Adding a Pop of Color to Your Garden: Evergreen Shrubs with Red Flowers

A garden full of green shrubs and trees can look beautiful, but sometimes you want to add a pop of color to really make your landscape stand out One easy way to do that is by incorporating evergreen shrubs with red flowers into your yard The vibrant red blooms will provide eye-catching contrast against all the green foliage.

Evergreen shrubs with red flowers offer year-round interest and color. Unlike deciduous shrubs that lose their leaves in winter, evergreens keep their foliage all year long. And while the red flowers themselves may only bloom for a period of time in spring or summer, the colorful red leaves and stems remain through the winter. This makes red-flowering evergreen shrubs a great choice for adding color during the drab winter months when everything else in your garden is dormant.

Why Choose Red-Flowering Evergreen Shrubs?

There are a few key reasons why evergreen shrubs with red flowers make an excellent addition to any landscape:

• Year-round color As mentioned above, the red stems and foliage persist through winter, providing color when most other plants are bare.

• Dramatic contrast The vivid red pops against all the green in a garden, making these shrubs great accent plants

• Low maintenance: Many evergreens are easy to care for, needing little pruning or upkeep once established.

• Hardy plants: Evergreens are resilient in cold weather and many red varieties can withstand freezing winters.

• Attract pollinators: Butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees flock to the bright red blooms.

• Curb appeal: Red shrubs with flowers can increase the visual appeal of your home’s exterior.

So if you’re looking to add some excitement to your yard, go for some red-blooming evergreen shrubs! Here are some of the best options:

Best Red-Flowering Evergreen Shrubs

1. Loropetalum

This versatile shrub has frilly, strap-like flowers that range from deep red to burgundy pink. The leaves are also red-tinged when young. Some popular varieties include:

• Fire Dance® with bright scarlet blooms
• Blush with fuchsia-pink flowers
• Ruby with burgundy foliage and blooms

2. Camellia

Camellias offer glossy evergreen leaves and delicate, rose-like flowers. Common camellia varieties with red blooms include:

• Kramer’s Supreme with velvety, deep crimson flowers
• Margaret Davis with semi-double, ruby-red blooms
• Professor Sargent with large red flowers and glossy leaves

3. Pieris

Also known as lily-of-the-valley shrubs, these have pretty clusters of small bell-shaped flowers. The new growth foliage is also brightly colored. Some pieris cultivars with red hues are:

• Mountain Fire with deep red new leaves
• Forest Flame with orange-red new growth

4. Rhododendrons

These classic flowering shrubs have large showy flower clusters. Great rhododendron varieties with red blooms include:

• Nova Zembla with bright red flowers
• America with frilly red blooms and evergreen foliage
• Hershey Red which stays compact with crimson flowers

5. Yucca

Though better known for its dramatic spiky foliage, some yucca varieties also produce showy flower stalks.

• Red Yucca is a drought-tolerant option with coral red blooms.

6. Heavenly Bamboo

Despite its name, this shrub is not actually related to bamboo but offers brightly colored new growth and flowers.

• Fire Power and Burgundy Flush have reddish-purple foliage that intensifies in sunlight.

7. Abelia

This semi-evergreen plant has lightly fragrant flowers and variegated foliage.

• Sunshine Daydream has apricot to red hued leaves and white blooms.

8. Barberry

In addition to being a low-maintenance landscaping shrub, some barberry varieties have reddish blooms.

• Rose Glow offers pale pink flowers and maroon foliage.

9. Bottlebrush Buckeye

This North American native shrub has foot-long spikes of white flowers that emerge red before blooming.

• Red Buckeye is aptly named for its red flower spikes.

Designing With Red-Flowering Shrubs

When incorporating evergreen shrubs with red flowers into your landscape, keep these design tips in mind:

• Use them as accent plants or focal points to draw the eye.

• Plant in groups of 3 or 5 for maximum impact.

• Pair them with green foliage plants like boxwoods or hollies so the red really pops.

• Locate them where they’ll be visible from inside the house to enjoy their winter color.

• Place near entries or pathways for a cheerful welcome.

• Mix heights and textures for visual interest.

• Repeat the same red varieties for cohesion.

With the right placement, evergreen shrubs with red flowers will bring vivid color to your garden year-round. It’s an easy way to brighten up your yard!

Caring for Red-Flowering Evergreen Shrubs

While most evergreens are relatively low maintenance once established, providing some basic care will help red-blooming shrubs thrive:

• Many prefer moist, well-drained, acidic soil. Incorporate compost or pine bark when planting.

• Water 1-2 times per week, especially during the first year. Established plants are drought-tolerant.

• Apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring.

• Prune after flowering to shape and remove dead branches.

• Protect from harsh winter winds and cold in very chilly climates.

Following these simple care guidelines will keep your red-blooming evergreen shrubs healthy and flowering beautifully year after year. With the right selection and placement, you can brighten up your garden with these vivid pops of color even in the winter months. Try adding one or more of these red-hued evergreen shrubs this year!