Red flowers—love ‘em or hate ‘em—add an undeniable fiery look to gardens. The hue stands out brilliantly against the predominant greens of most landscapes, which makes red flowers an instant focal point. For many gardeners, red blooms are the heartbeats of their beds and borders, radiating passion, energy, and a timeless charm. Perhaps it’s no surprise that the familiar line “Roses are red . . .” from the popular nursery rhyme comes so readily to mind; those four words have etched red flowers into the cultural imagination as symbols of love and beauty.
Whether it’s the velvety petals of a crimson peony or the fiery spikes of a hummingbird favorite, these blooms offer not just color but drama. If you think you’re not a fan of red-flowered plants, give this episode a listen because we offer up some options for every imaginable shade of this controversial color, from magenta pinkish-red to dark and moody burgundy.
Expert: Erin Schanen is creator of the Impatient Gardener blog and YouTube channel and a Fine Gardening author.
Danielle’s Red-Flowered Plant Picks
- ‘Sword Dance’ peony (Paeonia lactiflora ‘Sword Dance’, Zones 4–9)
- ‘Major Wheeler’ trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens ‘Major Wheeler’, Zones 4–8)
- ‘Claude Shride’ martagon lily (Lilium ‘Claude Shride’, Zones 3–9)
- Red trillium (Trillium erectum, Zones 3–7)
Carol’s Red-Flowered Plant Picks:
- ‘Red Rouge’ pinks (Dianthus ‘Red Rouge’, Zones 4–9)
- ‘Showy Lantern’ redvein enkianthus (Enkianthus campanulatus ‘Showy Lantern’, Zones 4–7)
- ‘Strawberry Fields’ gomphrena (Gomphrena ‘Strawberry Fields’, annual)
- Red buckeye (Aesculus pavia, Zones 4–8)
- Bonus plant: ‘America’ peony (Paeonia ‘America’, Zones 4–9)
Expert Guest Erin Schanen’s Red-Flowered Plant Picks:
- ‘Golden Delicious’ pineapple sage (Salvia elegans ‘Golden Delicious’, Zones 7b–10)
- Breadseed poppy (Papaver somniferum and cvs., annual)
- ‘Red Giant’ (not pictured)
- Frilly hybrid cross
- ‘Ladybird’ poppy (Papaver commutatum ‘Ladybird’, annual)
- ‘Lucifer’ crocosmia (Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’, Zones 5–9)
All photos from the contributor unless noted otherwise.
