Plants with red flowers

The colour of red flowers is caused by the presence of certain biological pigments in the petals, such as carotenoids, anthocyanins and betalains. These, along with environmental factors such as soil pH and presence of trace elements, determines the shade of red, from almost pink to deep crimson.

We list 40 of the best red-flowered plants to grow, including perennials, shrubs and climbers, below.

Poppies are one of the best known red flowers to grow, with their paper-thin, delicate blooms. Annual poppies include (Papaver commutatum 'Ladybird', Papaver rhoeas, Papaver somniferum) while a popular perennial is Papaver orientale 'Perry's White'. All do best in a spot in full sun.

H x S: 55cm x 55cm
Flowers: May-August

• Buy poppy seeds from Crocus
• Buy poppies from Dobbies

Although technically a half-hardy perennial, Alonsoa meridionalis 'Rebel' is best grown in Britain as an annual and makes a great bedding plant. It will produce masses of scarlet flowers from June to October.

H x S: 60cm x 40cm
Flowers: June-October

• Buy Alonsoa meridionalis 'Rebel' from Chiltern Seeds

Dianthus, or pinks, are cottage garden favourites. Grow these short-lived perennials at the front of borders or in containers. Dianthus cruentus bears single, magenta flowers, and will make a wonderfully delicate addition to your border.

H x S: 60cm x 15cm
Flowers: May-August

• Buy Dianthus cruentus from Crocus

There's a huge variety of dahlias to grow, and plenty of red blooms to choose from. For pollinators, choose single varieties like 'Bishop of Llandaff' or the bronze-leaved 'Tally Ho'.

H x S: 90cm x 90cm
Flowers: July-Sept

• Buy Dahlia 'Bishop of Llandaff' from Primrose
• Buy Dahlia 'Bishop of Llandaff' from Suttons

Monarda ‘Gardenview Scarlet’

Bergamot is a tough, herbaceous perennial that grows best in moist soils. The foliage is aromatic and the shaggy blooms are loved by bees. For scarlet blooms, try 'Gardenview Scarlet' or 'Cambridge Scarlet.

H x S: 90cm x 50cm
Flowers: June-September

• Buy Monarda 'Gardenview Scarlett' from Crocus

Salvias are a great addition to the summer garden, with months of blooms and nectar-rich flowers a magnet for pollinating insects. Salvias with red flowers to grow include 'Silas Dyson' and 'Royal Bumble'. They're best planted in a sheltered spot in full sun, in a moist, well-drained soil.

H x S: 60cm x 30cm
Flowers: July-October

• Buy Salvia 'Royal Bumble' from Crocus

Crocosmias are much-loved for their sprays of hot-coloured flowers. One of the best known red-flowered cultivars is 'Lucifer', with arching sprays of fiery red blooms. It is one of the tallest varieties and makes an excellent cut flower. Other red varieties include 'Hellfire' and 'Harvest Sun'.

H x S: 1.5m x 50cm
Flowers: June-August

• Buy Crocosmia 'Lucifer' from Crocus
• Buy Crocosmia 'Lucifer' from Dobies

You won't be surprised to hear that there are plenty of roses with red flowers to choose from. To cover garden boundaries and structures, try a climbing rose like 'Parkdirektor Riggers', and for interest in a large pot or at the front of a herbaceous border, try a Floribunda rose like ‘Drama Queen’.

H x S: varied
Flowers: varied

• Buy red roses from Dobies
• Buy red roses from Crocus

With dramatic, red flower spikes in summer, it's easy to see why Callistemon citrinus ‘Splendens’ is also known as the bottlebrush plant. Not only are the flowers striking, but the foliage of this plant releases a lemony scent when touched. It requires warm, sheltered conditions.

H x S: 1.5m x 1.5m
Flowers: April-August

• Buy Callistemon citrinus 'Splendens' from Suttons
• Buy Callistemon citrinus 'Splendens' from Dobies

Peonies are hugely popular. There are many red-flowered cultivars to choose from, for year round structure, try a tree peony like 'Shin Jitsugetsu Nishiki', or for fragrance, take a look at 'Monsieur Martin Cahuzac', which has a rich, spicy scent. And for a dramatic punch in late spring and early summer, look no further than Paeonia 'Chocolate Soldier'.

H x S: 70cm x 70cm
Flowers: May-June

• Buy red peonies from Suttons
• Buy red peonies from Dobies

Achillea millefolium ‘Fanal’ is ideal for growing at the back of a herbaceous border, and will stand out with its bright orange-red flowers. The flat and colourful flowerheads are perfect for attracting a range of pollinators. It will work well with other perennial flowers and cottage garden planting schemes.

H x S: 75cm x 60cm
Flowers: July-October

• Buy Achillea millefolium 'Fanal' from Beth Chatto

Chinese lantern, Abutilon 'Ashford Red', is a tall, evergreen shrub with bell- or lantern-shaped blooms. It will need protection from frost, and is only tolerant of temperatures down to 1°c.

H x S: 3m x 2m
Flowers: July-October

• Buy Abutilon 'Ashford Red' from Burncoose

Hesperantha coccinea ‘Major’ bursts into colour just as most other garden plants are dying down in the autumn. The delicate pink-red flowers are reminiscent of a wide open crocus. It makes an excellent cut flower.

H x S: 60cm x 30cm
Flowers: September-October

• Buy Hesperantha coccinea ‘Major’ from Crocus

With their foxglove-like flowers, penstemons work well in cottage garden planting schemes, plus they're very attractive to bumblebees. Many varieties have red flowers, including Penstemon 'Red Ace' (pictured), which has rich, deep red blooms from midsummer until the first frosts.

H x S: 60cm x 45cm
Flowers: July-September

• Buy red penstemons from Crocus

Daylilies will flower for weeks, but individual blooms last for only one day. For a splash of red, look no further than Hemerocallis ‘Stafford’, a vibrant addition to your garden which has bright scarlet flowers with a deep yellow throat.

H x S: 75 x 45cm
Flowers: July-September

• Buy Hemerocallis 'Stafford' from Crocus

With their feathery foliage and striking flat, circular heads of flowers throughout summer, achillea are an excellent addition to many planting schemes. They come in a range of colours, but Achillea millefolium 'Red Velvet' is a particularly vibrant choice.

H x S: 60cm x 50cm
Flowers: June-September

• Buy Achillea millefolium 'Red Velvet' from Crocus

For a splash of colour later in the season, look no further than Helenium 'Moerheim Beauty' which will make a statement in any planting scheme, whether it be a hot colour scheme or a pastel hued border. The flowers are useful for cutting and great for bees.

H x S: 90cm x 60cm
Flowers: June-September

• Buy Helenium 'Morheim Beauty' from Crocus
• Buy Helenium 'Morheim Beauty' from Suttons

Lobelia cardinalis is another excellent choice for colour later in the year, this perennial flowers throughout summer and well into autumn. It thrives in damp conditions, and can even be planted in shallow water at the edge of a pond. Bright red flowers appear on stems that can reach up to 1m in height.

H x S: 100cm x 30cm
Flowers: August-October

• Buy Lobelia cardinalis 'Queen Victoria' from Crocus
• Buy Lobelia cardinalis 'Queen Victoria' from Thompsom & Morgan

Not only will Chrysanthemum 'Ruby Mound' make a bold statement in your border with its large double ruby red blooms, it also makes an excellent cut flower. It will work particularly well in cottage garden schemes, being both hardy and free flowering.

H x S: 50cm x 50cm
Flowers: August-October

• Buy Chrysanthemum 'Ruby Mound' from Hardy's

Coreopsis are bright and cheerful plants that bear daisy-like blooms in a variety of colours. Red-flowered 'Limerock Ruby' is reliable and easy to grow, and would work well in a hot planting scheme, or to add a flash of colour to container displays.

H x S: 50cm x 50cm
Flowers: August-October

• Buy Coreopsis 'Limerock Ruby' from Crocus

Zinnia bear intricate, delicate and striking blooms. Zinnia tenuifolia 'Red Spider' is a neat and compact plant, with dainty, spider-like, scalloped flowers in bright red. Easy to grow from seed, it will work well in a sunny border or in a container.

H x S: 60cm x 20cm
Flowers: July-October

• Buy Zinnia tenuifolia 'Red Spider' from Thompson & Morgan
• Buy zinnia from Dobies

Pelargonium 'Balcon Mixed' is a collection of trailing ivy-leaved geraniums, available in a variety of colours including red. Plants grow well in pots or hanging baskets in a sunny spot, and their trailing blooms will spill over the edges.

H x S: 45cm x 90cm
Flowers: May-October

• Buy Pelargonium 'Balcon Red' from Thompson & Morgan

Easy to grow from seed, sun-loving and with a long flowering season, cosmos make an excellent choice for a vibrant border. Red cosmos varieties include Cosmos bipinnatus 'Rubenza' and Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Gazebo Red’.

H x S: 75cm x 30cm
Flowers: June-September

• Buy Cosmos bipinnatus 'Rubenza' from Thompson & Morgan
• Buy Cosmos 'Velouette' from Dobies
• Buy Cosmos bipinnatus 'Dazzler' from Crocus

Although they have a reputation for being a little old-fashioned, a vibrant, blousy, burst of red from a begonia in a border or hanging basket is hard to resist. There are many red varieties to choose from, such as the scarlet blooms of Begonia 'Red Glory' and 'Illumination Scarlet', or the large flowers of Begonia 'Prima Donna Red'.

H x S: varied
Flowers: July-October

• Buy Begonia 'Red Glory' from Crocus
• Buy Begonia 'Prima Donna' from Thompson & Morgan

With their distinctive, tall towers of blooms, delphiniums are intrinsically linked to the cottage garden. Red-flowered varieties include Delphinium nudicaule ‘Redcap’ (pictured), a compact variety with orange-red flowers. Grow in full sun or dappled shade, in moist, well-drained soil. 'Red Lark' is a taller variety with unusual salmon-red flowers.

H x S: 75cm x 40cm
Flowers: June-July

• Buy Delphinium 'Redcap' from Larkspur Nursery
• Buy Delphinium 'Red Lark' from Dobies

Also known as sword lilies, gladioli are useful for adding a bold splash of colour to a sunny herbaceous border, they also make an excellent cut flower. Popular red varieties include Gladiolus 'Plum Tart' or Gladiolus papilio 'Ruby'.

H x S: 75cm x 45cm
Flowers: July-August

• Buy Gladiolus 'Plum Tart' from Crocus

This hardy perennial is famed for its showy summer blooms, making it a popular choice, plus it is easy to grow. Red varieties of alstroemeria include Alstroemeria ‘Adele’, Alstroemeria 'Angel' (pictured), Alstroemeria 'Spitfire' and Alstroemeria 'Nirvana'.

H x S: 30cm x 50cm
Flowers: June-September

• Buy Alstroemeria 'Nirvana' from Dobies

With its bold spikes of red blooms, Astilbe 'Fanal' (× _arendsii_) certainly makes a scarlet statement in the garden. The flowers will keep their colour for a few weeks, and like other astilbe they will thrive in a shady spot.

H x S: 60cm x 45cm
Flowers: July-August

• Buy Astilbe 'Fanal' (x_arendsii_) from Crocus

Perfect for adding a splash of colour to pots and borders, Anemone coronaria flowers from May to June. It's common name is florist's anemone, so as you'd expect, it also makes an excellent cut flower.

H x S: 30cm x 20cm
Flowers: May-June

• Buy florist's anemone from Crocus

Iconic beacons of spring, tulips are hard to resist in April and May. They will grow well in pots or can be combined in borders to great effect. Red tulips include 'Toyata' and 'Glasnost' (pictured), browse our list of the best red tulips to grow for more inspiration.

H x S: 40-60cm x 15cm
Flowers: April-May

• Buy red tulips from Crocus

This compact, hardy shrub produces vibrant red flowers in the spring and is also a useful ground cover plant. Commonly known as Japanese quince, spring flowers are followed by yellow fruit which you can use to make jelly and other preserves.

H x S: 1.5m x 2.5cm
Flowers: March-April

• Buy Chaenomeles × superba 'Crimson and Gold' from Thompson & Morgan

Much-loved and commonly grown, fuchsias are a staple for many gardeners with their delightful blooms and long flowering season. Red varieties include Fuchsia 'Snowcap' which has bright red outer sepals and Fuchsia ‘Chang’ (pictured) with its red tubular blooms.

H x S: various
Flowers: various

• Buy fuchsias from Suttons
• Buy fuchsias from Primrose
• Buy fuchsias from Thompson & Morgan

For a pop of red in a herbaceous border, look no further than Potentilla thurberi ‘Monarch’s Velvet. This clump-forming perennial produces strawberry-like, deep red flowers in the summer. Plant with other sun-loving flowering plants for a stunning display all summer.

H x S: 40cm x 40cm
Flowers: June-August

• Buy Potentilla thurberi ‘Monarch’s Velvet’ from Thompson & Morgan

This traditional runner bean variety produces large crops of well-flavoured beans, but it's also worth growing for its red and white flowers. The attractive blooms of Phaseolus coccineus ‘Painted Lady’ mean it will be just as valuable in the flower garden as on the vegetable patch.

H x S: 200cm x 10cm
Flowers: June-August

• Buy runner bean seeds from Thompson & Morgan
• Buy runner bean seeds from Suttons

Add a striking addition to your garden with Feijoa sellowiana, this exotic evergreen shrub bears purple-pink flowers with significant, bright red stamens. If grown in a spot that doesn't reach temperatures below 5°C, you can look forward to delicious fruits.

H x S: 2m x 2.5m
Flowers: July

• Buy Feijoa sellowiana from Thompson & Morgan
• Buy Feijoa sellowiana from Crocus

Weigela are easy to grow shrubs that put on an eye-catching display of funnel-shaped flowers, popular with bees, in the early summer. Varieties bearing red flowers include Weigla 'Bristol Ruby' , Weigla 'Nain Rouge' and Weigela 'Florida Red'.

H x S: 2.4m x 1.8m
Flowers: April-June

• Buy Weigela 'Nain Rouge' from Thompson & Morgan
• Buy Weigela 'All Summer Red' from Crocus

Rhododendrons are popular flowering shrubs, and there are thousands of cultivars to choose from ranging from those suited to containers to much larger plants. They require the right acidic growing conditions, but get this right and you'll be treated to a display of vibrant blooms in early summer. Red varieties include Rhododendron 'Dopey', Rhododendron 'Vulcan' and Rhododendron 'Leo'.

H x S: Various
Flowers: April-July

• Buy Rhododendron 'Dopey' from Thompson & Morgan
• Buy Rhododendron 'Leo' from You Garden

One of the easiest annuals to grow, nasturtiums flower from midsummer right through until the first frosts, making them a star of any garden. Plus, all parts of the plant are edible. Tropaeolum majus 'Empress of India' is a non-trailing variety with deep red, semi-double flowers that contract beautifully against purple-green leaves.

H x S: 30cm x 45cm
Flowers: June-September

• Buy Tropaeolum majus 'Empress of India' from Crocus
• Buy Tropaeolum majus 'Empress of India' from Primrose

Kniphofia, or red hot pokers, are a perennial with bottlebrush blooms in a range of fiery colours including orange and red hues, making them the perfect addition to a hot-coloured border in a sunny spot. Kniphofia ‘Nancy’s Red’ bears bright red, orange spikes that will provide striking interest all summer.

H x S: 70cm x 60cm
Flowers: June-October

• Buy Kniphofia 'Red Hot Popsicle' from Crocus
• Buy red hot poker from Thompson & Morgan

The amount of clematis to choose from for your garden can be overwhelming, with a vast range of flower size, colour and shape. Narrow the search down by choosing vibrant red varieties, including Clematis 'Nubia', Clematis 'Rebecca' (pictured) which is compact and ideal for pots, and Clematis 'Charmaine'.

H x S: various
Flowers: various

• Buy Clematis 'Rebecca' from Crocus
• Buy Clematis 'Nubia' from Crocus
• Buy Clematis 'Charmaine' from Primrose