When the outdoor living space shines in vibrant splendour, it becomes the pride of every hobby gardener. Bees, butterflies, and other garden visitors also love a colourful setting. If you want to create a diverse display of colours in your garden, you have two options: You can plant as many differently coloured flowers and shrubs as possible, perhaps scatter some handfuls of wildflower seeds into the beds, and see what happens. However, a more effective and visually appealing approach is to plan the project carefully. It is only through the deliberate combination of different colours that the garden truly becomes impressive.
A key role in this can be played by the red-leaved Photinia Devil’s Dream®, as it serves two purposes at once. It acts as a lush green backdrop all year round while also standing out as a fiery red eye-catcher that, in combination with other colourful "stars", creates striking visual effects.
Photinia is a plant with red leaves that transforms throughout the year. It starts with vibrant, fiery red new shoots that emerge in spring. These striking and decorative leaves welcome the warming season in a particularly eye-catching way. As summer progresses, the leaves of the red-leaved Photinia transition into a glossy green, which the shrub retains for the rest of the year. This allows the red plant to offer a dynamic display of colours that brings joy in every season. The effect becomes even more exciting when Devil’s Dream® is paired with flowering companions that harmonise with Photinia’s changing hues.
A particularly striking contrast is created by blue and violet flowering plants. The delicate flower clusters of lavender, for example, stand out beautifully against the red foliage of Photinia. The same applies to delphinium and catmint. The latter adds an extra accent with its silvery-grey shimmer of small leaves.
A classic combination is fiery red with white or cream. In spring, when Photinia produces its first red shoots, early bloomers such as lily of the valley, white tulips, and daffodils make wonderful companions. White phlox create an interesting, cloud-like effect. Peonies are also a lovely choice, and for those considering not only colour but also different height levels, white-flowering hydrangeas can create a layered effect.
Another interesting contrast comes from pairing red-leaved Photinia with yellow-flowering plants. The bright, sun-yellow blossoms of forsythia shine particularly vividly against the fiery foliage of Devil’s Dream®, while golden-yellow varieties of yarrow add a cheerful touch.
Of course, the red-leaved Photinia can also be used in smaller gardens or on terraces in containers. The standard tree variant is particularly suitable for this. Since Photinia sits atop a trunk, space remains beneath it to underplant the red plant with other contrasting flowers. This allows for stunning highlights even in small spaces.
By the way, the red leaves of Photinia Devil’s Dream® are as much a natural part of the plant as its green winter foliage, white blossoms in late spring, and berries in autumn. This sets it apart from plants whose red leaves indicate a nutrient deficiency. Photinia Devil’s Dream® is one of the plant varieties that naturally have red leaves—making it a striking feature in gardens, on balconies, and terraces. With its intense colouring of young shoots and leaves, it stands out even more impressively among plants with red foliage.
Shadow provider in the garden with the Photinia fraseri Devil's Dream®
Hedge element with photinia: Designing a colorful hedge
Glanzmispel or Kirschlorbeer? Differences between the hedge plants
