With the design, style or decor of your home, everyone loves to see the elements of their personality reflected in their space. And that includes plants, how about their color?
If you prefer to add as many red plants to your indoor spaces, then this article will help you!
There are many indoor plants that have red flowers, the most common are Poinsettias, Hibiscus, Wax Begonia and the Thanksgiving Cactus.
In this article we will give you the breakdown of 20 of the most common,
red flowering plants – if you want to learn about each plant and a little fact you probably didn’t know about them.
If you want to find a great indoor plant with red flowers, check out our list below.
1. Poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima)
Poinsettias are a popular houseplant to have over the holidays with their striking red flowers and sunny green leave.
The plant’s natural range is wild in Mexico to Southern Guatemala and was referred to as The Mexican Flame Flower prior to its nomenclature as Poinsettia.
Fun Fact: It is widely believed that Poinsettias are toxic and thus present a very significant risk to children or animals, but this is not the case!
2. Bromeliads (Guzmania bromeliads)
Bromeliads are great plants for decorating spaces, any space. From your bathroom to your desk at work, these plants will brighten things up any day.
The are so many styles, sizes, and colours (including many shades of red) they are usually short length stems with rosettes of stiff thorny leaves.
There are possibly 3590 recognized species of bromeliad native to the tropical Americas.
3. Thanksgiving Cactus (Schlumbergera truncata)
The Thanksgiving Cactus (usually marketed as “Christmas Cactus”) is a topical succulent that blooms a stunning red flower on flat stems laden with claw-like parts.
This plant grows during the winter with flowers emerging around November, give or take, right before Thanksgiving.
Even though this plant is a “cactus”, it does okay in hot humid air.
4. Chenille Plant (Acalypha hispida)
With a name like “red hot cattail”, you can already start to imagine how absolutely amazing this house plant is.
The Chenille Plant comes from the islands of Hawaii and features long-hanging fuzzy bright red flowers.
This house plant is a flowering shrub and can actually grow to be eight feet tall.
5. Amaryllis (Hippeastrum Species)
The Amaryllis is a really cool plant to have indoors, a big chunky plant with green leaves and large red showy blooms.
The plant is actually a native from South America and has many hybrid flowers based on it.
These plants tend to be given as gifts during the holiday season.
Did you know: Birds, butterflies, and bees are also highly attracted to this plant.
6. Flame of the Woods (Ixora coccinea)
The “flame of the woods,” sometimes called the “jungle geranium,” is native to India and Southeast Asia.
The shrub flowers four red petals with a bushy stature.
It is drought-resistant; although they prefer to be in the sunny outdoors, they are often moved indoors for the winter.
Did you know those little red flowers have berries or seeds? Each produces two to three seeds or berries that are sweet and edible!
7. Flaming Katy (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana)
The “Flaming Katy” is a perfect houseplant with huge shiny bright green leaves, with little bursts of red colored flowers sprinkled throughout it.
The plant can add color and beauty to any environment and mostly grows in spring and winter.
This plant usually attracts butterflies and birds no matter where it grows.
8. Flaming Sword (Vriesea splendens)
This plant gets its name from the long red flower that sits above a firm green stem with giant leaves.
This sword-like flower can grow 2 two feet tall and it is an attractive and popular house plant.
The red flowers that emerge from the Flaming Sword take 3 years to blossom.
9. Flamingo Lily (Anthurium Andraeanum)
The “Flamingo Lily” is a big pot flower with a heart-like flower which has a wax-like feel to it, bright red color.
This flower is from Colombia and Ecuador. Although it is nice to look at, the whole thing is toxic and can cause difficulty swallowing and vomiting if ingested.
The Flamingo Lily is noted as removing ammonia, formaldehyde, xylene and toluene from the air by NASA in their clean air study.
10. Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis)
The Hibiscus plant has a trumpet-shaped flower with five large, paper-thin petals that can expand to over 18 centimeters wide.
Although a popular house plant and widely known for its beauty, it is challenging to trace the origin of the Hibiscus plant but the most common theory is that it is prevalent in parts of tropical Asia.
Hibiscus flowers are edible, and are often included in salads in the Pacific Islands.
Fun Fact: The Hibiscus plant is a common herb used in Chinese herbal medicine as a believed medicinal benefit and is known to absorb ultraviolet light.
11. African Violets (Saintpaulia ionantha)
There are a bunch of colors of African violets although they mostly have light or dark purple flowers, they are still a number of colors of reds!
The large hairy leaves, and the heart-shaped flowers do resemble violets in shape, though they are not related).
This house plant originates from Tanzania, Eastern Africa, and indoor form, grow to about 3 feet.
However, the African violet has adapted to life as a houseplant, and we don’t see these in the wild anymore!
12. Crown of Thorns Plant (Euphorbia milii)
The Crown of Thorns will take a bit of Madagascar to your home since it represents the country well and the ambiance that it conveys with their long green stems and small, beautiful, bright red flowers on green stems that are covered in blackthorns.
This can be kept in pots indoors because it’s great because it doesn’t take much maintenance.
The Crown of Thorns is used to symbolize the crucifixion of Jesus and the “crown” that he wore on his head.
13. Cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum)
Another red house plant that can have red heart-shaped flowers is the Cyclamen.
Though there are many colors of this plant, there are many forms that can add a little red into the house.
Even better is the beautiful floral scent it gives off throughout the room.
Highly Toxic: While this plant is highly toxic even if just chewed (the roots are especially toxic), and can cause many health complications and death, it is best to keep this plant away from children and pets.
14. Guzmania (Guzmania spp)
People sensitive to floral or perfume smells can safely hang this plant in their house because it has no odor.
It is closely related to the family of pineapple, and it is native to:
- Southern Mexico
- The West Indies
- And Florida
This tall plant can grow up to 26 inches tall, making it a showy center piece in any room.
The Guzmania plant has been concluded to remove air pollutants like formaldehyde and benzene from any room, nice for smokers indoors.
15. Lipstick Plant (Aeschynanthus radicans)
The lipstick plant gives you the red tubular flowers that hang down from their pot with shiny green leaves making it a gorgeous display to put in your room to hang down.
The lipstick plant, which is indigenous to the tropics of the Malay Peninsula with up to 3 feet long, long, viney stems, is pretty easy to grow indoors in order to achieve, too.
The lipstick plant is one of 400 species of exotic angel plants.
16. Nivosa Cactus (Parodia nivosa)
The Nivosa Cactus, or woolly nipple cactus, is a common house plant from the Caribbean.
This colorful species of cactus blooms in the spring and typically, grows to 9 inches tall. It’s covered in 1.5-inch spikes that sometimes cross each other, as a means of protecting themselves.
Amidst the long white spines are beautiful red flowers, certainly adding beauty to the plant.
The Nivosa Cactus does not have leaves, they have pointy sharp spines.
17. Phalaenopsis Orchids (Phalaenopsis spp.)
The Phalaenopsis Orchid, also known as the moth orchid, is the most common type of orchid for sale today.
This orchid is very popular because of the myriad colors available, the ability to bloom year-round, and ease of care.
This pot plant is a nice, simple and beautiful decor for most any decor style, and this orchid is an excellent starter plant for a new collector.
Phalaenopsis orchids are still used today in typical Chinese medicine, generally as tea.
18. Sky Plant (Tillandsia ionantha)
This plant species is from the Americas and doesn’t need any roots from the soil.
It is commonly found growing on trees and easily one of the most common air plant species used for indoor decor.
There are many sky plant species; some may be fuzzy and pink, while others can have red spiked flowers.
In the wild, these plants get the nutrients they require by consuming rainfall and bird poop while they cling to trees.
19. Wax Begonia (Begonia x semperflorens-cultorum)
Wax Begonias fill outdoor gardens and are one of the most popular plants during summer and fall.
They are also one of the prettiest indoor plants offering bright red, lush, bushy, and gently clustered flowers.
They are named for the shiny wax texture that can be felt on the foliage that grows around the plant.
Wax Begonias have a mildly sweet-sour flavor similar to a lemon and are high in vitamin C. They are okay to eat in moderation.
20. Fittonia (Fittonia albivenis)
Fittonias are nice little creeping plants that are easy to manage and care for.
This house plant is an evergreen plant featuring green and red foliage and would make a good terrarium, basket, and hanging plant.
Many people who are owners of the Fittonia will use this plant with other flowers in a moss flowering garden.
Your Fittonia will notify you when it is thirsty by going limp until it gets a drink.
Why Are Indoor Plants So Popular?
Well, it’s no surprise these days that people are in such a rush to go to the nearest nurseries.
It’s a trend that is taking off. Whether it’s the pure beauty of indoor plants, or the ergonomic and health benefits they offer, homeowners are snatching up their favorite style of decor wherever they can find it.
Indoor plants can do many things besides simply make a dreary space more colorful:
- So first of all, nature is known to improve your mood, so just bringing in a few plants to your home, or your workspace, will definitely help you feel happier and more peaceful.
- Another great thing about adding a potted plant to your place is that often, they give off their own fresh scent. While there are a lot of indoor flowers that don’t have any scent, many of them smell beautiful.
- Studies have also demonstrated that many flowers are good at purifying air, taking harmful toxins out of the air that can harm your health.
- Another toxin that these plants can manage is noise pollution. That’s right, did you know that plants refract sound? Putting a few pots around your workspace can help keep the sounds down and the peace up.
- Lastly, house plants are trending because they are incredibly easy to take care, and are very easy to survive. To care for your indoor pots, you simply should be watering your plants regularly, and occasionally ensuring they go in the sunlight, which they can do to survive through the season, and even years.
Where Can You Purchase Red House Plants?
Since indoor plants are so trendy, its not hard to find them anymore.
Here is a helpful list of where you can purchase indoor plants online or in-stores:
- Walmart
- Home Depot
- Wayfair
- 1800Flowers
- Lowes
- Amazon
- Etsy
- ProFlowers
And you can also check your local nursery in the spring and summer months for in-season local plants.
Summing Things Up
Red symbolizes fire, passion, and love. It’s a stimulating and intense color it tends to energize and encourage action! By adding red indoor plants to any room you will feel happy, energized, and alive.
There are so many red flowered plants, no matter if you want a small cactus on your desk or a larger creeping plant with very extravagant petals and thorns, there is something for you.