21 Beautiful Flowers That Start with K

flowers that start with k

Ever tried naming flowers at a garden center and felt stuck after roses and tulips?

Most of us know the common ones, but when it comes to flowers that start with k, things get quiet fast. Yet K holds some real gems.

From heat-loving succulents that bloom all winter indoors to towering spikes that hummingbirds fight over, this letter packs variety you never expected.

Some have fuzzy blooms shaped like animal paws. Others turn fiery red come fall. This guide walks you through flowers beginning with K, complete with their origins, colors, and how to use them in your space.

Ready to expand your plant vocabulary?

What Defines a Flower?

A flower is the reproductive part of a flowering plant, produced by plants that belong to the angiosperm group, while foliage plants are grown mainly for their leaves rather than blooms.

In plant lists, a flower can be identified by either its common name or its scientific (botanical) name, and both are valid as long as the plant produces true flowers.

Including both names helps avoid confusion, since the same flower may have different common names in different regions.

Flowers Beginning with K: Complete Name List

Looking for flowers that start with k to add to your garden or home? This K flower names list gives you 21 options, from low-care to show-stopping shrubs that will make your neighbors stop and stare.

1. Kalanchoe

kalanchoe blossfeldiana indoor succulent

This succulent brightens windowsills with tiny blooms packed into colorful clusters. It needs little water and flowers for months at a time.

Category Details
Botanical Name Kalanchoe blossfeldiana
Origin Madagascar
Color Range Red, pink, orange, yellow, white
Best Use Indoor potted plant, desk decor
Bloom Time Winter to spring
Height 6-12 inches
Light Needs Bright indirect light

2. Kalmia

kalmia mountain laurel pink

Pink and white cup-shaped blooms make this evergreen shrub a woodland favorite. The flowers have intricate patterns that look hand-painted.

Category Details
Botanical Name Kalmia latifolia
Origin Eastern North America
Color Range Pink, white, rose
Best Use Shade gardens, naturalized areas
Bloom Time Late spring
Height 5-15 feet
Light Needs Partial to full shade

3. Korean Spice Viburnum

Korean Spice Viburnum

This shrub fills spring gardens with intensely fragrant pink and white flower clusters. The scent can reach you from 20 feet away on a warm day.

Category Details
Botanical Name Viburnum carlesii
Origin Korea, Japan
Color Range Pink buds opening to white, blushed pink
Best Use Foundation plantings, fragrance gardens, near patios
Bloom Time Early to mid spring
Height 4-6 feet
Light Needs Full sun to partial shade

4. Kniphofia

Kniphofia

Tall spikes burst into flame colored blooms that hummingbirds cannot resist. These poker shaped flowers stand out in any bed.

Category Details
Botanical Name Kniphofia uvaria
Origin South Africa
Color Range Red, orange, yellow, coral
Best Use Back of borders, focal points
Bloom Time Summer to fall
Height 2-4 feet
Light Needs Full sun

5. Knautia

Knautia

Wild-looking pincushion blooms attract butterflies and bees by the dozen. This cottage garden staple self-seeds freely.

Category Details
Botanical Name Knautia arvensis
Origin Europe
Color Range Purple, lilac, pink
Best Use Wildflower meadows, pollinator gardens
Bloom Time Summer
Height 2-3 feet
Light Needs Full sun to light shade

6. Kolkwitzia

Kolkwitzia

Arching branches get covered in pink trumpet blooms each spring. This old-fashioned shrub earned its common name honestly.

Category Details
Botanical Name Kolkwitzia amabilis
Origin China
Color Range Soft pink with yellow throat
Best Use Specimen plant, hedging
Bloom Time Late spring
Height 6-10 feet
Light Needs Full sun

7. Kerria Japonica

Kerria Japonica

Bright yellow pompom flowers appear on green stems even when leaves fall off. This tough shrub handles shade better than most bloomers.

Category Details
Botanical Name Kerria japonica
Origin China, Japan
Color Range Golden yellow
Best Use Foundation plantings, hedges
Bloom Time Spring
Height 3-6 feet
Light Needs Part shade to full sun

8. Kiss Me Over The Garden Gate

Kiss Me Over The Garden Gate

Long drooping pink flower spikes nod over fences and walls. This old cottage plant got its romantic name from its height and charm.

Category Details
Botanical Name Persicaria orientalis
Origin Asia
Color Range Rose pink, magenta
Best Use Back borders, screening
Bloom Time Summer to frost
Height 4-8 feet
Light Needs Full sun to part shade

9. Kalimeris

Kalimeris

Small daisy flowers keep coming from summer through fall without a break. This perennial spreads to fill gaps but never becomes a pest.

Category Details
Botanical Name Kalimeris incisa
Origin East Asia
Color Range White, lavender, blue
Best Use Front borders, containers
Bloom Time Summer to fall
Height 1-2 feet
Light Needs Full sun to part shade

10. Kochia

Kochia

This plant starts green, then turns brilliant red in autumn, as if it caught fire. Though not grown for flowers, its seasonal color steals the show.

Category Details
Botanical Name Kochia scoparia
Origin Central Asia
Color Range Green to crimson red foliage
Best Use Annual hedges, fall color
Bloom Time Insignificant flowers
Height 2-3 feet
Light Needs Full sun

11. Knautia Macedonica

Knautia Macedonica

Deep crimson pincushion flowers float on wiry stems above basal leaves. This perennial brings rich color to summer borders.

Category Details
Botanical Name Knautia macedonica
Origin Southeastern Europe
Color Range Deep red, burgundy
Best Use Cottage gardens, cutting
Bloom Time Summer
Height 2 feet
Light Needs Full sun

12. Kudzu

Kudzu

Purple pea-shaped flowers smell sweet, but this vine grows too fast for most gardens. It can cover entire buildings in one season.

Category Details
Botanical Name Pueraria montana
Origin East Asia
Color Range Purple, violet
Best Use Not recommended (invasive)
Bloom Time Late summer
Height Climbing to 60+ feet
Light Needs Full sun to part shade

13. Kalanchoe Thyrsiflora

Kalanchoe Thyrsiflora

Stacked paddle-shaped leaves turn from green to red at the edges. Small bell flowers dangle from tall stems in winter.

Category Details
Botanical Name Kalanchoe thyrsiflora
Origin South Africa
Color Range Yellow-green flowers, red-edged foliage
Best Use Containers, succulent gardens
Bloom Time Winter
Height 1-2 feet
Light Needs Full sun to part shade

14. Kangaroo Paw Bush Gem

Kangaroo Paw Bush Gem

This variety has especially vibrant claw flowers in multiple colors per stem. It handles heat and drought once established.

Category Details
Botanical Name Anigozanthos manglesii
Origin Western Australia
Color Range Red and green bicolor
Best Use Feature plant, native gardens
Bloom Time Spring to early summer
Height 2-3 feet
Light Needs Full sun

15. Kalmia Latifolia Compacta

Kalmia Latifolia Compacta

All the beauty of mountain laurel is packed into a smaller form, perfect for tight spaces. The pink blooms have purple markings inside each flower.

Category Details
Botanical Name Kalmia latifolia ‘Compacta’
Origin Eastern North America (cultivar)
Color Range Pink with purple spots
Best Use Small gardens, containers
Bloom Time Late spring
Height 3-4 feet
Light Needs Partial shade

16. King Protea

King Protea

Massive artichoke-like blooms can reach 12 inches across with spiky pink petals. This South African icon makes a statement wherever it grows.

Category Details
Botanical Name Protea cynaroides
Origin South Africa
Color Range Pink, white, red
Best Use Specimen, cut flowers
Bloom Time Spring to summer
Height 3-5 feet
Light Needs Full sun

17. Keckiella

Keckiella

Small tubular flowers attract hummingbirds to this California native shrub. It thrives in dry conditions once roots establish.

Category Details
Botanical Name Keckiella cordifolia
Origin California
Color Range Yellow, cream
Best Use Native gardens, dry slopes
Bloom Time Late spring to summer
Height 3-6 feet
Light Needs Full sun to part shade

18. Klematis

Klematis

Large star or bell-shaped blooms climb fences, trellises, and arbors with ease. Hundreds of varieties exist in nearly every color except true blue.

Category Details
Botanical Name Clematis spp.
Origin Various (worldwide)
Color Range Purple, pink, white, red, yellow
Best Use Climbing on supports
Bloom Time Spring, summer, or fall, depending on the type
Height 6-20+ feet
Light Needs Sun on flowers, shade on roots

19. Kosteletzkya

Kosteletzkya

Pink hibiscus-style flowers bloom in marshy areas where most plants drown. This wetland specialist handles standing water.

Category Details
Botanical Name Kosteletzkya virginica
Origin Eastern United States
Color Range Pink, rose
Best Use Rain gardens, pond edges
Bloom Time Summer to fall
Height 3-5 feet
Light Needs Full sun

20. Knotweed

Knotweed

Some varieties offer small white or pink flower clusters on fast-spreading plants. Certain types help hold soil on slopes and banks.

Category Details
Botanical Name Polygonum spp.
Origin Worldwide
Color Range White, pink, red
Best Use Ground cover, erosion control (use non-invasive types)
Bloom Time Summer to fall
Height 6 inches to 3 feet
Light Needs Full sun to part shade

21. Kochia Scoparia Green Fountain

Kochia Scoparia Green Fountain

Feathery green columns turn deep burgundy red in cool fall weather. This annual works as a quick, temporary hedge or accent.

Category Details
Botanical Name Kochia scoparia’ Green Fountain.’
Origin Central Asia (cultivar)
Color Range Lime green to dark red foliage
Best Use Annual borders, privacy screen
Bloom Time Flowers insignificant
Height 3-5 feet
Light Needs Full sun

Bringing It All Together

There you have it. Flowers that start with k, each with its own personality and growing needs.

From tiny indoor kalanchoes to massive king proteas, this letter offers more variety than most people realize. Some thrive in shade while others need full sun.

Some want wet soil, and others prefer drought. The best part? You now know exactly where each one fits in your garden or home.

Pick one that matches your climate and space. Start small if you’re new to gardening. Which K flower caught your eye? Drop a comment below and tell us which one you’ll try first. Happy planting!

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