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.
—- title: "Trees with red flowers" slug: trees-with-red-flowers hub: plants category: "Plant list" description: "The best trees with red or red-orange flowers for temperate and warm-climate gardens — with zones, mature sizes, bloom timing, and notes on hummingbird value." date: 2026-06-10 updated: 2026-06-10 author: "Thomas A." reading_time: 9 release_after: 2026-10-15 —-
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.
Red-flowering trees for warmer climates (zones 7–9)
Crape myrtle — red varieties (Lagerstroemia indica)
Per Clemson HGIC, red-flowered crape myrtles include 'Dynamite' (true red; zones 6–9; 15–20 feet) and 'Victor' (red; dwarf; to 3 feet). 'Dynamite' is widely regarded as the truest red in the crape myrtle palette.
- Zones: 6–9
- Bloom: June–September (long season)
- Color: 'Dynamite' — one of the truest reds in any flowering tree
Southern magnolia — red-adjacent (Magnolia spp.)
Not red, but mentioned for context: some magnolia cultivars produce red-purple flowers. The true red-flowered magnolias are uncommon in cultivation.
Tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera)
Flowers have red-orange markings but are greenish-yellow overall. Not a red-flowered tree.
Red-flowering trees for very warm climates (zones 9–11)
Bottlebrush (Callistemon citrinus)
Per Missouri Botanical Garden, bottlebrush produces cylindrical red flower clusters with very prominent stamens that give the brush-like appearance. One of the most reliably red-flowered trees for zones 9–11.
- Zones: 9–11 (some forms to zone 8b with protection)
- Mature size: 10–15 feet
- Bloom: Spring; may rebloom in fall
- Hummingbird value: Exceptional in warm climates
Royal poinciana (Delonix regia)
Per Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, royal poinciana is considered one of the most beautiful flowering trees in the world, producing masses of brilliant red-orange flowers in May–July. Called "flamboyant tree" in Caribbean cultures.
- Zones: 10–12
- Mature size: 30–40 feet tall; 40–60 feet wide (very wide-spreading)
- Bloom: May–July
- Color: Red-orange; brilliant; massive display
African tulip tree (Spathodea campanulata)
Per Missouri Botanical Garden, the African tulip tree produces large orange-red cup-shaped flowers. Native to tropical Africa; invasive in Hawaii and Puerto Rico — do not plant in areas where it has escaped cultivation.
- Zones: 10–12
- Bloom: Year-round in tropical climates
- Warning: Invasive in tropical Pacific and Caribbean — check before planting
Red-flowering trees by zone
| Tree | Zones | Height | Bloom Season | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red buckeye | 4–8 | 10–15 ft | April–May | Native; hummingbird plant |
| Red horsechestnut | 4–7 | 40–50 ft | May | Large; rose-red |
| 'Prairie Fire' crabapple | 3–8 | 15–20 ft | April–May | Disease-resistant; rose-red |
| 'Dynamite' crape myrtle | 6–9 | 15–20 ft | June–Sept | Truest red crape myrtle |
| Bottlebrush | 9–11 | 10–15 ft | Spring | Classic red; hummingbird plant |
| Royal poinciana | 10–12 | 30–40 ft | May–July | Most spectacular red tree |
Trumpet vine: the red-orange climber trained as a tree
Per Rutgers NJAES, trumpet vine (Campsis radicans) is not a true tree but is commonly trained as a standard (tree form) on a single stake. It produces red-orange tubular flowers extremely attractive to hummingbirds from July through September. Cold-hardy in zones 4–9. Very vigorous — requires containment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best red-flowering tree for hummingbirds in zones 4–6? Per NC State Extension, red buckeye (Aesculus pavia) is the best native option, timed precisely to ruby-throated hummingbird spring arrival. In zones 4–6, this is the most reliably hummingbird-valuable red-flowering tree for the spring migration period.
Are crape myrtles reliably red rather than pink? Per Clemson HGIC, 'Dynamite' is the most reliably true-red crape myrtle currently available. Most other "red" crape myrtles are actually deep pink, hot pink, or watermelon pink. 'Dynamite' was specifically selected for true red color.
Can I grow royal poinciana in zone 9? Per Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, royal poinciana is not reliable in zone 9 (temperatures below 28°F kill young trees). It needs zone 10+ for reliable landscape performance. Container-grown specimens in zone 9 can be moved indoors in winter, but at mature size this is not practical.
What is the difference between red horsechestnut and common horsechestnut? Per Missouri Botanical Garden, common horsechestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) has white flowers with red spots and is the species with edible conkers. Red horsechestnut (A. × carnea) is a hybrid between common horsechestnut and red buckeye, producing rose-red flowers. Red horsechestnut does not produce traditional edible conkers.
Sources
- Missouri Botanical Garden — Red-Flowering Trees
- NC State Extension — Red Buckeye
- Penn State Extension — Crabapple Selection
- Clemson HGIC — Crape Myrtle
- Cornell Cooperative Extension — Hummingbird Trees
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension — Royal Poinciana
- Rutgers NJAES — Trumpet Vine