Deep red is one of the most useful and dramatic colors in garden design. At Details Landscape Art, a boutique landscape contractor based in Sonoma County, we design and build fine gardens throughout Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Sebastopol, Windsor, Healdsburg, Rohnert Park, Cotati, Penngrove, and Forestville, as well as Marin and Napa Counties. An earlier post discussed color and contrast in the garden. One of the key colors in our planting palette is deep red.
Deep red hues of Berberis ‘Roseglow’
Burgundy, maroon, and purple-red foliage contrast beautifully with gold, bright green, silver-green, lavender blue, and white flowers. Used thoughtfully, these rich colors add depth, drama, and year-round interest to the landscape.
Following are some of our favorite trees and shrubs with shades of dark red foliage.
Deep Red Trees for the Garden
Cercis canadensis ‘Forest Pansy’ (Eastern Redbud)
Deep red leaves of Forest Pansy
Absolutely one of the best small patio trees, ‘Forest Pansy’ can be used almost anywhere in the garden and is interesting throughout the year. Purple flowers emerge in spring before leafing out, followed by heart-shaped burgundy leaves that persist through summer and into fall.
Cotinus coggygria ‘Royal Purple’ and ‘Grace’ (Smoke Tree)
Smoke trees are upright, spreading deciduous trees or shrubs that typically grow to about fifteen feet tall and wide. After flowering, large panicles create a soft smoky haze around the branch tips, giving the illusion of puffs of smoke. ‘Royal Purple’ and ‘Grace’ are two of our favorite dark red varieties.
Deep red foliage of the Smoke Tree
Acer palmatum (Japanese Maple)
There are hundreds of varieties of Japanese maples available—some low and mounding, others upright and tree-like. Among the red dissectum varieties, we especially like ‘Red Dragon’ for sun tolerance, ‘Crimson Queen’, ‘Everred’, and ‘Tamukeyama’.
Among the upright red varieties, ‘Bloodgood’, ‘Emperor I’, and ‘Moonfire’ are longtime favorites. In our experience, many red varieties hold their color longer when provided with some afternoon shade.
Deep red shows in both a Bloodgood and an Everred Japanese Maple
Japanese maples are true showstopper specimens and deserve prominent locations in the garden.
Deep Red Shrubs and Accent Plants
Loropetalum chinense (Chinese Fringe Flower)
A member of the witch hazel family, Loropetalum is a beautiful evergreen shrub available in both green and red varieties. Our favorites are ‘Ever Red’ and ‘Purple Majesty’. The red varieties generally maintain their best foliage color with a mixture of sun and afternoon shade.
Deep red foliage of Lorapetalum ‘Purple Majesty’
Berberis thunbergii (Japanese Barberry)
This is one of our favorite full-sun shrubs with deep red foliage. It is tough, hardy, and highly deer resistant. Even in winter, the dark branches and foliage continue to add interest to the garden.
Some favorite varieties include:
- ‘Rose Glow’ – prized for its pink variegation and graceful arching habit to about five feet tall and wide.
Deep red with pink striation of Berber’s ‘Rose Glow’ - ‘Concorde’ – a compact dwarf variety with very dark foliage.
- ‘Crimson Pygmy’ – another excellent dwarf selection.
Using Deep Red in Garden Design
Deep red foliage works beautifully when contrasted with golden plants such as Coleonema ‘Gold Sunset’, silver-green foliage like Society Garlic, white roses, lavender, ornamental grasses, and bright green shrubs.
Like all colors in garden design, moderation is important. A few well-placed dark red plants can provide striking contrast and create focal points throughout the landscape.
At Details Landscape Art, we believe color is one of the most powerful tools available to the landscape designer. Thoughtful combinations of foliage, flowers, texture, and form create gardens with beauty and interest in every season.
Gardens for Life—and gardens with color.