Top 32 Red Flowers to Grow for a Gorgeous Garden
Paint your garden red with these bold and beautiful flowering annuals, perennials, and shrubs.There’s a good reason why red is the color of stop signs and traffic signals. It’s one of the boldest hues on the color wheel and can’t help but command attention. In the garden, plants with red blooms serve a similar purpose: They are meant to be seen and are sure to turn heads, even from a distance. What’s more, many pollinators are also drawn to red flowers, especially hummingbirds and butterflies.
No matter what the color scheme of your garden, there’s a shade of red flower to complement it, ranging from pale rose to fiery vermilion. For a tropical feel, try pairing red flowers with orange, yellow, and hot pink blooms. Or try mixing different shades of red for an eye-catching monochromatic look. Keep in mind that flowers in brighter shades of red can be overpowering if not used judiciously. For the best effect, disperse them throughout the garden wherever you need to make an impact.
AZALEA
Perfecto Mundo® Red reblooming azalea — Buy now from Proven Winners
(Rhododendron x)
Plant type: Shrub
Zones: 6-9
Exposure: Partial shade to full sun
Bloom time: Spring through mid-fall
Height/Spread: Up to 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide
Blooming on old wood in spring, and then again in midsummer on new wood, this reblooming azalea shrub will fill your garden with color all the way through fall. Like all azaleas, it grows best in acidic soil.
Learn more about growing azaleas.
BEE BALM
'Pardon My Cerise' bee balm — Buy now from Proven Winners
(Monarda didyma)
Plant type: Perennial
Zones: 4-9
Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Bloom time: Mid to late summer
Height/Spread: 14 to 18 inches tall, 10 to 12 inches wide
A delightfully compact bee balm loaded with cherry red flowers for most of the summer. Not only are the brightly colored blooms magnets for bees, they also attract butterflies and hummingbirds.
Learn more about growing bee balm.
BLANKET FLOWER
Heat it Up® Scarlet blanket flower — Buy now from Proven Winners
(Gaillardia hybrid)
Plant type: Usually grown as an annual
Zones: 8-11
Exposure: Full sun
Bloom time: Planting to hard frost
Height/Spread: 12 to 14 inches tall, 18 to 36 inches wide
Planted in a sunny location, this long-blooming native prairie plant will put on a show of color from early summer until fall while persevering through heat and drought. The large daisy-like blooms come in a variety of festive patterns, mostly in shades of red, orange, and yellow.
Learn more about growing blanket flower.
BLEEDING HEART
Valentine® old-fashioned bleeding heart — Buy now from Proven Winners
(Lamprocapnos spectabilis)
Plant type: Perennial
Zones: 3-9
Exposure: Partial to full shade
Bloom time: Late spring
Height/Spread: 28 to 30 inches tall and wide
This red variation of the old-fashioned favorite features deep red and white blooms dangling from arching stems. Although this species of bleeding heart dies back after flowering, the blooms last for several weeks and will return again the following spring.
Learn more about growing bleeding heart plants.
CALIBRACHOA
Superbells® Pomegranate Punch™ calibrachoa — Buy now from Proven Winners
(Calibrachoa hybrid)
Plant type: Usually grown as an annual
Zones: 9-11
Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Bloom time: Planting until frost
Height/Spread: 6 to 12 inches tall, 12 to 24 inches wide
This vigorous bloomer is covered all season long by deep pomegranate-red blossoms accented by dark burgundy centers. It quickly fills window boxes, planters, and hanging baskets, but can also be used as a fast-growing groundcover. Although the flowers are self-cleaning, give plants an occasional shearing for better branching and a fuller appearance.
Learn more about growing calibrachoa plants.
CALLA LILY
Be My® Heart calla lily — Buy now from Proven Winners
(Zantedeschia hybrid)
Plant type: Usually grown as an annual
Zones: 8-13
Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Bloom time: Early to late summer
Height/Spread: 18 to 24 inches tall, 9 to 12 inches wide
Deep red, tubular bracts (also known as spathes) bloom for weeks, adding long-lasting color to containers, borders, and mass plantings. This tropical beauty can also be grown indoors as a houseplant.
Learn more about growing calla lilies.
CANNA
Toucan® Scarlet canna — Buy now from Proven Winners
(Canna x generalis)
Plant type: Perennial in Zones 8-10, grown as an annual in Zones 2-7
Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Bloom time: Early to midsummer until frost
Height/Spread: 30 to 48 inches tall, 18 to 24 inches wide
With their bold floral colors and flamboyant foliage, cannas create a big visual impact wherever you plant them. These tropical natives thrive in heat and humidity and will even tolerate standing water, making them a good choice for pond edges or bog gardens.
Learn more about growing colorful cannas.
CARDINAL FLOWER
Starship Scarlet Bronze Leaf™ cardinal flower — Buy now from Proven Winners
(Lobelia speciosa)
Plant type: Perennial
Zones: 6-10
Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Bloom time: Midsummer to early fall
Height/Spread: 22 to 28 inches tall, 16 to 22 inches wide
Another plant perfect for damp or wet locations, featuring graceful spires of scarlet red flowers and bronze-tinted foliage that remains colorful even when plants are not in bloom. A great addition to waterside gardens, rain gardens, and borders.
Learn more about growing cardinal flower.
CHRYSANTHEMUM
Morgana Red garden mum
(Chrysanthemum x grandiflorum)
Plant type: Perennial
Zones: 5-9
Exposure: Full sun
Bloom time: Late summer until frost
Height/Spread: 1 to 3 feet tall, 1 to 2 feet wide
Also known as mums, these quintessential fall garden flowers come in a wide array of colors, including rich, autumnal shades of red and burgundy. When shopping for garden mums, be sure to buy hardy perennial plants rather than florist’s mums, which can’t tolerate winter’s cycles of freezing and thawing.
Learn more about growing mums.
CONEFLOWER
Color Coded® 'Frankly Scarlet' coneflower — Buy now from Proven Winners
(Echinacea hybrid)
Plant type: Perennial
Zones: 4-8
Exposure: Full sun
Bloom time: Mid to late summer
Height/Spread: 26 to 28 inches tall, 16 to 20 inches wide
Almost everyone is familiar with purple coneflower, but you’ll find these popular perennials in many other striking colors as well, including this vibrant scarlet-orange selection. Like all coneflowers, it is heat and drought tolerant, easy to grow, and will bloom for months.
Learn more about growing coneflower.
COREOPSIS
Li'l Bang™ Red Elf tickseed — Buy now from Proven Winners
(Coreopsis hybrid)
Plant type: Perennial
Zones: 5-9
Exposure: Full sun
Bloom time: Early summer to early fall
Height/Spread: 8 to 12 inches tall, 10 to 15 inches wide
Loaded with stunning burgundy red blooms all summer long, this Coreopsis hybrid has sterile flowers, which means plants put all their energy into creating more blooms rather than going to seed. Simply trim plants back if they show signs of slowing down to promote a new flush of blooms.
Learn more about growing coreopsis.
CRAPE MYRTLE
Center Stage® Red crape myrtle — Buy now from Proven Winners
(Lagerstroemia indica)
Plant type: Shrub
Zones: 6-10
Exposure: Full sun
Bloom time: Summer through fall
Height/Spread: 6 to 12 feet tall, 8 feet wide
A real showstopper, with bright cerise flowers set off by deep purple, nearly black foliage. Has a narrow, space-saving habit, making it ideal for tight spaces.
Learn more about growing crape myrtle trees and shrubs.
DAYLILY
Rainbow Rhythm® 'Ruby Spider' — Buy now from Proven Winners
(Hemerocallis hybrid)
Plant type: Perennial
Zones: 6-10
Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Bloom time: Early summer
Height/Spread: 3 feet tall, 2 feet wide
Sporting gigantic 9-inch ruby red flowers with golden yellow throats, this dramatic daylily is a real showstopper, especially when planted in masses. Although the flowers may only last a single day, each plant boasts a high bud count, giving you weeks of nonstop blooms.
Learn more about growing daylilies.
DIANTHUS
Fruit Punch® 'Cherry Vanilla' — Buy now from Proven Winners
(Dianthus hybrid)
Plant type: Perennial
Zones: 4-9
Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Bloom time: Early summer, early fall
Height/Spread: 8 to 10 inches tall, 12 inches wide
Dazzling, fully double carnation-like blooms feature a deep red color accented by light pink picotee edges. After the first flush of blooms, a light trim in midsummer will encourage repeat flowering in fall. Also try Fruit Punch® 'Maraschino' dianthus, which has flowers the same color as red maraschino cherries.
Learn more about growing dianthus flowers.
DIPLADENIA
Sundenia® Red — Buy now from Proven Winners
(Dipladenia hybrid)
Plant type: Usually grown as an annual
Zones: 10-11
Exposure: Full sun
Bloom time: Planting until frost
Height/Spread: Up to 2 feet tall and wide
This close cousin of the mandevilla vine features the same exotic trumpet-shaped flowers on a plant compact enough for growing in containers or hanging baskets. The deep red flowers bloom continuously from summer through fall and are irresistible to hummingbirds and butterflies.
GERANIUM
Boldly® Dark Red geranium — Buy now from Proven Winners
(Pelargonium interspecific hybrid)
Plant type: Usually grown as an annual
Zones: 9-11
Exposure: Full to partial sun
Bloom time: Planting until frost
Height/Spread: 10 to 12 inches tall, 12 to 20 inches wide
At home in containers of all sorts, the classic red geranium is one of the most popular and easy to grow summer plants. Those vibrant blooms in contrast with the green leaves is always a striking combination. And if you have a sunny window, you can cut back your geraniums and bring them indoors to keep them through the winter.
Learn more about growing geraniums.
GERBERA DIASY
Revolution™ Red Dark Eye gerbera daisy — Buy now from Proven Winners
(Gerbera jamesonii)
Plant type: Usually grown as an annual
Zones: 9-11
Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Bloom time: Late spring through fall
Height/Spread: Up to 12 inches tall and wide
Gerbera daisies come in a vast array of gorgeous colors, but the reds are especially striking, with ray-like petals surrounding light or dark centers. Ideal for growing in cutting gardens and containers.
Learn more about growing gerbera daisies.
HIBISCUS
Summerific® 'Holy Grail' rose mallow — Buy now from Proven Winners
(Hibiscus hybrid)
Plant type: Perennial
Zones: 4-9
Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Bloom time: Midsummer to early fall
Height/Spread: 4 to 4-1/2 feet tall, 5 feet wide
Rich, deep red flowers nearly 9 inches across beautifully complement this plant’s lush near-black foliage. Unlike tropical hibiscus, rose mallow is a hardy hibiscus tough enough to overwinter outdoors in colder climates.
Learn more about growing rose mallow.
HYDRANGEA
Little Lime Punch® panicle hydrangea — Buy now from Proven Winners
(Hydrangea paniculata
Plant type: Shrub
Zones: 3-8
Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Bloom time: Early to late summer
Height/Spread: 3 to 5 feet tall and wide
This unusual hydrangea offers four flower colors on one plant, with blooms that emerge lime green and then change progressively from white, to light pink, to Hawaiian Punch red. As it reblooms throughout the summer, all four colors are on display simultaneously.
Learn more about how to grow and care for hydrangeas.
IMPATIENS
Rockapulco® Red double impatiens — Buy now from Proven Winners
(Impatiens walleriana)
Plant type: Usually grown as an annual
Zones: 10-11
Exposure: Partial to full shade
Bloom time: Planting until frost
Height/Spread: 10 to 20 inches tall, 12 to 24 inches wide
Produces plush double flowers that resemble miniature red roses in bud and bloom. Grows into a perfectly rounded mound that is covered in self-cleaning blossoms from spring to fall.
Learn more about how to grow impatiens flowers.
KNIPHOFIA
Pyromania® 'Rocket's Red Glare' kniphofia — Buy now from Proven Winners
(Kniphofia hybrid)
Plant type: Perennial
Zones: 6-9
Exposure: Full sun
Bloom time: Early to late summer
Height/Spread: Up to 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide
Also called red-hot poker and torch lily because of its tall, vibrantly colored flowers, Kniphofia has blooms that change color as they mature, resulting in a unique bi-color effect. This showy variety starts out with upright spikes of red flower buds that gradually open to creamy yellow blooms from bottom to top, creating the look of a rocket in flight.
Learn more about how to grow red hot poker plants.
LANTANA
Luscious® Royale Red Zone™ lantana — Buy now from Proven Winners
(Lantana camara)
Plant type: Tender perennial, usually grown as an annual
Zones: 9-11
Exposure: Full sun
Bloom time: Planting to hard frost
Height/Spread: 1 to 2 feet tall and wide
Often displaying multiple flower colors on one plant, this heat- and drought-tolerant bloomer always elicits oohs and aahs, whether displayed alone in a container or used in garden beds and borders. Although usually grown as an annual, lantana will bloom nearly year-round in climates with warm winters.
Learn more about how to grow lantana plants.
NEMESIA
Sunsatia® Cranberry Red — Buy now from Proven Winners
(Nemesia hybrid)
Plant type: Annual
Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Bloom time: Planting to hard frost
Height/Spread: 6 to 10 inches tall, trails up to 18 inches
Although nemesias tend to do best in spring and fall, when temperatures are cooler, this variety holds its own in both cool and hot temperatures and will continue to produce a profusion of flowers all summer long. A trailing habit makes it an outstanding choice for adding pops of color to hanging baskets and window boxes.
Learn more about how to grow nemesia.
ORIENTAL POPPY
'Beauty of Livermere' Oriental poppy — Buy now from Proven Winners
(Papaver orientalis)
Plant type: Perennial
Zones: 5-7
Exposure: Full sun
Bloom time: Late spring to early summer
Height/Spread: Up to 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide
During its short season of bloom, the flamboyant Oriental poppy dominates the garden, showing off huge scarlet-orange blossoms measuring up to 8 inches across. Plants go dormant in the summer, so mix them among other tall perennials or annuals to mask the browning foliage.
Learn more about growing Oriental poppies.
PETUNIA
Supertunia® Really Red petunia — Buy now from Proven Winners
(Petunia hybrid)
Plant type: Annual
Exposure: Full sun
Bloom time: Planting until hard frost
Height/Spread: 6 to 10 inches tall, 18 to 24 inches wide
Easy to grow and low maintenance, this true red petunia blooms all summer long without deadheading, but you can give it a light trim now and then to boost flower production and create fuller plants. Although petunias flourish in the heat, they can also tolerate cool temperatures as long as there is no threat of frost.
Learn more about growing petunia flowers.
PHLOX
Intensia® Red Hot phlox — Buy now from Proven Winners
(Phlox drummondii)
Plant type: Annual
Exposure: Full sun
Bloom time: Planting until hard frost
Height/Spread: 6 to 10 inches tall, 18 to 24 inches wide
This fiery red phlox is blanketed in flowers from early spring all the way through fall without the need for deadheading. Extremely heat and drought tolerant, it requires less-frequent watering than many flowering annuals, making it a good choice for drier climates.
Learn more about growing petunia flowers.
ROSE
Oso Easy Double Red® rose — Buy now from Proven Winners
(Rosa hybrid)
Plant type: Shrub
Zones: 4-9
Exposure: Full sun
Bloom time: Early to late summer
Height/Spread: 3 to 4 feet tall and wide
No list of red flowers would be complete without including roses. This one features lush, fully double red blooms held on long stems above glossy green foliage. It’s also self-cleaning and disease resistant so it looks good all season with little effort.
Learn more about growing shrub roses.
SPIREA
Double Play Doozie® spirea — Buy now from Proven Winners
(Spirea hybrid)
Plant type: Shrub
Zones: 3-8
Exposure: Full sun
Bloom time: Late spring to fall
Height/Spread: 2 to 3 feet tall and wide
This non-invasive spirea features bright purple-red flowers that start blooming in late spring and continue nonstop all summer long. In the spring, the foliage also puts on a brilliant display of color, emerging burgundy red and gradually turning light green as the leaves mature.
Learn more about planting and caring for spirea.
VERBENA
Superbena® Red verbena — Buy now from Proven Winners
(Verbena hybrid)
Plant type: Usually grown as an annual
Zones: 8-11
Exposure: Full sun or shade
Bloom time: Planting until hard frost
Height/Spread: 6 to 12 inches tall, trails to 30 inches
With their trailing habit, verbenas are always great spilling from containers and hanging baskets, but they can also be used as drought-tolerant, easy-care groundcovers. Although most verbena do not require deadheading, giving them a light trim mid-season will give you fuller plants and more prolific blooming.
Learn more about growing and caring for verbena.
WAX BEGONIA
Surefire® Red wax begonia — Buy now from Proven Winners
(Begonia benariensis)
Plant type: Annual
Exposure: Sun or shade
Bloom time: Planting until frost
Height/Spread: 12 to 24 inches tall, 18 to 24 inches wide
Dainty clusters of bright red flowers are set off by glossy green foliage on this vigorous, shade-tolerant plant. No need to deadhead for continuous blooms.
Learn more about growing wax begonias.
WEIGELA
Sonic Bloom® Red weigela — Buy now from Proven Winners
(Weigela florida)
Plant type: Shrub
Zones: 4-8
Exposure: Full sun
Bloom time: Late spring to fall
Height/Spread: 4 to 5 feet tall and wide
Unlike most weigelas that bloom only in late spring, this reblooming variety will continue to flower all summer long until frost, blooming on both new and old wood. As a bonus, hummingbirds will flock to feast on the tubular, lipstick red flowers.
Learn more about growing weigela.
YARROW
Sassy Summer Sangria yarrow — Buy now from Proven Winners
(Achillea millefolium)
Plant type: Perennial
Zones: 3-8
Exposure: Full sun
Bloom time: Early to late summer
Height/Spread: 30 to 36 inches tall, 36 to 42 inches wide
This sun-loving, drought-tolerant perennial is stunning in the garden as well as in cut or dried flower arrangements. The flat-topped flower clusters are also the perfect landing pads for butterflies and other pollinators. After the flowers have faded, cut plants back by half to encourage a second flush of blooms.
Learn more about growing yarrow plants.
See over 30 container recipes featuring red flowers.