14 Beautiful Types of Red Hibiscus Flowers (2024)

With large flowers and serrated leaves, hibiscus plants are easy to love. These plants produce a variety of colorful blooms, including red hibiscus flowers. Join us as we introduce you to 14 beautiful types of red hibiscus you can consider planting.

1. Burgundy Aquarius Hibiscus

If you want to add a hefty dose of red shades to your landscape, the ‘Burgandy Aquarius’ hibiscus could be a good choice. This plant has stunning burgundy leaves contrasting nicely against all the green often present in landscapes.

This hibiscus type has red flowers, but they’re not as noteworthy as the blooms of many other hibiscus varieties. That’s because the flowers only reach a couple of inches wide and blend in with the maroon leaves.

2. Coral Hibiscus

This type of hibiscus plant produces a truly stunning flower! The coral petals have serrated edges that almost make the plant look frilly.

Unlike many other types of hibiscus, coral hibiscus flowers hang downward, and their petals curl upwards. This creates a unique, perfect appearance if you’re seeking something different. Remember that this is a tropical hibiscus if you plant it!

Some other common names for this hibiscus include the spider hibiscus, fringed rosemallow, Chinese lantern, and red lantern.

3. Cranberry Hibiscus

Although cranberry hibiscus has red flowers, this variety is more well-known for its unique foliage. The exact color depends on the type, but many plants have deep maroon or purple leaves that mix green and red.

This is a tropical hibiscus that is native to East Africa, which means that it cannot tolerate cold temperatures. However, many gardeners in the United States grow this plant as an annual in order to add a pop of red to their landscapes.

The flowers are two inches wide and often blend in with the plant’s red foliage.

4. Honeymoon™ Deep Red Hibiscus

Part of the Honeymoon™ series, this hibiscus is known for its large deep red flowers. The blooms can reach up to eight inches in diameter and pop up on the plants during the summer and fall.

Not only are the flowers large, but they are one of the darkest red hibiscus flowers you can find. This variety is on the shorter side, so make sure you don’t plant it behind larger plants that will block the sun.

5. Double Red Hibiscus

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As its name suggests, the red hibiscus sports multiple layers of ruffled petals, with smaller petals toward the inside of the plant. This gives the flowers the appearance of double blooms.

The flowers are bright fire-engine red, and they pop against the plant’s dark green foliage.

Since ‘Double Red’ is a tropical hibiscus, it cannot survive cold temperatures. Therefore, you’ll need to bring it indoors or grow it as an annual in colder areas.

6. Midnight Marvel Hibiscus

‘Midnight Marvel’ produces deep red flowers reaching up to nine inches wide! The flowers have overlapping petals that form a shape that resembles a teacup.

Along with its gorgeous flowers, this variety also has stunning leaves ranging from deep emerald green to dark maroon or purple hibiscus.

‘Midnight Marvel’ is a variety of one of the most popular species of hardy hibiscus, Hibiscus moscheutos. That means that you can grow this plant throughout much of the United States without winter protection.

7. Red Darling Hibiscus

‘Red Darling’® hibiscus petals seamlessly combine bright red and coral colors to create flowers with an almost velvet-like appearance. Couple this with darker red centers, and you have an unmistakably stunning flower!

The flowers are also an attractive shape—the petals curl backward to create the appearance of a flared horn. The pistils are super long and dotted with bright yellow pollen.

Growing this plant in a cooler region will produce many flowers during the warm summer and fall months. However, you’ll need to bring it indoors when temperatures dip near freezing if you want the plant to live throughout the winter.

8. Red Dragon Hibiscus

This tropical hibiscus sports layers of ruffled petals that combine to form double blooms. Although the blooms only last for a day or two, the plant produces new flowers over multiple months.

The plant can easily grow over your head and is covered with shiny, green leaves that remain year-round.

Although this plant can only survive year-round in warm areas, you can also grow it in cooler growing zones. However, you will need to replant the plant each year or move it indoors during the winter.

9. Red Giant Hibiscus

If you’re looking for a genuinely awe-inspiring red hibiscus, you can’t do much better than ‘Red Giant.’ This variety produces flat red flowers that can grow up to ten inches in diameter.

The flowers are mostly bright red, but hot weather can cause the petals to develop vibrant yellow streaks. Each bloom also produces bright yellow anthers.

If you live in a climate where temperatures rarely dip below 50°F, you can expect this plant to bloom almost continuously and remain evergreen.

10. Red Hot Hibiscus

While ‘Red Hot’ does have beautiful red flowers, its most notable feature is its variegated foliage. The leaves are a mix of dark green and bright pink, and the foliage looks like an artist swirled and spattered these two paint colors together.

The flowers are much smaller than other types of red hibiscus.

It’s important to remember that this is a tropical hibiscus, so it cannot survive cold temperatures.

11. Red Star Hibiscus

Also known as Texas Star or Red Texas Star, this is a type of hardy hibiscus. That means it can grow in cooler areas but loses its foliage each winter.

As the name suggests, this plant produces red flowers that resemble stars. Each of the five petals tapers near the middle of the plant before quickly flaring out and then slightly tapering near the end of the petal.

This species is native to moist areas in the Southeast and Gulf Coast of the United States.

12. Red Velvet Hibiscus

The ‘Red Velvet’ hibiscus is a type of tropical hibiscus. That means the plant remains evergreen in tropical climates but cannot survive in areas where temperatures regularly dip below 50°F.

It has large deep red flowers with slightly ruffled petal edges that give this flower an extra elegant look. Another notable feature is its bright yellow anthers that contrast nicely against the deep red petals.

13. Scarlet Hibiscus

Also known as scarlet rosemallow and crimson rosemallow, this hibiscus is native to swampy and boggy areas present in the Deep South. Their deeply serrated leaves resemble palms and fit right into the surrounding landscapes.

Scarlet hibiscus is a hardy hibiscus, its vegetation dies back during the winter. Clumps of new growth will emerge in the mid to late spring, and flowers will appear a few months later.

The flowers have five petals that sharply taper near the middle, giving them a delicate appearance. These blooms can reach up to six inches, which makes this plant a welcome addition to the garden.

14. Vintage Wine Hibiscus

Like a well-aged Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Noir delivers rich flavors, the ‘Vintage Wine’ hibiscus produces warm red flowers with deeper red centers. The buds are also gorgeous, with a dark red color that appears almost black.

The blooms are relatively flat in shape, making them like small dinner plates or large saucers. The leaves are medium to dark green and have an elongated heart shape.

‘Vintage Wine’ is a hardy hibiscus that remains on the shorter side, which makes it a great plant for gardeners in much of the United States.

Red Hibiscus Flowers FAQs:

Red Hibiscus Flowers – Wrapping Up

If you want to grow a red hibiscus flower in your garden, you have many options to choose from! Consider your growing zone, light exposure, and ideal plant height when deciding which variety to grow.

Further Reading:

• The best companion plants for hibiscus
• Beautiful types of orange hibiscus
• How to deal with common hibiscus pests and diseases.