Garden landscapes are transformed with vibrant mat of stunning blooms by ground cover plants with red flowers. Flowers in full sun or partial shade may be grown in moderate sunlight or partial shade and need little care. Moreover, the spreading crimson-flowering plants help prevent soil loss and weed suppression by staying close to the ground.
For adding finishing touches to your garden landscape design, planting ground cover plants with red flowers is ideal. In the shrubs, trees, and slopes, ground cover plants add a touch of color. In addition to a foundation planting design, you can use red-flowering ground-hugging plants to highlight evergreen shrubs. The easiest plants to care for are those that spread slowly and have red flowers. Evergreen ground cover plants are typically easy to grow and maintain their color all year.
Evergreen perennials are defined as certain ground cover plants. The mat-forming plants’ leaves are retained in warmer areas throughout the winter, according to this definition. In colder or temperate regions, however, they lose their leaves before returning in the spring.
Choosing the best ground cover plants with red flowers is the subject of this article. The best varieties to add vibrant colors to your garden landscape will be found in descriptions and images of red blooms and ground-hugging plants.
The Best Ground Cover Plants with Red Flowers
Periwinkle, violets, impatiens, and verbena are the best red-flowering low-growing plants. Many of the mat-forming evergreen perennials thrive in full sun to part shade and have strong growth. Moreover, they’re fantastic for concealing weeds, dealing with soil erosion, and underplanting shrubs to enhance your garden landscape.
Why Plant Red-Flowering Ground Cover Plants
Completing a landscape design with low-growing flowering plants is ideal. Soil consistency is improved, landscapes are given a red color, weed growth is suppressed, and moisture is retained by the creeping mound-forming, trailing or spreading plants. Moreover, in a front or backyard, the red blooms attract pollinators and promote biodiversity.
Planting where normal turfgrass can’t grow is best done with certain types of evergreen plants with crimson flowers. Carpet-forming plants, on the other hand, may help to conceal bare ground and retain color all throughout the season.
How to Choose Ground Cover Plants with Red Flowers
It’s important to consider things like sun exposure, soil type, and upkeep requirements when picking ground cover plants with red flowers. Furthermore, suitable mat-forming plants for your USDA growing zone must be chosen. In colder regions, several evergreen ground cover plants become perennial.
Ground Cover Plants With Red Flowers (With Pictures) – Identification Guide
In order to enhance your yard, choose red ground cover plants. Any kind of landscaping can benefit from red-flowering ground covers. They can be placed along the border, under shrubs, in a rock garden, or trailing over a wall. In addition to red flowers, several sun-resistant and shade-tolerant ground cover plants are available.
Dwarf Chenille (Acalypha Reptans)
Dwarf chenille is a gorgeous crimson red blooming ground cover shrub that grows in full sun to partial shade. The crimson blossoms on the trailing plant are 3 inches (7.5 cm) long and contrast with the heart-shaped dark green leaves. The 12–18″ (30–45 cm) tall and broad free-flowering, easy-to-raise ground cover plant USDA zones 9 through 11 are ideal for dwarf chenille.
In well-drained soils, the low-growing, spreading shrub performs best in full sun to partial shade. Dwarf chenille may be grown as an annual or placed in a hanging basket if you reside in a colder environment. This method allows you to cultivate the trailing plant outdoors during the summer and bring it inside during the winter.
Red Periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus)
The periwinkle plant, which produces masses of brilliantly colored red blooms, is an evergreen perennial carpet-forming plant. In hot places, red periwinkle blooms bloom from July to September. The dark green, glossy lance-shaped leaves contrast with the eye-catching 5-petalled red flowers. Red periwinkle grows to be 6 to 18 inches (15 to 45 cm) tall and broad.
Planting red-flowering periwinkle as ground cover in a sunny garden is one of the best ways to use it. Plant it in zones 10 and 11, or as an annual in all other growing zones.
Madagascar Periwinkle – Vinca catharanthus roseus ‘Cooler Red’: The flowers of this periwinkle cultivar are dark lipstick red and have a yellowish-white eye in the middle.
Vinca catharanthus roseus ‘Pacifica Dark Red’: This red periwinkle variety is distinguished by its deep red petals, obovate shape, and glossy green lanceolate leaves.
Vinca catharanthus roseus ‘Victory Cranberry’: During the summer and early autumn, the vividly hued crimson blossoms on the Victory Cranberry create a lush crimson carpet. To create a stunning contrast with the cranberry red petals, the flowers have a splash of pinkish white in the center.
Victory Cranberry Vinca Catharanthus Roseus
Red Horned Violet (Viola spp.)
With two-toned blooms and contrasting red, black, yellow, and white hues, red-horned violet is a creeping plant. From early spring until late fall, this small flowering perennial ground cover plant blooms. It brings vibrant hues, bright green foliage, and floral scents to garden settings. Violets may grow to be 8 inches (20 cm) tall and broad, with a spread of up to 12 inches (30 cm).
Violets that are winter-hardy and heat-tolerant are appropriate for growing in USDA zones 5 to 9. The bright green foliage, colorful blooms, and tolerance of shade are all features that distinguish the plants. You can cultivate violets or pansies in mixed pots, near driveway borders, or underplanting in mixed beds, in addition to ground cover. The following are a few examples of stunning red-flowering violets:
Viola cornuta ‘Penny Red Blotch’: The dark red patches on three of the crimson-red rounded petals are one of the identifying features of the violet known as the Penny Red Blotch. The center of the flowers is a brilliant yellow.
Viola tricolor ‘Delta Pure Red’: The crimson petals of this crimson-flowering violet are rich in color, with a dazzling golden yellow core. The colorful green scalloped leaves contrast with the bright red colors.
Viola Gem Scarlet: The bright red to pale red petals of this crimson pansy ground cover plant feature pronounced black veins and a yellow center.
Viola x wittrockiana ‘Carneval Cherry’: Wittrockiana pansies, sometimes known as Lady’s Delight, are renowned for their bright hues and are popular bedding plants. Ruffled pure red petals with a brilliant yellow center are characteristic of the Carneval Cherry cultivar.
Viola x wittrockiana ‘Dynamite Scarlet’: The black veins that protrude from a golden yellow core distinguish this five-petalled red violet.
‘Arkwright Ruby’ Viola: The petals of this gorgeous pansy are crimson red, with a golden yellow edging and a brilliant yellow center.
Red Impatiens
The flowers of Impatiens are red, white, pink, purple, or orange. They are herbaceous perennial ground cover plants. Large, 5-lobed petals bloom from spring to fall on red impatiens mounding plants. The Impatiens grow 8 to 24 inches (20 to 60 cm) tall and broad. In partial or deep shade, the spreading crimson ground cover thrives. Annual bedding plants for red impatiens include scarlet impatiens flowers. The double or bi-colored blooms and dense green foliage of these eye-catching flowering ground cover plants set them apart.
Beds and borders, hanging baskets, pots, edging along walkways, and pots are the best locations to grow red impatiens. The trailing blooming plant can grow in full sun if it gets enough water, despite its shade-loving nature.
New Guinea Impatiens hawkeri ‘Sonic Red’: From late spring to early autumn, this red impatiens variety produces vibrant red blooms.
Impatiens walleriana ‘Fiesta Salsa Red’: Impatience ‘Fiesta Salsa Red’ has crimson showy double blossoms and serrated lance-shaped leaves, which are its identifying characteristics.
‘Super Elfin Ruby’ Walleriana impatiens: The deep red blooms of this impatiens cultivar are ideal for creating a carpet of red spring and summer flowers. From spring until the first frosts, you can expect continuous blooming.
Impatiens walleriana ‘Vitara Red’: The pure bright red petals of red impatiens contrast with dark green ovate leaves on the cultivar ‘Vitara Red.
Red Primrose (Primula vulgaris)
When planted in groups for ground cover, Primula vulgaris is a low-growing perennial plant that bears red blooms and green leaves. Six-petalled red blooms with a thin white border and a star-shaped yellow center are found on red primrose blooms. The 4 to 6 inch (10 to 15 cm) tall and 9 inch (22 cm) wide compact, semi-evergreen perennial grows.
In partial sun, red primrose plants are suitable for USDA zones 4 to 8. In beds, borders, containers, and rock gardens, the red and yellow flower carpet looks stunning.
Red Ice Plant (Delosperma cooperi’ Jewel of the Desert Garnet’)
Red ice plant is a carpet-forming evergreen plant that is ideal for hot and arid areas. It is known as the “jewel of the desert garnet” ice plant. Thin crimson petals create a circle of rays surrounding a yellowish heart in each individual bloom. The evergreen foliage of the ground cover plant brightens bare winter landscapes throughout the season.
In USDA zones 6 through 10, ice plants develop as an evergreen ground cover. Border fronts, rock gardens, slopes, and containers all benefit from easy-to-grow landscaping plants. Red ice plants grow to be 3 to 6 feet (7 to 15 cm) tall and broad.
Trailing Red Verbena
trailing verbena is a super-long blooming plant that is either annual or perennial. When the leafy mounds are covered in clusters of tiny red blooms, Verbena plants are known for their vigorous blooming. Verbenas spread 12 inches (30 cm) tall and broad, growing up to 5 feet (1.5 m) wide. USDA zones 7 through 11 are suitable for them to live outdoors.
Verbena peruviana ‘EnduraScape Red’: From summer through the first frost, bright cardinal-red blooms create a spreading mound that blooms continually. USDA zones 8–10 are ideal for growth.
Verbena ‘Superbena Royale Red’: This scarlet-red blooming ground cover shrub has clusters of lacy scarlet blooms and serrated mint-like foliage that are suitable for zones 3 through 7.
Creeping Lantana Red spread (Lantana camara ‘Red Spread’)
Creeping lantana is a low-growing, spreading shrub with dark green evergreen leaves and clusters of bright red and orange flowers. It is a perennial red and orange flowering ground cover. Since it can tolerate poor soil, partial drought, and full sun, Lantana is an ideal ground cover plant.
Before turning dark red throughout the season, the rounded clusters of blooms bloom orange. USDA zones 8 through 11 are ideal for Creeping Lantana, which thrives in full sun or partial shade. The ground cover or container varieties of the free-flowering perennial thrive best. It can grow up to 30 inches (76 cm) tall.
Drift (Creeping) Roses
Beautiful red, pink, peach, white, and orange colors fill gardens with drift roses, which are lovely ground cover plants. The little rose flowers that bloom continuously from spring till frost are the ornamental feature of these creeping roses. Ground-hugging roses reach 24 to 36 inches (60 to 90 cm) in height and width in full sun, growing up to 47 inches (120 cm).
Coral Drift Groundcover Rose Rosa ‘Meidrifora’: The vivid scarlet rose blooms have multiple ruffled petals and are lovely fragrant blooms.
‘Red Drift’ rose: Showy crimson blooms with a yellow core, the drift rose blooms are lovely.
Red Drift rose
Red Armeria (Armeria pseudarmeria ‘Ballerina Red’)
Red armeria is a compact evergreen clumping perennial with globus red flower clusters that grows on upright stems when grouped together. It may be used as a ground cover. The red ball-like blooms create an lovely element growing along fences, walkways, and in mixed beds from spring through early fall. The plants grow up to 10 inches (35 cm) tall and broad when they are massed as ground cover.
Red African Daisy (Osteospermum)
Some lovely red cultivars of African daisies may be planted together as ground coverings in warmer areas, but are grown as annuals in colder places. The red-flowering plants, when planted en masse, flourish as ground cover and create beautiful floral shows in full sun or partial shade.
On the ends of stems 12″ (30 cm) long, disc-shaped deep red flowers bloom. ‘Bright Lights Red,’ ‘Zion Red,’ and ‘Serenity Red’ are some of the most popular red African daisy cultivars.
Red Astilbe (Astilbe x arendsii)
Astilbe x arendsii ‘Glow’ (Astilbe ‘Glut’) is a red flowering astilbe cultivar. Astilbe x arendsi is a low-growing ground cover plant with long, stiff stems and bright scarlet blooming plumes at the ends. Red astilbes are famous for their bushy fern-like leaves, tall red blooming spikes, and ability to withstand drought and severe shade.
They are ideal for planting in shade or full sun. Red astilbes are a excellent choice of red-flowering ground cover in shaded gardens, thriving in USDA zones 4 through 9. Flowers may reach up to 30″ (75 cm) in height, and the plant’s leaves grow 18″ (45 cm) tall.
Astilbe x arendsii ‘Glow’ (Astilbe ‘Glut’): The bright crimson blooms of this red astilbe, which grows on thin mahogany upright stems, are well-known.
Astilbe x arendsii ‘Fanal’: The pointed green leaves and clusters of slender conical crimson blooming spikes are among the appealing characteristics of the red astilbe cultivar ‘Fanal.
Cheddar pinks (Dianthus gratianopolitanus ‘Red Beauty’)
The Dianthus cultivar ‘Red Beauty’ has magnificent bright scarlet-red showy flowers growing on upright stems and is an annual ground cover flowering plant with mound foliage and bushy form. These Dianthus flowers’ low-growing green-gray foliage contrasts with their ruffled red blooms and sweet fragrance.
The bright red blooms flourish in full sun and reach 10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm) tall. Because of its mounding leaves, Dianthus gratianopolitanus is ideal for ground cover. Cheddar pink cultivars are the toughest and will grow in the most difficult environments of all Dianthus cultivars. They can tolerate humidity, drought, and heat as well.
Red Creeping Sedum (Stonecrop)
Sedum ‘Red Cauli,’ shown in the photo, has succulent leaves, crimson blooms, and a spreading habit. In winter, as the bluish succulent leaves turn red and russet, the decorative look of creeping sedum is amplified. Creeping sedum, sometimes known as stonecrop, thrives in USDA zones 4 to 9 and has a long blooming season.
Between 6 and 12 inches (15 to 30 cm) tall, creeping sedum thrives. As the season progresses, clusters of little reddish blooms turn from pale pink to rich crimson in color. With red blooms, here are two popular creeping sedum cultivars:
Sedum ‘Red Cauli’: The blooms of this magnificent crimson-flowering ground cover plant are 4″ (10 cm) in diameter and grow on long crimson stems. The cherry-red blooms turn coppery-rust as the weather changes.
Sedum ‘Desert Red’ (Stonecrop): Clusters of tiny, deep pinkish-red star-shaped flowers make up this sedum cultivar. In the summer, the crimson blooms bloom, and in the winter, they turn rich crimson.
Spike Speedwell ‘Red Fox (Veronica spicata ‘Red Fox’)
Spike speedwell ‘Red Fox’ is a bushy spreading plant with tall flowering spikes of reddish-pink color that is cold hardy and perennial. Bushy clumps of foliage with lance-shaped leaves produce the eye-catching slender conical flower clusters. Full sun is ideal for the cold-hardy ground cover plant, which thrives in USDA zones 4 through 8.
The height and spread of spike speedwell ‘Red Fox’ is 12 to 24 inches (30 to 60 cm). In borders, rock gardens, along pathways, and in containers, the attractive slender pyramidal flowering clusters look attractive.