20 plants with pink flowers

For a cool-toned herbaceous border, combine pink flowers with white, blue and purple-coloured blooms. For something more vibrant, combine dark pinks with dark blues and orange flowers.

Browse our list of pink flowers to grow, below.

Nerines

Nerines are real gems to have in the garden. They flower late in the year when most other flowering plants are becoming dormant. Grow them in full sun and well-drained soil.

Height x Spread: 45cm x 10cm

False goatsbeard

Provide them with a rich, moist soil and false goatsbeard, astilbe, will reward you with dramatic plumes of feathery flowers from spring to summer.

H x S: 60cm x 45cm

Penstemons

Penstemons come in many shades of pink. The flowers of 'Dark Towers', pictured, are a cool pink, providing dramatic contrast with the deep, purple foliage.

H x S: 75cm x 40cm

Echinaceas

Echinaceas provide colour and nectar and pollen for insects late in the season, when little else is in flower. Varieties with pink flowers include 'Mistra', 'Magnus' and 'Southern Belle'.

H x S: 85cm x 45cm

Cannas

There are cannas to grow in a range of colours, including pink, orange, red, yellow and white. Their exotic blooms and large leaves lend themselves to jungle-style borders.

H x S: 2m x 1m

Clematis

There are many pink-flowered clematis to grow, including the variety 'Confetti', pictured. Varieties such as Clematis armandii are fast-growing and will quickly cover a large fence or wall. Other varieties have a less rampant growth habit and are suitable for growing in pots.

H x S: 1.2m x 90cm

Angel's fishing rod

Angel's fishing rod, dierama, bears sprays of pink, pendulous flowers on delicate stems. Combining with perovskia, sisyrinchium and ox-eye daisies for dramatic effect.

H x S: 1m x 50cm

Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas bear flowers in shades of pink, white or blue. Some varieties – particularly mophead and lacecap varieties – are known for their ability to change colour in different soils. This colour change is due to the soil pH – hydrangeas growing in acid soil tend to have blue flowers, while those growing in alkaline soil tend to have pink flowers. Check the pH of your soil before planting hydrangeas if you want pink flowers.

H x S: 1.5m x 1.5m

Abelias

Abelias are shrubs grown for their fragrant flowers. Abelia floribunda, pictured, has long, rich pink tubular flowers. Those of Abelia x grandiflora are pale pink and sweetly scented.

H x S: 3m x 4m

Magnolias

Magnolias are popular trees for small gardens. For icy-pink spring blooms, see 'Alexandrina' and 'Leonard Messel'.

H x S: 6m x 6m

Camellias

Camellias come in a variety of colours, including pink. Flowering as early as January, camellias start the year off with beautiful pink flowers set against dark, glossy foliage.

H x S: 2.5m x 2.5m

Bleeding heart

Bleeding heart, Lamprocapnos spectabilis (formerly known as dicentra), is a beautiful Chinese plant bearing arching stems of pink-red, heart-shaped flowers with white tips, from late spring to early summer.

H x S: 60cm x 45cm.

Roses

Many roses bear pink flowers. There's a huge variety of roses, from climbing roses and rambling roses to more compact patio roses. Double roses such as 'Abbie's Rose', pictured, are perfect for cutting, while single-flowered varieties are better for pollinators.

H x S: 2m x 4m

Dahlias

There's a huge variety of dahlias to grow, from dramatic-looking cactus dahlias to single dahlias like 'Magenta Star', pictured. Dahlias flower from late summer to autumn, adding a touch of pink to your border displays at the end of the season.

Gauras

Gauras are pretty deciduous perennials with small, starry flowers. There are a few pink varieties to choose from, including 'Ruby Ruby', pictured.

H x S: 60cm x 60cm

Japanese anemones

Japanese anemones flower in autumn, helping to extend the season of colour in your garden. They flower in white or pink, and there are several varieties, including dwarf varieties.

H x S: 90c x 60cm

Lilies

Both oriental and Asiatic lilies come in shades of pink, providing a dazzling, mid-summer display at the back of the border. Choose oriental lilies if you want fragrant pink lilies, or Asiatic lilies if you'd rather go for dazzling colour.

H x S: 80cm x 30cm

Society garlic

Society garlic, Tulbaghia violacea, is a clump-forming perennial with a strong garlic smell. The smell comes from the crushed leaves or flower stems, making it unsuitable for use as a cut flower. However, apart from the garlic smell, the plant is worth growing for its beautiful, large heads of lavender-pink blooms held on tall stems from mid-summer to early autumn.

H x S: 55cm x 25cm

Osteospermum

Osteospermum is grown for its daisy-like flowers, which are produced all summer long. Many varieties, ranging in height, are available. Smaller varieties are often used in container and hanging basket displays.

H x S: 1.5m x 1m

Knautia macedonica

Knautia macedonica is a popular perennial, bearing crimson, pincushion-like flowers on slender, branched stems from July to September. It’s perfect for filling gaps in a sunny border, looks particularly good when combined with silver-leaved plants, and works well in wildflower meadow schemes.

H x S: 80cm x 45cm

Planting partners for pink flowers

• Verbena bonariensis
• Veronicastrums
• Helenium 'Moerheim Beauty'
• Allium cristophii
• Clematis tangutica 'Golden Tiara'
• Corn cockles
• Salvia 'Serenade'
• Gaura 'Geyser White'
• Pyrus salicifolia
• Acer campestris
• Hazel