Popular Varieties of Shrubs with Red Leaves

Red barberry is a great deciduous shrub that is best suited for growing in hardiness zones 4 through 9. It is very thorny and produces not only red foliage but bright red berries as well, on which birds typically feed. For best results, you should choose a spot in your front yard that see a full amount of sunlight with partial shade. The soil can be basically any type, as the shrub is highly tolerant to many different levels of acid and alkaline, although you should ensure that it is kept well drained. Also known as the Japanese red barberry, this wonderful ornamental plant will bloom incredible yellow flowers during the summer. You can expect it to grow between three and four feet tall in maturity.



Flaming mound spirea is a short, compact shrub that can grow up to one to two feet in height, with a spread that is equal. Its foliage is a flame red in color -- hence its name -- which, in the fall, changes to a golden yellow and then orange-red. When planting a flaming mound, you should select a spot that receives full sunlight throughout the day but includes partial soil as well. As for the soil, the low growing shrub is widely adaptable and will do well in all types of moisture conditions as well. This type of spirea tends to best thrive when grown in regions that consist of hardiness zones 4 through 9. During the spring blooming season, you will be graced by lovely pink flowers.

Another variety of barberry shrubs that is a wonderful addition to any property that also boasts red foliage is the royal burgundy. Although it is dubbed "burgundy," its leaves are more of a reddish green, although it appears more one color or the other, depending on where you are looking. It does best when plants in hardiness zones 4 through 8 and requires full sunlight with well draining soil. As a fast growing shrub, you can expect it to reach heights ranging between two and three feet tall and as much as 36 inches wide. It blooms incredible white flowers during the spring season and also produces red berries that are normally consumed by birds. One of the best aspects of the royal burgundy barberry is that it is highly tolerant of drought once established. Occasional watering past the first season and placing mulch around the base of it will retain much needed moisture in the soil as well as keep pesky weeds away. Make sure to administer the shrub a good acidic fertilizer after it blooms.