Plants with red flowers
Plants with red flowers, and how to use the strongest colour in the garden without letting it shout down the rest.
Red is the strongest colour in a garden, and it advances: a red flower looks nearer than it is, so red at the far end of a bed makes the bed look shorter, the opposite of blue. That is why Gertrude Jekyll built her borders up to a climax of red in the middle, and kept it away from the ends.
Red is brightest beside green, its opposite, and richest among dark leaves: the famous Red Borders at Hidcote set red flowers among purple and bronze foliage, which deepens them (see plants with purple leaves). It is also the first colour to go at dusk, when it turns dark long before white or blue. Bees cannot see red, but hummingbirds see it best of all, and a red tubular flower is a hummingbird's flower.
Every plant here has red flowers, or comes in red. The other colours a plant comes in are given after it.
154 plants: 97 perennials, 22 bulbs, 2 grasses and 33 shrubs.
The dozen to start with
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Garden chrysanthemum
24 in · mid September to late October · also in yellow, orange, pink, purple and white
The florist's mum: dense domes of daisies, pompoms or buttons in every autumn colour.
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Peony
3 ft · late May to late June · also in pink and white
Large, often fragrant blooms in late spring on a long-lived plant that can thrive for decades.
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Daylily
2½ ft · late June to early August · also in orange and yellow
Nearly indestructible, with each flower lasting a single day but many buds opening over several weeks.
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Hollyhock
6 ft · early July to late August · also in pink, white, yellow and purple
Towering spires of wide, open flowers in almost every colour, the signature plant of the cottage garden.
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Oleander
10 ft · mid June to early October · also in pink and white
A large evergreen with narrow, leathery leaves and clusters of pink, red or white flowers from early summer to autumn.
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Japanese camellia
10 ft · early February to early April · also in pink and white
Polished, dark evergreen leaves and large, formal flowers in red, pink or white from late winter into spring.
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Tulip
18 in · late April to mid May · also in pink, yellow, white, purple and orange
Clean, saturated colour on upright stems in mid to late spring.
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Mountain laurel
8 ft · late May to late June · also in pink and white
A native evergreen with crimped, sugar-icing buds that open into cup-shaped flowers of white, pink or red in late spring, in clusters that cover the plant.
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Canna
5 ft · early July to early October · also in orange, yellow and pink · host plant
Huge, paddle-shaped leaves, green, bronze or striped, topped with bright flowers in red, orange, yellow or pink from midsummer to frost.
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Panicle hydrangea 'Vanilla Strawberry'
6½ ft · mid July to early October · with white and pink
Large flower cones open creamy white, turn pink from the base and finish strawberry red, on red stems.
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Dahlia
3½ ft · mid July to mid October · also in pink, orange, yellow, purple and white
Flowers in every colour but blue and in every form, from single daisies to dinner-plate doubles, from midsummer until frost.
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Crocosmia 'Lucifer'
3½ ft · mid July to mid August
Arching sprays of flame-red flowers above pleated, sword-shaped leaves in midsummer.
A bed planned only from these plants
The planner was given only the plants on this page that suit zone 6 and full sun, and designed this 16 × 8 ft (4.9 × 2.4 m) bed from them when the page was made.
The plants
- 1 Cottage pinks × 30, pink
- 2 Blanket flower 'Arizona Sun' × 13, red
- 3 Sneezeweed × 4, yellow
- 4 Hardy hibiscus × 1, white
- 5 Bee balm 'Raspberry Wine' × 3, red
- 6 Switchgrass 'Cheyenne Sky' × 8, purple
- 7 Lady tulip × 7, red
- 8 Red spider lily × 8, red
Planned as an English border: 7 of the 8 groups (88%) are drifts, longer along the bed than they are deep. Red is the colour seen most, on 4 of the 8 kinds grown for their flowers. Sneezeweed and hardy hibiscus anchor the back corners of the bed: the tallest plants on the plan stand there.
The planner's own design check: 11 Excellent, 5 Good, 1 Needs revision. Its weakest point is colour: Cool colours (pink and purple) with red and yellow as the warm notes, and white to calm things between them. Two pairings clash.
Open this bed in the planner Change its size, the sun or the style, move plants about, or swap one for another.
All 154 plants
Show all 154, by where they go in a bed
Front of a bed 40
- Bergenia 'Winter Glow' 14 in · mid April to mid May · with pink
- Blanket flower 'Arizona Sun' 12 in · mid June to early October · with yellow
- Blanket flower 'Goblin' 14 in · mid June to early October · with yellow
- Burnet 'Tanna' 18 in · early July to early September
- California fuchsia 18 in · early August to mid October · with orange
- Coral bells 'Firefly' 10 in · late May to late July
- Coreopsis 'Mercury Rising' 18 in · late June to mid September
- Cottage pinks 12 in · late May to late June · also in pink and white
- Daylily 'Pardon Me' 18 in · mid July to early September
- English daisy 6 in · mid April to mid June · also in white and pink
- Fumewort 8 in · mid April to early May · also in pink and purple
- Greigii tulip 10 in · mid April to early May · also in orange, yellow and pink
- Groundcover rose 18 in · late May to mid October · also in pink, white and yellow
- Hellebore 'Pink Frost' 16 in · late February to mid April · with pink and white
- Himalayan fleeceflower 'Darjeeling Red' 10 in · mid July to early October · with pink
- Iceland poppy 16 in · early May to late June · also in orange, yellow, white and pink
- Lady tulip 12 in · mid April to early May · also in white and yellow
- Lupine Gallery Series 20 in · late May to early July · also in blue, pink, white and yellow
- Maiden pinks 8 in · early June to mid July · also in pink and white
- Mossy saxifrage 5 in · late April to late May · also in pink and white
- Nepal cinquefoil 'Miss Willmott' 16 in · mid June to late August · with pink
- Orchid primrose 16 in · mid June to mid July · with purple
- Pasque flower 10 in · early April to early May · also in purple and white
- Polyanthus primrose 8 in · late March to mid May · also in yellow, pink, purple, blue and white
- Red barrenwort 12 in · late April to mid May
- Red creeping thyme 2 in · early June to mid July · with pink
- Red lungwort 14 in · mid March to late April
- Red spider lily 18 in · mid September to early October
- Red trillium 16 in · mid April to mid May · host plant
- Rock rose 10 in · late May to early July · also in yellow, orange, pink and white
- Rock rose 'Henfield Brilliant' 10 in · late May to mid July · with orange
- Scarlet coral bells 18 in · late May to late July · also in pink and white
- Sedum 'Dragon's Blood' 4 in · late June to early August
- Speedwell 'Red Fox' 14 in · late June to mid August · with pink
- Strawberry 'Lipstick' 6 in · mid May to early September · with pink
- Sweet William 18 in · late May to late June · also in pink, white and purple
- Tulip 18 in · late April to mid May · also in pink, yellow, white, purple and orange
- Tulip 'Fusilier' 12 in · mid April to early May
- Waterlily tulip 8 in · late March to mid April · also in white, yellow and pink
- Winter heath 'Kramer's Red' 14 in · mid January to mid April · with pink
Middle of a bed 59
- Asiatic lily 3 ft · late June to mid July · also in orange, yellow, pink and white
- Astilbe 24 in · late June to mid July · also in pink and white
- Astilbe 'Fanal' 24 in · mid June to mid July
- Autumn sage 2½ ft · mid May to mid October · also in pink, white and purple
- Avens 'Mrs J. Bradshaw' 24 in · late May to late July
- Azalea 'Hino-Crimson' 3 ft · early May to late May
- Bearded iris 2½ ft · late May to mid June · also in purple, blue, white, yellow, pink and orange
- Bee balm 3 ft · early July to early August · also in pink and purple · host plant
- Bee balm 'Raspberry Wine' 3½ ft · late June to mid August · with purple
- Blanket flower 20 in · mid June to mid September · with yellow
- Blanket flower 'Burgundy' 24 in · mid June to mid September
- Cardinal flower 'Queen Victoria' 3½ ft · late July to mid September
- Carthusian pink 24 in · mid June to late August · with pink
- Common blanket flower 24 in · mid June to early September · with yellow
- Coneflower 'Cheyenne Spirit' 2 ft · late June to early September · also in orange, yellow, pink and cream
- Coneflower 'Hot Papaya' 2½ ft · early July to early September · with orange
- Coneflower 'Sombrero Salsa Red' 24 in · late June to early September
- Crocosmia 'Emily McKenzie' 24 in · early August to mid September · with orange
- Crocosmia 'Lucifer' 3½ ft · mid July to mid August
- Dahlia 'Bishop of Llandaff' 3½ ft · mid July to mid October
- Darwin hybrid tulip 24 in · late April to mid May · also in yellow, orange, pink and white
- Daylily 2½ ft · late June to early August · also in orange and yellow
- Daylily 'Chicago Apache' 2½ ft · late July to early September
- Daylily 'Ruby Spider' 3 ft · early July to mid August
- Daylily 'Strawberry Candy' 2 ft · late June to early September · with pink
- Fernleaf peony 20 in · early May to late May
- Firecracker penstemon 2½ ft · mid May to late June
- Floribunda rose 3 ft · early June to early October · also in pink, yellow, white and orange
- Garden chrysanthemum 24 in · mid September to late October · also in yellow, orange, pink, purple and white
- Gloriosa daisy 2½ ft · late June to mid September · also in yellow and orange · host plant
- Griffith's spurge 'Fireglow' 3 ft · late May to early July · with orange
- Indian pink 20 in · early June to early July · with yellow
- Japanese primrose 20 in · mid May to late June · also in pink and white
- Knautia 24 in · late June to early September
- Louisiana iris 3 ft · mid May to early June · also in purple, blue, yellow and white
- Masterwort 24 in · early June to late July · also in pink and white
- Masterwort 'Hadspen Blood' 24 in · mid June to late July
- Mexican hat 24 in · late June to early September · also in yellow
- Montbretia 2½ ft · mid July to late August · also in orange and yellow
- Mountain fleece 'Golden Arrow' 2½ ft · mid July to early October · with pink
- Mourning widow 'Samobor' 2½ ft · mid May to late June · with purple
- Oriental lily 'Stargazer' 3½ ft · late July to mid August · with pink and white
- Oriental poppy 2½ ft · late May to late June · also in orange, pink and white
- Painted daisy 24 in · early June to mid July · also in pink and white
- Peony 3 ft · late May to late June · also in pink and white
- Peony 'Festiva Maxima' 3 ft · late May to mid June · with white
- Peony 'Karl Rosenfield' 3 ft · late May to mid June
- Red hot poker 'Flamenco' 3 ft · late June to late August · with orange and yellow
- Red valerian 2½ ft · late May to early September · also in pink and white
- Salvia 'Hot Lips' 3 ft · late May to mid October · with white
- Sneezeweed 'Mardi Gras' 3 ft · early July to early September · with yellow and orange
- Sneezeweed 'Moerheim Beauty' 3 ft · mid July to early September · with orange
- Sneezeweed 'Sahin's Early Flowerer' 3 ft · late June to early October · with orange and yellow
- Spotted bellflower 'Cherry Bells' 24 in · late June to early August · with pink
- Switchgrass 'Cheyenne Sky' 3 ft · late July to mid September · with purple · host plant
- Tulip 'Apeldoorn' 22 in · late April to early May
- Wild columbine 24 in · early May to early June · with yellow
- Yarrow 24 in · mid June to late August · also in yellow, pink and white
- Yarrow 'Paprika' 24 in · mid June to late August · with yellow
Back of a bed 55
- Bee balm 'Jacob Cline' 4 ft · late June to mid August · host plant
- Black hollyhock 6 ft · late June to late August · with purple
- Butterfly bush 'Miss Molly' 5 ft · early July to early October · with pink
- Canada lily 5 ft · late June to mid July · also in yellow and orange
- Canna 5 ft · early July to early October · also in orange, yellow and pink · host plant
- Cardinal flower 3½ ft · late July to mid September
- Carolina allspice 8 ft · early May to late June
- Crown imperial 3½ ft · late April to early May · also in orange and yellow
- Dahlia 3½ ft · mid July to mid October · also in pink, orange, yellow, purple and white
- English rose 4 ft · early June to early October · also in pink, white, yellow and orange
- Evergreen azalea 4 ft · mid April to mid May · also in pink, white and purple
- Flame azalea 8 ft · mid May to mid June · also in orange and yellow
- Florida anise 8 ft · mid April to mid May
- Flowering currant 7 ft · late March to late April · with pink · host plant
- Flowering quince 6 ft · late March to late April · also in pink, orange and white
- Flowering quince 'Double Take Scarlet' 5 ft · late March to late April
- Gladiolus 4 ft · mid July to early September · also in pink, orange, yellow, purple and white
- Great burnet 4 ft · mid July to early September
- Hardy fuchsia 4 ft · late June to mid October · with purple
- Hardy hibiscus 5 ft · late July to mid September · also in pink and white
- Hardy hibiscus 'Kopper King' 3½ ft · late July to mid September · with pink and white
- Hardy hibiscus 'Lord Baltimore' 5 ft · late July to mid September
- Hollyhock 6 ft · early July to late August · also in pink, white, yellow and purple
- Hybrid tea rose 4 ft · early June to early October · also in pink, yellow, white and orange
- Japanese camellia 10 ft · early February to early April · also in pink and white
- Japanese meadowsweet 3½ ft · late June to early August · with pink
- Korean angelica 5 ft · early August to mid September · with purple
- Lupine 3½ ft · late May to early July · also in blue, purple, pink, yellow and white
- Maltese cross 3½ ft · mid June to mid July
- Mountain fleece 'Firetail' 3½ ft · early July to early October
- Mountain laurel 8 ft · late May to late June · also in pink and white
- Mountain laurel 'Olympic Fire' 6½ ft · late May to late June · with pink
- Oakleaf hydrangea 'Ruby Slippers' 3½ ft · mid June to early August · with white
- Oleander 10 ft · mid June to early October · also in pink and white
- Orienpet lily 6 ft · mid July to early August · also in yellow, pink and white
- Oriental lily 4 ft · early August to late August · also in white and pink
- Oriental poppy 'Beauty of Livermere' 3½ ft · late May to late June
- Ornamental rhubarb 6 ft · late May to late June · with pink
- Panicle hydrangea 'Fire Light' 6½ ft · mid July to early October · with white and pink
- Panicle hydrangea 'Vanilla Strawberry' 6½ ft · mid July to early October · with white and pink
- Purple fountain grass 4 ft · late June to mid October · with purple
- Reblooming azalea 3½ ft · mid April to mid May · also in pink, white and purple
- Red hot poker 3½ ft · late June to early August · also in orange and yellow
- Rhododendron 'Nova Zembla' 6½ ft · late May to mid June
- Rose 'Double Knock Out' 4 ft · late May to mid October
- Rugosa rose 'Hansa' 5 ft · early June to mid September · with purple
- Sasanqua camellia 8 ft · early October to mid December · also in pink and white
- Scarlet rose mallow 6½ ft · mid July to early September
- Shrub rose 'Knock Out' 4 ft · late May to mid October · also in pink
- Sneezeweed 4 ft · early August to late September · also in yellow and orange
- Sweetshrub 'Aphrodite' 6½ ft · late May to late August
- Tree peony 5 ft · early May to late May · also in pink, white, purple and yellow
- Vernal witch hazel 8 ft · mid January to early March · with yellow and orange
- Weigela 'Red Prince' 6 ft · late May to mid June
- Witch hazel 'Diane' 10 ft · early February to mid March