8 Gorgeous Trees That Keep Their Red Foliage All Year Round
People usually think of trees as having green leaves, and most do. But trees with red leaves add a fun splash of color to your fall and winter garden. Whether you put them on a lawn or in a clear spot in your garden, trees with red leaves will look great in isolated scenes and add a touch of happiness wherever they go!
You don’t have to wait until fall to see a tree with a red or ruby crown Some trees have beautiful red leaves all year long
There are both wild and cultivated ornamental trees with red leaves, from small red maples and even dwarf red maples to bigger red maples.
There are many red-leafed trees that can be used to make a dull space more interesting and set off a real fireworks show of colors. To give you ideas we chose 10 of the most beautiful trees with red or crimson leaves based on how bright the colors were and how long the fire lasted.
When it comes to injecting vibrant color into the garden landscape, trees with red foliage provide a visually striking focal point. While many trees only display fiery red leaves briefly in fall there are several tree varieties that will keep their ruby red or burgundy leaves from spring to fall giving your yard gorgeous color all season long.
Red leafed trees make excellent specimen plants, providing unique texture and eye-catching contrast. They also work beautifully planted in groups or mixed borders. From small Japanese maples to larger shade trees, there are diverse red foliage trees suitable for gardens of any size and style.
If you’re looking to add year-round color and interest to your yard. here are 8 spectacular trees that hold onto their crimson or burgundy leaves through multiple seasons
- Redbud (Cercis canadensis)
The Redbud is a spring show-stopper, igniting gardens with a blaze of bright pink blooms before its leaves emerge. The highly ornamental heart-shaped leaves then unfold in a deep purple-burgundy color, persisting from spring to fall before turning golden orange in autumn. Growing 15-30 feet tall and wide, Redbud is a nicely compact small tree perfect for smaller yards. It thrives in full sun to part shade.
- Smoketree (Cotinus coggygria)
Smoketree is prized for its unique and decorative foliage. The large, round leaves emerge greenish-red in spring then mature to a dark maroon-purple, holding this rich color all summer. In fall, airy plumes of smoky looking flowers cover the tree, resembling puffs of smoke, giving Smoketree its common name. A multi-season beauty growing 10-15 feet tall and wide, it does best in full sun and well-drained soil.
- ‘Royal Burgundy’ Cherry (Prunus ‘Royal Burgundy’)
For a smaller flowering tree with red leaves, Royal Burgundy Cherry is a superb choice. Its purple-red foliage emerges glossy and deep burgundy, contrasting beautifully with fragrant pink spring blooms. The lance-shaped leaves keep their dark hue right through summer without fading. Growing just 15-20 feet tall, it’s well-suited to yards with limited space. Plant it in full sun for the deepest red coloring.
- Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum)
Japanese Maple offers some of the most diverse red-leafed cultivars, ranging from laceleaf to upright forms. Varieties like ‘Bloodgood’, ‘Red Dragon’, and ‘Crimson Queen’ hold their carmine colored leaves from spring to fall before turning brilliant crimson-orange in autumn. Slow growing to 15-25 feet with elegant form and nicely textured foliage, they bring splendid color as specimen trees or grouped plantings.
- Red Norway Maple (Acer platanoides ‘Crimson King’)
For a larger shade tree that keeps maroon leaves year-round, look no further than Crimson King Norway Maple. This vigorous tree emerges with rich crimson red leaves in spring, holding the vibrant color straight through summer and fall before shedding. Growing 40-50 feet tall, it provides ample scale yet needs minimal pruning. Plant it as a colorful focal point specimen.
- Copper Beech (Fagus sylvatica ‘Purpurea’)
Copper Beech displays stunning foliage from spring through fall – glossy purple-red leaves that shine iridescently in sunlight. This classic large shade tree grows 40-60 feet tall with a broad, dense canopy that provides ample dappled shade. As an added bonus, its coppery bark also offers great winter interest after the leaves fall. Use Copper Beech as a gorgeous garden focal point.
- Photinia (Photinia x fraseri)
Also known as Red Tip Photinia, this large evergreen shrub or small tree shows off its best red colors in spring and fall. The oval leaves emerge as a striking brick-red before maturing to dark green in summer. In autumn they shift back to fiery reds and oranges for a fall display of color. Photinia grows 10-15 feet tall and can be pruned into tree form. Plant in full sun for boldest leaf colors.
- Red Maple (Acer rubrum)
Our native Red Maple lives up to its name, igniting spring landscapes with vivid scarlet flowers and red-orange leaves that persist through summer and fall. Fast growing to 40-60 feet tall, it develops an oval crown with ascending branches when mature. Red Maple makes a superb large shade tree for northern climates, bringing stunning fall color. Plant it in full sun or partial shade.
With their unique and eye-catching shades of ruby, crimson and burgundy, trees with persistently red foliage liven up gardens and provide four seasons of interest. They come in diverse sizes, growth habits, and leaf shapes to suit any landscape needs. For an infusion of color from spring to fall, look no further than these beautiful red leafed trees.
Growing Zones: 4-9 outdoors
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Dazzling Color Arrives Earlier & Lasts Longer
Why Red Sunset ® Maple Trees?
Delivering outstanding red and orange color weeks earlier than other varieties, the Red Sunset® is one of the best maples on the market. This treeâs deep, dazzling red hues can develop almost one month before other similar varieties, giving you longer-lasting fall color.
The Red Sunset ® displays rich, vivid color where other maples cant. Whether youre in a cold climate with temperatures down to -20 degrees or a hot, dry desert up to zone 9, you get the promise of intense color. The Red Sunset® is much more drought-resistant than other varieties too, so it keeps on looking great despite little water. Plus, its strong branching stands up to high winds and intense storms with ease.
Nothing can stop the Red Sunset® from displaying its vivid range of bright hues. Plant your Red Sunset® Maple along the roadâs edge, in borders, or as an ornamental that stands on its own. No matter where it grows, the Red Maple puts on a show and transforms your landscape into the best yard on the block.
Why Fast-Growing-Trees.com is Better
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FAQ
Is there a tree that stays red all year?
Acer rubrum
The Red Maple provides you with red color year round. This tree is very adaptable to most soil types and moisture conditions.
Are there any trees that are always red?
Trees that consistently produce red anthocyanins include red maple, dogwood, red oak, scarlet oak, sumac and sassafras.
Do red maple trees stay red all year?
- Spring: Red maple leaves emerge with a burgundy-red color.
- Summer: The leaves mature to a dark purplish-green.
- Fall: The leaves turn to shades of yellow, orange, and red, often on the same tree. The red maple is known for its vibrant fall display.
- Winter: The twigs and buds are reddish, and the red flowers appear in early spring before the leaves emerge.
What tree is red in the summer?
Summer Sensation Red Maple is an outstanding tree not only for it’s spectacular showing of rich burgundy fall color, but also for the glossy red new growth it puts out throughout the Spring and Summer seasons.
Which trees have red leaves all year round?
The Prunus serrulate, also known as the ‘Royal Burgundy,’ is a tree with red leaves year-round. It’s a vase-shaped deciduous tree that flowers during the spring and belongs to the Rosaceae family. These trees can grow up to twenty feet tall and have a canopy that spreads fifteen feet at maturity.
What trees have red leaves?
The common smoketree is another small-sized tree that features reddish-tinted leaves all year round. Usually, the leaves will appear more purple than red, but in the right sunlight, the red hue shines through. This is an excellent red-leaved tree to feature in any landscaping because it is smaller and easy to maintain.
Do some trees have red leaves all year round?
Some trees, such as deciduous trees, have leaves that turn red or orange in the fall. However, some tree species have red leaves all year round. The passage also mentions that evergreens remain green year-round.
Do red maple trees turn yellow in the fall?
Autumn sightseers of the eastern deciduous forest praise the red maple for its striking scarlet leaves. Few people know that red maple foliage can turn yellow or orange in the fall too. Red maples are fast-growing trees that usually reach 60 to 90 feet (18 to 27 meters) in height. Which trees have red leaves all year round?
Are red trees good for fall?
On a lawn, or placed in a clear area in your garden, trees with red foliage will do wonders in isolated subjects, and bring an undisputed touch of cheerfulness wherever they are installed! A ruby or crimson crown is not just something for fall, there are trees that adorn themselves with their striking red foliage all year round.
Are red leaves good for a backyard?
It Is With Red-Leaved Trees! Trees with red leaves give a marvelous vibe in all gardens, near the road, in the backyard. Some trees keep their red leaves year-round, while others get the red fusion of color in the late summer and fall. Whichever tree from my list you choose, red leaves will instantly create a picturesque effect in your backyard!