If you want a riot of colour in your garden, red evergreen shrubs can add colour, seasonal interest and break up the sea of green.
Red evergreen shrubs come in a variety of shades to satisfy anyone’s taste, delighting us with pinks and purples, and even offering dramatic dark burgundies.
In This Article: We present 11 red evergreen shrubs that would look lovely in your garden. When you take a look at the lovely photographs in this article, I think you’ll understand why red evergreen shrubs are so appealing.
Quick Question: Why are these shrubs Red?
The red in the foliage of these shrubs comes from a set of pigments called anthocyanins.
It is interesting to know that anthocyanins are present in all leaves, but the red evergreen shrubs produce anthocyanins in much higher concentrations in their stems and leaves, making them much more red.
The levels of sunlight can also affect the amount of redness. For example, if a red evergreen shrub is grown in partial shade, it may not become as intensely red in colour. But a shrub that is planted in bright sunlight may have more pigment-producing capacity, resulting in a much more red leaf surface.
Enjoy your viewing of these eleven stunning red evergreen shrubs that would be great for any garden or balcony!
1. Photinia Serratifolia Crunchy ‘Rev100’ Photinia.
Also Known As: Crunchy photinia, Photinia serratifolia ‘Rev100’PBR, Photinia serrulata ‘Crunchy’
This quick growing evergreen shrub has coppery-red new foliage.
The leaves have a distinct serrated edge. Crunchy photinia shows off a colourful display which is more pronounced in the spring then when the new leaves mature and darken to a deep red then green.
It is compact, dense branching makes it suitable for container gardening or as a hedge.
Plant this evergreen in fertile, well-drained soils and good day sun.
Pruning Crunchy back in early spring will give you the most bright young leaves.
#2. Cordyline Australis ‘Red Star’.
Also Known As: Cabbage Palm
If you’re ready to add a vibrant red evergreen to your garden, this evergreen species includes a spectacular palm like structure that makes it easier without the worry that a palm tree carries.
The long sword like burgundy leaves of cordyline Australis will add drama to your garden all year long, with its dramatic summer flowering, featuring stunning white flower spikes that are riche in fragrance.
As an exotic plant, it will do best when not exposed to the cold and frost.
Many gardeners who cultivate cabbage palm, will plant a young specimen in a container and kept on the patio, to ensure maximum warmth and indoor placement in the winter.
The only real maintenance, is removing dead leaves, or frost damaged front-branche, in spring when it is replaced with new shoots.
#3. Photinia × Fraseri ‘Red Robin’.
Also Known As: Photinia, Christmas Berry, Red Robin
This lovely shrub gives off a strong red toned foliage which shimmers in for sun.
It can be successfully planted in partial shade but full sun really brings out the best in this plant providing not only the parrot-red tone but also flower.
This fast-growing evergreen is even better with large round heads of delicate ivory flowers which often leave a red fruit.
Make this exciting plant at home in well-fed soils that have good drainage and protect it in winter from frost.
#4. Coprosma Repens ‘Pacific Dawn’.
Also Known As: Coprosma, Pacific dawn, Tequila Sunrise
This evergreen will attract year round interest with its multitude of colours.
At its best, it has variegated green, cream-yellow and red-copper colours when receiving maximum sunlight, but as the seasons progress, the deep maroon-purple colouration it achieves will shock you!
Grow this shrub in a pot to allow you to change the position of the shrub so that you can get the best effect. It will grow steadily and should be pruned into the shape you want.
Do not take chances with the frost, just simply wrap the plant in a frost blanket at night time when the first frosts reach your area.
#5. Pieris ‘Forest Flame’.
Also Known As: Lily-of-the-valley shrub, Pieris floribunda, Forest Flame
This upright evergreen plant is sure to please with the vibrancy of red tones of foliage.
In full sun, the new leaves emerge bright red and look like licking flames before transitioning to pink, white and deeply green as they mature.
You will also receive its bloom in April to May with clusters of bell-like flowers to further enjoy. Forest Flame is a great choice for adding colour in hedged areas or under green-toned canopies.
It will also tolerate some shade, and will get on just fine in rich, well-drained soil with some acidity.
#6. Leucothoe Scarletta (‘Zeblid’).
Also Known As: Switch ivy, Scarletta
This dome-shaped evergreen shrub is low growing and spreading, so you will want to keep this in check regularly.
The overall feature of Zeblid is the dark maroon foliage consisting of narrow glossy leaves, which turn deep green with maturity.
It produces relatively inconspicuous white flowers in the spring.
Scarletta loves shade, but it is stunning in full sun, with a metallic leaf look.
Zeblid would like mildly acidic soils or pot in ericaceous compost. It needs light pruning and shaping, best done in late spring.
#7. Photinia x Fraseri ‘Canivily’.
Also Known As: Canivily, Christmas berry, or Photinia davidiana
This is a classic red evergreen shrub, it’s very versatile and grows vigorously in most soils.
Canivily is related to the Red Robin variety (same species, larger size), but it has deeper red tones.
Its leaves are a burgundy red as they emerge, maturing to dark green as they mature. Keeping diligent cut-back and pruning will maintain the red leaves in great abundance.
The Christmas berry is known to flower from April to late May, producing loose branching clusters of white flowers with red berry seeds.
Canivily is versatile and can be used as a hedge, or singly in a container, or in the ground.
#8. Phormium ‘Sundowner’.
Also Known As: New Zealand flax, Phormium tenax ‘Sundowner’ or Phormium colensoi ‘Sundowner’
This exotic evergreen produces long, blade-like leaves that are reddish in hue, reminiscent of a vivid sunset.
It is so hardy that the fibrous leaves have been used to create a hemp or sisal-like material.
The erect leaves of Phormium Sundowner can grow longer than 1 metre (it has a hard-wearing, striped texture).
This evergreen rarely flowers but its occasional yellow flowers are unimpressive when compared to the drama of the foliage of this plant.
Sundowner does well in most soils, but for vigorous growth and vibrant colours, feed it with a substantial mound of well-rotted mulch at its base.
#9. Nandina Domestica Obsessed ‘Seika’.
Also Known As: Heavenly Bamboo
The vibrant red growth of this lovely evergreen shrub will get noticed; especially when grown in full sun.
As the leaves mature, they turn a rich green color. The flowers emerge in mid-summer; the white flowers appear in clusters, on conical panicles.
Many gardeners plant Nandina domestica in containers as patio plants, but can also be planted to create interest in other areas of the garden.
It grows best in full sun or partial shade, in moist, but well-drained soil. Heavenly bamboo is hardy; in particularly cold regions, it may require protection.
#10. Abelia × Grandiflora Sunshine Daydream.
Also Known As: Abelia, ‘Abelops’, Sunshine Daydream
This fantastic semi-evergreen shrub is an adaptable and fast-growing shrub with beautiful foliage and sweet-smelling flowers.
The leaves first emerge apricot, but become marbled with green and cream as the season goes on.
It may also produce clusters of white flowers. Later in the season, it shows red tones in the leaves.
The flowering occurs from June to October, at which time pink stalks will hold sweet-smelling clusters of white flowers.
If you dead-head, you will prolong the flowering period of this evergreen shrub, which is capable of growing anywhere that provides full sun.
#11. Euonymus Alatus.
Also Known As: Rudy Haag
Euonymus shrubs can be evergreen or deciduous with oval shaped leaves.
Some varieties like Rudy Haag will provide a rich autumn red colour, accompanied by small green flowers that produce colourful fruits with bright orange seeds.
This bushy, spreading shrub works nicely in borders alternatively can be grown as a dwarf tree.
Summary
We hope that this section of red evergreen shrubs has sparked some ideas for your garden or landscaping project.
Most of these shrubs can be grown in containers so that you can move them around for best light or where they will look best in your yard.
Its nice to take the time to appreciate the trees and shrubs you include in your garden as individual plants so that you can monitor their progress through the year.