If you want to add a burst of fiery color to your garden, look no further than tropical plants with orange flowers. These vibrant and sun-loving beauties bring a piece of the tropics to any sunny spot, creating a landscape that feels warm and energetic all season long.
Their bold orange blooms, ranging from soft apricot to intense tangerine, act like beacons for butterflies and hummingbirds. Best of all, many of these plants are surprisingly easy to grow if you give them the two things they love most: plenty of sunshine and well-drained soil. This guide will help you choose, plant, and care for the best orange-flowering tropicals for your space.
Tropical Plants with Orange Flowers – Vibrant and Sun-Loving
The category of tropical plants with orange flowers is wonderfully diverse. It includes towering shrubs, graceful vines, and dramatic perennials. Their shared traits are a love for heat and a spectacular floral show that can last for months.
Top Picks for Your Garden
Here are some of the most reliable and stunning tropical plants with orange flowers to consider:
Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae): This iconic plant produces breathtaking, sculptural flowers that look like a tropical bird’s head. The blooms are a striking mix of orange and blue. It’s a bold architectural statement for pots or beds.
* Crossandra: Often called the “firecracker flower,” Crossandra blooms almost constantly with shiny, salmon-orange flowers. It’s perfect for adding long-lasting color to borders or as a potted plant for a sunny patio.
* Mandevilla Vine: A prolific climber, Mandevilla smothers itself in large, trumpet-shaped flowers all summer. It’s ideal for trellises, fences, or containers where its vibrant display can really shine.
* Canna Lily: While known for there bold, banana-like leaves, Canna Lilies also send up tall spikes of gorgeous orange flowers. They add a strong vertical element and thrive in hot, humid conditions.
* Lantana: A butterfly magnet, Lantana forms cheerful clusters of tiny flowers that often mix orange, yellow, and red. It’s incredibly drought-tolerant and blooms non-stop with deadheading.
African Tulip Tree (Spathodea campanulata): For a large-scale impact, this tree produces huge clusters of cup-shaped, orange-red flowers. It’s a true showstopper for frost-free climates.
How to Plant for Success
Getting these plants off to a good start is simple if you follow a few key steps.
Choosing the Right Location
Sunlight is non-negotiable. Almost all tropical plants with orange flowers need full sun, which means at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Less sun will result in fewer flowers and leggy growth. Also consider the plant’s mature size—ensure it has enough room to grow without crowding its neighbors.
Preparing the Soil
Good drainage is the second most important factor. Tropical plants generally dislike soggy roots.
1. Test Drainage: Dig a hole about 12 inches deep and fill it with water. If it drains within a few hours, your drainage is good.
2. Amend the Soil: If drainage is slow or you have heavy clay, amend the planting area. Mix in generous amounts of compost or well-rotted manure. For pots, always use a high-quality potting mix.
3. Check pH: Most of these plants prefer a slightly acidic to neutral soil pH (6.0 to 7.0). A simple soil test kit can confirm this.
The Planting Process
Follow this easy process for planting:
1. Water the plant thoroughly in its nursery pot an hour before planting.
2. Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep.
3. Gently remove the plant and loosen any circling roots.
4. Place it in the hole, making sure the top of the root ball is level with the soil surface.
5. Backfill with the amended soil and firm it gently around the base.
6. Water deeply to settle the soil and eliminate air pockets.
7. Apply a 2-3 inch layer of mulch around the plant (keeping it away from the stem) to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.
Essential Care and Maintenance
Once established, these plants are relatively low-maintenance but do require consistent care to look there best.
Watering and Feeding
While sun-loving, most tropicals need regular moisture, especially during hot, dry periods. Water deeply when the top inch of soil feels dry. Container plants will need watering more frequently.
Feed your plants regularly to support their vigorous growth and flowering. Use a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at planting time. During the peak growing season, supplement with a liquid fertilizer high in potassium (like a tomato feed) every 2-4 weeks to encourage more of those vibrant orange blooms.
Pruning and Deadheading
Pruning keeps plants shapely and encourages branching, which leads to more flowers. In early spring, you can cut back leggy growth on shrubs like Crossandra or Lantana.
Deadheading—removing spent flowers—is crucial for many varieties. It prevents the plant from putting energy into seed production and instead prompts it to produce more blooms. Simply snip off the old flower heads just above a set of leaves.
Overwintering in Cool Climates
If you live where frost occurs, you can still grow many tropical plants with orange flowers as annuals or by overwintering them indoors.
* For Tender Perennials in Pots: Before the first frost, move potted plants like Mandevilla or Hibiscus to a bright, sunny indoor spot. Water sparingly over winter.
* For Bulbs/Rhizomes: Plants like Canna Lilies can be dug up after the first frost kills the foliage. Cut back the stems, let the rhizomes dry for a day, then store them in a cool, dark place in slightly moist peat moss or sawdust until spring.
Design Ideas for a Tropical Oasis
Use these plants to create stunning visual effects:
* Create a Focal Point: Use a large, dramatic plant like a Bird of Paradise or a cluster of Canna Lilies as a centerpiece in a garden bed.
* Add Vertical Interest: Train a Mandevilla vine on an obelisk or trellis to draw the eye upward.
* Plant in Containers: Group pots of orange-flowering Lantana, Crossandra, and a dwarf Canna for a movable patio display.
* Attract Pollinators: Plant a mass of Lantana or Pentas to create a butterfly and hummingbird haven.
Troubleshooting Common Problems
Even with the best care, you might encounter a few issues.
* Few or No Flowers: This is almost always due to insufficient sunlight. Move the plant to a sunnier location.
* Yellowing Leaves: Can indicate overwatering or poor drainage. Check soil moisture and ensure the plant isn’t sitting in water.
* Pests: Watch for aphids or spider mites, especially on new growth. A strong spray of water or an insecticidal soap usually takes care of them.
* Leggy Growth: Prune back leggy stems to encourage bushier growth and provide more sun.
FAQ
What are some easy orange tropical flowers for beginners?
Lantana and Crossandra are fantastic choices for beginners. They are tough, bloom profusely with minimal fuss, and handle a bit of neglect.
Can these plants grow in partial shade?
For the best flower production, full sun is essential. They may survive in partial shade but will likely become leggy and produce significantly fewer of those vibrant orange blooms.
How often should I water my tropical flowering plants?
Water when the top inch of soil is dry. This might mean daily in hot summer weather for container plants, or twice a week for in-ground plants. Always aim for deep, thorough watering.
What’s the best fertilizer for promoting orange blooms?
A balanced slow-release fertilizer is good for overall health. To really boost flowering, use a liquid fertilizer with a higher middle number (phosphorus) or potassium (like a 5-10-10 or similar formulation) during the growing season.
Which orange tropical plants attract hummingbirds?
Mandevilla, Canna Lily, and especially the fiery blooms of the Cape Honeysuckle (Tecoma capensis) are absolute magnets for hummingbirds.
Adding tropical plants with orange flowers to your garden is a surefire way to inject warmth and energy into your outdoor space. By providing ample sunshine, well-drained soil, and basic seasonal care, you’ll be rewarded with a spectacular, long-lasting display that captures the joyful spirit of the tropics right in your own backyard. Their vibrant presence is a constant reminder of summer’s brightest days.