Red flowers can really make a California garden pop, and hardy shrubs make it easy to keep that color year after year.
I’ve rounded up twelve favorites that are tough, beautiful, and perfect for any yard. These shrubs bring lasting charm without constant fuss. Your California garden will shine with vibrant red blooms all season.
1. Red Flowering Quince
Imagine walking outside in late winter and spotting brilliant scarlet blooms when everything else looks sleepy. Red flowering quince delivers exactly that magic, pushing out cup-shaped flowers before leaves even appear.
California gardeners love how this tough shrub handles drought once established. It grows about six feet tall and wide, making it perfect for hedges or standalone specimens. Pruning after flowering keeps it looking neat and encourages more blooms next season.
Hummingbirds go crazy for these early flowers, making your yard a wildlife hotspot.
2. Red Bottlebrush
With flowers that look exactly like old-fashioned bottle brushes, this Australian native has become a California garden superstar. Bright crimson spikes appear spring through fall, attracting every hummingbird in the neighborhood.
Bottlebrush thrives in California’s sunny spots and laughs at drought conditions. Growing six to ten feet tall, it works beautifully as a privacy screen or accent plant. The evergreen leaves stay attractive year-round, even when flowers take a break.
Plant it where you can watch birds visit daily.
3. Red Camellia
Did you know camellias bloom during winter when most flowers hide away? Red varieties produce rose-like blossoms that look almost too perfect to be real, with layers of silky petals that unfold slowly.
California’s mild coastal areas provide ideal conditions for these shade-loving shrubs. They prefer morning sun and afternoon protection, making them perfect under trees or on north-facing walls. Regular watering keeps them happy, though they’re tougher than people think.
Their glossy evergreen foliage looks elegant even without flowers.
4. Red Salvia
Salvia greggii brings non-stop color from spring until frost, pumping out tubular red flowers that hummingbirds simply cannot resist. This compact shrub stays bushy and neat without much fussing from gardeners.
Growing two to three feet tall, it fits perfectly in California’s water-wise gardens. Once roots settle in, it handles heat and drought like a champion. Light trimming after bloom cycles encourages fresh growth and more flowers.
Plant several together for a stunning red wave that flows through your landscape beds.
5. Red Azalea
Springtime explodes with color when azaleas burst into bloom, covering themselves so completely you can barely see leaves underneath. Red varieties create jaw-dropping displays that neighbors will photograph from the sidewalk.
California’s cooler coastal regions suit azaleas best, especially where morning fog provides natural moisture. They need acidic soil and regular water, plus protection from harsh afternoon sun. Mulching around roots keeps them comfortable during warmer months.
Pairing them with ferns and hostas creates a woodland garden vibe right at home.
6. Red Hibiscus
Nothing says tropical paradise quite like hibiscus, with dinner-plate sized blooms that unfold each morning in brilliant shades of crimson. Each flower lasts just one day, but plants produce so many you’ll always have fresh ones opening.
Southern California gardens provide perfect conditions for these heat-lovers. They want full sun, regular feeding, and consistent moisture to keep blooming heavily. Frost-sensitive, so plant them in protected spots or grow in containers you can move.
Butterflies and bees absolutely adore visiting these showy flowers daily.
7. Red Rose
Roses have ruled gardens for centuries, and modern red varieties combine classic beauty with serious toughness. Landscape roses bloom repeatedly without demanding the pampering old-fashioned types needed.
California’s climate suits roses perfectly, with long growing seasons that keep flowers coming spring through fall. Choose disease-resistant varieties to reduce spray needs, and plant them where they’ll get six hours of sunshine. Deep watering encourages strong roots that handle dry spells better.
Deadheading spent blooms triggers fresh flowers to form quickly, extending your colorful display.
8. Red Fuchsia
Fuchsia flowers dangle like tiny ballerinas in tutus, with red outer petals and contrasting inner colors that create stunning two-tone effects. Hummingbirds hover beneath them, sipping nectar from the dangling blooms.
Coastal California gardens with cool, foggy summers make fuchsias happiest. They struggle in hot inland areas but thrive in shade with regular moisture. Hanging baskets work great, though upright varieties also grow as shrubs reaching three feet tall.
Pinching growing tips creates bushier plants that produce even more of those enchanting dancing flowers.
9. Red Escallonia
Escallonia works overtime in California landscapes, providing evergreen foliage, clusters of tubular red flowers, and excellent wind tolerance for coastal properties. Bees buzz around the blooms from late spring through summer.
Growing six to eight feet tall, it makes fantastic hedges or background plantings. Salt spray doesn’t bother it, making it perfect near beaches where other plants struggle. Minimal water needs once established make it a smart choice for sustainable gardens.
Shearing after flowering maintains shape while encouraging dense growth that provides year-round privacy and structure.
10. Red Weigela
Weigela puts on a spectacular show in late spring, loading its arching branches with trumpet-shaped red flowers that practically glow in sunlight. After the main flush, sporadic blooms appear throughout summer.
California gardeners appreciate how adaptable weigela is, growing well in various soil types and handling both sun and partial shade. It reaches four to six feet tall with a gracefully rounded shape. Pruning right after flowering maintains size without sacrificing next year’s blooms.
Hummingbirds and butterflies visit constantly, making your garden feel alive with activity and natural beauty.
11. Red Leucospermum
Sometimes called pincushion protea, leucospermum produces the most otherworldly flowers you’ll ever see—round clusters of red pins that look like something from another planet. Cut flowers last weeks in vases.
California’s Mediterranean climate, especially in coastal areas, suits these South African natives perfectly. They demand excellent drainage and hate fertilizer, making them ideal for rocky slopes or sandy soils. Full sun and minimal summer water keep them thriving.
Watching these architectural blooms develop over weeks provides entertainment as unique forms emerge from tight buds.
12. Red Grevillea
Grevillea flowers look like fireworks frozen in mid-burst, with spider-like red blooms that curve and twist in fascinating shapes. Different varieties bloom at various times, with some flowering almost year-round in California.
Australian origins make grevilleas perfectly suited to California’s dry summers and mild winters. They grow quickly, reaching six to ten feet depending on variety, with evergreen foliage that adds texture. Zero fertilizer and occasional deep watering keep them content.
Hummingbirds become regular visitors, often perching nearby waiting for their turn at the nectar-rich flowers.