The anthurium plant, is a beautiful plant known for bright red flowers and the lush dark green foliage. It is an ornamental plant and part of the Araceae plant family that is native to the tropical regions of Mexico, the Caribbean, and South America.
The Anthurium’s large, heart-shaped leaves grow directly from the base of the plant in a rosette pattern. The showy, waxy flowers have a spike-like shape and bloom throughout the year indoors if cared for properly.
Anthurium care is straightforward, and these container plants can be grown indoors to add a touch of the tropics with their beautiful red blooms and dark green foliage. The red Anthurium is a gorgeous tropical plant whose bright flowers and lush Anthurium leaves make it a popular houseplant.
However, many other tropical plants for your garden offer bright red blooms or ones that can be grown as indoor plants.
In our guide, you can find more about Anthurium SPP and many Anthurium alternatives. By the end, you’ll better understand the range of plants you can add to your garden or home as you grow Anthurium red flowers and green foliage. (Read Problems With Lemon Trees In Pots)
10 Tropical Plants With Red Flowers
Tropical gardens are known for the many species of flowering plants offering reddish-orange flowers and lush green foliage or those that go full on and produce beautiful red flowers. If you want to add a bright color to your indoor or outdoor tropical garden, consider adding one of these 10 tropical plants with red blooms.
1. Canna Tropical Red
The Canna Tropical Red plant bears enormous clusters of vibrant red blooms from spring to fall. When conditions are ideal, this herbaceous perennial plant with lovely green leaves can reach heights of up to 6 feet. The Americas’ tropical and subtropical regions are home to the canna plant.
Full light and moist, well-draining soil are ideal conditions for this plant. For the best flower production, fertilize frequently throughout the growth season. Grow Canna Tropical Red in flowerpots or raised garden beds.
2. Chinese Hibiscus/ Shoeblack Plant
Chinese hibiscus, also known as the shoeblack plant. The plant is a tropical woody shrub known for its bold red blooms and native to Southeast Asia. This plant produces flowers year-round in frost-free climates and can grow up to 15 feet tall.
Chinese hibiscus loves full sun and partial shade in moist, well-draining, acidic soil. It makes a great focal point for tropical gardens. Varieties like ‘Seminole Pink’ and ‘Moy Grande’ produce pink and bicolor blooms.
3. Red Anthuriums
Anthurium is a tropical perennial flowering plant prized for its lush, heart-shaped leaves and bright red flower spikes. Most Anthurium varieties, including Anthurium andraeanum and Anthurium scherzerianum, produce red flowers and deep green foliage.
Common names for this plant include flamingo flower, painter’s palette, laceleaf, and tailflower. Some species produce bright red flowers and leaves on long flower stems where parts of this plant look like plastic plants. Others have flowers in shades of orange, pink, and white flowers.
Anthuriums are native to tropical rainforests, so the plant prefers warm temperatures, high humidity, and indirect light. These exotic tropical plants can be grown outdoors in frost-free regions or as houseplants. Provide anthuriums with well-draining soil and avoid overwatering. (Read Orange Tiger Lily Guide )
4. Coral Drops
Coral drop plants are known as Mandevilla splendens, are beautiful vining tropical plants adorned with dangling red trumpet-shaped flowers. This plant that is native to Brazil and requires warm temperatures above 50 F.
Grow coral drops in a trellis or hanging basket to allow the vines to cascade. It thrives in bright, indirect light and humid conditions. Pinch back the tips to promote bushier growth. Coral drops add tropical color to gardens, patios,, and indoor spaces.
5. Montbretia
Montbretia is a summer-blooming bulb plant that produces fiery orange-red flowers on tall spikes above strappy green foliage. This plant is native to tropical and subtropical Africa. Montbretia grows 1-3 feet tall and spreads rapidly, making it ideal for mass plantings.
It thrives in full sun to partial shade and moist, well-draining soil. Plant the corms in spring. Montbretia flowers add a tropical flair to cutting gardens. Combine with cannas or other tropical plants.
6. Lipstick Plant
The aptly named lipstick plant (Aeschynanthus) is a tropical flowering plant that produces bright red tubular blooms throughout the year. Native to Southeast Asia, this plant thrives in warm, humid conditions with indirect sunlight.
Grow lipstick plant in a hanging basket to allow its vines to cascade freely. Pinch back tips to promote bushiness. This exotic houseplant adds a fun color and texture to indoor tropical plant collections.
7. Big Seed Copperleaf
Copperleaf (Acalypha wilkesiana) is a showy tropical shrub grown for its colorful red-and-green foliage. The popular ‘Big Seed’ variety has large, floppy leaves splashed with bright red. Copperleaf produces long spikes of fuzzy red flowers that attract hummingbirds and butterflies to gardens.
Native to Fiji, this plant grows best in warm, humid tropical climates but can be grown as a houseplant. Provide copperleaf with moist, well-draining soil and partial shade. Prune as needed to control size.
8. Flame of the Woods
Flame of the Woods (Ixora coccinea), is a tropical shrub that blooms large clusters of bright scarlet-red flowers. This plant is native to South Asian regions and thrives in humid tropical climates.
Flame of the woods can reach up to 6 feet tall and wide, making it a striking tropical landscape plant. Grow it in full sun or part sun and acidic, moist soil. Choose named cultivars like ‘Nora Grant’ for prolific flowering. Attracts hummingbirds! (Read Weeds That Look Like Sunflower)
9. Brazilian Petunia
Brazilian petunia is a vigorous spreading perennial groundcover with flowers that will grab attention. They produce vibrant red-purple trumpet-shaped flowers and are native to Brazil’s tropical areas, thus requiring warm temperatures above 50 F.
Plant care requires full sun to part shade and moist soil. These beautiful flowers grow 12-36 inches tall and spread rapidly by seed and rhizomes. These plants are easy to care for and ideal for mass plantings and erosion control. These plants are popular with hummingbirds, who love the nectar-rich blooms. Deadhead spent flowers to encourage reblooming.
10. Firecracker Plant
The firecracker plant (Crossandra infundibuliformis) is a tropical flowering shrub with shiny green leaves and bright red tubular blooms.
Native to India and Sri Lanka, this plant loves heat and humidity. Grow firecracker plants in full sun and well-draining soil with moderate watering. It blooms year-round in frost-free climates. Firecracker plant grows 2-3 feet tall and wide, making an excellent hedge or border. Plant in containers or garden beds where plants produce small flowers that attract hummingbirds and butterflies!
More Red Tropical Flower Varieties
The tropical plants highlighted above offer a variety of forms, sizes, and uses in gardens. Here are a few more red flowering tropical plant picks to consider:
- Bougainvillea: Showy vines, shrubs, or small trees boasting vibrant red flower bracts.
- Cigar Flower: Clusters of tubular red blooms atop tall stems. Hummingbird favorite.
- Coral Bean: Shrub with spikes of red flowers and colorful seed pods.
- Florida Tassleflower: Bright red brush-like flowers on vining ground cover.
- Torch Ginger Plants: Red upright cluster flowers on clumps of broad green leaves.
- Flamingo Flower: Waxy red flowers with ruffled petals and long red stamens.
- Blanket Flowers: Daisy-like flowers in shades of vivid red with yellow centers.
- Showy Medinilla: Exotic tropical shrub with dangling red berry-like fruits.
- False Bird of Paradise: Large red bird-like flower bracts on upright stems.
How to Grow a Tropical Plant With Red Flowers
Tropical plants with red flowers and contrasting leaves add a bold pop of color and exotic flair when you have the plant indoors or outdoors. Follow these tips for successfully growing tropicals with red blooms:
- Light: Most tropicals prefer bright but indirect sunlight. Acclimate plants to stronger light. Anthuriums, Chinese hibiscus, and others do well in partial shade.
- Soil: Set the plant in a well-draining potting mix for containers. In garden beds, amend soil with compost to improve drainage.
- Water: Water when the top few inches of soil become dry. Take care not to overwater tropicals; soggy soil can cause root rot.
- Humidity: Place plants on pebble trays to boost humidity around tropical.
- Temperature: Maintain warm temperatures above 50 F for tropical plants. Move indoors or protect from frost.
- Fertilizer: Feed with a balanced liquid fertilizer every 2-4 weeks during growth.
- Pruning: Prune leggy growth and pinch back tips to encourage bushiness on vining tropicals.
- Re-potting: Transplant rootbound plants into slightly larger containers using fresh potting mix.
With the right growing conditions, tropical plants with red blooms will thrive indoors or outdoors, adding striking color to your displays when they flower throughout the growing season. (Read Are Marigolds Perennials Or Annuals)
Conclusion
Tropical plants with red flowers provide an exotic, tropical flair for indoor and outdoor gardens.
Varieties like Anthurium, Chinese hibiscus, canna, and more thrive in warm temperatures, and plants also love high humidity and indirect sunlight.
Follow proper care guidelines to keep these beauties looking their best. Add a tropical touch of color with red-flowering plants like flamingo flowers, coral drops, or lipstick plants.
FAQs
What are some good tropical plants with red flowers that bloom for containers?
Flowers that are sure to grab attention, like red leaf varieties, are the Lipstick plant, coral drops, Chenille plant, firecracker plant, and Anthurium. Choose compact types under 3 feet tall.
How often do I need to fertilize tropical plants?
Fertilize actively growing tropical plants every 2-4 weeks in spring and summer with a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength. Reduce feeding in fall and winter.
Should I pinch back my tropical flowering plants?
Flowers are often pinched back on actively growing shoots to encourage bushier, more compact growth on tropical vining plants like coral drops and encourage more branching and flowers.
What temperature do tropical plants with red flowers need?
Most tropicals prefer warm temperatures between 70-80 F during the day and above 60 F at night. Protect plants from frost and cold drafts.
