Red flowers
36 cut flowers that come in red, with their role in a design, season, vase life, fragrance and pet safety, plus what red flowers mean across cultures.
Key facts
- 36 cut flowers in our guide come in red; 8 are available year-round.
- Longest-lasting: Anthurium, Carnation, Chrysanthemum.
- Love and passion in the West; luck, joy and celebration in China, where red suits weddings, openings and New Year. Avoid red for funerals and condolences in East Asia.
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Red cut flowers
| Flower | Role | Vase life | In season | Fragrance | Pets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rose | Focal flower | 5–7 days | Year-round | Light | ✓ ASPCA non-toxic |
| Lily | Focal flower | 7–10 days | Year-round | Strong | ⚠ toxic to cats |
| Tulip | Focal flower | 4–7 days | Winter, Spring | None | mildly toxic |
| Carnation | Focal flower | 10–14 days | Year-round | Light | mildly toxic |
| Gerbera daisy | Focal flower | 6–10 days | Year-round | None | ✓ ASPCA non-toxic |
| Tree peony | Focal flower | 3–5 days | Spring | Light | mildly toxic |
| Peony (herbaceous) | Focal flower | 5–7 days | Spring | Light | mildly toxic |
| Chrysanthemum | Focal flower | 10–14 days | Autumn | Light | mildly toxic |
| Astrantia | Filler flower | 7–10 days | Summer | None | — |
| Love-lies-bleeding | Line flower | 7–10 days | Summer, Autumn | None | — |
| Amaryllis (Hippeastrum) | Focal flower | 7–14 days | Winter, Spring | None | mildly toxic |
| Crocosmia | Line flower | 5–8 days | Summer | None | — |
| Camellia | Focal flower | 3–5 days | Winter | None | ✓ ASPCA non-toxic |
| Anemone | Focal flower | 3–6 days | Winter, Spring | None | mildly toxic |
| Freesia | Filler flower | 5–8 days | Winter, Spring | Strong | — |
| Globe amaranth | Filler flower | 10–14 days | Summer, Autumn | None | — |
| Zinnia | Focal flower | 5–7 days | Summer, Autumn | None | ✓ ASPCA non-toxic |
| Dahlia | Focal flower | 4–6 days | Summer, Autumn | None | mildly toxic |
| Anthurium | Focal flower | 14–21 days | Year-round | None | mildly toxic |
| Celosia | Focal flower | 7–10 days | Summer, Autumn | None | ✓ ASPCA non-toxic |
| Protea | Focal flower | 10–14 days | Winter, Spring | None | — |
| Snapdragon | Line flower | 7–10 days | Spring | None | ✓ ASPCA non-toxic |
| Poppy | Focal flower | 2–4 days | Spring | None | mildly toxic |
| Cosmos | Filler flower | 5–7 days | Summer, Autumn | None | — |
| China aster | Filler flower | 7–10 days | Summer, Autumn | None | ✓ ASPCA non-toxic |
| Ranunculus | Focal flower | 5–8 days | Winter, Spring | None | mildly toxic |
| Alstroemeria | Filler flower | 10–14 days | Year-round | None | ✓ ASPCA non-toxic |
| Gladiolus | Line flower | 7–10 days | Summer, Autumn | None | mildly toxic |
| Sweet pea | Filler flower | 4–7 days | Spring | Strong | mildly toxic |
| Astilbe | Filler flower | 5–7 days | Summer | None | — |
| Pincushion protea | Focal flower | 10–14 days | Winter, Spring | None | — |
| Kangaroo paw | Line flower | 10–14 days | Spring, Summer | None | — |
| Heliconia | Focal flower | 10–14 days | Year-round | None | — |
| Bouvardia | Filler flower | 7–10 days | Year-round | Light | — |
| Hollyhock | Line flower | 5–7 days | Summer | None | — |
| Red spider lily | Focal flower | 5–7 days | Autumn | None | mildly toxic |
Red branches and foliage
Plum blossomPeach blossomMaple branchesWinterberryRed-twig dogwoodAzaleaHeavenly bamboo (nandina)HollyLeucadendronBanksiaHypericum berriesPhotiniaAmur honeysucklePomegranateFirethorn (pyracantha)Lingzhi mushroomCrape myrtleBougainvilleaTi plant (cordyline)
By season
| Season | In season |
|---|---|
| Spring | Tulip, Tree peony, Peony (herbaceous), Amaryllis (Hippeastrum), Anemone, Freesia, Protea, Snapdragon, Poppy, Ranunculus, Sweet pea, Pincushion protea, Kangaroo paw |
| Summer | Astrantia, Love-lies-bleeding, Crocosmia, Globe amaranth, Zinnia, Dahlia, Celosia, Cosmos, China aster, Gladiolus, Astilbe, Kangaroo paw, Hollyhock |
| Autumn | Chrysanthemum, Love-lies-bleeding, Globe amaranth, Zinnia, Dahlia, Celosia, Cosmos, China aster, Gladiolus, Red spider lily |
| Winter | Tulip, Amaryllis (Hippeastrum), Camellia, Anemone, Freesia, Protea, Ranunculus, Pincushion protea |
| Year-round | Rose, Lily, Carnation, Gerbera daisy, Anthurium, Alstroemeria, Heliconia, Bouvardia |
What red says
Love and passion in the West; luck, joy and celebration in China, where red suits weddings, openings and New Year. Avoid red for funerals and condolences in East Asia.
FAQ
Which red flowers are available all year?
Rose, Lily, Carnation, Gerbera daisy, Anthurium, Alstroemeria, Heliconia, Bouvardia.
Which red flowers last longest in a vase?
Anthurium (14–21 days), Carnation (10–14 days), Chrysanthemum (10–14 days), Globe amaranth (10–14 days), Protea (10–14 days).
What do red flowers mean?
Love and passion in the West; luck, joy and celebration in China, where red suits weddings, openings and New Year. Avoid red for funerals and condolences in East Asia.