patterns. The decorative shrub blooms with yellow flowers in spring, followed by bright red berries in the fall. However, its main attraction is the deep red eye-catching foliage. The compact, bushy shrub grows up to 5 ft. (1.5 m) tall and 4 ft. (1.2 m) wide.

Japanese Barberry ‘Helmond Pillar’ (Berberis thunbergii ‘Helmond Pillar’)

The Japanese barberry ‘Helmond Pillar’ is a compact, upright deciduous shrub with stunning deep reddish-purple foliage. Its narrow columnar form is ideal for landscaping small gardens or tight spaces. The dark red leaves appear on upright thorny branches, forming a columnar shrub 5 ft. (1.5 m) tall and 2 ft. (0.6 m) wide.

Japanese Barberry Golden Ring (Berberis thunbergii f. atropurpurea ‘Golden Ring’)

The Japanese barberry ‘Golden Ring’ is a mounding decorative shrub with striking red-purple leaves featuring slender golden yellow margins. This sun-loving shrub grows up to 4 ft. (1.8 m) tall and wide. It also features pale yellow spring flowers, spine-covered stems, and an abundance of shiny red berries. It’s ideal for planting along a foundation line or growing a hedge or barrier.

Heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica)

Heavenly bamboo is an evergreen, ornamental shrub with leaves in red, purple, and green shades. The shrubby plant has evergreen or semi-evergreen foliage, depending on the climate. The plant produces clusters of tiny white flowers in spring, green berries that ripen to shiny red, and reddish-purple or bronze leaves in the fall.

With its colorful foliage, this versatile, attractive shrub grows up to 8 ft. (2.4 m) tall. Its upright growth and tolerance for poor soils and shade make it ideal for various landscapes in all seasons. Its delicate, lacy foliage turns from purple to vibrant green and then red or bronze in the fall before intensifying to deep red and burgundy shades in winter.

Landscaping uses for heavenly bamboo include planting the plant as a foundation, shrub border, informal hedge, or specimen plant. Its colorful foliage and bright red berries add a splash of color to landscapes throughout the year.

• USDA Growing Zone: 6 to 9
• Mature Shrub Size: 4 to 8 ft. (1.2 – 2.4 m) tall and 2 to 4 ft. (0.6 – 1.2 m) wide
• Sunlight: Full sun, partial shade, and full shade

Royal Purple Smokebush (Cotinus coggygria ‘Royal Purple’)

Royal purple smokebush is an outstanding specimen shrub if you want a burst of vibrant red colors in your landscape. The deciduous shrub produces rounded leaves, emerging maroon-red in spring, maturing to deep wine purplish-red, and turning rich red in the fall. The red-leaved shrub also has unique pinkish-purple flowers resembling a puff of smoke.

This regal red shrub is versatile and grows up to 15 ft. (4.5 m) tall. Its feathery, deep pink plumes give the ornamental shrub a smoky appearance. Landscaping uses of the royal purple smokebush include privacy screens, informal hedges, foundation plantings, or shrub borders.

The royal purple smokebush tolerates drought, poor soils, and deer, making it versatile for various growing conditions.

• USDA Growing Zone: 4 to 9
• Mature Shrub Size: 10 to 15 ft. (3 – 4.5 m) tall and 15 to 20 ft. (4.5 – 6 m) wide
• Sunlight: Full sun to part shade

Shrubs With Red Leaves in Autumn

Many shrubs produce brilliant red foliage before their leaves drop in the fall. Here are some examples of ornamental shrubs with red leaves later in the autumn season.

Red Rocket Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica ‘Red Rocket’)

‘Red Rocket’ crape myrtle is a spectacular ornamental shrub or small tree with crimson leaves in spring and bright orange and red foliage in the fall. The deciduous shrub features showy clusters of cherry red flowers measuring 24” (60 cm) across. These spectacular flowers bloom throughout summer, complementing the shrub’s colorful foliage.

Crape myrtle ‘Red Rocket’ grows up to 30 ft. (9 m) tall and has tremendous ornamental value in garden landscapes. The large shrub is drought-tolerant and disease-resistant, and deer ignore its foliage. Landscaping uses for this attractive shrub include a specimen plant, foundation planting, or massed together to create a dense hedgerow.

• USDA Growing Zone: 7 to 9
• Mature Tree Size: 20 to 30 ft. (6 – 9 m) tall and 15 to 20 ft. (1.5 – 6 m) wide
• Sunlight: Full sun

Muskogee Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica ‘Muskogee’)

The crape myrtle ‘Muskogee’ cultivar is a lovely deciduous shrub or small tree with leaves that turn red-orange in the fall. Its oblong leaves are 4” long and are dark green in summer. The shrub has an upright, spreading growth and a vase shape. Its landscaping value comes from its showy clusters of lavender-pink flowers with petals like crepe paper.

‘Muskogee’ crape myrtle is a fast-growing large shrub or tree growing up to 12 ft. (3.6 m) tall. It grows as a good specimen shrub in full sun and well-drained loamy or clay soils. Crape myrtle is easy to care for due to its drought tolerance once established. It blooms best in full sun. In warmer climates, it grows well as an informal hedge, tall screen, or small tree.

• USDA Growing Zone: 6 to 9
• Mature Tree Size: 4 to 12 ft. (1.2 – 3.6 m) tall and wide
• Sunlight: Full sun

Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus)

The leaves of the burning bush turn spectacularly scarlet red in the fall. In addition to its brilliant fluorescent red fall foliage, the vase-shaped ornamental shrub has greenish flowers and purplish-red fruits containing orange seeds. The shrub’s spectacular red fall colors make it an outstanding landscape specimen plant.

Burning bush is a versatile shrub that performs well in cold and hot climates. It grows up to 20 ft. tall (6 m), thriving in full sun or light shade. The large, deciduous shrub grows well as a hedge, screen, or focal point in the garden. It’s an ideal cold-hardy shrub for adding vibrancy to autumn landscapes.

• USDA Growing Zone: 4 to 9
• Mature Tree Size: 15 to 20 ft. (4.5 – 6 m) tall and wide
• Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade, and can tolerate deep shade at the expense of its spectacular fall display

Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa)

Black chokeberry is a deciduous shrub prized for its ornamental value in the fall when its leaves turn a spectacular purple-red color. The small shrub has beautiful five-petaled spring flowers growing in clusters of five or six. The white blossoms contrast nicely with dark green foliage before giving way to shiny black berries.

Native to North America, black chokeberry shrubs grow up to 6 ft. (1.8 m) tall. They are known for their tart berries with a bitter taste. The glossy obovate to elliptic dark green leaves in the fall turn eye-catching red and purple shades. The black fruits from the shrub are popular ingredients for making jams, jellies, and wines.

Black chokeberry is a hardy plant that grows in soggy, moist soils. Popular uses for the ornamental fruiting shrub include shrub borders, small hedges, foundation plantings, or naturalized areas.

• USDA Growing Zone: 3 to 8
• Mature Tree Size: 3 to 6 ft. (0.9 – 1.8 m) tall and wide
• Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade

Shrubs With Red Leaves in Spring

Several ornamental shrubs produce red foliage early in the season before the leaves turn green in summer. Here are two varieties.

Red Tip Photinia ‘Red Robin’ (Photinia x fraseri ‘Red Robin’)

Red tip photinia ‘Red Robin’ is a popular evergreen shrub known for its bright young red leaves emerging in early spring. The oval leaves mature to dark green by late spring and early summer. The compact shrub also blooms in spring with large clusters of white flowers.

Red tip photinia ‘Red Robin’ grows up to 16 ft. (5 m) tall and wide. Its combination of newly emerged red leaves beside glossy green, dark leaves creates striking spring displays. Landscaping uses for the shrub include an evergreen hedge or specimen plant.

If you have a compact backyard, then the Photinia x fraseri ‘Little Red Robin’ is a dwarf shrub cultivar that doesn’t grow taller than three feet (0.9 m) tall. It has the same ornamental features as the larger cultivar.

• USDA Growing Zone: 7 to 9
• Mature Tree Size: 9 to 16 ft. (5 m) tall and wide
• Sunlight: Full sun or partial shade

Japanese Andromeda ‘Mountain Fire’ (Pieris japonica ‘Mountain Fire’)

Pieris japonica ‘Mountain Fire’ is a stunning evergreen shrub prized for its fiery red new growth in spring. The lance-shaped, leathery leaves emerge bright red before maturing to a glossy, dark green shade. An additional ornamental feature of the shrub is its arching stems covered in dangling urn-shaped white flowers that bloom in spring.

Japanese Andromeda ‘Mountain Fire’ is an outstanding compact shrub in all seasons. It grows up to 8 ft. (2.4 m) tall, making it ideal for small gardens. Its vibrant red leaves contrast beautifully with existing dark green leaves and masses of white flowers. This effect creates a stunning, colorful focal point in spring landscapes.

• USDA Growing Zone: 5 to 8
• Mature Tree Size: 4 to 8 ft. (1.2 – 2.4 m) tall and 3 to 6 ft. (0.9 – 1.8 m) wide
• Sunlight: Partial shade

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