Gardening Ideas Gardening Flowers 18 Pretty Pink Flowers For Your Garden Put the versatility of pink blooms to work in your garden with these charming selections. By Kim Toscano Kim Toscano Kim Toscano has provided gardening expertise for over 20 years through her writing, videos, and garden designs. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on August 8, 2024 Close Photo: Getty Images/Ana Iacob Pink is a versatile color in the garden. Depending on their tone, pink flowers can evoke a range of moods, from warmth and comfort to energy and excitement. We’ve gathered a collection of the prettiest pink flowers to elevate your garden, from soothing blush pink roses to vibrant magenta coneflowers. Make the most of these blooms by learning how to combine this diverse color palette with other landscape hues. Pink flowers come in both warm and cool color tones and can be paired with every color on the spectrum. Warm pinks such as coral, rose, salmon, and blush are calming and convey feelings of peace, compassion, softness, and nurturing. They combine well with other warm colors like yellow, red, and orange. Cool pinks have names like fuchsia, raspberry, bubblegum, and magenta. They are more vibrant and livelier, evoking energy and joy. Cool pink flowers complement blues and purples. Before selecting pink blooms for your garden, consider the general color scheme you wish to build or accentuate. Your gardens will look their best when you group flowers from the same color temperature together. Many of the flowers on this list are available in a variety of hues to help you harness the power of pink in any garden setting. 01 of 18 Rose Van Chaplin Botanical Name: Rosa species and hybridsSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Type: Medium, well-draining, average fertilitySoil pH: Slightly acidic (6.0-6.9) Roses come in every shade of pink imaginable and are gifted to symbolism gratitude, appreciation, and admiration. When selecting roses for the garden consider how much work you want to put into keeping them healthy and balance this with blossom size. Hybrid tea roses require the greatest attention but reward you with large blooms on long stems. Floribunda roses produce large flower clusters and bloom continuously while requiring less work. These are just two of the many types available. 02 of 18 Bleeding Heart Getty Images Botanical Name: Lamprocapnos spectabilisSun Exposure: Part to full shadeSoil Type: Medium, well-draining, average fertilitySoil pH: Slightly acidic to neutral (6.0-7.5) This early-season favorite is beloved for its long, gently arching branches from which perfect heart-shaped blooms dangle like jewels. Though breeders have worked to incorporate more red hues into the flowers, the traditional bubblegum pink blooms are most dramatic, as their color truly pops against the fern-like foliage. For a lovely, though less showy native alternative, consider fringed bleeding heart (Dicentra eximia). 03 of 18 Lily Getty Images/Somnuk Krobkum Botanical Name: Lilium species and hybridsSun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Type: Medium, well-draining, richSoil pH: Slightly acidic to neutral (5.5-7.0) Bold, vibrant lily blooms bring an abundance of cheer to any garden. These flowers take on many hues, and among the pinks include both warm and cool tones, many with multiply tones or speckles flecking their petals. These summer bloomers benefit from deadheading to direct energy back into their bulbs rather than seed. Cut back flower stems when they begin to yellow. Lilies make lovely cut flowers. 04 of 18 Cleome Getty Images Botanical Name: Cleome houtteanaSun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Type: Dry to medium, well-draining, average fertilitySoil pH: Slightly acidic to neutral (5.5-7.0) Plant a butterfly buffet with this delightful, showy annual. Clusters of large spidery blooms stand atop tall stems and lend the plant its common name of spider flower. Flower clusters are commonly two-toned, with the newest blooms opening a deep rose to magenta pink that fade with age. Plants bloom all summer long and into fall. They reseed themselves in the garden but are not considered invasive. 05 of 18 Foxglove Getty Images/Irina Pislari Botanical Name: Digitalis purpureaSun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Type: Medium, well-draining, average to richSoil pH: Slightly acidic (5.5-6.5) Add cottage charm to the garden with towering spikes of foxglove. This old-fashioned beauty produces spires of tubular, funnel bell-shaped blooms that attract hummingbirds and other pollinators. Foxgloves are biennial, producing a rosette of basal leaves in their first growing season and flowering in their second year. Plant in back-to-back years for early summer blooms every season as plants reseed in the garden. Note that foxglove is poisonous to people and pets. 06 of 18 Dahlia Photo: Alison Miksch Botanical Name: Dahlia hybridsSun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Type: Moist, well-draining, richSoil pH: Slightly acidic to neutral (6.0-7.5) Blooming mid to late summer, dahlias dazzle with bountiful blooms in a range of colors, shapes, and sizes. From single, anemone-like blossoms to dinner-plate sized flower heads bursting with petals, dahlias are truly remarkable in their diversity. These tender perennials are winter hardy only to USDA Hardiness Zone 7. Elsewhere, the tubers need to be dug after the first frost, dried for a day, and stored in a cool, dry location for the winter. 07 of 18 Egyptian Star Flower Getty Images Botanical Name: Pentas lanceolataSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Type: Medium, well-draining, average fertilitySoil pH: Slightly acidic (6.0-6.5) Named for its rounded clusters of star-shaped blooms, Egyptian star flower is a rugged selection for gardeners throughout the South and beyond. Butterflies and hummingbirds are drawn to the flower heads, which cover plants from summer through fall. This tender perennial is grown as an herbaceous perennial in Zones 10 and 11 and planted as an annual in cooler regions. Plants tolerate heat and humidity, as well as some drought and can be grown easily from seed or cutting. Pinch back young plants to encourage bushier growth. 08 of 18 Azalea Getty Images Botanical Name: Rhododendron species and hybridsSun Exposure: Partial shade; dappled sunSoil Type: Medium, well-draining, richSoil pH: Acidic (4.5-6.0) Azaleas thrive throughout the South, making them a perennial favorite. These low-maintenance shrubs are adored for their prolific spring bloom. Plants flower in a range of hues, with blossoms lasting several weeks. Many newer selections rebloom throughout the year, providing pops of color throughout summer and a flush of blooms in fall. You can extend the spring bloom season by combining early- and late-blooming varieties. Strive to stay within the same color family for a pleasing display. 09 of 18 False Spirea Getty Images/Jana Milin Botanical Name: Astilbe japonicaSun Exposure: Partial to Full shade; dappled sunSoil Type: Moist, well-draining, richSoil pH: Slightly acidic to neutral (6.0-7.0) The feathery plumes of astilbe add welcome color to shade and woodlands gardens. Astilbe can be a problem solver in challenging shade gardens. They tolerate heavy shade, resist deer and rabbit browsing, and can be planted beneath black walnut trees. The flowers attract pollinators, while the blooms and ferny foliage beautify the landscape. 10 of 18 Camellia Getty Images/Ana Iacob Botanical Name: Camellia species and hybridsSun Exposure: Partial to full shadeSoil Type: Moist to average, well-draining, richSoil pH: Slightly acidic (5.5-6.5) Producing stunning rose-like blooms, camellias are a staple of the Southern landscape. Two of the most common garden camellias both offer pink varieties but differ in their bloom times. Camellia sasanqua flowers late fall into winter when many other flowering plants have gone dormant. Flowering time of Japanese camellias, Camellia japonica, varies greatly depending on the variety. Some bloom as early as October, others flower as late as mid-March. Take care to provide these evergreen shrubs a protected location . 11 of 18 Garden Phlox Getty Images/Jacky Parker Photography Botanical Name: Phlox paniculataSun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Type: Medium, well-draining, average fertilitySoil pH: Slightly acidic to slightly alkaline (6.0-8.0) This native beauty shines in the summer garden with an abundance of blooms beloved by gardeners and hummingbirds alike. Blossoms come in an array of hues, including many cheerful pinks. The long-lasting blooms stand atop tall stems and make lovely cut flowers. Be sure to provide good air circulation around plants to combat powdery mildew and consider using the newer disease-resistant cultivars. 12 of 18 Petunia Getty Images/Olena Lialina Botanical Name: Petunia hybridsSun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Type: Medium, well-draining, average fertilitySoil pH: Slightly acidic (6.0-7.0) There’s good reason petunias are among the most popular bedding plants—they are relentless bloomers! Flowering spring to frost in vibrant shades with names like ‘Raspberry Blast’ and ‘Bubblegum’, petunias are incredibly easy to grow and endlessly rewarding. Plants flower best in full sun. Pinch back young plants to encourage a bushier habit and deadhead for optimal flower production. Petunias are tender perennials commonly grown as annuals, but are winter hardy in Zones 10 to 11. 13 of 18 Cosmos Getty Images Botanical Name: Cosmos bipinnatusSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Type: Medium to dry, well-draining, average fertility Soil pH: Neutral to slightly alkaline (7.0-8.0) This delightful heat-loving annual is a butterfly magnet. The daisy-like blooms twirl skirts of silky petals around a golden eye, soaking up the sun. Cosmos attract a diversity of pollinators including many native bee species, and the seeds are eaten by white-throated sparrows, mourning doves, and American goldfinches. Plants self-seed in the garden for delightful blooms year after year. 14 of 18 Coneflower Southern Living/Adrienne Legault Botanical Name: Echinacea species and hybridsSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Type: Medium to dry, well-draining, average fertility Soil pH: Slightly acidic to neutral (5.5-7.0) Despite one of their common names, purple coneflower, echinacea are really more pink than purple. This native wildflower is perfect for massing in beds and borders, where the long-lasting blooms attract butterflies and other pollinators. In autumn, songbirds like the American goldfinch feast on the nutritious seeds. To attract birds and butterflies, select single-flowered cultivars, as the pompom-like double varieties are sterile. 15 of 18 Dianthus Getty Images Botanical Name: Dianthus species and hybridsSun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Type: Medium, well-draining, average fertilitySoil pH: Neutral to slightly alkaline (7.0-8.0) Although the common name “pinks” does not refer to the flower color, this perennial comes in a range of rosy hues. The name instead refers to the fringed or frilled edges of the petals, which look like they’ve been trimmed with pinking shears. The blooms are often rather fragrant, with a spicy clove-like scent. Some species are low-growing and boast evergreen foliage, others stand taller but die back to the ground in winter. 16 of 18 Hardy Hibiscus Getty Images/Suzanna Ruby Botanical Name: Hibiscus hybridsSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Type: Medium to wet, well-draining, richSoil pH: Slightly acidic to neutral (5.5-7.5) This showstopper boasts larger flowers and bolder foliage than its tropical cousins, with some varieties producing dinner-plate sized blooms. Best of all, hardy hibiscus can survive winter temperatures by going dormant, unlike tropical hibiscus which can’t survive below Zone 10. All this while bringing plenty of flair to the garden. Hardy hibiscus plants are bred from an often-complex mixture of species native to the southeastern US, making them well suited to the Southern landscape. 17 of 18 Peonies Southern Living/Adrienne Legault Botanical Name: Paeonia lactifloraSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Type: Moist, well drainedSoil pH: Slightly acidic, neutral (6.5-7.0) Peonies not only look beautiful when their pink blooms burst in your garden, but they also make a great cut flower as well for enjoying in a vase inside your home. When correctly cared for and loved, since peonies are perennial flowers, they can last for decades and are often passed down from generation to generation. 18 of 18 Chinese Fringe Flower Joshua McCullough/Getty Images Botanical Name: Loropetalum chinenseSun Exposure: Full, PartialSoil Type: Well-draining, Rich, LoamySoil pH: Acidic to Neutral (4.0 to 7.0) Chinese Fringe Flower not only features a pink bursting bloom, but the leaves are deep in color offering added interest to the garden even when the plant is not in bloom. It's a low-maintenance perennial that will flower beautifully, as long as it receives enough sun, which should be at least four hours per day. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit