red evergreen tree

Why Choose a Red Evergreen Tree?

A red evergreen tree is ideal for gardeners who want to enjoy vibrant colour in every season. These trees and large shrubs keep their foliage year-round, with stunning red and bronze tones that can brighten border gardens, driveways, and entrances. They’re perfect for creating privacy screens, shelter, or simply as bold focal points in your landscape. Red evergreens are also low-maintenance, drought-tolerant, and generally suited to a range of New Zealand climates.

Popular Red Evergreen Tree and Shrub Options

Many gardeners mistakenly assume few options exist when seeking a true red evergreen tree. While large trees with red foliage are rare, there are exceptional evergreen shrubs and smaller trees that fill this role beautifully in the garden.

• Photinia Super Red (Red Robin): For a classic combination of bright red new leaves maturing to glossy green, Photinia Super Red (Red Robin) and Photinia 'Red Robin' are excellent hedging and screening choices. These vigorous evergreens look fantastic as stand-alone specimens or clipped into formal hedges, with dramatic spring flushes of red.

• Leucothoe axillaris Curly Red: If you’re after unique texture as well as colour, Leucothoe axillaris Curly Red is a great choice. Its intensely curled leaves display deep burgundy and red shades throughout autumn and winter, making it a standout for shaded borders.

• Carex flagellifera Red: While technically a grass, Carex flagellifera Red offers fine, arching red-bronze foliage that adds movement and contrast beneath trees or along pathways.

• Sequoiadendron giganteum (Sequoia gigantea Tree): For those seeking a majestic evergreen with massive presence, Sequoiadendron giganteum (Sequoia gigantea Tree) is worth considering. While its foliage remains more blue-green, it can provide a stunning backdrop to your red-leaved evergreens, enhancing their impact in the landscape.

Planting and Care Tips

To get the best from your chosen red evergreen tree or shrub, pick a spot with well-drained soil and good sunlight—many red varieties develop their richest colour in full sun. Regular mulching and occasional feeds will help your red evergreens thrive. Prune hedging types like Photinia annually to encourage bushy growth and maximise those bold red flushes.

Red Evergreens for Every Garden

A red evergreen tree or shrub is a brilliant way to add low-maintenance, year-round colour and structure. Whether you’re creating a striking hedge with Photinia 'Red Robin', adding texture with Leucothoe axillaris Curly Red, or designing a layered garden with Sequoiadendron giganteum (Sequoia gigantea Tree), you’ll find the perfect red evergreen for your outdoor space. Explore our range and bring enduring colour to your landscape today.