Flower dictionary
A quick, plain-language guide to the flowers your local florist works with — what each one symbolizes, the colors and seasons to expect, how to keep it fresh, and the moments it suits. Use it to pick the perfect stem, then find a florist to arrange it.
Tulip
Tulipa
A clean, cup-shaped bloom that keeps growing after it is cut — the unmistakable signal that spring has arrived.
Spring
Sunflower
Helianthus annuus
The big, sunny face of summer — sturdy, long-lasting, and impossible to look at without smiling.
Summer–Autumn
Carnation
Dianthus caryophyllus
The hardest-working flower in the cooler — ruffled, long-lasting, and available in every shade imaginable.
Year-round
Gerbera Daisy
Gerbera jamesonii
The cheerful, saturated daisy in candy colors that reads pure celebration.
Year-round
Ranunculus
Ranunculus asiaticus
Tissue-paper petals wound into a perfect swirl — delicate to look at, surprisingly long-lasting in the vase.
Spring
Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemum morifolium
The dependable backbone of autumn design — dense, durable, and available in countless forms.
Autumn
Alstroemeria
Alstroemeria
The Peruvian lily — clusters of speckled, lily-like blooms that outlast nearly everything beside them.
Year-round
Freesia
Freesia
A slender stem of buds that open in a curving row, carrying one of the sweetest scents in the cooler.
Spring
Dahlia
Dahlia
A geometric showpiece ranging from tidy pompons to dinner-plate blooms wider than a hand.
Summer–Autumn
Snapdragon
Antirrhinum majus
Tall spires of pouched blooms that add height, movement, and a playful pinch-and-snap for children.
Spring–Summer
Lisianthus
Eustoma grandiflorum
A rose-like bloom with a delicate, crepe-paper ruffle and a graceful, long-lasting habit.
Summer
Protea
Protea
A bold, otherworldly bloom the size of a fist that turns any arrangement into a conversation piece.
Autumn–Winter
Aster
Symphyotrichum
A star-shaped, daisy-like bloom that scatters cheerful color and fine texture through mixed bouquets.
Autumn
Marigold
Tagetes
Dense, ruffled pompons in fiery gold and orange, rich with cultural meaning and warm color.
Summer–Autumn
Amaryllis
Hippeastrum
Enormous trumpet blooms atop a tall, bold stem — the dramatic star of the winter and holiday season.
Winter
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