These Red Flowers are for Lovers!
Updated: Feb. 21, 2023Red has long been a symbol for love and romance, as the color is associated with the heart. Add some red flowers to your landscape with these vibrant 10 varieties.
Celosia
Celosia is an annual that is easy to grow and does best in full sun. The red, feathery flowers look like flames or cotton candy clouds. Celosia flower works in container gardens, garden beds and borders. “While this sun-loving annual flower mixes beautifully with other flowers, they also look stunning on their own when planted en masse. This easy-care flower attracts butterflies and lasts a long time when cut for bouquets, too,” according to Costa Farms.
Anemone
If you’re looking for red flowers that grow from a bulb, try anemone. “These low-growing plants have mounding, finely textured foliage and daisy-like flowers,” notes Longfield Gardens. Just plant bulbs in the fall for spring blooms. They also note that anemone make excellent cut flowers and last two to three weeks in a vase. Next, check out some of our favorite purple flowers that’ll make your garden pop.
Poppies
When grown from seed as an annual, poppies self-sow making them a great option for red flowers in your landscape. The University of Wisconsin-Madison Master Gardener Program notes that poppies can be started inside if necessary, but do need to be kept cooler than room temperature to do well. “They do best sown directly in the desired location in either early spring or late summer/fall to germinate the following spring. Sprinkle the small gray, black or brown seeds on prepared soil, but do not cover. Mixing the seeds with some sand makes it easier to spread them more evenly over the planting area as you can see where you’ve broadcast them.” The seeds should germinate in about a week or two in early spring. Next, check out our favorite yellow flowers for your home landscape.
Hibiscus
You don’t have to have a green thumb to grow hibiscus. Try growing a red hibiscus in a pot on your deck or patio in full sun, at least six hours worth a day, according to Costa Farms. Since hibiscus is a tropical plant, it’s pretty tolerant when it comes to temperature—just protect it when temperatures dip below about 50 degrees F.
Anthurium
Red anthurium can be grown as a houseplant in cooler climates and also as a landscaping plant in USDA zones 10 or higher. Gardening Know How says anthurium plants can tolerate all levels of indirect light, however, those growing in low light areas will have fewer flowers. Soil should be free draining but be able to hold some water. Water regularly, but don’t over-water. “Proper care for anthuriums is not hard. Once you have the plant in the right soil and the right location, watering is simple. An anthurium growing in your garden or home will reward you with wonderful, long-lasting flowers,” the website notes.
Pentas
If you’re looking for red flowers to attract butterflies and hummingbirds, try pentas. This plant develops sparkling star-shaped flowers all summer long. According to Costa Farms, in most parts of the U.S., pentas is considered an annual, but in very warm regions it can be a perennial. It requires a sunny location and it prefers well-drained soil.
Scarlet Sage
Scarlet sage (salvia coccinea) is the only native U.S. sage with red flowers, according to the University of Wisconsin-Madison Master Gardener Program. It’s hardy in zones 9 and 10 and is easily grown as an annual in cooler climates. Its red flowers are produced in loose whorls and can be up to 10 inches in length. The plants are often visited by hummingbirds, butterflies and bees. Scarlet sage is lovely as a cut flowers to be brought inside and placed in an arrangement.
Bleeding Heart
When it comes to red flowers, red bleeding hearts are a true symbol of love. “Bleeding heart has attractive mounded foliage with arching stems of delicate, heart-shaped flowers in spring. It thrives in moist woodland gardens along with ferns and other shade-lovers,” according to The National Gardening Association. The flowers bloom in spring and may rebloom throughout the summer in cooler areas.
Cardinal Flower
For a vibrant red addition to your flower beds, try cardinal flower. These brightly colored flowers are extremely attractive to hummingbirds, bees and butterflies. The University of Wisconsin-Madison Master Gardener Program notes that they also make good cut flowers, but the stems do have a milky sap. “Use cardinal flower in borders, rain gardens, and native gardens, especially on the edges of streams or ponds. They will naturalize in moist meadows and can be grown in a shallow water garden or in containers.”
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Roses
Red roses aren’t just for Valentine’s Day! You can grow these beauties, that have long been a symbol of love, in your garden and roses make excellent cut flowers for an arrangement in a vase. And as you may remember from high school English class, according to Robert Burns, in his famous poem A Red, Red Rose:
O my Luve is like a red, red rose
That’s newly sprung in June;
O my Luve is like the melody
That’s sweetly played in tune.