What do you look for in a flower? Is it fragrance or beauty? Taste or medicinal benefits? Luckily, this list has all of that and more.
From roses and geraniums to medicinal plants and flowering cacti. Get ready to be stunned by this stunning list of flowers that start with R.
What are your flower needs? Are you curious or looking for a new addition to your garden?
Keep on reading for detailed information on the different plants, their bloom dates, sizes, and some interesting symbolism. Ready or not, here we grow!
1-Rose
The rose made it to the top of our list for being the most famous of the flowers that start with R. I mean, who doesn’t know what a rose is?
It belongs to the Rosaceae family and is native to North America, Northwest Africa, Europe, and Asia. Also, the rose is one of the oldest flowers in existence.
Roses come in a variety of colors and every color has a different symbolic meaning. Some colors represent purity, some colors represent strength and some colors represent love.
Many people are unaware of the fact that roses are actually edible flowers. They bloom from the end of May until early in the fall.
- Water: Water deeply once per week
- Soil PH: 6 – 6.5
- Sun: Full sun to partial shade ( depending on rose)
2-Rain Lily
The Rain Lily, also known as Zephyranthes, is a perennial plant that belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family. It is native to the southeastern United States and is often used as an ornamental flower.
The flower blooms in beautiful shades of orange, white, and pink. It blooms during summer and fall, so be sure to schedule your time accordingly if you want to see the Rain Lily at its finest.
When mature, the plant reaches a size of between 6-12 inches which is considered average for a plant.
- Water: Water frequently with well-drained soil
- Soil PH: 6.5 – 7.0
- Sun: Full sun to partial shade
3-Ranunculus
Ranunculus, more commonly known as the buttercup flower, is one of the most popular flowers that start with R. It is a half-hardy perennial that belongs to the Ranunculaceae family.
The flowers come in a variety of shades and colors including pink, red, and orange. You can watch their beautiful blossoms from May to August when they are in full bloom.
Symbolically, the flower represents friendship and happiness which makes it an excellent gift to give to one of your BFFs or even a new acquaintance. The Ranunculus flower usually grows to be between 14 to 16 inches tall and each flower has only 5 petals.
- Water: 1 inch of water per week during the dry season. No water during the rainy season.
- Soil PH: Acidic
- Sun: Full sun
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4-Rosemary
Rosemary is a fragrant and edible shrub with pointy leaves that is often used as a spice in a variety of dishes. Similarly to mint, Rosemary belongs to the Lamiaceae family.
It is native to Northwestern Spain, The Mediterranean, and Portugal and is one of my personal favorite plants that start with R due to its wide range of health benefits.
For starters, it can assist in improving the quality of your memory and enhance your focus. It also increases your blood circulation, works as an anti-inflammatory, and works as an antioxidant.
The rosemary shrub also has purple, white, pink, and blue flowers that blossom between the leaves.
- Water: One per week during Summer. Twice per week during other seasons.
- Soil PH: 6.0 – 7.0
- Sun: Full sun
5-Rudbeckia
Rudbeckia is a perennial plant that belongs to the Asteraceae family. It is native to Central and Eastern North America.
In my opinion, this is one of the most stunning flowers that start with R due to its thin bright yellow petals and black, ball-shaped center.
The Rudbeckia flower also sometimes looks golden with rusted-looking red and bronze coloring which adds to its beauty. It blooms from the middle of summer to the middle of fall so be sure to plant your flower on time to prevent missing the blooming season.
Also, the flower grows to be 2-3 feet tall which is a reasonable size for a flower.
- Water: Water when the soil feels dry
- Soil PH: 6.8
- Sun: Full sun
6-Rue Anemone
The Rue anemone is a perennial plant that belongs to the Ranunculaceae family. It is native to Eastern North America and is one of the more serene-looking flowers that start with R.
This gentle blossom blooms from March until June. It blossoms with pale pink or white flowers that are accompanied by soft, green foliage.
Although the flower is considered to be mildly toxic, it does come with a variety of medicinal benefits. For starters, it is used in the treatment of vomiting and diarrhea.
It is also used to treat ulcers, headaches, gout, eye infections, and even leprosy. Talk about a miracle plant!
- Water: Water mildly when the soil feels dry, but do not overwater.
- Soil PH: Acidic, Neutral, and Alkaline
- Sun: Partial shade or full sun in cool areas
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7-Rampion
Rampion is a perennial plant that, similarly to the Bellflower, belongs to the Campanulaceae family. It is native to the Mediterranean region and grows in the fields and meadows.
Rampion is primarily grown for its leaves which are edible and have a spinach-like texture. Quite surprisingly, even Rampion has a symbolic meaning attached to it.
Due to its blue flowers, it is said to represent loyalty and wisdom which are two traits that most humans strive for. Also, in Russia, Rampion has been utilized to cure hydrophobia which is one of the more interesting uses for a herb that I have heard of.
- Water: Only water the plant when you are in a long dry spell
- Soil PH: 4.8 – 7.5.
- Sun: Full sun
8-Red Valerian
Red Valerian is an ornamental plant that belongs to the Honeysuckle family. It is native to the Mediterranean and is also an edible plant.
The plant’s flowers are a beautiful shade of red as the name states and they’re surrounded by deep, green foliage.
The Red Valerian grows up to 3 feet tall and blooms from late spring until the end of summer. It also has some medicinal uses.
For example, it is often used to induce sleep and cause relaxation which makes this one of the most beneficial flowers that start with R, especially for those who suffer from anxiety or insomnia.
- Water: Only water the plant occasionally
- Soil PH: Acidic
- Sun: Full sun
9-Regal Geranium
Regal Geranium is a drop-dead gorgeous flowering plant that belongs to the Geraniaceae family. It is native to South Africa and grows to be between 5 to 36 inches tall.
The flowers come in breathtaking shades of pink, lavender, purple, white, and red with green and white foliage. Their blooming time isn’t bound to a specific season since the Regal Geranium blooms throughout all of the seasons.
This has got to be one of the most stunning flowers that start with R, in my opinion, and it would look lovely in your garden or along your deck or patio. Wherever you may decide to put it, I’m sure it will be a great addition!
- Water: Water deeply twice per week
- Soil PH: 5.5 – 6.0
- Sun: Morning sun and partial afternoon shade
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10-Rose Geranium
If you’re looking for a fragrant plant with a whole list of medicinal benefits I have some great news for you! Rose Geranium is one of my favorite plants that start with R mostly because it has a strong rose-like aroma and medical properties.
Similarly to the Regal Geranium, Rose Geranium also belongs to the Geraniaceae family. It is native to parts of Africa and is also known as “sweet-scented geranium.”
You can make a great-tasting tea out of the plant’s leaves or simply chew on them to get the medicinal benefits. Some of them include that it helps for depression, anxiety, nerve pain, diarrhea and it is an antioxidant. Rose Geranium is truly a miracle plant.
- Water: Water to prevent the soil from going dry, but do not overwater
- Soil PH: 5.5 – 7.0
- Sun Full sun to partial shade
11-Reticulated Iris
A Reticulated Iris is a perennial plant that belongs to the Iridaceae family. It is native to the Caucasus, Iran, Turkey, and Northern Iraq. The spectacular flower comes in a variety of colors including white, purple-blue, and yellow.
It grows to be between 5 to 6 inches tall and blooms from Mach until early April. The Reticulated Iris is another one of the breathtaking flowers that start with an R and it is often praised for its purple-blue flowers that have a golden crest.
It also represents hope, faith, wisdom, and compliments (depending on the color) which are all great traits for anybody to have.
- Water: Water every 7-10 days
- Soil PH: 6.8
- Sun: Full sun to partial shade
12-Rose Mallow
The Rose Mallow, also known as Hibiscus moscheutos, is a perennial plant that belongs to the Hibiscaceae family. It is native to the Eastern United States where it grows in the swamps and wetlands.
The Rose Mallow is another one of the drop-dead gorgeous flowers that start with R and it comes in a variety of colors. You can find them in vibrant colors of pink, white, yellow, and red.
Also, it has some medicinal benefits of its own. The Rose Mallow has often been used to treat inflammation of the urinary tract as well as digestive disorders.
So, if you’re looking for a flower that has the elements of beauty and healing, you have just found it!
- Water: Water deeply 2 to 3 times a week during hot weather
- Soil PH: 5.5 – 7.5
- Sun: Full sun
13-Rodgersia Pinnata
Rodgersia Pinnata is another one of the perennial flowers that start with R and it belongs to the Saxifragaceae family. It is native to China and is a deer-resistant plant. (Thankfully.)
The plant grows to be roughly 4 feet tall and has a cluster of flowers at the top. Once the flowers bloom they are usually different shades of pink or white, but may have yellow, white, or pink buds.
Their leaves experience slight discoloration and become purple-bronze during springtime. After this, they become bright green when the flowers start blooming from the middle of summer until late in summer.
- Water: Rodgersia Pinnata is a water-loving plant and can be grown in a pond or near water.
- Soil PH: Neutral, Alkaline, or Acidic
- Sun: Full sun
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14-Rose of Sharon
The Rose of Sharon is a hardy perennial plant that, similarly to the Mallow, belongs to the Malvaceae family. This is also one of the more popular flowers that start with R and it is mentioned in legends and religious texts.
It is native to Eastern Asia and is widely used as an ornamental flower. The Rose of Sharon comes in a variety of awe-striking colors.
Some of these colors include blue, red, lavender, pink, white and some have more than one color. These vibrant flowers bloom from the end of June and often continue to bloom until September which is quite a long bloom time for flowers.
- Water: One inch of water per week (if there is no rain)
- Soil PH: 5.5 – 7.5
- Sun: Full sun
15-Rebutia
Rebutia is a beautiful flowering cactus that is native to Argentina and Bolivia. In my opinion, it is also one of the best plants that start with R because it gives both flower lovers and succulent lovers the perfect combination of what they want and need.
The cactus itself has one or more, small and hairy ball-like shapes with sharp pins sticking out of them. At the top of each cactus, you’ll see the beautiful blooming flowers that come in a variety of colors.
The flowers can either be red, orange, white, orange-red, or yellow. Also, the cactus grows to be about 6 inches in size which makes it manageable as a houseplant. I’m not sure about you, but the Rebutia cactus is going straight onto my wish-list.
- Water: Water once per week in the summer
- Soil PH: Slightly acidic
- Sun: Full sun to partial shade
Conclusion
I’m sure that you’ll agree that there are some stunning flowers on this list and most of them aren’t that difficult to plant. If you’re not a flower person, but you’re looking for a scented plant to grow, you can always go with some Rosemary or Rose Geranium.
Otherwise, if you are looking for a beautiful flower to grow, why not try some Regal Geranium. Alternatively, if you’re looking for a succulent and a flower in one, the Rebutia Cactus is the way to go. So, don’t hesitate. Start planting and watch your efforts grow!
PS: Don’t forget to check out our exciting list of exquisite flowers that start with E.
