Different Types of Orange Flowers

Not as bright as yellow flowers, not as "in your face" as red flowers, orange flowers still inject plenty of cheer into the landscape, whether solo or in combinations. Combining orange and blue flowers can be particularly stunning. In addition to flowers of all forms, orange can be displayed berries and even seed pods.

Known by the Latin name Lantana camara, lantana plants are viny shrubs popular for hanging baskets. Lantana is a tropical flower and can be grown as a perennial in USDA plant hardiness zone 8 and higher. Lantana flowers can be yellow, purple, red, or purple, in addition to orange, and some flowers display multiple colors in each flower.  

If you're tired of the relatively washed-out color of common daylilies and are looking for a deeper color than Hemerocallis fulva offers, look to the Asiatic lily (Lilium 'Partner'), which has beautiful flowers in a deep, dark orange.

Pocketbook plant (Calceolaria crenatiflora) is so named for it pouch-shaped flowers, which may come in yellow, red, or orange. Some types are speckled with yellow dots. Befitting its delicate flowers, Calceolaria crenatiflora plants are annuals and won't tolerate a frost.

Although pansies with "faces" have almost become the only varieties sold in retail outlets, some pansies do not have faces. In warm climates, pansy seeds are often sown in August, resulting in flowers early the next spring. In the colder climates, pansies are treated as annuals, but because they're tolerant of frost, pansies are one of the first annuals put out for sale.

Flowering maples are the plants that appear to be dwarf maple trees, except that they bear flowers that may be white, red, pale yellow or pale orange. If you live in a cold climate, you'll have to keep flowering maple in a container, growing it outside in the summer, then moving it inside for the winter. It's a sub-tropical specimen that survives the winter only in zones 9 and above.

Tulips are spring-blooming bulbs that come in a vast range of colors, including many different oranges and bi-color hues. Plant tulip bulbs in the fall to claim first dibs on the color they'll bring in spring!

Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) lives up to name, as it's a good choice for attracting butterflies to your landscape. You'll realize why it's such a monarch magnet when you see its bursts of tiny orange flowers. 

The "Chinese lantern" part of this plant is a calyx (sort of a seed pod) that holds a berry inside. But beware the unripe berries of Chinese lanterns (Physalis alkekengi): they're toxic! And that's not surprising, considering Chinese lanterns are in the nightshade family, which includes many toxic plants, such as bittersweet nightshade and angel's trumpet.

Oriental poppies (Papaver orientale) are herbaceous perennials with magnificent flowers that have the texture of crepe paper.

Pot marigold plant (Calendula officinalis), or "calendula" is an annual that bears light orange flowers.

Crocosmia's foliage resembles that of iris, while its flowers are reminiscent of freesia. 'Lucifer' Crocosmia reaches a height of about 3' and can be grown in hardiness zones 5 through 9.

Canna lily (Canna), despite its common name, is not a member of the genus, Lilium and therefore not a true lily, but it has lovely orange blooms and grows up to 5 feet in height. In cold climates, you can dig up and store canna bulbs for the winter.

Zinnias come in many different colors, both solid and variegated, including several shades of orange. 

Trumpet vine (Campsis radicans) is a climber that produces orange to salmon flowers. It is a summertime bloomer an is hardy to zone 4. Provide trumpet vine with an arbor, trellis or fence and let it climb! Trumpet vines are often used in hummingbird gardens.

Impatiens flowers are popular annuals for shady areas. They come in many colors, with red, white, and pink among the most popular. Orange impatiens can provide an unexpected splash and pair with the most of the other flower colors. 

Nasturtium flowers bloom late, which is convenient, considering that their color makes them prime candidates for use as fall flowers. Besides orange, you'll also find golden nasturtium flowers and reddish nasturtiums.

With reddish-orange fruit encased in a peeling golden husk, it's no wonder that bittersweet berries are a favorite among fall crafts enthusiasts. However, if you wish to grow your own bittersweet berries in North America, plant the native American bittersweet, as the Oriental plants are invasive.

Mexican sunflower (Tithonia rotundifolia) is an annual that can get quite large (4 to 6 feet tall). Its bright orange blooms are attractive to butterflies. Indigenous to Mexico and Central America, Mexican sunflowers will yield two crops of bloom in the same year for those who garden in warm climates (e.g., planting zone 8 and warmer).

Crown imperial (Fritillaria imperialis) is a spring-flowering bulb plant you grow when you want an attention-grabber, with red, yellow, or orange blooms. Since the flowers nod their heads down, it can be difficult to appreciate the inside of the "bell." But the inner markings are exquisite and include six round, shiny, brilliant-white dots near the base of each petal.