Trees with red flowers
Red-flowering trees are some of the most dramatic landscape plants available, but many are restricted to warm climates. Northern gardeners have fewer red-flowering tree options than southern and coastal gardens -- a genuine limitation worth addressing.
Red-flowering trees are some of the most dramatic landscape plants available, but many are restricted to warm climates. Northern gardeners have fewer red-flowering tree options than southern and coastal gardens — a genuine limitation worth addressing honestly.
Red flowers in trees are particularly valuable to hummingbirds. Per Cornell Cooperative Extension, red and orange tubular or cup-shaped tree flowers are among the most consistently used hummingbird resources in North American gardens.
Red-flowering trees for colder climates (zones 4–7)
Red horsechestnut (Aesculus × carnea)
Per Missouri Botanical Garden, red horsechestnut is a hybrid tree producing upright panicles of rose-red flowers in May. It is one of the few medium-to-large trees with red flowers that performs well in zones 4–7.
- Zones: 4–7
- Mature size: 40–50 feet tall; 30–40 feet wide
- Bloom: May
- Color: Rose-red to deep red
- Note: Fruits are toxic if ingested; not conkers-quality
Red buckeye (Aesculus pavia)
Per NC State Extension, red buckeye is a native small tree or large shrub (to 15 feet) producing red tubular flower clusters in April–May. It is one of the most consistent native hummingbird plants in the eastern US, blooming at the time of early spring hummingbird migration.
- Zones: 4–8
- Mature size: 10–15 feet tall; 10–15 feet wide
- Bloom: April–May
- Hummingbird value: Exceptional — bloom timed to ruby-throated hummingbird spring arrival
- Color: True red; tubular flowers
Flowering crabapple — red varieties (Malus spp.)
While most crabapples produce pink or white flowers, several cultivars produce deep red-pink flowers:
- 'Royalty' (deep rose-red flowers; purple foliage; zones 4–8)
- 'Prairie Fire' (rose-red flowers; purple foliage; disease-resistant; zones 3–8)
- 'Red Jade' (deep rose-pink; weeping form; zones 4–8)
Per Penn State Extension, disease resistance (scab, fire blight, rust) is the most important selection criterion for crabapples. 'Prairie Fire' is rated highly resistant.
Japanese quince (Chaenomeles spp.) — red cultivars
Per Missouri Botanical Garden, Japanese quince includes red-flowered cultivars:
- 'Crimson and Gold' (red with golden stamens; to 3 feet; zones 4–9)
- 'Texas Scarlet' (tomato-red; spreading; zones 5–9)
- 'Nicoline' (deep scarlet-red; 6 feet; zones 5–8)
Not a tree technically (it's a shrub) but large specimens in tree form are common.