Red Trees

Red foliage this spring has been redder than red.  The cooler and wetter than average spring has given us leaves that are uber lush with foliage more vibrant than ever. 

Top of list of red leaved trees are Japanese Red Maples.  These ornamental Maples are hardly tree-like but can eventually reach heights of 5 metres.  Foliage is small and finely cut, giving a delicate appearance.  Colour is bright crimson red early in spring, slightly losing luster by mid-summer and into fall. 

With the number of Japanese Maples varieties rumoured to be about 1,000, I would guess that nearly half would be red or shades of red.  The most popular is ‘Bloodgood’ with an upright growth habit, often with multiple stems, making it more of a large shrub rather than a small tree.

Equally vibrant in colour are the weeping or cascading varieties of Japanese Maples.  ‘Inabe shidare’ is a favourite, followed by ‘Crimson Queen’, both eventually reaching 3 metres high and 4 metres wide, although their ultimate height is dependent on their growing conditions, training and pruning. 

Japanese Maples are shallow rooted and would appreciate a layer of insulating wood mulch over their roots for the first year or two after planting.  Plant in full sun for best colour.  Japanese Maples like well-drained soil, preferring to grow high and dry rather than waterlogged. 

Beech trees, distantly related to Oaks, have been a favorite addition to landscapes in the last few decades.  Most popular are columnar shaped Beech, suited for small yards because their tall upright growth takes up little space. 

Ornamental Beech trees are available in various colours but the most outstanding is deep red.  ‘Dawyck Purple’ and ‘Red Obelisk’  are most widely used, both eventually growing over 10 metres high and only 2 metres wide. 

Gardeners with a quest for the unusual will consider Purple Fountain Beech, noted for its cascading branches, dark red colour, and dominant size.  River’s Purple Beech is more tree-like with a single main stem and broad crown.  Foliage colour is deep purple. 

In the smaller shrub category, some of the finest red colour will be found in the Barberry family.  ‘Rose Glow’ is bright red growing just over 1 metre, while ‘Royal Burgandy’ is a dwarf selection reaching 60 to 70 cm. 

Other shrubs with red foliage include Diablo Ninebark growing 2 metres high and Purple Smoke Bush reaching heights of up to 5 metres with width of 3 or 4 metres.  Purple Leaf Plum, also known as Prunus Cistena, a popular plant decades ago, has fallen out of favour because of its vulnerability to disease and insect pests.