If trees have red leaves, they are particularly decorative and clearly stand out from other plants. We show which species with red foliage are suitable.

In a nutshell

  • red leaves can exist all year round or only from autumn
  • Substance called anthocyanin is responsible for the red color
  • young trees often have more red leaves than older specimens

American red oak

  • botanical name: Quercus rubra
  • Origin: North America
  • Flowering time: April to May
  • Flower color: green to yellowish
  • Fruits: Acorns, often hanging in pairs
  • Height: up to 30 meters
  • Location: sunny to semi-shady
  • Substrate: sandy to loamy
  • Hardiness: yes
  • Foliage colouration: from autumn to orange to red and reddish-brown

Notice: The red leaves of the tree can reach a length of up to 20 cm and more.

blood maple

  • botanical name: Acer platanoides
  • Origin: Asia and Europe
  • Flowering time: March to April
  • Flower color: green to yellowish
  • Fruits: in pairs, winged nutlets
  • Altitude: between 20 and 30 meters
  • Location: sunny to semi-shady
  • Substrate: rich in nutrients, loose and permeable, not sensitive to lime
  • Hardiness: older specimens are very hardy, young trees need protection
  • Leaf colour: depending on the variety, red throughout or red in spring to green and golden brown
  • Special features: very slow growing

blood plum

  • botanical name: Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra'
  • Origin: Near East
  • Flowering time: from March
  • Flower color: pink
  • Fruits: cherry plums, edible
  • Height: five to seven meters
  • Location: full sun is ideal
  • Substrate: rich in nutrients, calcareous, loose
  • Hardiness: yes
  • Leaf colour: red leaves, usually very dark
  • Special features: red leaves have a metallic sheen

fan maple

  • botanical name: Acer palmatum
  • Origin: Asia
  • Flowering time: April to May
  • Flower color: crimson
  • fruits: winged nutlets, arranged in pairs
  • Height: five to seven meters
  • Location: sunny to semi-shady
  • Substrate: loose, well-drained, sandy-humic
  • Winter hardiness: young specimens need protection when cultivated in tubs
  • Leaf colour: red throughout
  • Special features: slow growing

fire maple

Source: Famartin, 2014-10-05 15 31 32 Small trees during autumn leaf coloration along Rafter Hat Road near 2 Bottle Bar Lane in Spring Creek, Nevada, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
  • botanical name: Acer ginnala
  • Origin: Asia
  • Flowering period: May to June
  • Flower color: creamy white
  • Fruits: winged nutlets
  • Height: up to six meters
  • Location: sunny to semi-shady
  • Substrate: undemanding in terms of substrate, well-drained and moderately nutrient-rich soil is ideal
  • Winter hardiness: young specimens and plants in tub culture need protection, older ones are hardy
  • Leaf colour: bright red leaves from autumn
  • Special features: slow growing

Notice: This red-leaved tree attracts many insects with its strongly scented flowers.

Judas tree

  • botanical name: Cercis siliquastrum
  • Origin: Mediterranean
  • Flowering time: April to May
  • Flower color: purple-pink
  • Fruits: pods ten to twelve centimeters long
  • Height: about up to six meters
  • Location: full sun, warm and sheltered
  • Substrate: loamy, calcareous but permeable
  • Hardiness: depending on the species, hardy up to 400 meters above sea level or more
  • Leaf colour: green, bluish or burgundy, depending on species and variety
  • Special features: can be grown as a tree or shrub, very decorative fruits

corkwing bush

Source: Chercheur101, Arbuste1-Euonymus alatus, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
  • botanical name: Euonymus alatus
  • Origin: Asia
  • Flowering period: May to June
  • Flower color: green to yellowish
  • Fruits: orange-red berries
  • Height: up to 2.5 meters
  • Location: full sun to half shade
  • Substrate: nutrient-rich, moist and humus-rich substrate
  • Winter hardiness: tolerates frost well
  • Leaf color: red foliage
  • Special features: Leaves and flowers are particularly decorative and set accents

Red Maple

  • botanical name: Acer rubrum
  • Origin: Asia
  • Flowering time: March to April
  • Flower color: red
  • Fruits: winged nutlets
  • Height: 10 to 15 meters
  • Location: sunny to semi-shady
  • Substrate: loose, permeable, humic - compaction and waterlogging are poorly tolerated
  • Hardiness: very robust and very hardy
  • Leaf colour: bright red to green
  • Special features: high resilience and low demands

European beech

  • botanical name: Fagus sylvatica
  • Origin: Europe
  • Flowering time: April to May
  • Flower color: white to green-brown
  • Fruits: beechnuts, slightly poisonous
  • Height: up to 30 meters
  • Location: sunny, semi-shady to shady
  • Substrate: dry, well drained, moderately nutritious
  • Hardiness: extremely hardy
  • Leaf colour: orange to red leaves in autumn
  • Special features: very easy to care for, only prolonged drought and waterlogging are not tolerated

Redwood Dogwood

  • botanical name: Cornus sanguinea
  • Origin: Europe and Asia
  • Flowering period: May to June
  • Flower color: white
  • Fruits: bluish-black berries, edible raw but inedible, can be made into jam
  • Height: three to six meters depending on the climate
  • Location: sunny, semi-shady or shady, sheltered
  • Substrate: humic, nutritious, permeable and slightly moist
  • Hardiness: hardy without any problems
  • Foliage colour: flame red in autumn
  • Special features: the red wood acts as an additional eye-catcher

frequently asked Questions

How are the red leaves of the trees formed?

The red pigment is a substance called anthocyanin. This is formed by some and especially younger plants, especially in spring and serves, among other things, as sun protection. If the red coloring does not occur until autumn, it is usually due to slow drying and withering or the increasing accumulation of anthocyanin.

Can the red leaves discolour?

Yes, it is possible for red leaves to turn green or turn brown in the fall. Due to the numerous different species and cultivated forms, there are just as many different possibilities for leaf colors and coloring over time. Due to the changes in time, there can always be an eye-catcher in the garden.

Are there red trees that don't shed leaves?

This is possible above all in the bucket culture. However, most plants are deciduous when planted outdoors in European climates. Even otherwise robust species usually do not sprout again until spring. Some trees with red foliage, on the other hand, are eye-catching all year round.

Category:

Garden plants