Trees with red leaves year-round are a striking addition to any landscape, offering vibrant, evergreen foliage that maintains its reddish, burgundy, or purple hues through all seasons. These trees, often cultivars or hybrids, are selected for their ornamental appeal, as naturally red-leafed evergreens are rare due to the dominance of green chlorophyll in most trees. Their bold color makes them ideal as focal points, privacy screens, or hedges, providing consistent visual impact without the leaf drop of deciduous trees. They enhance gardens by contrasting with green or neutral surroundings.
These trees thrive in a variety of climates, from temperate to warm, with many requiring full sun to intensify their red foliage. Well-drained soil, often slightly acidic, is essential to prevent root issues, and some are drought-tolerant once established. Available in forms ranging from compact shrubs trainable as small trees to taller specimens, they suit diverse garden sizes. Selecting species that match local conditions ensures vibrant color and healthy growth with minimal care.
To maximize their appeal, plant these trees where their red leaves can stand out, such as against green backdrops or in open spaces. Light pruning encourages new growth, which often displays the brightest red hues, but heavy cutting should be avoided to preserve their evergreen nature. Pairing them with contrasting foliage or textures creates dynamic, year-round garden designs. Their low-maintenance nature makes them ideal for gardeners seeking lasting color.
While true evergreen trees with consistently red leaves are limited, certain shrubs can be trained into small tree forms to achieve a similar effect. These plants offer versatility, functioning as specimen pieces, border accents, or container plants. Their evergreen quality ensures they provide structure and color even in dormant seasons, making them valuable for continuous landscape interest.
Trees With Red Leaves All Year
Red Tip Photinia (Photinia x fraseri ‘Red Robin’)
- Description: Evergreen shrub or small tree with bright red new growth contrasting glossy green mature leaves, maintaining reddish hues year-round.
- Care Tips: Full sun to partial shade, well-drained soil. Hardy in USDA zones 7-9. Prune to encourage red new growth.
- Garden Appeal: Ideal for hedges or privacy screens with vibrant, multi-season color.
- Size: 6-13 feet tall, can be trained as a small tree.
Chinese Fringe Flower (Loropetalum chinense ‘Black Pearl’)
- Description: Evergreen shrub or small tree with dark red to purple leaves and pink flowers, retaining reddish foliage year-round.
- Care Tips: Full sun to partial shade, well-drained, slightly acidic soil. Hardy in zones 7-10.
- Garden Appeal: Compact size suits borders, containers, or small specimen trees.
- Size: 6-10 feet tall, trainable as a tree.
Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii ‘Atropurpurea’)
- Description: Evergreen to semi-evergreen shrub with deep red-purple leaves, often used as a small tree in landscaping.
- Care Tips: Full sun for best color, well-drained soil. Hardy in zones 4-8.
- Garden Appeal: Adds bold color to borders or as a low, thorny accent tree.
- Size: 3-6 feet tall, can be shaped into a tree form.
Cordyline (Cordyline australis ‘Red Star’)
- Description: Evergreen, palm-like tree with long, sword-like burgundy-red leaves, maintaining color year-round.
- Care Tips: Full sun to partial shade, well-drained soil. Hardy in zones 8-11, ideal for warm climates.
- Garden Appeal: Tropical flair for containers or as a focal point.
- Size: 6-10 feet tall.
Red-Leafed Banana (Musa acuminata ‘Zebrina’)
- Description: Evergreen in warm climates, with broad, reddish-purple leaves splashed with green, retaining color year-round.
- Care Tips: Full sun, rich, moist soil. Hardy in zones 9-11, grown as a perennial in cooler zones.
- Garden Appeal: Exotic, tropical accent for warm-climate gardens.
- Size: 6-15 feet tall.
Purple-Leaf Sand Cherry (Prunus x cistena)
- Description: Semi-evergreen to evergreen in mild climates, with reddish-purple leaves persisting through the year.
- Care Tips: Full sun, well-drained soil. Hardy in zones 3-8.
- Garden Appeal: Compact, ideal for small gardens or as a low tree with spring flowers.
- Size: 6-10 feet tall.
Red-Leafed Hibiscus (Hibiscus tiliaceus ‘Rubra’)
- Description: Evergreen in tropical climates, with glossy, heart-shaped red to burgundy leaves.
- Care Tips: Full sun, moist, well-drained soil. Hardy in zones 10-11.
- Garden Appeal: Lush, tropical look for warm regions, often used as a small tree.
- Size: 10-20 feet tall.
Red-Leafed Bottlebrush (Callistemon viminalis ‘Red Cascade’)
- Description: Evergreen with narrow, reddish-bronze leaves and red bottlebrush flowers, retaining reddish foliage year-round.
- Care Tips: Full sun, well-drained soil, drought-tolerant. Hardy in zones 9-11.
- Garden Appeal: Striking for Mediterranean or tropical gardens.
- Size: 10-15 feet tall, can be pruned as a tree.
Coprosma (Coprosma repens ‘Pacific Sunset’)
- Description: Evergreen shrub or small tree with glossy, reddish-bronze leaves that stay vibrant year-round.
- Care Tips: Full sun to partial shade, well-drained soil. Hardy in zones 8-10.
- Garden Appeal: Compact, colorful accent for coastal or mild climates.
- Size: 4-8 feet tall, trainable as a small tree.
Red-Leafed Leucadendron (Leucadendron salignum ‘Red Gem’)
- Description: Evergreen shrub with reddish-bronze foliage, often grown as a small tree in Mediterranean climates.
- Care Tips: Full sun, well-drained, acidic soil. Hardy in zones 8-10.
- Garden Appeal: Drought-tolerant, ideal for dry, sunny landscapes.
- Size: 6-10 feet tall.
Red-Leafed Ti Plant (Cordyline fruticosa ‘Red Sister’)
- Description: Evergreen with bold, burgundy-red leaves, maintaining color in warm climates.
- Care Tips: Partial shade, rich, moist soil. Hardy in zones 10-11.
- Garden Appeal: Tropical, vibrant accent for containers or gardens.
- Size: 4-8 feet tall, can be shaped as a small tree.
Red-Leafed Grevillea (Grevillea ‘Scarlet Sprite’)
- Description: Evergreen shrub or small tree with fine, reddish-bronze leaves and red flowers.
- Care Tips: Full sun, well-drained soil, drought-tolerant. Hardy in zones 9-11.
- Garden Appeal: Airy texture for Mediterranean or native gardens.
- Size: 6-12 feet tall.
Red-Leafed Pittosporum (Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Tom Thumb’)
- Description: Evergreen shrub with small, burgundy-red leaves, often trained as a small tree.
- Care Tips: Full sun to partial shade, well-drained soil. Hardy in zones 8-10.
- Garden Appeal: Compact, ideal for formal gardens or topiary.
- Size: 3-6 feet tall.
Red-Leafed Camellia (Camellia japonica ‘Rubra’)
- Description: Evergreen with glossy, reddish-bronze new growth, maintaining some red tones year-round.
- Care Tips: Partial shade, acidic, well-drained soil. Hardy in zones 7-9.
- Garden Appeal: Elegant for shaded gardens with winter flowers.
- Size: 6-15 feet tall.
Red-Leafed Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus gunnii ‘Silver Drop’)
- Description: Evergreen with round, reddish-silver juvenile leaves, retaining color in mild climates.
- Care Tips: Full sun, well-drained soil, drought-tolerant. Hardy in zones 8-10.
- Garden Appeal: Aromatic, silvery-red foliage for modern landscapes.
- Size: 10-30 feet tall, can be pruned to stay smaller.
Red-Leafed Manuka (Leptospermum scoparium ‘Red Damask’)
- Description: Evergreen shrub or small tree with small, reddish-bronze leaves and red flowers.
- Care Tips: Full sun, well-drained soil, drought-tolerant. Hardy in zones 8-10.
- Garden Appeal: Delicate texture for native or coastal gardens.
- Size: 6-12 feet tall.
Red-Leafed Hebe (Hebe ‘Caledonia’)
- Description: Evergreen shrub with compact, reddish-purple leaves, often used as a small tree in mild climates.
- Care Tips: Full sun to partial shade, well-drained soil. Hardy in zones 7-9.
- Garden Appeal: Low-maintenance color for borders or containers.
- Size: 3-5 feet tall, trainable as a small tree.
Tips for Growing Red-Leafed Evergreen Trees
- Sunlight: Full sun enhances red foliage intensity; partial shade works for some species but may dull colors.
- Soil: Well-drained, slightly acidic soil is ideal for most; avoid waterlogged conditions.
- Pruning: Light pruning encourages new red growth in species like photinia; avoid heavy cuts to maintain evergreen structure.
- Garden Design: Use as specimen trees, hedges, or container plants, pairing with green or yellow foliage for contrast.
- Climate Considerations: Many thrive in warm climates, but check hardiness zones for compatibility with your region.