Have you been thinking that your yard needs a pop of color? Maybe you’re looking for a statement piece to center your landscaping design. Red flowering shrubs can make a powerful statement in any landscape, and we’ve got 21 options with something for every growing zone.
Red is all about passion and power. Even the most delicate flower types can add pizzazz and enhance your curb appeal, but only if you select the right plants! Shrubs can flank a design, form a border, or create a colorful privacy hedge, and many require limited maintenance.
If you’re not ready to commit to a shrub, you could start with a few red flowers to see how well it mirrors your garden’s style. For those of you ready to take the leap, read on to learn about our favorite red flowering shrubs and how they can power up your yard or garden space.
How to Choose the Best Shrubs With Red Flowers
Selecting the best red-flowering shrubs to plant in your garden depends on a few considerations. First, it’s crucial to think about sun exposure and the USDA growing zone. Then consider the shrub’s height and spread. Some red landscape plants grow better as specimen plants, but others do better in mass plantings.
For example, some perennial flowering bushes are ideal for zones 5 through 9. So, red-flowering shrubs like roses, flowering quince, and dwarf spirea are suitable for adding a splash of red in temperate climates. However, camellia, fuchsia, and hibiscus shrubs are best grown in warmer climates if you want red flowers in your garden.
Royal Poinciana Tree
Why Royal Poinciana Trees?
Marking the start of spring each year with thousands of bright red blooms, the Royal Poinciana Tree’s rich color is not commonly seen in other flowering varieties. In fact, it’s also called the ‘Flame Tree’ for its blazing color.
While many others offer pink or white flowers at the start of the season, the Poinciana’s flame-colored hues stand out. In fact, Poinciana Trees are often the brightest trees in the neighborhood, attracting the attention of guests and neighbors alike.
And the Poinciana’s lush, long slender leaves offer a tropical look against its crimson blooms. Plus, because Poincianas are semi-evergreen, they won’t lose their leaves in warmer climates. and will provide your yard with abundant green foliage all year.
Even better? Because they can grow up to five feet a year, you get these exotic colors and shade quickly. So, not only do you get one-of-a-kind beauty, but you also get a tree that shields your home from the summer heat and provides extra insulation in the winter, saving you money and energy from season to season. And these vigorous growers have an extremely high drought tolerance and grow well in the dry, sandy areas where other flowering trees can’t take the heat.
Now, your Royal Poinciana is shipped to your door with a healthier root system, better branching and a head start on growth. And with our larger sizes, you’ll see blazing color and shade as soon as the first season.
| Mature Height: | 20-30 ft |
| Mature Width: | 20-30 ft |
| Sunlight: | Full Sun |
| Growth Rate: | Fast |
| Botanical Name: | Delonix regia |
| Does Not Ship To: | AZ |
| Grows Well In Zones: | 4-9 patio / 10-11 outdoors |
1. Planting: Select a location with well-drained soil and plenty of sunlight (6 to 8 hours of sunlight per day). Dig a hole that’s three times as wide and equal in depth as the root ball. Remove your plant from its original container, position into the hole ensuring that it’s standing upright, and the top of the root ball is even with the ground.
Begin backfilling the hole, tamping down lightly as you go. Once the hole has been completely filled, water to allow the soil to settle and eliminate any air pockets. Finally, apply a 3 to 5-inch layer of mulch around the plant to help enrich the soil as well as conserve moisture and control weeds.
2. Watering: We recommend watering your Poinciana once or twice weekly. If you’re not sure when to water, simply check the top 2 inches of soil for dryness. If the soil is dry here, it’s time to water.
3. Fertilizing: Apply a slow-release fertilizer once a year in early spring, before new growth emerges. Then, water the surrounding soil to allow the fertilizer to penetrate into the roots. Follow the application instructions on the fertilizer.
4. Pruning: Minimal pruning is needed. Any broken branches can be pruned back in spring before new growth begins.
Dynamite Crape Myrtle
Why Dynamite Crape Myrtle Trees?
Developed to produce the brightest red blooms of all Crapes, the Dynamite Crape Myrtle is a specimen show-stopper. Plus, it’s hassle-free, with pest and disease resistance as well as drought tolerance. So, you get spectacular blooms that last from spring to fall without harsh sprays, fertilizer, or tons of water…especially since it’s fast-growing.
And it’s one of the hardiest Crape Myrtles available. That means you get an excellent specimen tree, natural privacy barrier or border along your driveway that’s carefree down to 0 degrees. Plus, you can choose between two different versions of this vibrant tree – a stately, elegant single-stem trunk, or a full, lush multi-stem!
You get bright red blooms for months, despite tough conditions. Thriving in a number of conditions and areas, all without effort on your part, the Dynamite Crape Myrtle puts on a dazzling, vibrant show of red. When everything else has stopped blooming because of the heat and humidity of the summer, the Dynamite Crape is just getting started. And you get blooms that start light red the first year and then get deeper each passing year – giving you the best yard on the block.
Planting & Care
1. Planting: Find an area with well-drained soil and full sun (6 to 8 hours of sunlight per day).
Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep. Place your tree, backfill your soil and water to settle the roots. Mulch the area around the tree to conserve moisture.
2. Watering: Myrtles are quite drought tolerant but may need more watering during the hot summer season. If you’re not sure when to water your Crape, simply check the surrounding soil about 3 inches down. If the soil is dry here, it’s time to water.
3. Fertilizing: Apply a slow-release fertilizer in the early spring and summer seasons.
4. Pruning: For a more graceful tree shape, remove all but 4 to 5 strong trunks and then remove the lateral branches around the bottom half of the tree.
| Mature Height: | 20-25 ft. |
| Mature Width: | 10-20 ft. |
| Sunlight: | Full Sun |
| Growth Rate: | Fast |
| Botanical Name: | Lagerstroemia indica ‘Whit II’ |
| Does Not Ship To: | AZ,OR |
| Grows Well In Zones: | 6-9 outdoors |