Even the best-planned flower beds can use a vibrant update from time to time. From brilliant fuschia to blazing orange to chartreuse green, the neon plant world has plenty of vivid colors to add a lively zest to the garden.
In this article, we’ll explore 21 plants that produce bright, neon flowers to enliven your garden. With a little creativity, you can easily amp up the color in your landscape.
Cut and Come Again Zinnia
Cut and Come Again Zinnia Seeds
Crackerjack Marigolds
Crackerjack African Marigold Seeds
Torch Mexican Sunflower
Torch Mexican Sunflower Seeds
Bee Balm ‘Pardon My Cerise’
This dwarf variety of bee balm boasts cherry-pink flowers.
Bee balm is a dependable flowering perennial. ‘Pardon My Cherise’ is a dwarf bee balm variety that grows only two feet tall. This perennial produces dense clusters of tubular flowers, creating quite a show.
‘Pardon My Cherise’ has brightly colored flowers in a deep shade of cherry-pink. Adding a cluster of these plants to the front of a perennial border brings a bold splash of color to attract butterflies and other pollinators.
Bee balm is a great companion plant to grow near your tomatoes. It attracts pollinators to boost fruiting, and it is said to improve the flavor of tomatoes.
Begonia ‘NonstopⓇ Mocca Bright Orange’
Plant ‘Nonstop Mocca Bright Orange’ begonias in containers or hanging baskets.
If your yard has a lot of shade, Nonstop begonias are the perfect plant to give you a boost of season-long color. ‘Mocca Bright Orange’ is loaded with double flowers in a shocking shade of orange. These flowers are backed by deep green or purple foliage, which makes the color pop even more.
Nonstop begonias are self-cleaning. Their flowers are large and continue blooming into the fall. Plant ‘Mocca Bright Orange’ in containers or hanging baskets for the ultimate effect.
Celosia ‘Flamingo’
The ‘Flamingo’ celosia grows up to three feet tall.
‘Flamingo’ celosia is unlike the celosia plants you may be used to. These plants can grow to three feet tall and produce pink plume-like flowers that dance around in your garden. As the pink fades from these flowers, they turn silver, hence the flamingo nickname.
Celosia is a beautiful annual flower that attracts pollinators to your garden. Add this annual to containers, or plant it in a border garden for a playful pop of pink.
Clematis ‘Mrs. N. Thompson’
This flowering vine reaches up to 9 feet and suits gardens with limited space.
There are so many types of clematis to choose from. When it comes to bright colors, ‘Mrs. N. Thompson’ is the perfect choice. This variety produces large flowers that can reach up to six inches! They bloom in a rich violet purple adorned with red stripes down the center of each petal.
‘Mrs. N. Thompson’ is a dwarf variety that will only climb to about 9 feet. This can be helpful for small space gardeners without the room for standard clematis that vine over 20 feet. Try planting this variety in a large container, and don’t forget to use supports!
Cleome ‘Violet Queen’
This cleome self-seeds readily but requires deadheading to control its return.
If you are looking for a pop of color and unique visual interest, cleome is the perfect plant for you. While there are many shades of this flower, from white to pink, ‘Violet Queen’ produces large and bright violet flowers. The stamens of the flowers are very long, adding to the spidery appearance of the large flower balls.
Cleome will self-seed regularly. Be ready to deadhead if you do not want these plants to return. I have seen gardens where cleome has been a yearly staple, and they return with great success simply from the seeds that fall to the ground. Plant in a container, or find a permanent home for these beauties.
Coleus ‘Colorblaze Lime Time’
Mix ‘Colorblaze Lime Time’ with other varieties for a stunning display.
Shady corners of our gardens can always use a pop of color. Coleus is the perfect plant for areas with less sun. ‘Colorblaze Lime Time’ produces bright lime green leaves and stems. Pair this annual with petunias or begonias in containers, or add it directly into your flower beds.
When your coleus produces flowers, pinch them back to encourage more foliar growth. Mix ‘Colorblaze Lime Time’ with other coleus cultivars for a stunning foliar display.
Coral Bells ‘Timeless Glow’
These are versatile, low-maintenance perennials ideal for bedding or containers.
Coral bells are beautiful and dependable perennials often grown for their foliage, which can come in a wide range of colors. ‘Timeless Grow’ produces bright pink flowers that you will not want to deadhead. These flowers grow on deep purple stems for fun contrast.
Coral bells make great bedding and container plants. This low-maintenance perennial is beautiful when grown alone or planted en masse.
Cosmos ‘Diablo’
The ‘Diablo’ cosmos features vibrant red or orange flowers atop tall stems.
‘Diablo’ cosmos makes a bright and whimsical addition to any sunny garden. These plants can grow up to five feet and are very easy to grow from seed! Show red or orange flowers bloom atop the tall stems and lacy foliage.
Deadhead your spent cosmos as the season goes on to promote further blooming. This annual is beautiful in window boxes and containers but is especially fun in flower beds amongst perennials.
Echinacea ‘Sunny Days Ruby’
The ‘Sunny Days Ruby’ Echinacea features bright red double flowers.
Echinacea, commonly known as coneflower, is a tried and true perennial with dozens of beautiful varieties. ‘Sunny Days Ruby’ produces bright red double flowers with a pom pom center. Not only do these plants add neon-hued brightness to your garden, but they are attractive to beneficial insects.
Echinacea is simple to care for and has low water requirements once established. Deadheading is necessary if you do not want this plant to self-seed. Snipping any spent blossoms will prevent any volunteer plants from sprouting. But if you are open to having more plants, just let the seed heads be, and they will provide food for birds.
Geranium ‘Americana Rose Ice’
Regularly removing spent blossoms of geranium plants ensures vibrant summer-long color.
Zonal geraniums are beloved bedding annuals. They are great for flower beds, as well as containers and window boxes. ‘Americana Rose Ice’ produces gorgeous flowers in a shade of coral pink.
Deadhead spent blossoms regularly for summer-long color. This is a classic plant in many of our gardens, but it is easy to give it a refresh by pairing it with unexpected plants and brighter flowers. Try lantana, snapdragons, or black grass for a change.
Impatiens ‘Infinity Cherry Red’
These neon garden plants boast glowing red blooms and elegant deep green foliage.
New Guinea impatiens can brighten up shady spaces with minimal effort. ‘Infinity Cherry Red’ provides a glowing shade of red that almost appears to glow. The foliage is ovate and elegant in a deep shade of green.
If you are a low-maintenance gardener, ‘Infinity Cherry Red’ is perfect for you. These annuals self-clean and continue to bloom and grow all season long.
Lantana ‘Luscious Royale Red Zone’
Removing spent flowers from the lantana plant prevents it from seeding.
Lantana is one of the more versatile annuals you can grow if you have a bright and hot summer garden. ‘Luscious Royale Red Zone’ produces clusters of tiny red flowers. These clusters will also have a few red and orange flowers mixed in for a fun bi-color appearance. The clusters will bloom along the trailing stems alongside the small, dark green foliage.
Lantana can be planted in window boxes or your flower beds, but you should prune it in warmer zones to keep it the size you want it to be. Deadheading lantana will prevent it from going to seed and will keep flowers blooming. ‘Luscious Royale Red Zone’ is sterile, and while it may produce seeds, you do not need to worry about new plants popping up.
Marigold ‘Crackerjack’
These flowers are praised for their pleasant aroma and critter-repellent qualities in gardens.
‘Crackerjack’ marigolds are giant African marigolds. These tall marigold plants bloom in neon orange or yellow, adding a striking focal point to the garden. The giant floral balls reach up to four inches. These flowers bloom atop sturdy stems that are loaded with beautiful lacey leaves.
Marigolds are beautiful plants that often get a bad rep. They do have an interesting aroma, which I find to be pleasant and fresh. Due to this aroma, marigolds are said to help keep critters away from your veggie gardens. Plant a border around your veggies, and add them to window boxes or flower beds.
Milkweed
Attractive butterfly milkweed enhances gardens with its neon orange blossoms.
Butterfly milkweed is a beautiful flowering plant that with attractive neon orange blossoms and many benefits for your garden. This perennial produces clusters of flowers on top of sturdy stems. When the plant is not in bloom, it remains attractive with medium green and glossy leaves.
Butterfly milkweed is a pollinator magnet. This plant is the main source of food for Monarch butterflies. Plant milkweed alongside other pollinator-friendly plants, such as coneflowers, for a bright and active garden.
Petunia ‘Supertunia Persimmon’
This bi-colored petunia has glowing orange flowers and medium green trailing foliage.
Petunias are a summer staple in many gardens, and ‘Supertunia Persimmon’ has all the qualities of the petunia plants you love, plus glowing bi-colored neon flowers. These flowers bloom in orange with a yellow center. The foliage of this petunia is medium green and trailing.
Just because petunias are so often used for their trailing qualities does not mean you cannot plant these annuals in your flower beds. They are very nice mounded plants that can cover a good amount of area as the season progresses.
Rose ‘Orange Glow’
The ‘Orange Glow’ variety of Knockout roses promises season-long blooming.
A brand new variety of Knockout roses may fit the bill for your neon garden. ‘Orange glow’ is a good-sized shrub, producing gorgeous large orange blossoms. As with the other Knockout varieties, you can count on season-long blooming and easy care— at least for a rose!
Plant ‘Orange Glow’ in a mass planting for a glowing display, or add one plant to a large patio pot to bring a pop of color to your deck.
Salvia ‘Rockin Fuschia’
Incorporate ‘Rockin Fuschia’ in mixed containers for a low-maintenance summer display.
‘Rockin fuschia’ salvia is just that— rockin! This color of salvia is stunning! Each fuschia- colored flower comes with a black calyx, accentuating the brightness of its pink hue. The foliage on this saliva is a dark shade of green.
Add ‘Rockin Fuschia’ to your mixed containers where you want a bright pop of color, or add this variety to your flower beds in a mass planting for a beautiful summer display. This plant is easy to care for. There is no need to deadhead; just sit back, relax, and watch the flower show.
Sedum ‘Lemon Coral’
The ‘Lemon Coral’ sedum boasts soft, lime-green foliage on creeping branches.
Sedum is an excellent plant for gardens that are hot and dry. ‘Lemon Coral’ is a low-growing sedum that produces lime-green neon foliage. The foliage is soft to the touch and will grow into creeping branches.
‘Lemon Coral’ is a beautiful container plant. Its branches spill over the edges of your pots, creating a dreamy appearance. ‘Lemon Coral’ is also a great bedding plant. Its mat-forming growth habit can be useful for minimizing erosion.
Sunflower ‘Torch’
Removing spent flowers from the ‘Torch’ sunflower can prolong its flowering period.
This variety of sunflower is not a true sunflower; it is a Mexican sunflower! The ‘Torch’ sunflower produces 3-4 inch bright orange daisy-like flowers. These flowers will bloom all over the stems of this tall annual, creating a season-like flower display.
Mexican sunflowers have a bushy growth habit, unlike many of the single-stem sunflowers you may be more accustomed to. Deadhead spent flowers to extend the bloom period of this pretty annual.
Sweet Pea ‘Mammoth Blend’
These are versatile plants ideal for hanging baskets or climbing on trellises.
Sweet peas are elegant plants with rainbows of fragrant flowers. These plants are great for hanging baskets. The vines and foliage are an attractive soft green providing a perfect backdrop for the flowers.
These leguminous vines are very good climbers. Plant a few along a trellis, and you will have a gorgeous privacy screen for the summertime.
Zinnia ‘Cut and Come Again ’
The ‘Cut and Come Again’ zinnia is ideal for brightening gardens all summer.
Zinnias are very common annuals for a summer garden. ‘Cut and Come Again’ zinnias are a mix of varieties with different colors and heights. This mix offers neon-hued and gem-colored flowers that will rebloom all summer long with simple deadheading.
Zinnias can be grown in flower beds, containers, and window boxes. This easy-to-grow annual is perfect for perking up any garden.
Final Thoughts
Head to your local garden center and take a stroll down the aisles. Use this above list as an inspirational guide. Select bright and colorful plants that you love. The only thing you need to keep in mind is the type of light and soil conditions your garden receives. This can help you narrow down your plant selections until you find the perfect plant.
If you truly love a plant that requires different growing conditions than your garden, consider picking up a new colorful container as well. Place this new happy pot on your patio or space in your yard where it will grow happily.
