15 Annuals That Bloom With Vibrant Red Flowers

Looking for a show-stopping addition to your garden for this season or next? Consider adding some annuals that blossom with red flowers to the mix; these beautiful blooms bring instant drama to any outdoor space. They typically will have flowers throughout the spring and summer, lasting into fall before the first frost, as noted by Miracle Gro. And, there are many different types of red annuals to choose from, so you can mix up different shades of the vibrant hue; from scarlet and crimson to poppy and brick red, there is an option out there that will fit your garden's aesthetic.

Whether you want something tall and stately or short and sweet, there's bound to be a flower that will suit your height needs as well. And because annual plants last throughout the duration of the season, you'll have something gorgeous to look at in your garden for weeks at a time.

Begonias (Begonia) are known for their striking blooms, which can come in various colors, including red to burgundy. They are hardy plants that do well in moist soil. Begonias have a long blooming season, from summer into fall. Gardening Solutions shares that the best time to plant your begonias is in the spring after any threat of a frost has passed. These flowers dislike the cold; anything below 50 degrees can kill them.  Deer and rabbits stay clear of this flower. 

Bloom Season: Summer to fall

USDA Growing Zone: 8B to11

Growing Conditions: Partial shade

Soil Type: Moist, well-drained soil

Size: Can grow up to 2 feet tall (via Clemson Cooperative Extension)

Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) does come in a variety of other colors. However, red is arguably the most striking. They can easily be used as a bushy flowering plant, or they can have a climbing tendency and will quickly and easily ascend a trellis or fence. While they are considered annual plants, the plant can be perennial in certain zones. Heritage Garden shares that nasturtium flowers are wholly edible — and offer up a peppery taste that goes great in soups, salads, and more.

Bloom Season: Spring, summer, and fall
USDA Growing Zone: 9 to 11

Growing Conditions: Full sun to partial shade

Soil Type: Loam or sand

Size: Can grow up to 16 inches tall

Geraniums (Pelargonium) are great flowers for both planting beds and pots. Their bountiful blooms come in a variety of color, but they are famous for their red petals. Geraniums are annuals, except for zones 10 and 11, where they make a tender perennial. Special geranium fertilizer is available and should be used if you want larger and more abundant blossoms, according to Nature-And-Garden. Certain geranium varieties are explicitly cultivated for their scent, which is that of a lemony rose.

Bloom Season: Spring through mid-fall

USDA Growing Zone: 3 to 9

Growing Conditions: Full sun

Soil Type: Well drained loam

Size: Can grow up to 3 feet tall

Petunia (Petunia x hybrida) is one of the more popular flowers to be used as bedding plants in gardens. While they come in various shades, reds are spectacular when they explode with color during their long blooming season through the summer all the way until a hard frost hits. Deer don't like to bother with this plant and won't eat it, per the North Carolina State University Extension. If you want larger blooms, deadheading petunias after they have started to lose color will bring back brighter and more abundant flowers.

Bloom Season: Summer

USDA Growing Zone: 10 to 11

Growing Conditions: Full sun to partial shade

Soil Type: Well-drained, moist soil

Size: Can grow up to 1.6 inches tall

Pentas (Pentas lanceolata) are also known as Egyptian Stars because of their star-shaped petals. They do come in other color varieties; however, hummingbirds and butterflies are most attracted to the red color and will feed off their nectar first. Pentas are also rather heat and drought-resistant. Costa Farms shares that in places that have a warm temperature year-round, they can be cultivated as perennials. Relatively deer resistant, these little red flowers make a great addition to a butterfly garden. 

Bloom Season: Summer through fall

USDA Growing Zone: 9 to 11

Growing Conditions: Full sun 

Soil Type: Well-drained loam, sand, or clay

Size: Can grow up to 3 feet tall

The love lies bleeding (Amaranthus hypochondriacus) plant is truly a show-stopper. With its abundant red and burgundy blooms that hang down, it creates a stunning visual display in your garden. They also have an added benefit of edibility as well — Plants For A Future states that you can eat the seeds of this plant in place of cereal, or they may even be popped just like popcorn. It uses wind as its way to pollinate.

Bloom Season: Summer

USDA Growing Zone: 3 to10

Growing Conditions: Full sun

Soil Type: Loam, clay, or sand

Size: Can grow up to 4 feet tall

Cosmos (Cosmos) is an extremely easy-to-grow flower. It's one bloomer that can thrive in rather hot conditions.  It is important to note when planting these flower seeds not to plant them too deep below the surface. Otherwise, they won't germinate properly.  According to The Micro Gardener, cosmos will self-seed, saving you time planting more seeds. They come in a variety of colors, but this beautiful shade of red-orange attracts pollinators.

Bloom Season: Spring through fall

USDA Growing Zone: 2 to 11

Growing Conditions: Full sun

Soil Type: Clay, loam, or sand

Size: Can grow up to 6 feet tall (via North Carolina State University Extension)