Are you looking to brighten up your yard with some red flowers, but aren’t sure which flowers will be the best for your home or garden space? In this article, we look at 61 of our favorite options to add some additional color that will match just about every season!
Your garden is your happy place. And one of the most popular flower colors to have in your garden is red. This is the color of love, passion, and excitement! This highly attractive color will catch the attention of anyone who may be in or around your garden. While you may have red flowers in your garden now, there are likely many you’ve never heard of before!
Intense, scarlet blooms are a great option for almost any garden. Whether you include them in little bursts throughout the foliage or have an abundance of them all throughout, they’re bound to make a great, lasting impression.
In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about our favorite red flowers for your home or garden. Each type of flower will vary in form and shade, so you have a lot of variety to choose from to make every corner of your garden special. Throughout this guide, we will give you a short introduction to each of these flowers, plus some tips on how to best care for them. Let’s take a closer look!
Alstroemeria
The first flower on our list is the lovely and exotic Alstroemeria. This plant blooms a conoidal flower of bright red-orange colors with a golden throat and deep burgundy streaks. It is very lily-like in appearance and thus also goes by the name of Peruvian Lily. Alstroemerias are known to be quite hardy and vigorous in nature. It produces numerous flowers and grows from late spring to late summer as a full and bushy 16 to 20-inch clump in height and 20 to 24 inches in width.
Alstroemerias flourish best in moist, well-drained, and very fertile soil under either the full sun or slightly partial shade. As it is reliable and easy to grow, it makes for great flowers for casual gardeners as it also requires very little effort to maintain. Without winter protection, alstroemerias can grow in USDA zones 8 through 10 with an ideal soil pH level of 6 to 7.
Amaranthus
Native to India, Africa, and Peru, the wonderfully exotic amaranthus is a flower of unusual appearance as it grows long, tassel-like cords of floret clusters that bloom a crimson red in the summer and fall.
The blossoms are especially striking against its oval, light green leaves making them an ideal staple piece in any summer garden. It is also a dramatic, imposing garden feature as it can stand anywhere from 36 to 96 inches in height and 12 to 36 inches in width.
While it can become drought tolerant, amaranthus must first thrive and be established under the full sun in fertile soil that is rich with humus, well-drained, and moist. It will also need a bit of maintenance as it easily propagates and must be cut back after flowering. It can grow in USDA zones of 2 to 11 with alkaline, acid, or neutral soil pH.
Amaryllis
Red amaryllises will be quite a statement piece for any garden as their features are simply regal and stunning. It is a large, velvety flower with a rich, blood-red color adorned by a lovely sheen around its throat.
Amaryllis are quite popular as it is an amazing beauty that is incredibly easy to cultivate and nearly foolproof to grow. From one bulb, this plant rises elegantly to around 20 inches and will produce 2 to 3 stems which will then produce 5 to 6 flowers per stem. It should be noted that the flowers don’t all bloom at the same time and instead they flower over a fairly long period of time.
Seemingly, the only downside to this beautiful flower is the illness it can cause should the plant be consumed. Otherwise, it can thrive in USDA zones 8 to 11 and can even grow in soils with chalk, clay, loam, or sand.
Anemone
Although the flower is not the same as the sea anemone referenced in that ubiquitous fish joke, the Anemone coronaria is still quite cheerful in appearance. Red anemones are double flowers with curved, poppy-like petals that spread out from a dark button center.
Despite not being a very long-lived flower, anemones are still very popular due to their bright and appealing appearance which can be easily cultivated and does not need much effort to grow. These flowers absolutely love the sun and can thrive very well in sandy, well-drained soil with a moderate amount of moisture.
Anemones are perfect for beds and borders or for rock gardens, and they also make for a wonderful display in a flower vase. These flowers are very sensitive to the cold and thus only bloom around mid to late spring. However, they propagate quite well, as they attract quite a bit of attention from butterflies. It is recommended for the small corms of the anemone to be soaked in water for several hours before they are planted. They grow to be around 8 to 12 inches tall in USDA zones 7 through 10.
Anthurium
Showing off their natural hue, the anthurium is also appropriately called the flamingo flower as it has a pale rosy coloring that slowly turns into bright, waxy red as it grows. The flower has a heart-shaped spathe with a spadix that is usually white or cream-colored but can also be a vibrant, bright yellow. The entire flower attractively shines as if coated in lacquer or varnish and grows to a boasting height of 12 to 18 inches and 10 to 12 inches in width.
If kept in optimal conditions, the anthurium is a long-lived flower that can bloom year-round. One plant can be expected to bloom 4 to 6 flowers a year once it is planted indoors in a container with a soil mixture that contains peat and other organic matter such as compost or ground bark that will help keep the soil rich and well-drained. Anthuriums also need filtered lighting, consistent moisture, and to be kept at a constant temperature of 16 degrees Celsius with especially high humidity in the summer. They thrive in USDA zones 11 through 12.
Ameria
Ameria comes in a shade of red and is also associated with the name “Ballerina red.” It blooms as a large sphere made of numerous, densely compact florets. It is known to transform gardens with its excellent and charming appearance and propensity to bloom in mid to late spring, and sporadically blossom again in the summer and fall.
This lovely flower can be easily cultivated even in dry, infertile soil with only the noticeable difference of leaves falling outwards leaving an open center if planted in richer soils. Both a partial or full sun can nourish the ameria and it becomes quite drought resistant once it is established.
Ameria can reach both a height and width of 8 to 10 inches and needs a spacing of about 10 to 15 inches from other flowers. It produces several blooms per bush and can produce another flush of flowers through deadheading. It flourishes in USDA and heat zones 6 to 7.
Aster
Another stunningly vibrant flower is the aster. It also goes by the name royal ruby as it blooms rich, mulberry-red petals with a deeper red gradient around its bright yellow-gold center.
Native to North America, the aster blooms from late summer to early fall and adds a cheerful ambiance to any garden with its eye-catching appearance. It is a must-have for garden owners seeking to attract lots of birds and butterflies, as an aster’s sweet nectar is highly enjoyed by such creatures.
Asters are long-lived and grow quite easily under the full sun or partial sun. They enjoy well-drained soil with an average amount of moisture and need good air circulation to avoid being susceptible to powdery mildew. It grows to be an upright, bushy display reaching a height of 18 to 20 inches and a width of 12 to 18 inches. It is also quite hardy and can thrive in USDA zones 4 to 8.
Azalea
Also called the Flame Azalea, the full spectrum of fiery colors ranging from a glowing golden-yellow to a burning red with brilliant orange blotches can appear in a single flower. Its buds highly resemble small candle flames and continue to grow as a stunning, loosely rounded blossom until it finally fully blooms as an elegant, blazing star-shaped flower.
Although these flowers are poisonous to humans, they are especially enjoyed by numerous birds, including hummingbirds, and are a highly recommended flower for butterfly gardens.
Azaleas thrive in full or partial sun and more easily grow in acidic, well-drained soil with a lot of humus. It also needs a layer of mulch such as leaf mold above the soil to keep it cool and help retain moisture and control weeds. The plant grows to be an upright, spreading shrub with a similar height and width of 48 to 96 inches. It is ideal to plant them in USDA zones 5 to 8 in the spring, summer, or fall.
Begonia
The begonia is a persistent bloomer that produces an assortment of large and impressive blossoms. Begonias resemble carnations quite closely. They are stunning, with the notable difference of more crimped edges of the very ruffled and strikingly scarlet-red flower petals.
These lay stark against the foliage of their deep green and waxy leaves. It is quite easy to grow, especially in fertile, well-drained soil with either a slight acidity or neutral pH level under some shade from the sun.
Begonias can thrive in low-maintenance gardens as they are deer and rabbit resistant. They grow to be 12 to 14 inches tall and spread around 12 to 16 inches wide without much effort. However, these flowers do not do well against strong winds, cooler temperatures, or frost. They require proper air circulation and to be dug up and stored away in a dry place over the winter. It is preferable to plant them in USDA zones 9 through 11.
Bergamot
Bergamots are showy, clump-forming perennials that grow popping, cherry-red flowers with densely compacted, almost disk-shaped terminal heads. Thus, this particular bergamot also goes by the name of “Cherry Pops.”
The plant and its flowers could be decorative, accent pieces that are suitable as informal flower borders in small, summer gardens and propagate quite easily as they attract many beneficial pollinators such as butterflies and hummingbirds while being resistant to both deer and rabbits at the same time.
Bergamot enjoys either partial shade or full sun. They are happiest in well-drained, moderately fertile, and moist soil rich with humus. This is provided that it is properly aerated to protect from powdery mildew. Bergamot can grow to be clumps of upright stems 20 inches in height and about 26 inches in width.
Deadheading the spent flowers encourages new blooms and can make for excellent cut flowers too. Bergamots are moderately hardy and can best thrive in USDA zones 4 to 8.
Bergenia
Bergenia, or evening bells, is a splendid winter plant that grows upright, clusters of bell-shaped, rosy-red flower heads. They bloom from a stout, deep burgundy-red stem base that is wrinkled and leathery in appearance. While it can tolerate almost any soil condition, it best enjoys average, moderately moist, well-drained soil that is humus-rich. It also thrives under full or partial sun, or even heavily shaded areas, so long as the conditions are never too hot or too dry.
Bergenia is very low maintenance and propagates by division or root rhizomes sectioned in the spring or fall. They are also ideal for city or coastal gardens as they are virtually disease-free and make for effective ground cover along paths and walkways. They are stunning when planted in masses. In USDA zones 4 to 8, bergenias can grow to be as tall as they are wide, which is around 12 to 18 inches.
Bleeding Heart
The bleeding heart, or ‘Valentine,’ is almost magical in appearance. It is a perennial that produces dozens of flower stems that arch gracefully, and from each stem dangles several heart-shaped flowers that are dyed a rich scarlet-red with protruding white petals. They flower over the course of 4 to 6 weeks in the late spring to early summer. However, they tend to decrease and diminish entirely by mid-summer, although their green foliage is left behind in a dormant state.
Bleeding hearts can vigorously grow to a height of 30 inches and spread over a similarly wide area. They perform best in soils that are rich with humus and have been fertilized. It is also good for the soil to be well-drained, but bleeding hearts can also tolerate poor drainage.
They also tolerate shaded areas but can be grown under the full sun as long as the soil is consistently moist. They thrive in USDA zones 3 to 9. Beware though, as bleeding hearts are known to cause severe discomfort if ingested.
Calla Lily
Native to South Africa, calla lilies would make a bold and cheerful display in gardens throughout the summer and the fall. These plants have a very interesting appearance with their trumpet-shaped flowers that start out with a glowing golden-yellow hue. It matures into a fiery orangish-red with some yellow speckling across its throat, which has a yellow stick-like stalk in its center. They come in a wide variety of different colors including white, and a unique deep black flower.
Calla Lilies grow to be sturdy and elegant with a height of about 14 to 18 inches and a width of 12 to 24 inches. They are a favorite wedding flower and will be an interesting choice for most any bouquet, given their elegant form.
These flowers do not need much effort or maintenance to thrive, making them a good choice for beginner gardeners. They best enjoy moist and well-drained soil under either the full sun or some partial shade. Calla lilies are deer and rabbit resistant, but also not entirely friendly to humans, as their sap may cause irritation to skin and eyes. It will also cause severe discomfort if ingested. They thrive in USDA zones 8 to 10.
Callistemon
Also going by the name “Crimson Bottlebrush,” callistemons are sweet-smelling, eye-catching plants that attract many birds and butterflies as they produce a copious amount of nectar. Their leaves also have a lemony scent when crushed. They propagate by seed or semi-hardwood cuttings. This plant is an evergreen shrub that grows spiky flowers with brush-like thistles as petals that bloom a bright, crimson color.
Callistemons thrive in moist and acidic soil that has been well-drained with regular irrigation in the full sun or in lightly shaded areas. They are virtually pest-free with the exceptions of spider mites, mealybugs, and scale insects when kept and grown in a glasshouse. In their native habitat of Australia, these plants can grow to be as tall as trees with a height of about 25 feet and can be anywhere from 3 to 22 feet wide! Callistemon can grow quite well in USDA zones 10 to 11.
Camellia
The favored camellias are very distinguished flowers that come in a wide array of forms and colors as they have more than 30,000 cultivars. Red camellias in particular are large and more densely compacted towards the center.
These semi-double blooms come in a deep red color with golden stamens popping out of their delicately ruffled petals. They flower over the course of several months in such profusion that, come springtime, they make for a dramatic, glorious, and lustrous garden display that can last to wintertime.
Camellias enjoy acidic, organically rich soil that is well-drained and retains a medium amount of moisture. They are not exactly lovers of the sun and will prefer to be under either partial or full shade. While camellias are a very low maintenance flower, they do need to be protected against direct sunlight and a number of insects such as vine weevils, aphids, and scale insects. They grow to be as tall and wide as 6 to 8 feet in USDA zones 7 to 9.
Canna
The canna, also called the “Ambassador,” has a quite fittingly prominent appearance. It can reach heights of 5 to 6 feet and spread to a width of 18 to 24 inches. It produces large, spectacular flowers that are similar to irises in appearance. Its foliage comes in a rich emerald green that blooms robust, velvety flowers that come in an array of colors. This includes a fiery, deep red. Cannas are very colorful and refreshing, making them right at home in a tropical garden.
Cannas are very easy to grow and do not require a lot of maintenance. While they can thrive in almost any soil condition, they perform best under the full sun and in soil that is organically rich, well-drained, and moist.
Pests largely leave the canna alone, but an eye must be kept out on slugs, snails, Japanese beetles, and caterpillars as these insects tend to do heavy damage to the foliage. It should also be noted that cannas do not hold up well against frost and are only really hardy in USDA zones 8 to 11.