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.
About Red Hibiscus Flowers
All types of red hibiscus flowers are members of the Hibiscus genus. This genus is known for its large flowers that bloom for just a few days.
Hundreds of different plant species exist within the Hibiscus genus. Some of these species are known as hardy hibiscus, and others are known as tropical hibiscus.
Hardy hibiscus plants are native to temperate areas and can tolerate below-freezing temperatures. The plants lose their foliage each winter and grow new leaves each spring.
Tropical hibiscus plants cannot survive long periods below 50°F, so gardeners grow them as annuals in cooler climates. When grown in tropical areas, they remain evergreen and produce flowers throughout the year.
What Do Red Hibiscus Flowers Symbolize?
Red hibiscus flowers symbolize many of the same things as red roses, red tulips, and other red flowers. Symbolism includes passion, love, and romance.
That means giving a red hibiscus flower to a partner for an anniversary or birthday is more appropriate than giving one of these flowers to a neighbor or acquaintance.
The red hibiscus flower also holds a unique meaning in Hindu culture. These flowers are tied to Kali, the goddess of the force of time and, therefore, both creation and destruction. People often say that the red hibiscus symbolizes Kali’s tongue.
14 Popular Types of Red Hibiscus Flowers
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.
| Scientific Name: | Hibiscus acetosella ‘Burgundy Aquarius’ |
| Growing Zones: | 9–11 |
| Flowering Season: | Fall and winter, often dies before flowering in colder climates |
| Light Requirements: | Full sun or part shade |
| Mature Height: | 5 feet |
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.
| Scientific Name: | Hibiscus schizopetalus |
| Growing Zones: | 9–11 |
| Flowering Season: | Throughout the year, but sporadically |
| Light Requirements: | Full sun or part shade |
| Mature Height: | 8–10 feet |
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.
| Scientific Name: | Hibiscus acetosella |
| Growing Zones: | 9–11 |
| Flowering Season: | Fall and winter when days are short |
| Light Requirements: | Full sun |
| Mature Height: | 5 feet |
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.
| Scientific Name: | Hibiscus moscheutos ‘Ambizu’ |
| Growing Zones: | 4–10 |
| Flowering Season: | Summer and fall |
| Light Requirements: | Full sun or part shade |
| Mature Height: | 3 feet |
5. Double Red Hibiscus
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.
| Scientific Name: | Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Double Red’ |
| Growing Zones: | 9–12 |
| Flowering Season: | Summer and autumn |
| Light Requirements: | Full sun or part shade |
| Mature Height: | 8–10 feet |
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.
‘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.
| Scientific Name: | Hibiscus moscheutos ‘Midnight Marvel’ |
| Growing Zones: | 4–9 |
| Flowering Season: | Summer and fall |
| Light Requirements: | Full sun or part shade |
| Mature Height: | 5 feet |
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.
| Scientific Name: | Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Hiroshi1’ |
| Growing Zones: | 9–11 |
| Flowering Season: | Summer and early fall in temperate areas, almost year-round in tropical regions |
| Light Requirements: | Full sun or part shade |
| Mature Height: | 6–8 |
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.
| Scientific Name: | Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Mongon’ |
| Growing Zones: | 10–11 |
| Flowering Season: | Summer, year-round in tropical climates |
| Light Requirements: | Full sun |
| Mature Height: | 8 feet |
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.
| Scientific Name: | Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Red Giant’ |
| Growing Zones: | 10–11 |
| Flowering Season: | Summer in temperate climates, almost year-round in tropical climates |
| Light Requirements: | Full sun or part shade |
| Mature Height: | 6–8 feet |
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.
| Scientific Name: | Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Red Hot’ |
| Growing Zones: | 10–11 |
| Flowering Season: | Summer in cool climates, almost year-round in tropical climates |
| Light Requirements: | Full sun or part shade |
| Mature Height: | 6–8 feet |
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.
| Scientific Name: | Hibiscus coccineus ‘Texas Star’ |
| Growing Zones: | 4–9 |
| Flowering Season: | Summer and early fall |
| Light Requirements: | Full sun or part shade |
| Mature Height: | 5–8 feet |
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.
| Scientific Name: | Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Red Velvet’ |
| Growing Zones: | 9–11 |
| Flowering Season: | Mid-summer to mid-autumn |
| Light Requirements: | Full sun or partial shade |
| Mature Height: | 6–10 feet |
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.
| Scientific Name: | Hibiscus coccineus |
| Growing Zones: | 6–10 |
| Flowering Season: | May–September |
| Light Requirements: | Full sun |
| Mature Height: | 4–8 feet |
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.
| Scientific Name: | Hibiscus ‘Vintage Wine’ |
| Growing Zones: | 4–9 |
| Flowering Season: | Summer and early fall |
| Light Requirements: | Full sun or part shade |
| Mature Height: | 4–5 feet |
Red Hibiscus Flowers FAQs:
Are Red Hibiscus Flowers Rare?
No, red hibiscus flowers are not especially rare. You can easily find various species and varieties of red hibiscus.
Are Red Hibiscus Flowers Edible?
While most red hibiscus flowers are edible, people often consume a part of the flower called a calyx. This part of the flower is formed by the sepals and harvested once the flower falls from the plant.
What Do Red Hibiscus Symbolize?
The red hibiscus flower symbolizes passionate relationships, love, and romance.
What Is the Rarest Hibiscus Color?
Blue is the rarest hibiscus color. Plant breeders at Texas A&M University created a hibiscus with blue coloring in 2010, but it is not commonly seen.
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.
For more, see our in-depth guide to the best companion plants for hibiscus and how to deal with common hibiscus pests and diseases.
Briana holds a B.S. in Plant Sciences from Penn State University. She manages a small market garden where she grows vegetables and herbs. She also enjoys growing flowers and houseplants at home.
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