January 012017
151 Types of Flowers Common in the U.S.
Did you know there are over 400,000 plant species across the world? In other wordsthat’s more than the number of birdbutterfly and bee speciescombined! While many flowers grow naturally in forestsgrasslandsdeserts and tundrasgrowing your own garden or picking up some unique flowers is a great way to create your own oasis.
How do you pick the right type of flowers for your needs? With literally hundreds of thousands to choose fromit can be overwhelming! That’s why we’ve compiled our handy guide below of 151 Most Common Flower Types in the U.S. Wondering how much sun or soil your flower will need? Where it grows best? How to make a fabulous flower bouquet for your indoor table? Scroll through our alphabetical list of flower names and gardening information to find your perfect bloom!
Aconite
Aconites are one of the first bulb flowers to bloom in the spring and are known for their cheerful yellow color. Plant Aconites in a large group together and you'll be able to smell their sweethoney-like fragrance.
 | Sun Needs |
Ageratum
Also known as FlossflowerAgeratums come in bluepink and white blooms. The taller varieties are best for cutting and displaying in your homewhile the dwarf bedding varieties are best kept in the garden.
 | Sun Needs |
Artemisia
For those seeking a drought tolerant plant that doesn't make your yard look like a dessertthe Artemisia is for you. Tolerating low amounts of wateryou can create a diverse xeriscape with this silvery flower.
 | Sun Needs |
Aster
Named after the Latin word for "star," Asters will brighten up any garden. It attracts butterflies and comes in a variety of colors including blueindigovioletwhitered and pink. Unlike other colorful flowersAsters will typically stay in bloom into cooler fall months.
 | Sun Needs |
Astilbe
Astilbes are deceptively delicate with their longfern-like flowers. These flowers can actually withstand damp soil and shadewhile still growing between one to six feet tall. Perfect to add for a pop of color to a garden that typically gets little sunlight.
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Aubrieta
Named after Claude Aubrieta French artist who famously painted themAubrietas spread low with small violetpink or white flowers. If you're creating a rock gardenAubrietas are ideal as it prefers sandywell-drained soil.
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Azalea
Often referred to as "the royalty of the garden," these elegant flowers are known for their outstanding colors and foliage. With thousands of varieties to choose fromAzaleas require little maintenance once planted and can be brought inside to make a fabulous bouquet.
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Balloon Flower
Balloon flowers start as hollow buds andas it growseventually bursts open into a star-shaped flower. In addition to its beautyBalloon flowers are resilient in the garden and can handle varying sunlightwater and soil.
 | Sun Needs |
Balsam
Bring the tropics to your garden with a Balsam plant. Easy to care forit thrives in shadier spotscan tolerate heat and handle damp soil. Flowers come in almost every color of the rainbowincluding redorangeyellowvioletwhite and pink.
 | Sun Needs |
Baneberry
Perfect for coolshaded spotsthe Baneberry brings a holiday-inspired look to your garden. Before the Baneberry bears ornamental fruitit features small white flowers. Beware thoughthe little red berries found on the plant are poisonous to eat!
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Basket of Gold
With bright yellowlow-growing flowersno wonder where the Basket of Gold got its name. Given its short height and golden colorthis makes for a perfect addition to a rock garden or xeriscape.
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Bee Balm
With the name Bee balmthis ornamental flower attracts not only beesbut hummingbirds and other beneficial pollinators. Bee balms are highly valued for their deep scarlet colorbut also come in bluevioletwhite and pink.
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Begonia
Known for their attractive bloomsthe Begonia is a timeless favorite among gardeners. Consisting of more than 1,700 specieBegonias also make for good indoor plants if kept by a sunny window and watered regularly.
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Bellflower
With their happystar-like flowersthe variety of Bellflowers available can fit any gardener's needs. Ranging from short to talland featuring almost every color of the rainbowthese cheery flowers are a great fit for your garden or cut to display in your home.
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Bergenia
The Bergenia plant looks as sweet as its nicknames—also commonly known as Pigsqueak or Elephant's ears. While short in staturethe Bergenia makes up for it in ornate flowers and leaves that change from green to red or bronze in the cooler months.
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Blackeyed Susan
Known as the official flower for the PreaknessBlackeyed Susans are a member of the sunflower family. In addition to making a beautiful indoor flower arrangementBlackeyed Susans attract butterfliesbees and other beneficial insects.
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Bleeding Heart
The Bleeding Heart's appearance is as equally dramatic as its namebearing heart shaped flowers that hang from a long stem. It also makes for an exquisite cut flower to display in your home.
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Bloodroot
This flower gets its name from the bright red poisonous sap if you cut into the stembut on the outside the Bloodroot makes for a great addition to a shaded garden. In addition to a bright white flowerthe leaves are scalloped to create an elegant package.
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Boneset
Also known as FlossflowerAgeratums come in bluepink and white blooms. The taller varieties are best for cutting and displaying in your homewhile the dwarf bedding varieties are best kept in the garden.
 | Sun Needs |
Browallia
The Browallia will grow in the darkest corners of your gardenpreferring full shade and protection from the hot sun. It also makes for a great indoor plant during the summer as long as it's kept damp but not wet.
 | Sun Needs |
Bugleweed
Bugleweed is a popular choice to fill a garden with lowcolorful greenerybut be sure to maintain it as it can easily spread and take over your garden. Most prefer shadebut if your Bugleweed variety has purple leavesit'll do well in heat.
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Bugloss
Given it's tall heightattractive blooms and unalluring foliagethe Bugloss is often grown as accent border plants. This biennial is short lived and doesn't do well with excess moisture.
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Buttercup
Who hasn't held a buttercup up to their chin to see it reflect its golden yellow shade? This cheerful plant is a favoritebut requires regular maintenance to keep it from spreading.
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Butterfly Weed
The aptly named Butterfly Weed is a favorite among butterfliesbut also bees and other beneficial insects. Propagation may take some timebut once the Butterfly Weed starts growing this hardy plant can endure full sun and a variety of soil types.
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Caladium
Caladiums are known for their heart or arrow shaped leaves and are a good addition to a garden needing some dramatic foliage. In addition to greenleaves are known to include hues of redwhitemaroonpink and cream.
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Calendula
Add a pop of color to your garden with the garden-friendly Calendula. This flower tolerates the cooler months and is even edible—it's spicy leaves are often found as a garnish in salads and soups.
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California Poppy
The California poppy is ideal for gardens in drysandy areas with full sun. Coming in a variety of colors including redorangeyellowwhite and pinkbe sure to cut this wildflower to display inside.
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Cyclamen
With its glossyheart-shaped lavesthe Cyclamen is a darling perennial. The Cyclamen is also a popular food source for a variety of insects and animalsfrom caterpillars to pigs.
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Daffodil
One of the most recognizable perennialsyou know its spring time once a Daffodil is in bloom. Their iconic trumpet flowers typically come in yellowbut are also grown with redorangeyellowwhite and even pink blossoms.
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Dahlia
There are 42 species of Dahliabut most popular versions are known for its bushytuberous flower. Dahlias can be difficult to growrequiring well-drained soil and full sunbut the payoff is great with a colorful garden ranging in hues from red to violet to pink.
 | Sun Needs |
Daisy
The iconicplayful daisy is most recognized for its bright yellow center and white petals. Daisies are easy to grow and not fussy when it comes to soil typesalthough it does thrive in full sun.
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Dame’s Rocket
Dame’s Rocket is an aggressive growing biennial and is known to attract moths. Commonly found in white or violetDame's Rocket spread particularly quickly in richwet soil.
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Delphinium
Also commonly known as "larkspur," the Delphinium is highly toxic to both humans and animals. While dangerous to eatDelphinium's tallbell-like blooms and tall stems make for beautiful additions to gardens or cut for bouquets.
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Diascia
The low growing Diascia makes for a great filler in outdoor containershanging basketswindow boxes and indoor pots. They are also relatively easy to growrequiring only full sun and cool weather.
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Dusty Miller
This hardy drought and frost tolerant plant makes for an ideal filler for outdoor containers and gardens. Its silver-grey foliage provides a nice backdrop to any bolder colored blooms.
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Dutchman's Breeches
These sweet flowers get their name from the up-side-down hanging blooms that resemble pants. Dutchman's Breeches are one of the few flowers whose seeds are spread by antsso don't fret if you see a colony nearby!
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Epimedium
With green foliage and pinkyellow or purple flowersthe Epimedium makes for good groundcover in shadymoist gardens. As the seasons progresstheir green leaves can have tints of bronzecopper and red.
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Evergreen Candytuft
Know for its smallcloud-like bloomsthis sun-loving flower makes for a great addition to rock gardens. Often cascading over rocks or wallsthe Evergreen Candytuft is ideal for a filler in containers or to act as a border.
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Fennel
When not harvestedthis edible perennial herb can grow up to 6 feet tall and feature dark foliage. It also attracts beneficial insectsincluding swallowtail butterflies.
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Fountain Grass
This ornamental grass shows off flowyplumed flowerheads and provide a unique contrast to any garden. They are most commonly found in whitebut for more of a "wow" factorlook for shades of redviolet and pink.
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Foxglove
This elegant flower requires a bit of patienceas it typically takes two seasons before its iconic blooms appear. But the wait is worth the payoff and the hardy Foxglove can handle a wide range of sun and soil types.
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Gaillardia
Ideal for hotdry landscapesthe Gaillardia adds some extra spice to any garden. In bright hues of redorangeyellow and violetthe Gaillardia makes for a dramatic wildflower bouquet.
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Globe Thistle
The Globe Thistlewith its tall stem and spherical flowerheadscreams for attention. Coming in shades of blue and violetthe Globe Thistle attracts bees and butterfliesas well as making for a gorgeous cut bouquet.
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Glory of the Snow
Glory of the Snow is an early bloomermaking it a popular choice for gardeners looking for a low growing plant to carpet their landscaping. Be sure to maintain their growthas once established they tend to quickly form large clumps.
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Goatsbeard
These feathery white or yellow blooms grow as tall at 6 feetproviding a striking backdrop to any garden. Goatsbeard performs best in partial shade and prefers a moist environment.
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Golden Marguerite
The daisy-like Golden Marguerite is short livedso take in its aromatic foliage and sweet flowers while its around. Towards the end of the seasonyou can collect them and use the flowers as a natural fabric dye to produce shades of yellow.
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Gomphrena
The globe-like flowerheads of the Gomphrena brighten any garden. Hardy and easy to growthe Gomphrena is a popular choice in dried flower bouquets and Hawaiian leis given it'll hold it's compact shape after being cut.
 | Sun Needs |
Heliotrope
Derived from the Greek words for "sun" and "turn," the Heliptrope actually performs best when planted in partial shade. Their tinydelicate cluster of blueviolet or white blooms make for good outdoor containers and can even be brought indoors in a coolsunny spot in your home.
 | Sun Needs |
Hepatica
The small woodland Hepatica features bluevioletpink or white blooms. Named after the Greek word for "liver," Hepatica foliage is a clump of three-lobed leaves that resemble a human liver.
 | Sun Needs |
Hollyhock
Hollyhocks are known for their tall spikes of trumpet-like flowerscommonly found in bright redyellowvioletwhite or pink. Hollyhocks can grow as tall as 8 feetso have some stakes handy to prop them up and encourage growth.
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Hosta
These shade tolerant plants are most popular for their large foliage shape and color. Acting as groundcoverHosta foliage is commonly found in dark green and whitebut can also feature blue and yellow.
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Hyacinth
This popular bulb plant produces bulbous-like flowers in vibrant shades of blueindigo and violet. An easy to grow plantHyacinths can be grown for for a variety of usessuch as outdoor containersrock gardens or indoors.
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Hyssop
The versatile Hyssop is grown in a variety of waysincluding containersaround garden borders or clumped together. Hyssops can grow in poor soil and tolerate drought.
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Impatiens
Impatiens make for great container plantseither indoors or outdoorsgiven their ability to tolerate damp soil and shady areas. Their lowdark foliage will spout a range of colorsincluding redorangevioletwhite and pink.
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Jack-in-the-Pulpit
Given its equally playful namethe Jack-in-the-Pulpit foliage grows unexpectedlycreating a hood-like shape once fully grown. Before the flower appearsit's often confused as poison ivy.
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Jacob’s Ladder
Jacob's Ladder doesn't get its name not from its bloomsrather the arrangement of the leaves going up the stem that resembles a ladder. The daintybell-like flowers of the Jacob's Ladder make for a beautiful garden favorite.
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Lady's Mantle
With foliage loosely resembling cabbagethe Lady's Mantle is most well known as a medicinal herb. If you're looking to add some green to your bouquetthe Lady's Mantle looks elegant once cut.
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Lantana
Also known as Yellow Sagethe Lantana blooms in combinations of redorangeyellowvioletwhite and pink. While popular for outdoor containers and houseplantssome have found the subtle citrus scent to be off putting.
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Lavender
Popular in gardeningfragrance and cookingyou can't go wrong with a Lavender plant. In addition to its versatilityLavender is easy to growrequiring very little water and full sun.
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Lavender Cotton
Despite its namethe flowers on Lavender Cotton have an unpleasant scentbut perfumeries will extract its oil to use in colognes and perfumes. For gardeningthis shrubby evergreen tolerates many soil types and full sun.
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Leadwort
Starting in the late summerbut lasting until early fallLeadwort features daintydark blue flowers. While you may have to wait a while to see bloomsLeadworts are fine when left with morning sun and afternoon shade.
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Lemon Balm
Love the smell of citrus? The bright lemony scent of this plant is perfect for you. Easy to grow and quick to spreadLemon Balm is ideal for filler and background in a garden or outdoor container.
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Maiden Pink
These sweet flowers produce fringed petals in bright shade or redpink or white. Maiden Pink is hardy but also known to be an aggressive plant that self seedsso its often used for groundcover or garden borders.
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Pearly Everlasting
Pearly Everlasting blooms into mid-fallmaking a perfect fit for the frost prone garden. Requiring damp soilPearly Everlasting is easy to grow but must be maintained to avoid overgrowth.
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Perennial Flax
The Perennial Flax has a short lifespan and is moderately difficult to care forrequiring well-drained soil and full sun. Once in bloom thoughit will self seed and grow to a largecushion clump.
 | Sun Needs |
Periwinkle
This long lasting plant (known to grow over three seasons) is simple to manage and produces vibrant flowers in violetwhite or pink. Keep the bloom lasting into the winter by bringing it indoors and placing it in full sun.
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Ranunculus
These lustrous flowers include more than 60 speciesincluding the popular Buttercup. Other varieties come in redwhitepurpleorange and pink colorsknown for their bulbousclosely formed petals.
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Red Valerian
This low maintenance plant handles a variety of soil types and excels in full sun. Featuring densefragrant flowersRed Valerian doesn't only come in redbut also bluewhite and pink blooms.
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Rock Soapwort
Used primarily as an ornamental plant in rock gardensthe Rock Soapwort features small blooms in shades of red and pink. Despite its tolerance of droughty and low fertile soilit doesn't perform well in hothumid weather.
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Sanvitalia
If you're a Sunflower fan seeking a shorter substitutelook no further. The small Sanvitalia resemble their taller cousins with dark brown centers and golden yellow petals. Add them to windowboxes or other outdoor containers where they can get a lot of sunlight.
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Shirley Poppy
The ruffleddelicate flowers of the Shirley Poppy come in a range of redorangeyellowvioletwhite and pink hues. You can cut Shirley Poppies to bring insidebut they must be carefully prepped by sticking the cut stem in boiling water for 30 seconds in order to close the cut.
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Shooting Star
Resembling a star shooting through outer spacethis dazzling wildflower prefers moist soil and partial to full shade. In addition to the popular whiteShooting Stars come in violet and pink shades too.
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Silvermound
Its name is not misleadingthe Sivlermound's fine silver leaves and dense clump make for a showy addition to your garden. While small yellow flowers are known to bloomthey're often removed to keep its silvery-green foliage.
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Skunk Cabbage
If you guessed the Skunk Cabbage gives off a less than favorable scentyou guessed right! It blooms very early in the season—as early as late January—but should be grown further from the home if you're concerned about the smell.
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Snapdragon
These easy to grow flowers are known for their mouth-like petals that can open and close by pressing gently between your fingers. Enjoy the Snapdragon while its aroundas it has a short lifespanbut make for great bouquets and indoor arrangements.
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Snow in Summer
The Snow in Summer is exactly that—dotted star-like white flowers that bloom even in sandydrought prone soils. Spread it along rock gardens and xeriscapes to add as a simple backdrop.
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Snowdrop
Resembling little droplets of snowthis early flowering bulb features delicatepure white blooms. It performs well in containersindoors or outdoorsas long as its kept in cool and moist.
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Data source: Home Gardening | Cornell University
Photo credit: Angelonia CC Image courtesy of TANAKA Juuyoh on Flickr, Baneberry CC Image courtesy of Lazaregagnidze on Wikimedia Commons, Boneset CC Image courtesy of R. A. Nonenmacher on Wikimedia Commons, Browallia CC Image courtesy of C T Johansson on Wikimedia Commons, Catmint CC Image courtesy of TANAKA Juuyoh on Flickr, Corydalis CC Image courtesy of arudhio on Wikimedia Commons, Cushion Spurge CC Image courtesy of H. Zell on Wikimedia Commons, Dame’s Rocket CC Image courtesy of Andre Engels on Wikimedia Commons, Epimedium CC Image courtesy of Maja Dumat on Flickr, Fountain Grass CC Image courtesy of J.M.Garg on Wikimedia Commons, Gaura CC Image courtesy of Stan Shebs on Wikimedia Commons, Hyssop CC Image courtesy of H. Zell on Wikimedia Commons, Lady’s Mantle CC Image courtesy of Jina Lee on Wikimedia Commons, Mazus CC Image courtesy of Alpsdake on Wikimedia Commons, Moonflower CC Image courtesy of Ed! on Wikimedia Commons, Nierembergia CC Image courtesy of First Light on Wikimedia Commons, Pearly Everlasting CC Image courtesy of Peter Stevens on Flickr, Perennial Flax CC Image courtesy of Denis Barthel on Wikimedia Commons, Polka Dot Plant CC Image courtesy of KENPEI on Wikimedia Commons, Rock Soapwort CC Image courtesy of Hectonichus on Wikimedia Commons, Shooting Star CC Image courtesy of brewbooks on Flickr, Skunk Cabbage CC Image courtesy of Jonathan Billinger on Wikimedia Commons, Snow in Summer CC Image courtesy of Heron2 on Wikimedia Commons, Sweet Woodruff CC Image courtesy of Jack Pearce on Flickr, Torenia CC Image courtesy of Patrick McNally on Flickr, Virginia Bluebell CC Image courtesy of Hoodedwarbler12 on Wikimedia Commons, Wild Senna CC Image courtesy of Stan Shebs on Wikimedia Commons.
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