10 Orange Plants for the UK

Updated/Fact-Chacked on April 6, 2022 by John

This season I am totally redesigned one of my beds. I moved into a new property to find random plants growing in one of the borders with no thought or panning.  I have removed every plant in a 10ft stretch so I can start again, I hope this doesn’t become a habit as it felt good.

In one section fn the new border, I want it entirely made up of orange and black flowers – black flowers being much harder to come across than orange.

Here are all the orange perennials and annuals I have been considering for every position in the border, these 10 orange plants are a shortlist of around 60 orange flowering plants I have researched.

Geum ‘Tangerine dream’

Height: 0.5-1M
Flowering: May – August
Type: Perennial

I have just bought and planted this Geum due to its long flowering season, I’m looking forward to seeing it bloom in a few months’ time – although GW says it only flowers for 2 months in early summer which looks like an error. Geums produce a mass of flowers, helped along with regular deadheading; winter interest is also catered for with evergreen foliage (if the winter is not harsh). Geums are low maintenance and even ignored by slugs and snails which is a bonus, I was in a constant battle last summer trying to protect my young hosta.

Zinnia elegans ‘Orange King’

Height: 75cm
Flowering: July- October
Type: Annual

Zinnias are semi-hardy annuals with a long flowering season; they will keep blooming until the first frost if you keep on top of your deadheading. Zinnia are often grown for cut flowers as they look fantastic in a vase, they can also be grown in pots. Zinnia roots do not like to be disturbed, so seeds are directly planted into borders or pots when any risk of frost has gone – so may onwards.

Orange Gerbera (Garvinea Sweet Sunset)

Height: 45cm
Flowering: June- October
Type: Perennials

Gerberas are used by gardeners to add splashes of colour to borders and containers, they are also used for cutting flowers to put into vases.  Gerbera can be planted in well-drained borders or containers with 1/3 of the substrate being comprised of grit to improve the soil.

California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica)

Height: 30cm
Flowering: June – August
Type: Perennial

Although Californian poppies are classed as perennials, they are short-lived and usually used as annuals in UK gardens. These poppies like hot dry borders and will thrive in poor soil and can even grow in gravel. Californian poppies are grown by sowing seeds directly into your soil around May time when the risk of frost has passed.

Orange Cosmos

Height: 40cm
Flowering: July – October
Type: Annual (tender)

Cosmos are another great annual flower to add colour to borders or pots, providing months of colour. Cosmos can be grown from seed directly into borders or containers, though will require slug/snail protection in the early weeks.  Once they have flowered, cosmos need to be deadheaded to provide an abundance of flowers – but you will get more flowers per square foot than any other plant.

Some varieties come as tubers, I’ve just planted a chocolate cosmos to pair with my Mexican feather grass.

Chrysanthemum ‘Sicardo Orange’

Height: 50cm
Flowering: June – October
Type: Perennial

Chrysanthemums are fantastic for providing colour to a border or pots in autumn as most varieties will keep flowering until the first frost. Chrysanthemums are usually bought as small plants from garden centres and planted out when the risk of frost has passed.

Chrysanthemums make great cutting flowers and can last for up to 3 weeks in a vase under the right conditions (regular fresh water and cool temperatures).

Begonia ‘orange’

Height: 20cm
Flowering: June – October
Type: Perennial (Tender)

The orange begonia above is the double flowering variety with large flower heads. There are a few other orange begonias you can choose from such as Begonia boliviensis ‘Crackling Fire Orange’ which is a tender perennial variety.

Begonia tubers need to be dug up and stored in a dry place over winter, like with dahlias.

Marigold ‘Boy O’ Boy Orange’

Height: 20cm
Flowering: June – October
Type: Annual

Marigolds are easy to grow annuals, great for some quick colour. They can be grown from seed or you can buy plug plants from a garden centre to be planted out in full sun in well-drained soil.

Orange Rose (‘Roald Dahl’ Climbing Rose)

Height: 3M
Flowering: May – October
Type: Perennial

This climbing rose will do best in a full sun position in fertile soil.  A climbing rose will need to be tied to a stake to help the plant climb, other options are trellis, wire rope or an obelisk – ours grows up one side of a pergola.

Daylilies (Hemerocallis)

Height:70cm
Flowering: June – September
Type: Perennial

Daylillies are hardy and relatively easy to grow in a border with good drainage and at least 5 hours of direct sunlight per day. Daylilies are clump-forming and can spread to one metre, but can be easily divided up if they outgrow their space. Most varieties are semi-evergreen and will provide foliage over the winter months.

Orange Flowering Plants FAQ

What shrub has orange flowers in spring?

Berberis darwinii (Darwin’s barberry) produces a mass of small orange flowers in spring.

What herb has orange flowers?

Nasturtiums are edible and produce orange flowers, also called Indian cress.

How many orange flowers are there?

There are at least 60 common orange flowering plants grown by gardeners, but unknown quantities if you include all the wildflowers globally.

Are there any orange tulip varieties?

Yes, there are many orange tulip varieties including Tulipa ‘Flamboyant’, Tulipa ‘Cairo’,Tulipa ‘Ballerina’,Tulipa ‘Bestseller’.

What is the orange daisy flower?

There are a few orange daisy species, the common ones being Osteospermum ‘Orange Symphony’ (African Daisy) and gerbera floraqueen.

John

John Green is a 46-year-old graphic designer living in Durham.  John is RHS level 3 certified and owns an allotment in Durham.