Red flowering perennials
True red is one of the more difficult colors to achieve in the perennial garden. Many plants marketed as "red" are in fact orange-red, magenta-red, or scarlet. This guide covers the range from near-true red through orange-red and scarlet, noting where important distinctions.
—- title: "Red flowering perennials" slug: red-flowering-perennials hub: plants category: "Plant list" description: "The best red flowering perennials for temperate gardens — organized by bloom season with zones, heights, and notes on hummingbird attraction and deer resistance." date: 2026-06-10 updated: 2026-06-10 author: "Thomas A." reading_time: 9 release_after: 2026-10-06 —-
True red is one of the more difficult colors to achieve in the perennial garden. Many plants marketed as "red" are in fact orange-red, magenta-red, or scarlet. This guide covers the range from near-true red through orange-red and scarlet, noting where important distinctions exist.
Red flowers are particularly valuable for hummingbirds, which are attracted to red and orange-red tubular flowers. Per Cornell Cooperative Extension, trumpet vine, cardinal flower, and salvia are among the most consistently used hummingbird flowers in eastern US gardens.
Spring-blooming red perennials
Peony 'Karl Rosenfield' (Paeonia lactiflora 'Karl Rosenfield')
Per Penn State Extension, 'Karl Rosenfield' is the standard red herbaceous peony, producing large double flowers in deep magenta-crimson in May–June. It holds its color better in full sun than many red peonies, which tend to fade to salmon.
- Zones: 3–8
- Height: 34 inches
- Bloom: May–June
- Color: Deep magenta-crimson; one of the better reds in peonies
Red tulips (Tulipa spp.)
Spring-blooming bulbs with red flowers include 'Red Emperor' (very early; large flowers), 'Apeldoorn' (Darwin hybrid; durable), and 'Burgundy' (late; deep red). Not perennial in the strict sense, but many Darwin hybrid tulips reliably return for 3–5 years in well-drained soil. Per Missouri Botanical Garden.
Summer-blooming red perennials
Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
Per NC State Extension, cardinal flower is a native North American perennial producing intense red (the clearest red in any herbaceous plant) spikes in July–September. It is the most consistently used hummingbird plant in eastern gardens.
- Zones: 3–9
- Height: 2–4 feet
- Bloom: July–September
- Sun: Partial shade to full sun; tolerates wet conditions
- Color: True red; brilliant
- Deer resistance: High
Maltese cross (Silene chalcedonica, formerly Lychnis)
Per Clemson HGIC, Maltese cross produces clusters of small cross-shaped flowers in vivid scarlet in June–July. Short-lived perennial but reseeds.
- Zones: 3–9
- Height: 24–36 inches
- Bloom: June–July
- Color: Vivid scarlet
Bee balm 'Jacob Cline' (Monarda didyma 'Jacob Cline')
Per Missouri Botanical Garden, 'Jacob Cline' is the most mildew-resistant red-flowered bee balm cultivar, a significant advantage in humid climates. Shaggy red flower heads attract hummingbirds.
- Zones: 4–9
- Height: 3–4 feet
- Bloom: July–August
- Color: True red
- Mildew resistance: Better than most red-flowered varieties
Red hot poker (Kniphofia spp.)
Per Oregon State Extension, red hot poker produces torch-like flower heads with red-orange at the top graduating to yellow at the base. Modern cultivars like 'Redhot Popsicle' are more compact and reliably hardy.
- Zones: 6–9
- Height: 18–48 inches (cultivar-dependent)
- Bloom: June–August
- Color: Red-orange to orange (not true red)
Daylily — red varieties (Hemerocallis spp.)
Per Penn State Extension, 'Chicago Apache' (vivid red, tetraploid), 'Pardon Me' (compact red, fragrant), and 'Crimson Pirate' are reliable red daylilies. Most red daylilies are technically red-orange or scarlet rather than true red.
- Zones: 3–9
- Height: 18–36 inches (cultivar-dependent)
- Bloom: June–August
Crocosmia (Crocosmia × crocosmiiflora)
Per Missouri Botanical Garden, crocosmia produces arching stems of tubular orange-red flowers highly attractive to hummingbirds.
- Zones: 5–9
- Height: 24–36 inches
- Bloom: July–August
- Color: Orange-red (not true red)
Oriental poppy (Papaver orientale)
Per Cornell Cooperative Extension, red oriental poppies ('Brilliant', 'Turkenlouis') produce large, tissue-paper petals in May–June, then die back to dormancy in summer. Foliage reappears in fall.
- Zones: 3–7 (does not perform in zones 8+ heat)
- Height: 24–36 inches
- Bloom: May–June
- Color: Scarlet to red-orange
Autumn sage (Salvia greggii — red varieties)
Per Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Salvia greggii 'Radio Red' and related red-flowered forms produce small tubular red flowers from spring through frost. Native to Texas and Mexico; excellent hummingbird plant.
- Zones: 6–9
- Height: 18–30 inches
- Bloom: Spring–frost (long season)
- Color: True red to red-orange
Late summer/fall red perennials
Red cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
Blooms July–September (see above); one of the best fall-season reds.
Turtlehead (Chelone lyonii 'Hot Lips')
Per NC State Extension, turtlehead produces pink to rosy-red flowers in late summer (August–September) in partial shade conditions. Useful for moist, shaded areas.
- Zones: 3–8
- Bloom: August–September
- Color: Pink-red
Canna lily — red varieties
Per Clemson HGIC, 'The President' and 'Red King Humbert' are reliable red-flowered cannas. Tender perennial in most zones; must be dug and stored.
Red perennials by zone and condition
| Plant | Zones | Sun | Moisture | Color | Height |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardinal flower | 3–9 | Part shade–sun | Moist | True red | 2–4 ft |
| 'Jacob Cline' bee balm | 4–9 | Full sun | Average | True red | 3–4 ft |
| Maltese cross | 3–9 | Full sun | Average | Scarlet | 24–36 in |
| Oriental poppy | 3–7 | Full sun | Well-drained | Scarlet | 24–36 in |
| Crocosmia | 5–9 | Full sun | Average | Orange-red | 24–36 in |
| Autumn sage | 6–9 | Full sun | Drought-tolerant | True red | 18–30 in |
| Red hot poker | 6–9 | Full sun | Well-drained | Red-orange | 18–48 in |
Frequently asked questions
What is the most deer-resistant red perennial? Per Rutgers NJAES, cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) is rated as "rarely severely damaged" by deer. Red hot poker and bee balm are rated as "seldom severely damaged." Peonies are rated "rarely severely damaged." Red daylilies are "occasionally severely damaged."
What red perennial blooms the longest? Per Missouri Botanical Garden, Salvia greggii (zones 6–9) blooms from spring through frost when correctly sited, making it the longest-season red perennial in most warm-climate gardens. Cardinal flower (2–3 months) and bee balm (4–6 weeks) are the longest bloomers in colder zones.
Are red flowers actually less common in perennials than other colors? True red is less common than blue-violet, yellow, or pink in temperate perennials. Per Cornell Cooperative Extension, red pigmentation in flowers (anthocyanins and carotenoids producing pure red without blue overtones) is less frequently expressed than pink, which is red diluted with white, or orange-red. Many marketed "red" plants are actually scarlet or magenta.
Which red perennial is best for a dry, sunny bank? Per Oregon State Extension, autumn sage (Salvia greggii), red hot poker (Kniphofia), and crocosmia perform well in dry, well-drained sunny conditions. Cardinal flower and bee balm need more moisture and would not suit a dry bank.
Sources
- NC State Extension — Cardinal Flower and Red Perennials
- Missouri Botanical Garden — Red-Flowered Perennials
- Penn State Extension — Perennial Flowers
- Clemson HGIC — Perennial Flowers
- Cornell Cooperative Extension — Hummingbird Gardens
- Oregon State Extension — Native Perennials
- Rutgers NJAES — Deer-Resistant Plants
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension — Autumn Sage