Do you want to add a splash of color to your home, garden, or office? Then, red plants are the perfect choice. 

Red plants, outdoors and indoors, not only bring vibrant energy but also make a bold statement. From stunning flowers to striking foliage, these dazzling houseplants transform any space with their rich, fiery hues. Easy to incorporate with any decor and sure to impress your guests, red plants are a great way to brighten up your surroundings. 

In this guide, explore our comprehensive list of 17 stunning red plants and find your new favorite(s)!

What Do Red Flowers Symbolize? 

Red flowers symbolize love, passion, and desire, capturing deep emotions and conveying intense feelings of one person for another. The color ‘red’ is powerful and universally recognized for its message of positive energy, strength, and confidence, which evokes strong emotional responses. 

Anyone is easily drawn to red flowers because they make a bold, eye-catching statement, perfect for expressing heartfelt emotions. Red blooms are commonly given on romantic occasions like Valentine's Day and anniversaries. They also make a memorable gift for celebrations, such as birthdays and weddings, signifying joy and happiness.  

Since they convey respect and admiration, red foliage plants are also ideal for congratulatory events or to honor someone's achievements.

17 Best Red Plants for a Vibrant Home and Garden 

Bring home any of these red plants and convert your interior space and garden into a vibrant and exciting space full of life and color. 

1. Red Flamingo Flower - Fiery Blooms

Bring vibrancy and color to your indoor space with a gorgeous Red Flamingo Flower (Anthurium spp. - Red). With its stunning red blooms and aesthetic appeal, this beautiful flowering plant can uplift your mood and light up your interior. Place in a spot with indirect light and spritz occasionally to maintain humidity levels.

2. Red Geranium - Scarlet-colored Beauty 

Red Geranium (Geranium sanguineum) is a fast-growing evergreen flowering plant from the Zonal Geranium family. It can be grown in hanging baskets and pots, or along the borders of garden paths. Its lightly scented dark red flowers bloom in late spring to early fall and require minimal maintenance to thrive. 

3. Red Maranta Prayer Plant - Therapeutic Leaf Movements

The two-color variegated Red Maranta Prayer Plant (Maranta leuconeura) originates from the tropical forests of Brazil. This red plant doesn't just sit pretty in your home but comes in handy as a stress reliever after a hectic day at the office, with its “therapeutic” leaf movements nothing short of a calming spectacle. Note that this beautiful prayer plant may require some extra attention and maintenance. 

4. Abutilon 'Voodoo’ Plant - Heat-tolerant Red Plant 

Abutilon ‘Voodoo’ (Abutilon hybrid) is a colorful plant with a high tolerance to heat and easy-care needs. Although native to tropical and subtropical regions of America, Africa, Asia, and Australia, this dark red flowering plant is also quite common in other warm-climate areas. Protect Abutilons from cold temperatures and keep them under bright sunlight for optimal growth. 

5. Guzmania Bromeliad - Star-Shaped Blooms

Guzmania Bromeliad (Guzmania bromeliad) is one of the top-selling red tropical plants with long, slender evergreen leaves and gorgeous blooms. Its star-shaped flowers can last about 6-7 months, symbolizing beauty and strength. Bromeliads can thrive with minimal care, making them perfect for novice and experienced gardeners alike.  

6. Aglaonema Red Siam - High-demand Gorgeous Plant

A natural air purifier, stress reliever, and humidifier, Aglaonema Red Siam (Aglaonema ‘Red Siam’) is a no-fuss variegated plant with dual-tone foliage. Newbie gardeners appreciate this rare plant's low-maintenance requirements, which include medium to bright indirect light, moist soil, and a 65°F- 80°F temperature range. But if you've got pets at home, you better take caution, as it’s toxic to ingest. 

7. Cordyline Florida Flamingo - Good Luck Plant

Make your living space more cheerful with the beautiful Cordyline Florida Flamingo (Cordyline terminalis 'Hot Pepper’). Commonly known as the Cabbage Plant and Good Luck Plant, it's associated with good fortune and prosperity, according to Feng Shui. The Cordyline Flamingo Flower is one of the popular burgundy leaf plants. Its foliage boasts a fan-like growth pattern and leathery texture. Being a full-sun plant, choose a spot with access to at least six hours of direct light and water twice a week to keep the soil moist.

8. Valentine's Red Bleeding Heart - Puffy, Heart-Shaped Red Blooms

The Valentine's Red Bleeding Heart Plant (Lamprocapnos spectabilis) is a red flower plant that will evoke nostalgia for your grandmother's backyard garden. The plant is aesthetically appealing, getting its common name from its small, puffy, heart-shaped red blooms. Bleeding Heart plants produce quite a few flowers in the spring, which disappear as soon as the hot summer season kicks in. Think twice before bringing this plant home if you share your space with pets. 

9. Ruby Rubber Tree - Striking and Rare Indoor Tree

For those seeking a rare plant, the Ruby Rubber Tree (Ficus robusta 'Ruby’) is the prime choice. In addition to its aesthetic appeal, this green, pink, and red leaf plant has strong air-purifying properties, making it a great addition to any home or office interior. Indoors, a rubber tree plant typically reaches up to 8 feet, while outdoors, it can grow to an impressive 50 feet. 

10. Majestic Red Calla Lilly - Perfect Sixth Wedding Anniversary Gift

Calla Lilies may not be true lilies, but they equally deserve to be a part of your indoor garden. Representing courage and beauty, the majestic red variety of these plants makes a perfect gift for occasions like weddings, anniversaries (in particular, the sixth wedding anniversary), and Easter. Its blooms are lightly fragranced and don't pose much harm to pets, unlike true lilies. 

11. Bromeliad Neoregelia - Short Yet Bold

Bromeliad Neoregelia (Neoregelia bromeliad) adds life to any dull space with its vibrant red or purple flowers. Being a tropical plant, it craves bright, indirect light and requires minimal care. A unique feature is its central rosette, which holds water, protecting the plant in drier environments. Perfect for both the home and office, this short and wide red plant enhances any interior with its bold presence.

12. Cabaret Bright Red Calibrachoa - Self-Cleaning Red Plant

The Cabaret Bright Red Calibrachoa (Calibrachoa hybrida) blooms in a rainbow of colors, including scarlet red, and is known for its self-cleaning properties. Its lush, trumpet-shaped flowers are a sight to behold, resembling the mini petunia plant in many ways. For those with a dedicated corner for trailing plants in their garden, Calibrachoa is a perfect choice. 

13. Peacock Plant - The Ultimate Prayer Plant

This popular plant with red leaves on the bottom and variegated green and yellow on the top is everyone’s favorite. Commonly known as the Peacock Plant (Calathea roseopicta), it stands out from the crowd for its striking foliage. This prayer plant is easy to propagate and is perfect for households with pets, as it doesn’t contain any toxic chemicals.  

14. Velutina Air Plant - Decorative Soil-Free Plants

Air plants, like the Velutina Air Plant (Tillandsia), are gaining popularity among plant enthusiasts, due to their ability to grow without soil. Classified as "epiphytes," these red indoor plants don't require any kind of growing medium, as they thrive without soil. Grow them in a glass bowl or attach them to a piece of wood, and your Tillandsia will feel its best. These beautiful small plants absorb moisture and nutrients from the air, making them somewhat maintenance-free, as they don’t require watering in the traditional way.  

15. Vriesea Bromeliad - Sword-Shaped Red Flower Spike

This red house plant boasts a unique exotic appearance. Meet the Vriesea Bromeliad (Vriesea splendens) that you can find naturally in Suriname, Venezuela, and French Guyana. This popular Bromeliad variety adds visual interest to any space with its sword-shaped red flower spike and dark green leaves with purple and black stripes. Plant enthusiasts shouldn't miss out on the opportunity to multiply this stunning plant by propagating the bromeliad pups. 

16. Burgundy Rubber Tree - Dramatic Cousin of Fig Tree 

Who says plants aren't dramatic? The  Burgundy Rubber Tree (Ficus robusta 'Burgundy’) is a perfect example of it. This glossy burgundy plant showcases stunning dark-red leaves, which turn dark green as they unfurl. This beautiful rubber plant is a close relative of the much-loved Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree and a distant cousin of the Fig Tree. Thus, it prefers warm temperatures from 65℉ to 78℉ and can grow outdoors in hardiness zones 10-11, with a lifespan of around 10 years. 

17. Echeveria Elegans Succulent - Red Succulent Plant

Last but not least, the list of stunning red plants is incomplete without a red succulent plant, such as this cute Echeveria Elegans Succulent (Echeveria). Their beautiful rosette-like foliage and colorful pinkish and red flowers are simply captivating. It's pet-safe and can live outside, be it on your porch or in a garden rockery.  

Related: 19 Best Purple Flowering Plants to Grow Indoors or Outdoors

Red Flowering Plants: FAQs

Q: What is the meaning of red blossoms?

A: Red blossoms mean love, beauty, romance, strength, and passion. The color “red” is associated with fire, strong emotions, and blood, thus helping you express a wide range of emotions. 

Q: What is a rare red flower?

A: Middlemist's Red Camellia (Camellia japonica 'Middlemist's Red') is considered the rarest red flower on Earth. 

Q: How do you take care of a red-leaf plant?

A: In general, caring for a red-leaf plant, irrespective of its species, requires consistent watering when the soil feels dry and occasional misting during dry periods. Plants with red foliage should be kept away from direct sunlight.

Q: What does it mean to give red flowers?

A: Giving someone red flowers symbolizes your love, desire, passion, and respect for them. Hence, romantically involved people often give red flowering plants to the special ones in their lives.

Q: What red flower symbolizes strength?

A: Plants with red flowers and green leaves that symbolize strength include Red Poppy, Red Rose, Red Coneflower, and Amaryllis. 

Conclusion

Red flowering plants can transform your home, be it as an indoor centerpiece or as part of your vibrant garden display. They also make the perfect romantic and inexpensive plant gift for someone special, conveying the message of love like no other plant.

Red foliage plants, on the other hand, are popular for their aesthetic appeal when displayed against the contrasting deep-green foliage of other houseplants. With their burgundy or dark-red leaves, these beauties add visual interest to any room.

So, which red plant is your new favorite?