Are you ready to add some fiery flair to your outdoor space? These Red Leaf Plant varieties will help you do just that!
From bold blooms to striking foliage, there are plenty of options for adding a pop of red to your garden. Here are some of the Red Leaf Plant varieties, all in a fun-loving manner.
Here are the Best Red Ferns You Can Grow
Best Red Leaf Plant Varieties
1. Red-Leaf Japanese Maple
Botanical Name: Acer palmatum ‘Atropurpureum’
USDA Zones: 5-9
With its stunning foliage, the Red-Leaf Japanese Maple is a showstopper among Plants with Red Leaves. This tree is perfect for adding color and interest to your landscape, and its compact size makes it ideal for small gardens and containers.
You Can Grow Japanese Maple Trees in Pots too! Here‘s how
2. Red Fountain Grass
Botanical Name: Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum’
USDA Zones: 9-10
With burgundy-red foliage that sways in the breeze., the Red Fountain Grass is perfect for adding texture and movement to your garden. It is a great example of Red Foliage Plant varieties that are low-maintenance and suitable for busy gardeners.
Find the Best Fountain Grasses here
3. Crimson Pygmy Barberry
Botanical Name: Berberis thunbergii ‘Crimson Pygmy’
USDA Zones: 4-8
If you’re after a small but fiery addition to your garden, check out the Crimson Pygmy Barberry. This compact shrub packs a punch with its deep red leaves and spiky texture and is considered one of the Red Leaf Plant varieties you can grow.
4. Burgundy Loropetalum
Botanical Name: Loropetalum chinense rubrum ‘Burgundy’
USDA Zones: 7-9
For a larger option among Plants with Red Leaves, the Burgundy Loropetalum is an excellent choice. This small shrub has a cascading form and gorgeous, deep burgundy leaves that add a touch of drama to any landscape.
Get the Best Loropetalum Pruning Guide here
5. Poinsettia
Botanical Name: Euphorbia pulcherrima
USDA Zones: 8-11
Poinsettia is a popular and beautiful outdoor plant that is known for its red foliage. This plant can even be grown in part to full sun and needs very little maintenance. It is an evergreen shrub that can reach heights of up to 7-8 feet tall and prefers well-draining soil.
You can also Grow a Big Poinsettia like a Tree! Learn here
6. Canadian Redbud Tree
Botanical Name: Cercis canadensis ˈForest Pansyˈ
USDA Zones: 4-9
If you want a tree with somewhat red or pink foliage, the Canadian redbud tree ˈForest Pansyˈ is a stunner. Its heart-shaped leaves start off a bright purple in the spring, then deepen to a rich maroon throughout the summer.
7. Copperhead Copper Plants
Botanical Name: Acalypha wilkesiana ‘Copperhead’
USDA Zones: 9-11
The Copperhead Copper Plant features striking leaves in shades of bronze, copper, and maroon, creating a unique and eye-catching display. These vibrant colors are sure to make your garden stand out and turn heads.
Look at some Copper Color Plants here
8. Coleus
Botanical Name: Coleus ‘Main Street Beale’
USDA Zones: 10-11
This Red Leaf Plant is all about the leaves, with each one featuring a unique mix of rich maroon, deep green, and hints of copper. The leaves also have a velvety texture that you won’t be able to resist touching.
Learn the Best Coleus Growing Tips here
9. Diablo Ninebark
Botanical Name: Physocarpus opulifolius Little Angel
USDA Zones: 3-7
It is a shrub with dark purple leaves that are reminiscent of a glass of bold red wine. The leaves also have a unique texture, making them stand out from other shrubs. This Red Leaf Plant is also low-maintenance and can tolerate a wide range of soil conditions.
10. Gagnepain’s Barberry
Botanical Name: Berberis thunbergii f. atropurpurea ‘Admiration’
USDA Zones: 5-9
Gagnepain’s Barberry is a popular Red Leaf Plant, featuring slender, deep green leaves with a glossy finish and sharp thorns along the stems. As a standout among plants with red leaves, it transitions into stunning shades of red and orange in the fall, adding even more visual interest to your garden.
11. Japanese Clove Cherry
Botanical Name: Prunus serrulata ˈRoyal Burgundyˈ
USDA Zones: 5-7
If you’re seeking red foliage plants, the Japanese clove cherry is a striking tree option. Its glossy, deep burgundy leaves make it a standout in any garden. This plant’s beauty in bloom is simply irresistible.
Here are some Japanese Plants You Must Explore
12. Red Robin Photinia
Botanical Name: Photinia fraseri ˈRed Robinˈ
USDA Zones: 3-10
is the Photinia ‘Red Robin,’ a shrub with deep green leaves that turn a bright red hue in the spring. This Red Foliage Plant is an excellent choice for those who want to add some dramatic color to their garden.
Find some Easy Maintenance Hedge Plants here
13. Brazilian Red Hots Alternanthera
Botanical Name: Alternanthera ‘Brazilian Red Hots’
USDA Zones: 9-11
For a low-key Red Foliage Plant, the Raspberry Rum Alternanthera is an excellent choice. With its raspberry-colored leaves, this plant is perfect for adding some subtle color to your garden. It’s also an easy-to-grow plant, making it ideal for beginners.
14. Red Basil
Botanical Name: Ocimum basilicum
USDA Zones: 10-11
Red Basil is a must-have Red Leaf Plant for cooking enthusiasts! Not only is it visually stunning with its dark red leaves, but it also adds a unique flavor to your dishes. It’s easy to grow, making it a great choice for herb gardens or small containers.
Look at the Best Basil Varieties here
15. Red Majestic Contorted Filbert
Botanical Name: Corylus avellana ‘Red Majestic’
USDA Zones: 4-8
If you’re looking for a truly unique tree, the Red Dragon Contorted Filbert is a showstopper. Its twisted, contorted branches give it a sculptural quality, and its deep red leaves make it stand out in any garden and also earn it a place in our most vivid Plants with Red Leaves list.
16. Red Leafed Mukdenia
Botanical Name: Mukdenia rossii ‘Karasuba’
USDA Zones: 4-9
As a ground cover, the Red-leafed Mukdenia is a unique choice among Plants with Red Leaves. Its stunning red foliage resembles tiny maple leaves, making it an attractive addition to any garden.
Look at some Purple Flowering Groundcovers here
17. Coral Bells
Botanical Name: Heuchera ‘lava lamp’
USDA Zones: 3-9
For a taller Red Foliage Plant, Red-leafed Coral Bells feature stunning red leaves that look great as a backdrop to smaller plants. Plus, it produces pretty pink flowers in the summer.
18. Red Leaf Sumac
Botanical Name: Rhus glabra ‘Laciniata’
USDA Zones: 4-9
Rhus glabra ‘Laciniata,’ or Red Leaf Sumac, is a deciduous shrub among Plants with Red Leaves that can grow up to 10-15 feet tall and wide. It has deeply cut, green leaves that turn a brilliant red in the fall, adding a splash of color to your garden.
19. Red Leaf Canna
Botanical Name: Canna ‘Tropicanna’
USDA Zones: 6-11
This Red Foliage Plant is a true showstopper with its bold and striking colors of green, orange, pink, and red, creating a stunning tropical look. Also, the plant produces large flowers in shades of bright red and yellow, making it a popular choice for gardens and containers.
Look at some More Charming Trees with Red Leaves here
20. Spiraea Double Play Big Bang
Botanical Name: Spirea japonica ‘
USDA Zones: 4-9
The Spiraea Double Play Big Bang is sure to brighten up any garden or landscape. In spring, the leaves emerge a bright red, transitioning to yellow and eventually maturing to green.
21. Red Twig Dogwood
Botanical Name: Cornus sericea
USDA Zones: 2-7
The Red-twig Dogwood is a deciduous shrub that can grow up to 9 feet tall and wide. It has green leaves that turn a brilliant red in the fall, but the real star of the show is the bright red twigs that add winter interest to the garden.
Here are the Best Dogwood Varieties Worth Exploring
22. Red Leaf Rose
Botanical Name: Rosa glauca
USDA Zones: 2-8
The Red Leaf Rose is a deciduous shrub that can grow up to 6 feet tall and wide. As a Red Foliage Plant, its leaves are greenish-blue, turning deep purple-red in fall, adding a burst of color to your garden.
23. Weigela
Botanical Name: Weigela
USDA Zones: 4-8
Weigela is a deciduous shrub that can grow up to 10 feet tall and wide. This Red Leaf Plant has dark green leaves and produces tubular, bell-shaped flowers in shades of pink, red, and white in late spring or early summer.
24. Red-leaf Mangave
Botanical Name: Mangave ‘Bloodspot’
USDA Zones: 9-11
The Red-leaf Mangave, or Mangave ‘Bloodspot,’ is a succulent plant that is a hybrid between Agave and Manfreda. It has striking red spots on the leaves that contrast with the bluish-green background.
Look at some Fantastic Agave Varieties here
25. Burning Bush
Botanical Name: Euonymus alatus
USDA Zones: 4-8
Also known as the Burning Bush, it is a deciduous shrub among Red Leaf Plants that grows up to 15 feet tall and wide. It has green leaves that turn a brilliant red in the fall, giving it a “burning” appearance.
26. Red Leaf Aralia
Botanical Name: Fatsia japonica ‘Spider’s Web’
USDA Zones: 7-10
Fatsia japonica ‘Spider’s Web,’ or Red-leaf Aralia, is a shrub that can grow up to 4-5 feet tall and wide. This Red Foliage Plant has large, glossy leaves that are green with white speckles, making it look like a spider web.
Look at some Stunning Aralia Pictures here
27. Red Leaf Banana
Botanical Name: Musa acuminata ‘Red Dacca’
USDA Zones: 8-11
Red Leaf Bananas will produce large, bright red leaves and yellow-green flowers that turn into edible fruits. They prefer full sun and moist, well-drained soil. Be sure to provide plenty of room or get a large pot for the plant to spread, as it can get quite large.
28. Red Agloenema
Botanical Name: Aglaonema ‘Siam Aurora’
USDA Zones: 8-11
The Red Agloenema is a low-maintenance evergreen shrub and can be grown in full sun or partial shade. Its foliage is a combination of red and maroon, and it produces small white flowers in the spring.
Learn about Growing Aglaonema from Cuttings here
29. Cranberry Hibiscus
Botanical Name: Hibiscus acetosella
USDA Zones: 8-11
It features large, deep green leaves that are dark burgundy-red to black in color. Its flowers are a deep pink-red and bloom in summer, with a second flush of blooms in the fall. Cranberry hibiscus is easy to care for and can be grown in the sun or in partial shade.
Get the Best Hibiscus Blooming Tips here
30. Red Euphorbia
Botanical Name: Euphorbia cotinifolia
USDA Zones: 9-11
It is an excellent plant for container gardening, as well as a good choice for adding texture and color to the landscape. The foliage is dark green with a reddish-purple tint. The flowers are small and yellow, with red bracts surrounding the blooms, making it a lovely addition to your collection of Plants with Red Leaves.
