20 Types of Pink Flowers Perfect for Any Garden
Of all the many and varied colors plants come in, pink is one of the most common. And it’s not just one shade of pink either, with everything from the faintest blush to the deepest crimson represented. If you want to brighten up your border with a splash of pink, you’ll find a huge variety of options to choose between. Whether you’re an amateur botanist, an ambitious horticulturist or just someone who appreciates the value of something pink and fragrant, here are 20 types of pink flowers guaranteed to brighten up your garden.
1. Canna
If you’re looking for an exotic bloom to add some glamour to your borders, look no further than the Canna plant. With their large, banana-like leaves and showy flowers, they’re an easy way to introduce some tropical flair into even the dreariest garden. Just be aware that these aren’t small plants – as most varieties grow up to 6 feet tall, with some even exceeding 8 feet in height, be sure to choose their spot carefully. Once they’re established, they require minimal maintenance to thrive, making them a great option for gardeners with good intentions but an absence of green fingers.
2. Camellia
No one knows exactly how many varieties of camellia there are in the world, but estimates put the number at around 100-300. Although they come in a wide variety of hues, you’ll have no problem finding a good selection of pink options to choose from. Known for their gorgeously petalled blooms and lush, glossy foliage, camellias are slow-growing plants that can live for up to a century. Flowers can be single or double, with some varieties boasting streaked blooms. They’re often used as loose hedges, shrub borders and backgrounds, but can also be trained to grow flat against a solid structure. They thrive best in rich, moist soil in a partly shaded location. Although they’re slow to mature, they can eventually grow to 2.5 meters in height and the same in width.
3. Penstemon
The densely packed, tubular flowers of Penstemons come in every shade of pink under the sun, from the most delicate blush to the most strident of crimsons. For a dramatic display, look for the Dark Towers variety, which boasts pale pink flowers and deep purple foliage. Regardless of variety, all Penstemons grow best with full sun and well-drained soil. As they hate to be crowded, choose a spot where they’ll have plenty of room to spread out. Taller varieties tend to suit wildflower plantings and the backs of borders best, while smaller types are excellent at the front of borders and in rock gardens.
4. Dierama
Dierama is a popular evergreen with pendulous bell-shaped flowers and long, delicate stems. The flowers come in shades of white, yellow, pink, magenta, mauve or maroon, with Angel’s Fishing Rod serving as one of the prettiest examples of the pink kind. Their blossoms open in sequence as the season progress. They prefer full sun and rich, well-drained soil. Tolerant of wind and coastal conditions, they’re easy to maintain and relatively resistant to both pests and disease.
5. Bleeding Heart
The bleeding heart, a variety of Lamprocapnos spectabilis, gets its name from its pillowy, pink-red, heart-shaped flowers, which hang in a single pendulous drop from the plant’s delicate, arching stems. These shade-loving plants will start to bloom in late spring, but be warned – if they’re exposed to too much heat or sun, they’ll quickly disappear for the rest of the summer, emerging again in fall or the following spring. If you want a dazzling display all summer long, look for fringed leaf varieties that repeat bloom throughout the season.
6. Clematis
There are dozens of varieties of clematis around, including a good selection of pink varieties like the enduringly popular Confetti. If you want a quick-growing variety to dress up a wall or fence, clematis armandii makes an excellent choice. There are also numerous slow-growing types that can be grown in pots. As Better Homes and Gardens notes, providing they’re planted in the proper conditions, it’s possible to have clematis blooms throughout the growing season. Even after the blooms have gone, the flowers can still look stunning, transforming into large, fluffy balls that look lovely in dried flower arrangments.
7. Knautia Macedonica
Knautia Macedonica is a species of the family Caprifoliaceae that’s native to Southeastern Europe – Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, North Macedonia, southeastern Romania, and Turkey. A herbaceous perennial known for its abundant display of deep crimson, pincushion flowers and slender, branching stems, it makes a lovely addition to borders, as well as wildflower meadow landscapes. It blooms from early summer into fall, thriving best in well-drained, slightly alkaline soil in full sun. As it’s an abundant bloom producer, its flowers can be harvested for bouquets without affecting its appeal. Although it’s very resistant to disease, keep an eye out for aphid invasion. While it’s a low-maintenance plant, the one thing it won’t tolerate is too much water, too often. It’s happiest in average to dry soil, and should only be watered periodically once it’s established.
8. Gaura
As Home Stratosphere explains, the gaura plant is an attractive shrub that is native to Mexico and Texas. A small, deciduous perennial, it’s known for its pretty profusion of small, starry flowers. There are several pink varieties to choose between, although you’re unlikely to be disappointed with the very lovely Ruby Ruby. Although their flowering season is short, they still add interest even after their flowers drop off with their small, nut-like fruits.
9. Astilbe
If you were born without green fingers, astilbes might be the plant for you. As The Spruce notes, these are some of the very easiest perennial flowers to grow. They’re virtually pest-free, requiring very little maintenance to stay healthy. They come in soft shades of white, pink and red, and feature eye-catching plumes of feathery flowers held on tall stalks. All they need to thrive is a sunny corner and some rich, moist soil.
10. Abelia
Known for their long, tubular flowers, attractive foliage, and wonderful fragrance, abelias make a lovely addition to any garden. As Garden Design notes, their eye-catching leaves come in a wide variety of colors – from gold to burgundy – that often change as the growing season progress. The fragrant flowers bloom for months, and are known for being irresistible to hummingbirds, butterflies, and insect pollinators. Once established, they’re virtually maintenance-free. Although they come in a variety of shades, Abelia floribunda is a popular option for gardeners looking for a pink variety, while the sweet fragranced, cool pink Abelia x grandiflora also makes a fine choice.
11. Nerine
As Gardener’s World says, nerines are real gems to have in the garden, putting on a wonderful display of color in late autumn when most other flowering plants have gone dormant. Their lily-like flowers come in shades of pink and red, which looks wonderful against their strappy foliage. Although they grow best in full sun and well-drained soil, they’re equally suited to borders as to containers. Tender varieties will need to be bought in during winter, but nerine bowdenii is hardy enough to stay out all year round in southerly regions.
12. Hydrangea
Hydrangeas come in shades of pink, white or blue. Mophead and lacecap varieties even have the ability to change color depending on the soil pH, with those grown in acid soil tending to have blue flowers, and those grown in alkaline soil usually displaying pink blooms. If you’ve got your heart set on pink, check both the variety and the pH of your soil first. Regardless of variety, be sure to allow them plenty of space – once planted, hydrangeas grow quickly and easily, often sprouting up to their full height of 15 feet over just one summer. Flowers start appearing in spring and can often last all the way up to early fall.
13. Echinacea
Echinaceas bloom late in the season, adding a burst of color to the garden when most other flowers have gone dormant. Available in a wide variety of shades, the varieties to look for if you want a pink flower are Mistra, Magnus, and Southern Belle. If you’re a fan of traditional medicine, you might want to try Echinacea purpurea, which is said to be effective against the common cold…. although before you raise your hopes too high, be warned that there is “insufficient scientific evidence that Echinacea products are effective or safe for improving health or treating any disease.”
14. Roses
There’s a massive array of roses to choose between, including micro-miniature roses, climbing roses, and rambling roses. Some, such as Abbie’s Rose, bear double blooms, although the single blossomed varieties tend to attract the most pollinators. Many roses produce pink blooms, with Pink Mondial, White O’Hara, Mayra’s Rose, and Pink Majolica being some of the most popular. Rose care is simple, and can be easily managed by even the most reluctant gardener. They thrive best in a sunny location with good drainage. Fertilizing them regularly will ensure an impressive floral display, while the soil should be kept moist but not sodden. Established rose bushes should be pruned in early spring.
15. Tulbaghia Violacea
Tulbaghia Violacea, or society garlic as it’s also known, is a fast-growing, bulbous plant with long, narrow, slightly fleshly leaves and beautiful large heads of lavender-pink flowers. When bruised, the leaves release a strong smell of garlic – hence the plant’s common name. Although the smell makes the plant unsuitable for use in floral arrangements, its lovely blooms are guaranteed to add plenty of cheer to your garden from mid-summer through to early fall.
16. Japanese anemone
The Japanese anemone is a tall, elegant perennial that flowers from late summer into fall, extending the floral life of your garden with its display of large, saucer-shaped flowers set atop lush, glossy foliage. The flowers, which feature a big green button at their center, come in shades of white or pink. With a vast array of varieties to choose between (including several dwarf varieties), they make an excellent, low-maintenance addition to any garden.
17. Dahlia
Dahlias come in almost every shape and size imaginable, from petite 2-inch lollipop-style pompoms to giant 15-inch “dinner plate” blooms. They flower from late summer to fall, adding some much-needed color to your garden when other plants start to die back. They thrive best in moist, moderate climates, although in colder regions, they can still prosper if they’re treated as annuals and stored indoors after the first frost. Although they come in a rainbow of colors, Magenta Star is a great option to choose if you want a pink blossomed variety.
18. Magnolia
If you’re looking to add some drama to your garden, a magnolia is the way to do it. Grown as both large shrubs and trees, they produce large, showy flowers and glossy, attractive foliage. There are more than 200 species of magnolia to choose between, but for a show-stopping display of icy pink blooms in spring, either ‘Alexandrina’ or ‘Leonard Messel’ will do the job nicely.
19. Osteospermum
Known for their daisy-like blooms, Osteospermum (also known as Cape or African daisy) blossoms throughout the summer and into fall, giving a lovely boost of long-lasting color to your garden. They’re often used as a front of a border plant or annual bedding, but they can also make lovely container plants, or even in hanging basket displays. There’s a huge variety of named cultivars to choose between with a good selection of pink varieties in the mix.
20. Lily
Although many people think of lilies as white, both oriental and Asiatic lilies also come in various shades of pink. Oriental lilies tend to have the loveliest fragrance, while Asiatic varieties tend to boast the most intense colors. For a real showstopper, opt for Entertainer, an exotic-looking variety that boasts up to 10 blossoms per stalk. Its large, bright pink flowers reveal a dazzling white heart. As lilies hate alkaline soil, grow them in a container if your soil isn’t acid.