15 Stunning Red Flowers For Your Garden

Rushes of bright, blooming red are always welcome in the garden.

Red always makes an impression. When your garden is feeling a little glum, add a pop of red to spice things up. No matter where you plant a red flower, it will become a centerpiece in your garden, and you’ll look forward to its blooms all year long. We love red flowers for their impact, but many of them also have strong associations with Southern gardens and gardeners. Red roses are, of course, the obvious choice when it comes to iconic red flowers, but there are lots of other species that also make lovely plantings in the garden. Reach for geraniums for a springtime rush of red that looks lovely in a hanging basket, or go for red chrysanthemums in pots to flank a front door. Red is an instant shortcut to curb appeal, after all. Here are 15 of our favorite red flowers that you’ll love having in the garden.

Dianthus

• Botanical Name: Dianthus spp.

• Sun Exposure: Full

• Soil Type: Well-drained

• Soil pH: Neutral

Some of the most popular dianthuses produce pink blooms, but others, like ‘Fire Star,’ ‘Rockin’ Red,’ and ‘Ideal Select Red,’ carry red flowers and have become go-to choices for their fringed petals and distinctive aroma.

Camellia

• Botanical Name: Camellia spp.

• Sun Exposure: Partial

• Soil Type: Well-drained

• Soil pH: Acidic

Camellias can always be counted on for bright winter blooms, which is why these shrubs have become such popular residents in Southern gardens. Of the Camellia japonica and Camellia sasanqua species, ‘Bob Hope,’ ‘Yuletide,’ ‘Crimson King,’ ‘Red Bird,’ ‘Black Magic,’ and ‘Royal Velvet’ produce red flowers.

Coneflower

• Botanical Name: Echinacea spp.

• Sun Exposure: Full

• Soil Type: Well-drained

• Soil pH: Neutral to slightly acidic

If your garden receives blazing sunlight, turn to coneflowers. They appear in clumps along long stems and produce different colors, one of which is a deep red. ‘Hot Papaya’ has mango-red blooms, while ‘Tomato Soup’ has bright red flowers.

Rose

• Botanical Name: Rosa spp.

• Sun Exposure: Full, partial

• Soil Type: Well-drained

• Soil pH: Neutral

We always turn to roses when we’re looking for a red flower with presence. They come in many different forms, from climbing roses to shrub roses. Red shrubs include ‘Benjamin Britten,’ Double Knock Out’ and ‘My Hero,’ while red hybrid teas include ‘Kentucky Derby,’ ‘Opening Night,’ and ‘Red Masterpiece.’ Red climbers include ‘Candy Oh!,’ ‘Red Cascade,’ and ‘Valentine’s Day.’

Bee Balm

• Botanical Name: Monarda spp.

• Sun Exposure: Full

• Soil Type: Well-drained

• Soil pH: Slightly acidic

This plant is native to the Eastern United States, and it produces dark green leaves alongside clusters of flowers. It’s a popular plant with hummingbirds, so if you’d like to draw them to your yard, this is a good species to plant. ‘Adam’ has scarlet flowers, as does ‘Cambridge Scarlet,’ while ‘Gardenview Scarlet’ has red flowers and is resistant to many diseases.

Canna

• Botanical Name: Canna spp.

• Sun Exposure: Full

• Soil Type: Well-drained

• Soil pH: Slightly acidic

Cannas have some of the showiest foliage in the garden, and their flowers aren’t far behind when it comes to bright colors and curb appeal. ‘Australia’ has burgundy foliage and bright red blooms, while ‘Durban’ has extremely eye-catching foliage and scarlet flowers. ‘President’ is another with red blooms, which appear alongside shiny green foliage.

Calibrachoa

• Botanical Name: Calibrachoa spp.

• Sun Exposure: Full, partial

• Soil Type: Well-drained

• Soil pH: Acidic

A summer bloomer that’s always pleasant to see in the garden, Calibrachoa species are also called “million bells” because of the many blooms they bear. ‘Superbells Red,’ ‘Cabaret Bright Red,’ and ‘Superbells Cherry Red’ all produce scarlet-hued flowers.

Calla Lily

• Botanical Name: Zantedeschia spp.

• Sun Exposure: Full, partial

• Soil Type: Well-drained

• Soil pH: Slightly acidic

The trumpet-shaped flowers of calla lilies are unmistakable in the garden, and while they’re often seen in white, some calla lilies bloom red alongside dark green foliage. ‘Red Alert’ and ‘Majestic Red’ are two popular red-blooming selections.

Chrysanthemum

• Botanical Name: Chrysanthemum spp.

• Sun Exposure: Full

• Soil Type: Well-drained

• Soil pH: Neutral

While mums bloom in a variety of colors–and some may bear a couple of colors on each flower–red ones bring real impact to a front porch or patio. Gravitate towards the reds, like ‘Little Red,’ ‘Red Hots,’ and ‘Daisy Red,’ and you’ll find lots to love about a pot of mums.

Coreopsis

• Botanical Name: Coreopsis spp.

• Sun Exposure: Full

• Soil Type: Well-drained

• Soil pH: Neutral

If you don’t yet have a green thumb, coreopsis might be the flower for you. It’s easy to grow and produces a lot of flowers over a long season. ‘Limerock Ruby’ has ruby-hued blossoms, ‘Ruby Frost’ has red blooms with white at the edges, and ‘Garnet’ also has red flowers.

Petunia

• Botanical Name: Petunia spp.

• Sun Exposure: Full

• Soil Type: Well-drained

• Soil pH: Slightly acidic

According to The New Southern Living Garden Book, “Petunias have long been mainstays in borders and containers because of their profuse blooming and incredible range of colors.” Find crimson blooms on ‘Supertunia Really Red,’ ‘Shock Wave Red,’ and ‘Tidal Wave Red Velour.’

Geranium

• Botanical Name: Pelargonium spp.

• Sun Exposure: Full, partial

• Soil Type: Well-drained

• Soil pH: Neutral

Called geraniums and pelargoniums interchangeably, these plants produce blooms in pink, white, lavender, purple, orange, coral, and red. ‘Boldly Dark Red,’ ‘Calliope Medium Dark Red,’ and ‘Americana Dark Red’ will get you the scarlet shades you’re looking for.

Impatiens

• Botanical Name: Impatiens spp.

• Sun Exposure: Partial

• Soil Type: Well-drained

• Soil pH: Slightly acidic

Usually treated as annuals, impatiens can be grown en masse for bright colors over large spaces. They bloom for a long time, usually in the summer. Try ‘Sunpatiens Compact Deep Red,’ ‘Infinity Red,’ ‘Soprano Bright Red,’ and ‘Beacon Bright Red,’ for red flowers.

Phlox

• Botanical Name: Phlox spp.

• Sun Exposure: Full

• Soil Type: Well-drained

• Soil pH: Slightly acidic

Showy flowers make phlox a favorite garden planting. They typically thrive with regular watering and full sun, though certain selections can tolerate light shade. ‘Red Riding Hood’ is one of the best-known and best-loved red-blooming phlox selections.

Poppy

• Botanical Name: Papaver spp.

• Sun Exposure: Full

• Soil Type: Well-drained

• Soil pH: Neutral

According to The New Southern Living Garden Book, “Poppies provide bright spring and summer color for borders and cutting.” Their breezy blooms cheer up any garden, and some bloom in red hues: ‘American Legion,’ ‘Flanders Field,’ and ‘Champagne Bubbles Scarlet’ among them.

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