Most annuals grow well with average soil moisture and partial or full sun, though some can take full shade, giving the home gardener more options for use in the landscape. Annuals, with their blasts of color, are used for edging, mass of color, filling in spots between established shrubs, trees and evergreens and as groundcovers.

Annuals that flower red are exciting in the landscape. Red's powerful, passionate color can be enjoyed throughout the season and blends well with perennials, ornamental grass, shrubs, groundcovers and evergreens and trees. 

Too much red can quickly overwhelm an interior room, but in the outdoor living spaces without the confined dimensions of walls and ceilings, red flowers harmonize with orange and yellow or blue, purple and white providing a striking contrast.

Some of the bedding plants with red blooms are native plants, which are more naturally insect resistant, salt tolerant and have natural disease resistance. Red bedding plants are also great at attracting butterflies and birds, particularly hummingbirds.

The most well-known annuals with red flowers are: Begonias, Bedding Impatiens, Cockscomb, Cosmos, Dianthus, Fuchsia, Geraniums, Petunias, Salvias, Snapdragon, and Zinnias.

Another popular red flowering annual is the Corn Poppy. This annual is a good choice for naturalizing and the classic poppy bloom and absolutely stunning when planted in mass.

An additional red flowering annual is the Firecracker Plant. This plant will flower prolifically when planted near a pond or lake.

To view learn more about red flowering annuals, please visit Virtual Plant Tags.