Nature has blessed us with many unique things, whether a tree with no leaves or a tree with red leaves. These showstopping trees add lots of warmth and beauty to a space. It is hard to ignore them when you see them in a park or on someone’s private property.
Therefore, if you want to grow these jaw-dropping trees on your lawn, this article is for you. We have shared every detail of all the trees with red leaves with tips on how to grow them successfully.
Why Do Some Trees Have Red Leaves?
Some trees have a special pigment, anthocyanin, in their leaves. This pigment reflects purple and red light, making the leaves appear red.
Anthocyanins are usually prominent in the fall season. However, a few trees, like copper beeches, Japanese maples, and certain species of redbuds, naturally produce high anthocyanin levels. This allows them to have red or purple leaves almost all year round.
The performance of anthocyanin on leaves and their color depends on many factors.
- Increased sunlight in the fall season stimulates the production of anthocyanin. As a result, on warm, sunny autumn days, you may see the red and purple color of the leaves intensify.
- Cool nights and warm days encourage the production of anthocyanin. This helps enhance the purple and red tones.
- Adequate moisture also allows trees to grow easily, retaining their vibrant colors for fall.
Trees with Vibrant Red Leaves
Need a list of trees with red and warm leaves? Take a look at some popular options.
Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum)
Japanese Maples are loved by everyone, courtesy of their unique shapes, beautiful foliage and all the versatility they add to a landscape.
These trees have many varieties, including:
- Acer palmatum ‘Bloodgood
- Acer palmatum ‘Atropurpureum
- Acer palmatum ‘Tamukeyama
- Acer palmatum ‘Sango Kaku’ (Coral Bark Maple)
While the natural condition requirements of each species vary, most Japanese Maples thrive under partial shade.
These trees also prefer well-drained and slightly acidic soil. Make sure to keep these trees away from extreme heat all year round.
Red Maple (Acer rubrum)
Do trees with small red flowers drive your interest? These are Red Maple trees with brilliant red leaves in fall and have reddish hues to display in spring.
The good thing about these trees is that they thrive in almost all types of soil. And that’s true even with poorly drained or wet soils.
To make your Red Maple tree grow effortlessly, ensure that it is provided with full sun to partial shade.
Some popular varieties of Red Maple tree are:
- Acer rubrum ‘Autumn Blaze
- Acer rubrum ‘October Glory
- Acer rubrum ‘Scarlet Sentinel’
- Acer rubrum ‘Franksred’ (Red Maple)
Since each of these has varying requirements, make sure to treat them properly and individually for them to grow.
Redbud (Cercis canadensis ‘Forest Pansy’)
A Forest Pansy tree or RedbudRedbud grows to 20–30 feet tall and creates a beautiful round canopy. It has unique heart-shaped leaves with shades between deep purple and red. What’s more, in spring, the tree displays small pink and purple flowers, mesmerizing the people around it.
There are many pros and cons of Redbud, so make sure you know them before growing these trees in your backyard. For instance, these trees are aesthetically pleasing, are early bloomers and easily adapt to all soil types. These trees also don’t demand much maintenance.
However, redbuds have a short lifespan and are often prone to multiple diseases. The most common diseases that they get victims of include verticillium wilt and leaf spot.
Common variations of the Forest Pansy are:
- Cercis canadensis ‘Eastern Redbud’
- Cercis canadensis ‘Burgundy Hearts’
- Cercis canadensis ‘Pink Pom Poms’
- Cercis canadensis ‘Silver Cloud’
Each has unique characteristics, colors, and growth habits. So, know them in detail before you grow one of these trees.
Crimson King Norway Maple (Acer platanoides ‘Crimson King’)
A Crimson King Norway Maple tree is almost 30 to 40 feet tall. It has large dark purple leaves that look extremely vibrant in spring.
The tree usually prefers full sun to partial shade to grow properly. It thrives best in full and bright sun conditions. All of this helps the tree to enhance the intensity of its leaf color.
Common varieties available of this magnificent tree include:
- Acer platanoides ‘Emerald Queen’
- Acer platanoides ‘Columnar’ (Columnar Norway Maple)
- Acer platanoides ‘Royal Red’
- Acer platanoides ‘Golden Globe’
Smoke Tree (Cotinus coggygria ‘Royal Purple’)
This is a small tree with broad and oval-shaped leaves. The deep-colored leaves make the tree look beautiful all year round, while the yellow flowers in late spring enhance its value manifolds.
A Smoke tree requires full sun for maximum and effortless leaf color and flowering. You can give it some partial shade but know that the color of the leaves may not be very vibrant.
For the soil, the tree prefers slightly alkaline to neutral pH levels as ideal.
The Smoke tree has many varieties, including:
- Cotinus coggygria ‘Golden Spirit’
- Cotinus coggygria ‘Pink Champagne
- Cotinus coggygria ‘Daydream’
- Cotinus obovatus (American Smoke Tree)
Chinese Tallow Tree (Triadica sebifera)
You can spot this tree by its glossy and heart-shaped leaves that beautifully turn orange and red in the fall.
The Chinese Tallow tree usually grows in sunny areas and can easily adapt to different soil types. However, try giving it moist, well-drained soils so it can grow effortlessly.
The tree increases the aesthetics of your landscape. But at the same time, its seeds can be processed for oil to be used for different industrial applications, including biodiesel production. Isn’t that a wonderful use of this tree?
You can find it in many varieties, often named:
- Triadica sebifera var. chinensis
- Shanxi
- Autumn Blaze
- Imperial
They look more or less the same but have some different habits that you must know about before growing them.
More Colorful Fall Foliage Trees
In addition to trees with red or purple fall colors, many species display vibrant shades of orange, yellow, or even black leaves.
The coral bark maple (Acer palmatum ‘Sango Kaku’) is a popular choice for its golden yellow palmate leaves, which contrast gloriously against its coral red stems.
Other trees with notable fall colors include the ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba), sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), and hawthorn (Crataegus persimilis).
Have you seen a tree with pink leaves? Flowering Cherry and Crabapple have pinkish-red leaves and flowers that look beautiful in spring.
There’re also deciduous trees that shed all their leaves in the fall. As a result, they spend the winter season without them.
Growing Tree with Red Leaves
If you have a boring landscape, adding a tree with sweet smelling wood and red foliage is the best way to create a vibrant space in your house. Here are some more benefits you can gain.
Benefits of Adding Red Trees to Your Landscape
You can benefit from both aesthetics and functionality by adding red trees to your dull landscape.
- Red foliage creates a strong visual impact and helps create a beautiful contrast to yellow and green leaves.
- Your landscape with red leaves has a high value as it attracts more buyers than other options.
- Most trees with red leaves add a significant cooling effect and shade. As a result, they help keep homes cozy.
- Many red-leaved trees, such as Japanese maples, are slow-growing and small. They require minimum maintenance to keep them in shape.
How to Care for Trees with Red Leaves
Trees with red leaves are very precious. You are lucky if you can have them around you to feel their warmth on your life’s dull days.
Here are a few tips that can help you grow these trees and look after them with care.
Planting Tips
The best time to plant these trees is early autumn or early spring. That’s because the temperature during these seasons is mild, allowing young trees to develop a solid root system without any hindrance.
Make sure that you prepare the soil properly for these trees to grow beautifully. Your location should have adequate sunlight and space. Plus, the soil’s pH levels should be between pH 5.5 to 7.0 for these trees to thrive.
Watering and Fertilizing
Establish a strict watering schedule for these trees. In the first year after planting, water the trees one or two times per week. Make sure you follow the schedule as per the weather conditions. You can increase the watering frequency during hot periods with low rain.
Once the tree has grown and established, you can start watering it once every 10 to 14 days. Make sure to avoid overwatering the trees.
Similarly, the best time to apply fertilizer is in early spring. This is done to support leaf development and color of your trees.
Make sure to get a balanced fertilizer to give your trees all the nutrients they require to grow.
Pruning and Maintenance
To maintain the shape and health of your trees with red leaves, choose late winter or early spring as the best period for pruning.
We would encourage you to use the right tools for the job. For instance, get pruning shears, loppers, pruning saw, and safety gear to complete the task effortlessly.
As you see the plant grow, make sure to keep monitoring its progress and make changes as required.
Pest and Disease Management
You can’t leave your trees after they have grown perfectly. They require regular inspection from your side to check for any signs of pests such as spider mites and aphids.
Many trees also become victims of fungal diseases that can harm their health and leaf color. So, ensure to keep checking trees for these issues.
If a red-leaved tree becomes a victim of pests, start treating the problem with natural remedies. You can use insecticidal soaps or neem oil to reduce pests. Plus, removing the affected leaves or branches as early as possible is the best approach to prevent the disease from spreading.
If you can’t handle these tasks on your own, call a pest control service to manage them for you in a professional manner.
Conclusion
Do trees with red and purple leaves amaze you? If yes, choose any of the trees above and plant one while meeting their natural conditions. You will love and cherish the tree as it will grow every month, making your landscape look aesthetically pleasing and magical.
