Tall Plants With Red Flowers

If you want to make a dramatic statement in your garden, look no further than tall plants with red flowers. These vibrant and eye-catching blooms create stunning vertical interest and can completely change the feel of your outdoor space.

They draw the eye, add depth to your borders, and can even serve as natural privacy screens. From classic favorites to more unusual varieties, there’s a tall red-flowering plant perfect for almost every garden style and condition. This guide will help you choose, grow, and care for these spectacular plants successfully.

This category includes a wonderful range of perennials, annuals, and shrubs that all share two key traits: significant height and brilliant red blossoms. Their impact is immediate and powerful. Let’s look at some of the best options to consider for your garden.

Popular Perennial Choices

Perennials come back year after year, offering reliable structure. They are the backbone of many garden designs.

Red Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis): A native North American plant that thrives in moist soil. It sends up spikes of intense red flowers in late summer that hummingbirds absolutely adore. It typically grows 3 to 4 feet tall.
Red Hot Poker (Kniphofia): While some are orange, cultivars like ‘Flamenco’ or ‘Red Hot Popsicle’ offer true red, torch-like blooms. Their grassy foliage and unique flower shape add great texture. Heights range from 3 to 5 feet.
Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’: This plant produces arching sprays of fiery red flowers above sword-like foliage in mid to late summer. It naturalizes well and can reach 4 feet in height. It’s also excellent for cutting.
Bee Balm (Monarda didyma): Varieties like ‘Jacob Cline’ offer large, shaggy red flowers that are a major pollinator magnet. They have a wonderful fragrance and can grow 3 to 4 feet tall. Good air circulation is key to prevent mildew.

Stunning Annuals and Biennials

Annuals complete their life cycle in one season but often provide the longest bloom time. They’re perfect for filling gaps fast.

Love-Lies-Bleeding (Amaranthus caudatus): Known for its long, drooping, rope-like red flower tassels that can trail down over 2 feet. The plant itself can reach 4 to 5 feet, creating a fantastic, almost architectural element.
Castor Bean (Ricinus communis): Grown for its dramatic, tropical foliage, but varieties like ‘Carmencita’ also produce clusters of spiky red flowers. It’s a fast-growing annual that can soar to 6-10 feet in a single season. Warning: All parts of this plant are highly poisonous if ingested.
Hollyhock (Alcea rosea): Technically a short-lived perennial often grown as a biennial. Its classic cottage-garden spires packed with large, open flowers can reach an impressive 6 to 8 feet. Red varieties like ‘Indian Spring’ are truly majestic against a fence or wall.

Magnificent Shrubs and Trees

These woody plants provide permanent height and often multi-season interest beyond just their flowers.

Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus): Varieties like ‘Red Heart’ (white with a red center) or ‘Blushing Bride’ (deep pink-red) offer large, hibiscus-style flowers on a shrub that can be trained into a small tree form, reaching 8-12 feet.
Japanese Flowering Quince (Chaenomeles japonica): An early spring bloomer with clusters of scarlet-red flowers on thorny branches before the leaves appear. It can be kept as a shrub or espaliered, growing 3-6 feet tall.
Red Buckeye (Aesculus pavia): A small native tree or large shrub that produces upright panicles of red tubular flowers in spring, highly attractive to hummingbirds. It matures around 15-20 feet tall.

How to Choose the Right Plant for Your Garden

Selecting the perfect plant involves more than just liking the color. You need to match it to your garden’s conditions.

Check Your Hardiness Zone: Ensure the plant is perennial in your climate. A tropical plant won’t survive a northern winter outdoors.
Sunlight Needs: Most red-flowering plants need full sun (6+ hours) for the best bloom color and quantity. Some, like Cardinal Flower, tolerate partial shade.
Soil and Moisture: Does your garden have sandy, well-drained soil or heavy, moist clay? Match the plant to these conditions for less stress and better growth.
Mature Size: Always plan for the plant’s full height and width. Placing an 8-foot hollyhock in front of a 3-foot perennial will block the view.

Planting for Maximum Impact

Proper planting gives your tall plants with red flowers the best possible start. Follow these steps for success.

Timing is Key: Plant perennials and shrubs in early spring or early fall when temperatures are cooler. Plant annuals after all danger of frost has passed.
Prepare the Planting Hole: Dig a hole twice as wide as the plant’s root ball but no deeper. Roughen up the sides of the hole to help roots penetrate.
Amend the Soil: Mix some compost into the native soil you removed. This improves drainage in clay and water retention in sand.
Position the Plant: Set the plant in the hole so the top of the root ball is level with the surrounding soil. Backfill with your soil-compost mix, gently firming it as you go to remove air pockets.
Water Thoroughly: Give the plant a deep, slow watering to settle the soil around the roots. Apply a 2-3 inch layer of mulch around the base to conserve moisture and suppress weeds, keeping it away from the stem.

Essential Care and Maintenance

Once established, these plants are relatively easy to care for. A little attention goes a long way in keeping them healthy and floriferous.

Watering Wisely

Deep, infrequent watering is better than frequent sprinkles. It encourages roots to grow deeper, making the plant more drought-tolerant. A general rule is 1 inch of water per week, either from rain or irrigation. Always water at the base of the plant to keep foliage dry and prevent disease.

Feeding for Fantastic Flowers

Most tall blooming plants benefit from a balanced, slow-release fertilizer applied in early spring as new growth emerges. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers, as they promote leafy growth at the expense of flowers. A top-dressing of compost each spring is an excellent organic alternative that also improves soil health.

Staking and Support

Tall plants, especially those with large flower heads, can be vulnerable to wind and heavy rain. Staking early in the season is crucial.

Use bamboo stakes, grow-through supports, or decorative obelisks.
Install supports when the plant is about one-third of its mature height.
Tie stems loosely with soft twine or plant ties, allowing for some movement.

Pruning and Deadheading

Regular deadheading (removing spent flowers) encourages many plants to produce more blooms instead of setting seed. For perennials, cutting back the entire plant after flowering can sometimes promote a second, smaller flush of blooms. For shrubs, research the specific pruning time, as some bloom on old wood and some on new wood.

Design Ideas Using Tall Red Flowers

These plants are versatile design tools. Here’s how to use them effectively in your landscape.

The Back of the Border: The classic use. Place them at the rear of flower beds to create a lush backdrop for medium and shorter plants.
Focal Points: Use a single, spectacular specimen as a focal point in an island bed or at a garden corner to draw the eye.
Privacy Screening: Plant a row of tall, dense flowering shrubs or fast-growing annuals like castor bean to create a seasonal privacy screen on a patio or along a property line.
Against a Wall or Fence: A backdrop of a dark fence or light-colored wall makes the vibrant red flowers truly pop. This also provides some wind protection.
Color Themes: Pair red flowers with complementary colors like greens and whites for a crisp look, or with hot colors like orange and yellow for an energetic, vibrant bed. Red also looks stunning with silver or gray foliage plants.

Common Pests and Problems

Even the healthiest gardens face a few challenges. Early identification is key to management.

Aphids: These small, soft-bodied insects cluster on new growth. Blast them off with a strong jet of water or use insecticidal soap.
Japanese Beetles: They skeletonize leaves and devour flowers. Hand-pick them in the early morning and drop them into soapy water.
Powdery Mildew: A white, powdery fungus on leaves, common in humid conditions with poor air circulation. Choose resistant varieties, space plants properly, and avoid overhead watering. Fungicidal sprays can be used as a last resort.
Flop-Over: This is usually a cultural issue, not a pest. It’s caused by insufficient light (plants stretch), rich soil/too much nitrogen, or lack of support. Ensure proper growing conditions and stake early.

Propagating Your Favorite Plants

Once you have a tall red-flowered plant you love, you might want more. Here are simple propagation methods.

Division (for perennials): In early spring or fall, dig up the mature plant. Use a sharp spade or knife to divide the root clump into smaller sections, each with several growing points (eyes). Replant immediately.
Stem Cuttings (for shrubs and some perennials): In late spring or early summer, take a 4-6 inch cutting from a healthy, non-flowering stem. Remove the lower leaves, dip the cut end in rooting hormone, and plant in a pot with moist potting mix. Cover with a plastic bag to retain humidity until roots form.
Collecting Seeds: Allow some flowers to fade and form seed pods. Let the pods dry on the plant, then collect them. Store seeds in a cool, dry place over winter and sow them according to the specific plant’s requirements, usually in spring.

FAQ Section

What are some tall plants with red flowers that bloom all summer?

For continuous summer color, focus on annuals and long-blooming perennials. Excellent choices include Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’, many cultivars of Salvias (like ‘Lady in Red’), and annuals like tall red varieties of Verbena bonariensis or Celosia ‘Cramer’s Amazon’. Deadheading regularly is crucial to encourage ongoing blooms.

Which tall red flowering plants attract hummingbirds?

Hummingbirds are strongly attracted to the color red and tubular flower shapes. Top picks include Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis), Bee Balm (Monarda), Red Hot Poker (Kniphofia), Penstemon ‘Firecracker’, and the vine Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens).

Are there tall red flowers that grow well in shade?

While most require sun, some options for partial to full shade include the Red Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis) for moist shade, certain red Astilbes for damp conditions, and the Fuchsia ‘Thalia’ (which has long, red tubular flowers) for containers in shady spots. Always check the specific light requirements.

How do I keep my tall red flowers from falling over?

Proactive support is the answer. Install stakes, cages, or grow-through supports early in the season, when the plant is still small. Also, ensure the plant is getting enough sunlight (to prevent weak, leggy growth) and avoid over-fertilizing with nitrogen. Pinching back some plants in early growth can also promote sturdier, bushier stems.

Can I grow tall red flowers in containers?

Yes, you can! Choose large, heavy pots with excellent drainage to prevent tipping. Dwarf or medium-tall varieties are often better suited. Good candidates include smaller cultivars of Canna Lily, red Dahlia varieties, and potted Hibiscus. Use a high-quality potting mix and be vigilant about watering and feeding, as container plants dry out and use nutrients faster.

Incorporating tall plants with red flowers into your garden is a surefire way to add excitement and structure. By choosing the right varieties for your site, providing proper planting and care, and using them thoughtfully in your design, you can enjoy their vibrant and eye-catching blooms for many seasons to come. Start planning your garden’s red accent today—the visual reward is well worth the effort.