20 plants with pink flowers
Love pink flowers? We've picked 20 of our favourite pink-flowered plants to grow, for the perfect pink displays.
Pink is a common flower colour, so you're spoilt for choice when choosing pink-flowered plants to grow in your garden. There's a huge range of pink tones to choose from, from almost white pink-blushed flowers and pale pastel pinks, to darker, shocking pinks at the other end of the spectrum. Bear in mind there are plenty of different flower shapes to choose from, too, so if you want a completely pink border you can still grow a huge range of flowers that look and smell different, but have the colour pink in common.
More on growing 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, flowering late in the year when most other flowering plants are becoming dormant. Grow them in full sun and a 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 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 to choose from, 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's 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 to choose from, 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 are grown for their daisy-like flowers, which are produced all summer long. There are many vareties to choose from, ranging in height. 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 using to fill gaps in a sunny border and looks particularly good when combined with silver-leaved plants, and also 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
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