Burgundy foliage in landscaping adds depth, richness, and a sense of drama that is hard to achieve with green tones alone. These plants serve as natural focal points in gardens, drawing attention to borders, corners, or standalone areas.
The color of these plants often changes subtly with the seasons. In spring and summer, the rich burgundy tones provide a bold backdrop for other plantings, while in fall, the leaves can deepen or intensify, creating a warm, layered effect that extends seasonal interest. Also, their growth habit—whether upright, rounded, or spreading—adds form and definition to garden spaces.
Many burgundy-foliaged shrubby plants also provide complementary seasonal features. Some may produce small flowers, berries, or textured stems. These plants can anchor formal garden beds, provide contrast in informal or cottage-style settings, or be grouped to create color-themed borders. When combined with lighter foliage or flowering plants, the deep tones can create striking contrasts that guide the viewer’s eye through the garden.
Whether used as a focal point, accent, or background element, they elevate the overall design and ensure gardens remain attractive throughout the year.
Burgundy Shrubs For Landscaping
Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Diabolo’)
This deciduous shrub is known for its deep burgundy foliage and peeling bark, which adds year-round interest. It produces clusters of white flowers in late spring and thrives in full sun, making it a striking centerpiece or accent in borders.
Barberry (Berberis thunbergii ‘Crimson Pygmy’)
Barberry shrubs offer dense, burgundy-red leaves that maintain their color through much of the growing season. Compact and thorny, they serve well as hedges, borders, or barrier plants while providing vibrant fall color.
Smoke Bush (Cotinus coggygria ‘Royal Purple’)
Smoke bush features large, rounded leaves in deep burgundy, complemented by wispy, smoke-like flower clusters in summer. Its bold foliage creates a dramatic focal point in landscapes, particularly when planted as a solitary specimen.
Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii ‘Atropurpurea’)
This shrub is prized for its rich burgundy foliage and compact, rounded growth habit. It produces small yellow flowers in spring followed by bright red berries, adding multi-season interest to gardens and borders.
Nandina domestica ‘Fire Power’ (Heavenly Bamboo)
Although technically not a true bamboo, this evergreen shrub displays burgundy-red leaves in winter, contrasting beautifully with bright red berries. Its upright, layered form makes it ideal for borders, containers, or foundation plantings.
Loropetalum chinense (Chinese Fringe Flower ‘Plum Delight’)
Loropetalum produces burgundy to deep purple leaves with clusters of fringed pink flowers in spring. Its dense growth habit works well for hedges, screens, or mass plantings, and it thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Barberry ‘Red Jewel’
This dwarf variety is perfect for smaller landscapes, featuring compact, burgundy-red foliage. Its vivid color contrasts nicely with green or silver plants, and it works well in borders, rock gardens, or containers.
Purple Sand Cherry (Prunus x cistena)
This deciduous shrub has narrow burgundy leaves and produces small pinkish-white flowers in spring. Its foliage maintains a rich hue through the season, making it ideal for mixed borders and privacy plantings.
Red-Tipped Photinia (Photinia x fraseri ‘Red Robin’)
This evergreen shrub offers striking burgundy-red new growth that gradually matures to deep green. It’s often used for hedges, screens, or specimen plantings and provides color contrast throughout the year.
Heavenly Bamboo (Nandina domestica ‘Gulf Stream’)
This cultivar displays deep burgundy foliage throughout much of the year, with bright red berries in fall and winter. Its upright, multi-stemmed form works well as an accent plant or for creating layered shrub borders.
Burgundy Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster horizontalis)
This low-growing, spreading shrub features burgundy-tinged foliage that turns vibrant red in fall. Its arching branches and small white flowers make it excellent for groundcover, slopes, or cascading over walls.
Weigela ‘Wine & Roses’
Weigela produces burgundy leaves paired with bright pink to red tubular flowers in spring and summer. Its colorful foliage and long bloom period make it an attractive addition to mixed borders or foundation plantings.