1. Japanese maple
Acer palmatum or Japanese maple is a tree whose leaf color varies with the seasons from green to yellow to orange to finally offer a magnificent flamboyant red.
Some varieties, such as ‘Bloodgood’, take on an intense purple color throughout the year. Japanese maple is a deciduous tree that can be grown in pots or in the ground.
2. Fagus sylvatica ‘Atropurpurea’
This is the tree with purple foliage par excellence. Dark purple, its wavy-edged oval leaves change to blackish purple as spring progresses.
This tree, which can reach 20 meters high for 10 meters wide at maturity, is undemanding, but still has a preference for rich and cool soils, as well as sunny or partial shade locations.
Hardy, it withstands temperatures down to -15°C.
3. Liquidambar
The liquidambar is a tree which, in the fall, catches the eye with its pyramidal port and its flamboyant deciduous foliage. Its leaves are reminiscent of those of maple with their webbed and lobed shape. Liquidambar comes in different varieties, some of which, due to their smaller size, are more suitable for a small garden.
Whether your garden is small or large, offer it, preferably, a bright locationwhere its colors will be more beautiful, and a well-drained soil, but it can also be installed in partial shade.
4. Virginia Sumac
Virginia sumac is a tree very easy to grow whose deciduous foliage turns bright orange, red in the fall. He can reach 5 meters high at maturity. It is a very hardy tree that needs to be planted in a sunny location.
In summer, it is covered with a red flower in panicles about fifteen centimeters high. There are no requirements as to the nature of the soil provided that it be well drained.
5. Corylus avellana ‘Red Majestic’
More commonly known as “tortuous hazel”, this precise variety benefits from a beautiful purple deciduous foliage when he appears. Its color fades over the summer to become green. It is a fairly hardy tree that withstands temperatures down to -15°C and needs to be installed in a location in the sun or in partial shade.
Even when it has lost its leaves, this tree remains decorative with its winding branches. At maturity, it can reach 2 meters high for 2 meters wide.
6. Albizia julibrissin ‘Summer Chocolate’
This little deciduous tree with a spreading habit, a variety of the silk treeis appreciated for the beauty of its finely cut foliage of an exceptional color: from purple to chocolate.
From July to September, it is covered with flowers in silky white to pale pink powder puffs. To grow well, it needs well-drained soil and a sunny location. Once established, it withstands periods of drought and temperatures down to -12°C.
7. Acer platanoides ‘Crimson King’
This maple has deciduous purple foliage tinged with red throughout the season. Its oval leaves evoke those of the plane tree and turn dark purple to orange-red before falling.
At maturity, it can reach up to 20 meters high and 12 meters wide. The best place to plant it is in full sun or partial shade. Hardy, it withstands temperatures down to -15°C.
8. Cercis canadensis ‘Forest Pansy’
More commonly known as “purple sheath” or “Canadian sheath”, this small bushy tree has magnificent deciduous foliage that bright red changes to a dark reddish brown over the days. Besides their remarkable color, its leaves are heart-shaped and quite large.
It is an easy-going tree that is able to withstand possible episodes of drought and is very hardy. Installed in a location in the sun or in partial shade, it can reach 5 meters high for 3 meters wide. Even if it is naturally bushy, it is possible to prune it from the start to bring it to a stem and give it an erect habit.
9. Prunus cerasifera ‘Pissardii’
With this shrub, also called “pimp tree”, the decorative effect is guaranteed. In effect, its deciduous foliage is a beautiful purple red color on which simple pink flowers contrast, from March to April. It likes full sun, possibly partial shade, in any type of well-drained soil. Very hardy, it can reach 7 meters high for 5 meters wide.
10. Betula pendula ‘Royal Frost’
Also called “purple birch”, this ornamental tree is tvery decorative with its dense port in the shape of a pyramid and its dark deciduous foliage which contrasts with the white of its woods and whose color changes with the seasons.
You can count on it to bring a graphic touch to your exterior. This very hardy tree needs to be planted in a sunny or semi-shaded location. He can reach 5 meters high and 3.50 meters wide.
11. Gleditsia triacanthos ‘rubylace’
This February variety from America, a cousin of acacias and mimosas, is known for its very beautiful foliage of ruby red color, when it appears, which turns bronze in autumn. This majestic tree can reach between 5 and 15 meters and adapts to all types of soil, even those that are humid, even soggy, and dry in summer.
It is very rustic and will do well in a sunny location.
12. Cercidiphyllum japonicum
Called the “caramel tree,” this deciduous tree gets its name from the smell of its leaves, which smell of burnt caramel when they fall. But before falling they change color with the seasons : reddish pink in spring, they turn green in summer and turn yellow, orange, pink and red in autumn.
This fast-growing tree, which can reach 20 meters high for 15 meters wideprefers a sunny or partial shade location, and a drained soil.
13. Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Purpureum’
What makes this little shrub so charming is its slender, black branches on which develop leaves that are first green, then turn bright purple. Add to this that its foliage is persistent and dense, and that it is adorned with a red bloom, certainly discreet, but which exhales a smell of honey.
It is quite hardy since it supports temperatures down to -7°C and appreciates sunny locations.
14. Cotinus coggygria ‘Royal Purple’
Being one variety of wig tree, this tall, deciduous and very decorative shrub is famous for its purplish-purple foliage with warmer colors in autumn : scarlet red, dark pink or orange.
In summer, it adorns itself with purple cloudy inflorescences. You should know that it will be more colorful if it is installed in the sun and more floriferous in poor, dry and calcareous soil. Adult, it reaches at least 3.5 meters in all directions. Easy to grow, it is very hardy.
15. Sorbus commixta
This is a mountain ash that comes straight from Japan. This columnar tree widens with age. He can reach a height of about 8 meters and bears green foliage that turns deep red in fall. It is very rustic. You will have to install it in the sun or in the partial shade, in cool, well-drained soil.
16. Photinia ‘Red Robin’
This very decorative shrub, ideal for hedges, bears dense foliage which it keeps all year round and which changes color as it grows. New shoots are first bright red, then turn green. In spring, it is adorned with white flowers in panicles which create a nice contrast.
It likes full sun, but can also be grown in a partial shade location. It is recommended to prune it in summer to take advantage of its new red shoots in autumn. Easy to grow, it is very hardy and can withstand severe frosts without difficulty.
17. Berberis ottawensis ‘auricoma’
This beautiful shrub, more commonly known as “barberry”, is characterized by deciduous purple foliage that turns red in the fall. In spring, it is covered with a luminous flowering in the form of pale yellow clusters. It has a globular habit and can reach 2.5 meters high and 1.5 meters wide. It is hardy and withstands temperatures down to -15°C.
18. Cornus officinalis
Dogwoods, a family of which it is a member, are known for their decorative bark in winter of a beautiful orange-brown. This variety is characterized by oval leaves which take on a dazzling orange-red color in autumn and by its abundant yellow and fragrant flowering, at the end of winter, followed by small edible red berries.
He can reach a height of 3 to 4 meters high with a rounded habit. It is very hardy, but in case of drought, it will be necessary to water it.
19. Pieris ‘Forest Flame’
This evergreen shrub is easy to grow in acidic soil and partial shade. He can reach 1.50 meters high and 1.25 meters wide. This variety is characterized by beautiful red foliage, which later changes from pink to green. In summer, it is covered with a generous flowering in clusters of white bells.
20. Phormium
With this last plant, better known as “New Zealand flax”, it is not a tree, but aa clump of ribbon-like leaves. There are different varieties of Phormium, such as Amazing Red, Evening Glow, with red or purple banded foliage.