Add a burst of sunshine and warmth to your landscape with these 15 vivid Orange flower varieties – from zinnias and marigolds to exotic beauties like birds of paradise.
There’s something about 15 orange flowers that just makes you feel happy! This cheerful, vibrant hue radiates warmth and energy. By incorporating some orange blooms into your garden, you’ll instantly create a eye-catching focal point full of sunshine.
If you’re looking to add some citrusy pops of color, these orange flowering plants are excellent choices. We’ve included annuals, perennials, bulbs, and exotic varieties to suit all tastes and garden situations. Get ready to brighten up your outdoor spaces!
Zinnia
An classic annual for sizzling summer color, zinnias come in sizes from compact 12-inch dwarfs to towering 4-foot giants. Their daisy-like blooms are available in a rainbow of shades, including loads of orange hues.
- Botanical name: Zinnia
- Growth Habit: Upright bushy annual
- Light: Full sun
- Bloom Time: Summer to frost
- Flower Form: Single, semi-double or double daisy-like blooms
- Varieties: ‘Orange King’, ‘Sahara Sunburst’, ‘Maui Orange’
Marigold
Few flowers are as bold and instantly recognizable as cheerful marigolds! These easy-to-grow annuals producean abundance of large pom-pom or single blooms in shades spanning yellow, orange, and rusty red.
- Botanical Name: Tagetes
- Growth Habit: Mounding or upright annual
- Light: Full sun
- Bloom Time: Summer to frost
- Flower Form: Pom-pom, single or doubled blooms
- Varieties: ‘Taishan Orange’, ‘Garland Orange’, ‘Honeycomb’
Canna
With their tropical flair and gladiola-like flower spikes, cannas instantly evoke a feeling of warm, exotic paradise. Look for cultivars with fiery orange and red flowers combined with lush striped or burgundy foliage.
- Botanical Name: Canna
- Growth Habit: Tall, upright plants
- Light: Full sun
- Bloom Time: Summer to fall
- Flower Form: Gladiola-like flower spikes/blooms
- Varieties: ‘Cleopatra’, ‘The President’, ‘Wyoming’
Coneflower
While purple coneflowers are most common, you can also find cultivars in warm, sunset shades of orange, red and yellow. Their large, daisy-like blooms are sure to grab attention in perennial beds and borders.
- Botanical Name: Echinacea
- Growth Habit: Upright clumping perennial
- Light: Full sun
- Bloom Time: Summer to fall
- Flower Form: Large, daisy-like blooms with coneheads
- Varieties: ‘Cheyenne Spirit’, ‘Orange Skipper’, ‘Sundown’
Cosmos
These delightful annuals are prized for their bright, open flowers that arrive in abundance from summer until frost. ‘Bright Lights’ is an orange-flowering strain that makes a dazzling display in sunny beds and containers.
- Botanical Name: Cosmos
- Growth Habit: Upright mounded or trailing
- Light: Full sun
- Bloom Time: Summer to frost
- Flower Form: Single daisy-like flowers
- Variety: ‘Bright Lights Orange’
Daylily
While daylilies are known for blooms in yellow, red, pink and purple, there are also some sensational orange cultivars to consider. These easygoing perennials provide weeks of funnel-shaped blooms in mid to late summer.
- Botanical Name: Hemerocallis
- Growth Habit: Clumping perennial
- Light: Full sun to part shade
- Bloom Time: Summer
- Flower Form: Trumpet or funnel-shaped flowers
- Varieties: ‘Tex’, ‘Barbara Mitchell’, ‘Baja’
Tigridia
Also called tiger flowers or shellflowers, these unique bulbs produce tall spikes of large, curved blooms with intriguing patterns. Shades range from yellows and oranges to rosy reds, often with contrasting mottling.
- Botanial Name: Tigridia pavonia
- Growth Habit: Upright, clump-forming
- Light: Full sun
- Bloom Time: Late summer
- Flower Form: Large curved petals, often patterned
- Varieties: ‘Flamenco’, ‘Camelo’ series
Bird of Paradise
Incredibly exotic, the bird of paradise is named for its resemblance to the famous tropical bird. Originating in South Africa, it produces striking orange and blue flower heads centered by long, protruding stamens.
- Botanical Name: Strelitzia
- Growth Habit: Stout evergreen shrub/perennial
- Light: Full sun
- Bloom Time: Spring through fall
- Flower Form: Unique bird-like orange and blue blooms
- Common Variety: Strelitzia reginae
Lantana
One of the best plants for hot, sunny locations, lantana is literally smothered in rounded clusters of small, vibrantly colored flowers all summer long. Look for varieties in rich orange and yellow tones.
- Botanical Name: Lantana camara
- Growth Habit: Mounded or trailing
- Light: Full sun
- Bloom Time: Summer to frost
- Flower Form: Globe-shaped clusters
- Varieties: ‘Radiation’, ‘Chapel Hill Sunrise’
Wallflower
Despite their delicate appearance, wallflowers are rugged cool season performers. Their bright orange flower spikes add a burst of color to beds, borders and containers in spring.
- Botanical Name: Cheiranthus
- Growth Habit: Bushy, mounded
- Light: Full sun
- Bloom Time: Spring to early summer
- Flower Form: Densely clustered flower spikes
- Varieties: ‘Erysimum Apricot Delight’, ‘Fire King’
Crocosmia
Also called montbretia, these gladiola relatives feature funnel-shaped, often bicolored orange, red and yellow flowers atop tall, wand-like stems. A fantastic addition to sunny perennial gardens.
- Botanical Name: Crocosmia
- Growth Habit: Upright, clump-forming corms
- Light: Full sun
- Bloom Time: Mid to late summer
- Flower Form: Tubular, gladiola-like blooms
- Varieties: ‘Lucifer’, ‘George Davison’, ‘Emily McKenzie’
Calendula
Better known as pot marigolds, calendulas are easy-to-grow, edible cool season annuals valued for their large, rayed daisy blooms in warm orange and yellow tones.
- Botanical Name: Calendula
- Growth Habit: Bushy, upright annual
- Light: Full sun
- Bloom Time: Spring to fall
- Flower Form: Daisy-like, rayed blooms
- Varieties: ‘Orange Argent’, ‘Indian Prince’
Begonia
Most begonias have flowers in shades of pink, red and white. But for something different, try varieties like ‘Dragon Wing’ that put on a brilliant show of fiery orange blooms.
- Botanical Name: Begonia
- Growth Habit: Compact, mounded
- Light: Part shade
- Bloom Time: Spring through fall
- Flower Form: Clusters of single blooms
- Variety: ‘Dragon Wing Orange’
Lily
While Asiatic and Oriental lilies are famous for their large, showy flowers in shades of white, pink and purple, some types like the tiger lily (Lilium lancifolium) feature brilliant orange blooms with contrasting dark spots.
- Botanical Name: Lilium
- Growth Habit: Upright, tall perennial
- Light: Full sun to part shade
- Bloom Time: Summer
- Flower Form: Large, trumpet- or bowl-shaped blooms
- Variety: Lilium lancifolium
Dahlia
With their rainbow of jewel colors, dinner plate-sized blooms, and ball-shaped pom forms, dahlias are quintessential cutting flowers. For tangerine hues, look for cultivars like ‘David Howard’ or ‘MS Ambassedor.’
- Botanical Name: Dahlia
- Growth Habit: Upright tuberous perennial
- Light: Full sun
- Bloom Time: Late summer through fall
- Flower Form: Huge globe, cactus or pom blooms
- Varieties: ‘David Howard’, ‘MS Ambassedor’
