Red is a color that humans are especially interested in. Although it has different meanings, some more cheerful than others, the truth is that when we see a plant with red leaves it is difficult for us to avoid looking at it.
The most interesting thing is that there is a great variety of species that we can enjoy in our gardens, patios, terraces and also inside the home. So If you are thinking of adding the color red to your life, take note.
Red leaf trees
There are many trees that stain their leaves red. Especially during the fall, many species from temperate climates become magnificent natural spectacles. These are just a few:
Japanese maple
Image – Wikimedia Commons / Raymundo Pastor
El japanese maple is the common name given to a series of deciduous trees and shrubs originating in Japan, China and Korea characterized by having palmate leaves, which are generally green turning red in autumn. But you have to know that there are many varieties and cultivars, each of them being plants of exceptional beauty. For instance:
- Acer palmatum var atropurpureum: is the most common variety. It is a tree or small tree whose leaves are red in spring, they become greener in summer, and in autumn they turn red again.
- Acer palmatum ‘Beni Maiko’: It is a tree or small tree similar to the previous one, but with smaller leaves and a brighter red.
- Acer palmatum ‘Bloodgood’: is Improved version of the Atropurpureum. Its leaves in autumn turn a darker red.
- Acer palmatum var. osakazuki: it is a tree whose leaves turn reddish in autumn.
They resist up to -17ºC.
Red maple
Image – Wikimedia / Willow
His scientific name is Acerand it is a deciduous tree native to North America. It can reach 40 meters in height, although the normal thing is that it does not exceed 30 meters. The leaves are palmate and lobed, being green most of the year and reddish in autumn.
Resists up to -17ºC.
Red plum
It is a deciduous tree native to western Asia and the Caucasus that can grow up to 8 meters in height. Its scientific name is Prunus cerasifera var Nigray it is one of the few that have red leaves all year roundexcept in clear winter 🙂.
Resists up to -17ºC.
liquidambar
Image – Wikimedia Commons / Sanchezn
El sweetgum, whose scientific name is Liquidambar styracifluais a deciduous tree native to eastern North America that reaches a height of about 30 to 40 meters, with a trunk up to 1 meter in diameter. Its leaves are similar to those of maples, being webbed and lobed, but they are distinguished from these by their alternate arrangement, not in opposite pairs. During the fall it turns an incredible red color.
Resists up to -17ºC.
Virginia sumac
Also called rustifina or rus, it is a deciduous tree or shrub native to eastern North America whose scientific name is Rhus typhina. It grows up to 10 meters in height, and develops pinnate and petiolate green leaves that turn reddish in autumn before falling.
Resists up to -12ºC.
Red indoor plants
If you’re looking for red indoor plants to decorate your home, you’re in luck. Although green ones abound, fortunately there are several that develop red or similar colored leaves:
Painted Leaf Begonia
The Begonia rexor painted leaf begonia, is a rhizomatous herb native to Asia that reaches a height of about 40 centimeters. The leaves can be of different colors: green, variegated, but also reddish or purple. It blooms in spring, producing pink flowers.
It does not resist the cold.
Red cordyline
Image – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sometimes also called red dracena, it is an evergreen shrub native to Australia whose scientific name is Cordyline bushy ‘Red. It can reach 3 meters in height, and its leaves are a very beautiful red color. During the summer it produces small lilac flowers.
It resists up to -3ºC if it is a little sheltered.
Hypoestes
Image – Wikimedia / Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova
The hypoestes are perennial herbaceous plants native to the tropical forests of Africa that can reach a height of up to 1 meter whose scientific name is Hypoestes phyllostachya. The color of the leaves varies greatly depending on the cultivarbeing able to be more greenish, whitish, pinkish or more reddish.
It does not resist the cold.
Poinsettia
Known as Christmas flower or poinsettia, is a deciduous tree or shrub native to Mexico. It can grow up to 4 meters in height, and develops lanceolate green leaves. Towards the autumn-winter it produces bracts (modified leaves) of red color, although they can be of other colors depending on the cultivar.
It can withstand weak and occasional frosts down to -2ºC.
Buy it here!.
Purpurin
Image – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
La purpurin a plant with creeping or hanging stems native to America whose scientific name is tradescantia pallida. Its leaves are purpleand produces small but very ornamental pink-purplish flowers in spring.
It resists weak frosts down to -2ºC.
What do you think of these red-leaved plants?
