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.
Fine Gardening Recommended Products
Organo Republic 16 Perennial Wildflower Seeds Mix for Indoor & Outdoors
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Premium 16 Perennial Wildflower Seeds Mix – Special Garden Flower Seeds Blend designed for planting indoor & outdoors across North America. With over 16 varieties and 100,000 wildflower seeds, this mix is the best solution to attract pollinators – bees, butterflies & birds are essential for garden plants health. Our Special Perennial Wildflower Seeds Mix Includes White Yarrow, Columbine, New England Aster, Siberian Wallflower, Shasta Daisy, Lance-Leaf Coreopsis, Sweet William, Purple Coneflower, Blanketflower, Gayfeather, Blue Flax, Lupine, Dwarf Evening, Primrose, Mexican Hat, Prairie Coneflower, Black Eyed Susan. Easy & Fun Growing Experience with our online guides – Don’t plant disappointment – Add more colors to your wildflower garden! We send only super hearty heirloom flower seeds with the highest germination rate and fast sprout. Our detailed growing guide helps you grow seeds the garden of your dream like a PRO. Colorful Wildflower Garden from Seeds – Grow wildflowers everywhere – Indoor in window garden or Outdoors Flower garden Garden make a beautiful design for your garden borders, pathways, field or meadow and attract pollinators. Made in the USA by Small Family-Owned Business – Quality You Can Trust – Our wildflower bulk seeds variety pack are tested at the highest germination rates before being sealed to last for up to 3 years before you need to plant. Each packet of our flower seeds variety pack is resealable to make it easy to store and has its own label with a QR code for the growing instructions.
Bee Watering Station with Vivid Flower Design
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Thoughtful Combo: You will receive a bee feeder and 30 glass marbles. This thoughtful combo can provide clean water for the bees, you just need to put the marbles into the bee watering station, add water (note: the water level should not exceed the height of the marbles) and hang them in the right place. The round, colored marbles can provide a place for the bees to stand and prevent them from falling into the water, effectively keeping the bees safe. Fine Material: This exquisite bee bath is made of high quality iron material, smooth surface, rust and weather resistant, not easy to fade, sturdy and reliable. Bee cups for garden can well meet the drinking water needs of lovely bees, and it can also provide food for bees, such as sugar water, nectar, etc., attracting more bees to your outdoor area and making your garden full of vitality. Perfect Size: The butterfly watering station has an overall height of 13.4 inches, a bowl diameter of 9.4 inches, and a weight of 0.44 pounds. The bee cup serves the needs of the bees well without plunging them into dangerously deep water or taking up unnecessary space in your garden, and this compact and efficient design makes it a practical addition to any outdoor space. Elegant Design: Our bee watering cups are designed in unique flower shapes with vibrant and realistic colours to attract lovely bees to your garden and patio, bee feeders for outside are not only functional but can also be used as a landscaping element, their vibrant floral patterns enhance the beauty of your garden. Multicolored Decoration: Colorful bee water stations look like flowers in a garden, flower bed or pot and attract bees and butterflies. They can drink or bathe in bee feeders, which are highly decorative and practical.
Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden, Revised and Updated Second Edition: A Natural Approach to Pest Control
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This revised and updated edition of Jessica Walliser’s award-winning Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden offers a valuable and science-backed plan for bringing balance back to the garden. With this indispensable gardening reference—now updated with new research, insights, and voices—learn how to create a healthy, balanced, and diverse garden capable of supporting a hard-working crew of beneficial pest-eating insects and eliminate the need for synthetic chemical pesticides.
