There is a unique relationship between flowers and the color orange. Both exude beauty, vibrancy, and passion.
While few things in the world are as expressive as flowers, even fewer colors can compete with the passion and fieriness of orange. Unlike most other flowers, orange flowers are versatile. They can be used to proclaim love and affection and embellish one’s surroundings.
Be it for the décor of a room, giving flowers to a loved one, or planting them in one’s home garden, here is a list of twenty orange flowers that can save the day:
Table of Contents
1. Begonia
Scientific name: Begonia Obliqua
Plant type: Perennial (survives for around 2 years)
Soil pH: 5.5 – 6.2
Begonia Obliqua is a home plant. If you are a beginner at plants and gardening, this is a great flower to start with. Not only can it withstand a wide range of temperatures (55°F to 70°F), but it survives well in humidity too. It requires consistent watering and damp soil and might even require misting every 8-10 hours during dry seasons. However, it is vital to let the soil dry between watering sessions.
Begonia often requires fertilizer in dry autumn and winter seasons. While they can grow in a range of soil mixes, using a soil-less mix is best for an indoor plant. It requires full sunlight to partial shade, depending on the plant variety. Nevertheless, direct sunlight should be avoided to prevent the leaves from burning.
Attracting little to no pests makes it a hassle-free and hygienic plant to decorate your home.
2. Bulbine
Scientific name: Bulbine Frutescens
Plant type: Perennial
Soil pH: 6.1 – 7.8
Another easy-to-grow flower for beginners, the Bulbine Frutescens is an extremely robust plant. It can even survive the toughness of drought-struck soil. So, if you have a busy lifestyle and get little time to maintain your plants, growing Bulbine is an excellent option for you. Its bright foliage covers a large surface area, which can effectively hide rough patches in your garden.
While it is possible to grow it indoors, Bulbine should ideally be grown in an open and vast area for many reasons. Firstly, it requires ample sunlight. Secondly, it grows rapidly and needs space to produce healthy leaves and branches. To ensure further healthy growth, dead flowers should be regularly cut off.
Bulbine is also a water-loving plant and has a high water requirement. However, it is critical to avoid overwatering so you don’t kill the roots.
3. Gerbera Daisy
Scientific name: Gerbera Jamesonii
Plant type: Annual (survives for a year) to Perennial
Soil pH: 6.0 – 7.0
The Gerbera Daisy, with its thin, dense, and long fiery petals on a perfectly round flower, has to be the most iconic and classic orange flower on this list. When one thinks about an orange flower, Daisy is probably the first to come to mind. Hence, this beauty requires close attention and abundant care.
It is best to grow it from seedlings instead of planting seeds; otherwise, it quickly loses its viability. Gerbera Jamesonii also requires full and ample sunlight. Sandy soil and a moderate amount of watering are enough for it. However, it is crucial to plant its crown outside the soil so that it can dry in between the watering sessions. Planting the roots too deep and hiding the crown under the soil can result in rotting.
Unfortunately, Gerbera Daisy is highly susceptible to fungal infection and requires constant pesticide treatments.
4. Iris
Scientific name: Iris Croatia
Plant type: Perennial
Soil pH: 6.8 – 7.0
Iris reminds everybody of majestically-plush purple petals. But one of its species, the Iris Croatia, has orange flowers with various shades ranging from peach to a rather blazing shade of orange. Generally, Iris Croatia requires full sun and a moderate supply of water. However, during the plantation and initial spurt of its growth, it requires plenty of water, humidity, and sun. This is why the best season for its plantation is summers, when the night temperatures are also rather hot, ranging from at least 40 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit and above.
One common mistake during their plantation is planting the roots too deeply. The plant’s rhizomes should have little to no coverage from the soil to stay constantly aerated.
Orange irises not only look incredibly beautiful, but they also stand out among other plants. Plus, they’re bound to surprise many of your guests who will be seeing orange irises for the first time in their life.
5. Orange Rose
Scientific name: Rosa
Plant type: Perennial
Soil pH: 5.5 – 7.0
A rose’s decadent and intricate contour makes it perfect for enhancing the beauty of a garden or for gifting to a loved one. But the red rose, albeit breathtaking, is overdone. It is time to move on to the orange rose, which is not only equally blazing and expressive but also highly unique.
Unfortunately, the orange rose is also sensitive to high heat and moisture, which is why many of them do not survive. Therefore, it is advised to plant a cutting from an already matured Rosa, which had grown in soil and temperature similar to what your garden would provide. Its moderate requirement for water also makes the flower susceptible to overwatering.
Interestingly, orange roses smell sweeter and are much more unique than other roses. Therefore, planting them is an excellent way to enhance the complexity of the floral scent in your garden.
6. Ranunculus
Scientific name: Ranunculus
Plant type: Perennial
Soil pH: 6.0 – 6.5
With its densely packed petals and long sleek stems, the Ranunculus would be a beautiful addition to any garden. It is among the lowest-maintenance plants and yet, is gorgeous and versatile. If you are a beginner or have a lifestyle that involves frequent traveling, planting ranunculus is perfect for you as it has a very low water requirement.
To plant the ranunculus, place the bulbs 4 inches apart and 2 inches deep in the soil and lightly water them once. After that, the plant only requires watering when sprouting and growing. Once the initial growing and blooming stage has passed, you only need to water the plant once every week.
Because of its long thin stems and full flowers, the ranunculus can also be grown as a container plant. For this, cut a ranunculus stem with a bud, place it in a container with water, and wait for the bud to bloom. Make sure you’re changing the water every 10 days, and keep it in a sunny place because the plant requires full sunlight.
7. Zinnia
Scientific name: Zinnia Elegans
Plant type: Annual
Soil pH: 5.5 – 7.5
Zinnia Elegans is one of the easiest flowers a person can grow. Its excellent survival rate and ability to bloom quickly and heavily make it among the most rewarding plants for beginners.
It is best to grow Zinnia by planting the seeds yourself, as it does not like to be transplanted and quickly loses viability. But because it makes a great indoor plant, one could transplant its stem instead. Remember to do this very carefully and only when the plant is young. Being an annual plant, it cannot tolerate cold temperatures and has to be grown in summers. The ideal temperature is from 74 to 84 degrees Fahrenheit, though it can manage as low as 60 degrees.
To grow the plant from seeds, sow them ¼ inch deep in a fully sunlit and well-aerated area. The seedlings would start to show within a week. Its watering needs are also low to moderate.
8. Mexican Sunflower
Scientific name: Tithonia Diversifolia
Plant type: Annual
Soil pH: 6.6 – 7.5
There are few flowers as symbolic as a sunflower. It is awe-inspiring, bold, eye-catching, and even better when it is orange.
Mexican sunflower, also known as Tithonia Diversifolia, is one of the strongest and drought-resistant plants one can find. If you want to hide a less fertile and under-aerated patch in your garden, orange sunflowers are the way to go. However, you do need to ensure that the soil drains well.
Tithonia Diversifolia grows best in an area with partial shade to moderate sun and does not have a particularly high water demand. It should be planted as a cut-off from an already grown plant. The cut-offs should be planted at least 4 feet apart as the plant grows vigorously.
Its long stem and dense nature is useful for providing cover to shade-loving plants and protecting other fragile shrubs from strong winds, frost, and rainfall.
9. Marigold
Scientific name: Tagetes
Plant type: Annual
Soil pH: 6.0 – 7.5
Marigold is a low-maintenance and rewarding plant to grow and care for. A twist on the originally lush and breathtaking yellow marigold, the orange marigold does not require much attention or fuss at any stage of its life cycle.
The plant grows best in less than rich soil and requires watering only once a week. It is habitual of full sunlight, but can endure partial shade during a fraction of the day as long as it gets its dose of sunlight before or after that.
You can easily grow it from scratch by planting marigold seeds in the soil around 2 inches apart. The plant takes 1 week to grow and turns into a heavily bloomed shrub at about 8 weeks. Marigold is grown in summers and cannot tolerate a frosty season.
Tip: To ensure that your marigold stays healthy, remember to cut off any buds or branches that are damaged or dead.
10. Lion’s Tail
Scientific name: Leonotis leonurus
Plant type: Perennial
Soil pH: 6.6 – 7.5
The long, dazzling, and fuzzy lion’s tail is a drought-resistant plant that can survive through a range of temperatures. It loves to bloom between late spring to early fall and can survive temperatures as low as 20 degrees Fahrenheit.
While the plant can grow from both seeds or cuttings in average soil, it does need regular watering and good drainage. The six feet tall shrub also requires full to partial sunlight. It often grows taller than other plants and shades them from sunlight and strong winds.
Lion’s tail is also relatively healthy and a disease-free plant. However, it does attract butterflies and hummingbirds. While some gardeners appreciate this as it enhances the beauty of their space, others find it a hassle to keep them away from their flowers.
11. Bird of Paradise
Scientific name: Strelitzia
Plant type: Perennial
Soil pH: 6.0 – 6.5
Despite the cheeky name, the Bird of Paradise flower fully lives up to its title. Its gorgeously blazing and fiery flowers resemble the wings of a flying tropical bird, bestowing it the eccentric name.
The plant needs moderately fertile soil and loves warmth. It is ideally grown during hot spring and summer seasons and should be shifted indoors to warm areas if the temperature drops below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Not just the sun, but it also loves water and humidity. Grown best during humid weather, it also requires consistent watering to keep its soil moist. However, some gardeners advise letting the soil dry occasionally during winters.
Bird of paradise grows healthily and fully if slightly crowded among other plants. However, overcrowding should be prevented as it could affect the blooming process. The flower’s majestic beauty also attracts pests, so be ready to use insecticides that ward off aphids, whiteflies, and mealybugs.
12. Butterfly Weed
Scientific name: Asclepias Tuberosa
Plant type: Perennial
Soil pH: 6.0 – 7.0
Aptly named, butterfly weed could very well be called an intoxicant for butterflies. Its gorgeous, pollen-rich flowers and sweet nectar can pull bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds from meters away!
Growing butterfly weed is very effortless. The plant can be grown by sowing seeds in any area with full sunlight and moist soil. But there’s a catch; its flowers can take up to 3 years before they start blooming. Not only this, the plant is extremely difficult to transplant because of its tough roots, leaving seed sowing as the only viable option. While its moisture requirement is high during plantation and blooming, it requires minimal watering and prefers dry/sandy soil once matured.
It is also vital to trim the stems of your butterfly weed every spring and cut off any dead stems, leaves, or buds. You should avoid using any kind of fertilizers for this plant, or other plants in its vicinity, as it can damage the butterfly weed’s roots.
13. Daylily
Scientific name: Hemerocallis
Plant type: Perennial
Soil pH: 6.0 – 6.5
Daylily, which literally translates to ‘beauty for a day,’ is a flower that opens in the morning and dies at night. However, because a single stem has around 10 to 12 buds each, your plant would be blooming gorgeously all year round.
The daylily is also a very resilient plant. Even though it loves humid hot summers and spring, it can survive well in winters too. To plant its seeds, one should find an area with full sun exposure for at least 6 hours per day and water it daily. Along with consistent watering, it is pertinent to keep the soil well-drained and aerated, otherwise, it can attract rust. Luckily, the plant is mostly pest-free.
The soil should be treated with compost before planting a daylily. And if it survives more than a year, which it usually does, fertilizers should be added annually to ensure healthy growth.
14. Chrysanthemum
Scientific name: Chrysanthemum Morifolium
Plant type: Perennial
Soil pH: 6.5
Although Chrysanthemum comes in a wide range of colors and shades, our favorite one is the blazing and stunning sunset orange.
Chrysanthemum, also known as Chrysanthemum Morifolium, is a difficult plant to grow from seeds. It is typically grown from an already bloomed rooted cutting and can be transplanted as a garden plant or a home plant. Most gardeners recommend planting them in pots with moderately fertile soil.
The flower should be planted indoors and transplanted in open-air only when the weather is warm and sunny. To grow it from a cutting, place it in a pot with a diameter of at least 10 cm. After the plant has matured and the weather is suitable, you can transplant it to your desired area. The cutting can be also be planted in a greenhouse as an addition to your home garden.
15. Cosmos
Scientific name: Cosmos
Plant type: Annual
Soil pH: 6.5 – 7.0
If you are a fan of Daisies, you would love the Cosmos. With its sleek, long stems and a bold 3-4 inch flower, the cosmos is a perfect rendition of everyone’s favorite daisy.
This plant can easily be grown from seeds and survive a range of environmental conditions. However, it also requires ample sunlight, especially during the early growth and blooming stages. Try to give it at least six hours of sunlight for optimal growth.
To plant it, wait for the winter season to pass and sow the seeds during summers at an outdoor location. Cosmos does not like very fertile ground, so using fertilizer or compost is a big no. Luckily, it can survive through both moist and dry conditions.
To grow cosmos flowers yourself, sow its seeds ¼ inch deep in the soil and around 15 inches apart. After that, water the seeds regularly in a sunlit area, and the plant will bloom before 7 weeks. Once you have a mature plant, it will continue to bloom heavily and grow up to 6 feet tall until the next frost.
16. Dahlia
Scientific name: Dahlia Pinnata
Plant type: Annual
Soil pH: 6.5 – 7.0
Another similar species to sunflower — the Dahlia can be a stunning addition to your garden. The flower loves a balanced climate, which is neither too hot or cold, nor very dry or humid.
This plant grows best in a warm, sunny, and slightly moist environment but can also bloom during the early season of winter.
To plant a Dahlia, you should wait for the frost to pass. A young Dahlia needs to be in full sunlight for 6 to 8 hours with protection against strong winds as it is structurally fragile. The ground should be well-watered, have good drainage, and be fertilized with peat moss and old manure.
It is advised to transplant the rooted cut-offs of an already grown Dahlia in soil that is 8-10 inches deep. The flower can also be planted by sowing seeds, after which it blooms in merely 8 weeks. Other than that, watering should only be done once the plant sprouts.
17. Trumpet Honeysuckle
Scientific name: Lonicera Sempervirens
Plant type: Perennial
Soil pH: 3.7 – 6.8
Trumpet honeysuckle is a summer-loving beauty. Its unique and eccentric allure can be accredited to the velvety trumpet-shaped flowers, which range from orange to scarlet.
It requires full sun to nurture and bloom fully. While it can tolerate some shade, it does not bloom as great with cover.
That’s why the plant sprouts best during summers and spring. It also requires moderate watering and little moisture in its soil. Growing trumpet honeysuckles is also a very rewarding experience for gardeners as it blooms heavily and quickly. Organically rich soil is ideal for the flower, but it is essential to avoid artificial or chemically treated fertilizers as they can damage the plant.
The flower attracts aphids and develops powdery mildew in hot and humid weather. To maintain your trumpet honeysuckle, keep cutting off the dead leaves and stems to allow new ones to grow.
18. Tulip
Scientific name: Tulipa
Plant type: Perennial or Annual
Soil pH: 6.0 – 7.0
Nothing can compete with the vibrancy and flare of orange tulips in a spring garden. Also called ‘Orange Emperor,’ just the sight of these tall and elegant tulips waving through the wind can trigger a dopamine rush even on your worst days.
And luckily, these tulips are easy to grow as well. They should ideally be planted in a group of 15 or more at least 4-6 inches apart. The area these tulips are grown in should be fertile, well-drained, and moisturized. Tulips are sun-loving plants. Not only do they require nutrition from full sunlight, but they also need to be regularly watered.
However, it is easy to overwater them, so it’s better to hold back on the water unless the weather is extremely dry. Plant them in the fall season, and by spring, their buds will start displaying color and will soon bloom with beautiful shades of orange.
19. Lily of the Incas
Scientific name: Alstroemeria
Plant type: Perennial
Soil pH: Less than 7.0
Lily of Incas, also known as Peruvian lily, is a gardener’s pride and joy. Its delicate and petite funnel-shaped flowers display multiple shades and hues of orange blended in every petal.
Because they are hard to grow from seeds, they must be transplanted as tubers. Great care is required in this process, as the plant is brittle and fragile. You have to carefully select the area of its plantation as it demands full sunlight but cannot withstand extremely hot temperatures (above 85 degrees Fahrenheit).
It is essential to provide the flower a well-fertilized soil, ideally through organic fertilizers and manure. The water requirement of this plant is rather high, and it enjoys constant moisture. Besides that, it also needs a well-drained space to avoid standing water. The soil should also preferably be well-aerated.
If you’re adamant about growing this flower from seeds, sow them ¼ inch deep in the soil. After that, the seeds require cold treatment (of temperature around 40 degrees Fahrenheit or less) to germinate. Remember to be patient, as it can take the seeds a month or more to germinate!
20. Helenium
Scientific name: Helenium
Plant type: Perennial
Soil pH: 5.5 – 7.0
The vibrant and fiery flowers with dense pollen of Helenium are a complete head-turner. And best of all, you won’t find it in every other homemade garden!
Helenium loves sunlight and should be planted in an area that receives at least 6 to 8 hours of full sun. It also loves water and requires frequent watering to keep the soil moist. Nevertheless, drainage is also essential to avoid stagnant water.
In terms of soil, it is a relatively simple plant. Although it likes rich and fertile soil, it can still grow and bloom in moderately fertile ground.
To sprout helenium, transplanting a cut-off to your space is the easiest way. Some people advise using compost while transplanting the plant, but it is not essential. Once you have successfully grown a Helenium in an outdoor space, you can cut a part of it to grow and decorate as an indoor plant.
Choosing Orange Flowers For Bouquets
Orange flowers and their fiery and blazing appearance makes them ideal for bouquets. But while almost all of them can be added to a bouquet, you must first decide why you’re purchasing one in the first place.
Bouquets can serve two functions:
- To beautify the surroundings and exponentiate the décor
- Or to project soothing energy through their aromatic, floral, and calming scent
If you are looking for a bouquet that should predominantly look aesthetic, orange flowers are a great addition. Not only can they add to the vibrancy of a bouquet with their majestic and bold colors, but they also effectively contrast against the usual red and pink flowers in a bouquet. For this purpose, the best flowers to add are the vibrant Gerbera Daisies, attention-grabbing Birds of Paradise, eccentric and trumpet-shaped Honeysuckles, some bold Zinnias, and not to forget Tulips!
On the other hand, if you want to create a blend of a fresh floral scent along with aesthetics, you should choose orange flowers that have good projection and do not die quickly after being plucked. And for that, the first flower you should pick is the Orange Rose. Because let’s admit, nothing can match the fresh, strong, and sweet scent of a rose!
Unlike a red rose, orange roses smell less overpowering and give other flowers a chance to perform by blending in with others. In contrast, if you are a fan of the subtle and soothing scent of white florals, the Lily of Incas is a close replacement. Unlike other flowers, lilies have a slightly spicy edge to their scent, making them unique and providing depth to the blend of the scents projected by a bouquet. This is why it also serves as the main note in perfumery.
Reasons To Plant An Orange Rose
Can you give your partner an orange rose instead of a red one on Valentine’s day? Absolutely not! But don’t worry, because there are still plenty of reasons why you should plant an orange rose.
When it comes to planting flowers in a garden, an orange rose is a great option. It helps add more color and variety to your garden, as most flowers are already red or pink. Not only this, but it also has a huge intrigue factor and would have guests curiously asking questions when they see an orange rose for the first time.
Moreover, if you want to impress someone you like, gifting them a freshly plucked bouquet of orange roses from your garden is an excellent idea. That’s because the color orange exudes enthusiasm, energy, and charm, unlike red roses, which are synonymous with strong love and passion. So, if you’re just testing the water and don’t want to come off as overpowering, orange roses can be a great pick.
Which Orange Flowers Are Easiest To Grow?
If done right, almost every plant mentioned in our list is easy to grow and look after. For people looking for orange flowers that sprout generously, Zinnia, Trumpet Honeysuckle, and Marigold are a perfect choice. Their vigorous and ample blooming of flowers makes them highly rewarding for gardeners.
However, if you are a beginner, we suggest going with lower-maintenance plants. Take the ranunculus as an example. The lush and beautiful flower only requires watering once a week. Not only this, its tough nature makes it likelier to survive transplantation. Another example is the marigold. Besides requiring water only once a week, it can also grow in soils with varying fertility.
Other than this, some orange flowers can also survive a range of temperatures and environmental conditions. Lion’s tale, Mexican sunflower, and Bulbine are all excellent examples. Their ability to grow in drought-stricken soil allows them to stay alive in tougher conditions and gives gardeners the liberty to plant them in whichever patch of the garden they want. Most of these flowers can also survive through several seasons, which allows newbies to experiment and gain practical knowledge in gardening.
FAQ’s
Does nitrogen-rich fertilizer help orange flowers grow faster?
There is no single answer for this. The general concept is that the more fertilizer, the healthier the plant would grow. But while this may mostly be true for fruiting plants, it’s not always the case for flowering plants. Some orange flowers like the Lily of Incus or Helenium might have certain fertilizers, but most of the plants in this list do well in moderately fertile soil. Still, if you’re unable to grow any plants in your space and suspect the fertility of your soil, try to use organic compost or manure on a test patch to see if it brings any change.
How long do orange flowers survive?
Most orange flowers are either Annual or Perennial. Thus, they either survive for a year (from one season to the next) or two years. While this might seem unrewarding, remember that most flowering plants do not survive longer than this. However, if you want to get the most out of your time and effort, we advise you to begin with the tougher and drought-resistant plants like the Bulbine, Mexican sunflower, or Lion’s tail.
How to avoid pests?
Although most orange flowers on our list do not bring pests, some of them, like the Bird of Paradise and Gerbera Daisy, are prone to attracting pests or fungal infections. Fortunately, this problem can easily be solved by regularly using pesticide sprays and insecticidal treatments. Cleaning the plants and leaves regularly also helps avoid a pest infestation.
Why isn’t my plant sprouting after sowing seeds?
There are many factors that could be contributing to this issue. Firstly, it’s possible that the soil is completely infertile. For this, you should either replace the soil or add compost and fertilizer to it. Because most of the orange flowers do not like fertilizers, only use a small dose of organic fertilizers or compost for this purpose. Another issue could be that you are using the wrong planting technique. Plants like the Lily of Incas or Dahlia are extremely difficult, if not impossible, for a home gardener to grow from seeds. Whereas others, such as Zinnia or Butterfly weed, might lose their viability if transplanted.
What pH level is most preferred by orange flowers?
Every plant is different. Just like their sunlight, water, and fertilizer needs, their soil pH requirements are also different. As a rule of thumb, remember that most orange flowers can survive in a mildly acidic to a neutral environment. If you are unsure about the pH level of your soil, get some store-bought pH strips to find out. If you are not sure what pH level a particular plant prefers, the safest option is to go for a neutral pH of 7.0.
Which orange flowers are the best home plants?
There are three factors to consider when choosing home plants.
- The plant should enhance the beauty of your home space
- It should not attract many pests
- It should survive the process of being transplanted
The two best and safest plants for this purpose are the Bulbine and Crysanthemum. On the contrary, plants like the Bird of Paradise will attract pests, while flowers like the Dahlia won’t survive transplantation.