The A–Z Flower Encyclopedia: Types of Flowers, Meanings and Care

October 8, 2026

This is the big reference: an A–Z of the flowers you will actually meet, from Alstroemeria to Zinnia. Each one gets a short profile — what it looks like, its colours, what it means, when it is in season, how long it lasts and what it is used for — and there is one master table near the top that lets you compare the whole lot at a glance. Whether you are a florist building a range, a buyer planning a program, or simply someone who loves flowers and wants to know their names and meanings, keep this page bookmarked.

How this encyclopedia is organised

Below you will find a master table of all 38 flowers, so you can scan colours, season and vase life side by side. After it, each flower has its own profile in alphabetical order. Vase-life figures assume good care (a fresh cut, clean water with flower food, kept cool) — see our guide to keeping cut flowers fresh to get the most from every stem. Meanings draw on the traditional language of flowers, and for the functional categories (focal, filler, foliage) see our types of flowers guide.

The master flower table

A

Alstroemeria (Peruvian lily) carries several lily-like blooms per stem in an enormous colour range, often flecked and streaked. It symbolises friendship and devotion, lasts well over a week, and offers exceptional value — a quiet workhorse of mixed bouquets.

Amaryllis is the dramatic winter focal flower: tall, hollow stems topped with huge trumpet blooms in red, white and pink. It signifies pride and striking beauty and anchors festive arrangements through the Christmas season.

Anemone is the cool-season charmer — simple, poppy-like blooms, often with a dark centre, in vivid reds, blues, purples and white. It represents anticipation and brings a modern, graphic edge to spring designs.

Anthurium brings the tropics indoors with its glossy, heart-shaped spathe and upright spadix, in red, pink, white and green. Long-lasting and architectural, it signifies hospitality and suits bold, exotic work.

Aster produces masses of small daisy-like blooms in purple, pink and white in late summer and autumn. A secondary flower symbolising patience and love, it is also September's birth flower.

B

Baby's Breath (Gypsophila) is the classic cloud-like filler of tiny white blooms, now also used massed as a design flower in its own right. It means everlasting love, lasts for weeks and dries beautifully. More in our gypsophila and fillers guide.

Bird of Paradise is unmistakable — a crane-like head of orange and electric-blue petals on a tall stem. It symbolises freedom and magnificence and makes an instant statement in tropical arrangements.

C

Calla Lily is pure sculpture: a single smooth, curved spathe in white, yellow, pink or deep purple. Elegant and long-lasting, it signifies refined beauty and is a wedding favourite.

Carnation is one of the most versatile and underrated flowers — a huge colour range (including tinted blues and novelty shades), exceptional two-to-three-week vase life, and a gentle, ruffled form. It means fascination and a mother's love. Full detail in our carnations guide.

Chrysanthemum ("mum") is the durable autumn workhorse, in daisy, pompon, spider and football forms across the full colour range. It symbolises loyalty and honesty (and remembrance in much of Europe). See the chrysanthemums guide.

D

Daffodil (Narcissus) is the trumpet-shaped herald of spring, in cheerful yellow and white. It symbolises new beginnings and rebirth, and is March's birth flower. Note: freshly cut daffodils release a sap that harms other flowers, so condition them alone for a few hours before combining.

Dahlia is the late-summer showstopper — intricate, geometric blooms from small pompons to dinner-plate giants, in nearly every colour but true blue. It signifies dignity and commitment and is a star of autumn weddings; it is delicate, so keep it cool and sell it fresh.

Daisy covers the cheerful, open-faced flowers — the classic white Shasta and the bright gerbera daisy among them — symbolising innocence and cheer. Friendly and affordable, daisies are everyday favourites.

Delphinium is a tall, dramatic line flower in luminous blues, whites and purples, bringing height and one of the few true blues in the flower world. It means big-heartedness and defines classic summer borders and designs.

F

Freesia is the fragrant spring secondary flower, with a graceful arched stem of funnel-shaped blooms that open in sequence, in almost every colour. Prized for its scent, it symbolises trust and friendship.

G

Gerbera is the bold, cheerful daisy in a brilliant range of brights, with a clean graphic face. Low-scent and instantly uplifting, it symbolises cheerfulness and is a go-to for birthdays and get-well bouquets.

Gladiolus ("glad") is a tall, majestic line flower with blooms marching up a spike, opening from the bottom. It signifies strength of character and is August's birth flower, perfect for adding height.

H

Hyacinth is the densely packed, intensely fragrant spring bulb flower in blue, pink, white and purple. It symbolises sincerity and perfumes a room from a single stem.

Hydrangea delivers maximum impact per stem — one dense, rounded head of many florets in true blue, pink, white, green and prized antique tones. It means heartfelt emotion. It is thirsty, so hydration is everything; full care in our hydrangeas guide.

I

Iris is the elegant line flower named for the rainbow, most iconic in deep blue and purple with a flash of yellow. It symbolises hope and wisdom and brings a graceful vertical line to spring designs.

L

Lily is the grand, fragrant focal flower whose buds open in sequence over days — in white (Oriental, Casablanca), pink, orange and yellow (Asiatic). It means purity and devotion and is a staple of both celebration and sympathy. Remove the pollen-heavy anthers to avoid staining.

Lisianthus looks like a softer, ruffled rose and comes in purple, pink and white, often with a delicate ombré. Elegant and longer-lasting than it looks, it signifies appreciation and is a refined wedding flower.

Lavender is the fragrant purple herb-flower of calm and devotion, beloved in rustic and scented arrangements and one of the best flowers for drying.

M

Marigold brings warm yellows and oranges and a distinctive scent, symbolising warmth and creativity. Central to autumn palettes and to Day of the Dead celebrations, it is both cheerful and meaningful.

O

Orchid is the exotic luxury flower, from the arching sprays of Phalaenopsis and Dendrobium to the waxy Cymbidium, in nearly every colour. Long-lasting and refined, it symbolises luxury, strength and rare beauty.

P

Peony is the lush, romantic queen of late spring — huge, many-petalled blooms in blush, pink, white and red, with a short, coveted season. It signifies prosperity and a happy marriage and is the ultimate wedding luxury.

Poppy offers delicate, papery blooms in red, orange and white on slender stems. It symbolises imagination and, in its red form, remembrance. Short-lived but captivating, it rewards gentle handling.

Protea is the bold, prehistoric-looking focal from South Africa, with a large spiky head in pink, red and cream. Extremely long-lasting and dramatic, it signifies courage and transformation and dries well.

R

Ranunculus looks like a rose made of tissue paper — layer upon layer of delicate petals in almost every colour. A cool-season star symbolising radiant charm, it is a favourite for spring weddings and romantic design.

Rose is the world's most important and symbolic flower, available year-round in every colour and grade, from everyday 40cm stems to long-stemmed luxury. Its meaning shifts entirely with colour — red for love, white for purity, yellow for friendship. See our rose colours guide and wholesale roses guide.

S

Snapdragon is a tall line flower whose blooms "snap" open, marching up the spike in nearly every colour. It symbolises grace and inner strength and adds height and a cottage-garden feel.

Statice (Limonium) is the papery, long-lasting filler in purple, white and yellow that holds its colour for weeks and dries perfectly. It signifies remembrance and success and adds airy texture.

Stock is the fragrant, densely packed cool-season line flower in pink, purple and white, prized for its clove-like scent. It symbolises lasting beauty and a happy life.

Sunflower is the warm, iconic focal of summer — a golden face that turns toward the light, in yellow and bronze. It symbolises adoration and loyalty and brings instant cheer; it drinks heavily, so change the water often.

Sweet Pea is the delicate, intensely fragrant spring climber in soft pastels, symbolising blissful pleasure and gratitude. Short-lived but beloved for its scent and ruffled charm.

T

Tulip is the face of spring — sleek, elegant cups in the full colour range, famous for continuing to grow and bend toward the light after cutting. It symbolises perfect love; keep it cool and upright.

W

Waxflower is the dainty filler of small, waxy, open blooms with fine aromatic foliage, in white, pink and purple. It signifies lasting success and adds a soft, natural texture.

Z

Zinnia is the cheerful, long-blooming summer-into-autumn focal in a brilliant range of brights, symbolising lasting friendship and thoughts of absent friends. Easygoing and colourful, it is a cutting-garden classic.

How to use this encyclopedia when buying

If you are buying for a shop or an event, read this A–Z alongside two numbers that decide profit: vase life and season. Anchor your range with the long-lasting, year-round flowers in the table — roses, carnations, chrysanthemums, alstroemeria, gypsophila and orchids — and layer in the seasonal stars (peonies, dahlias, tulips, ranunculus) for freshness and margin. Match each flower's longevity to how fast it will actually sell, buy in season where you can, and commit the peaks early. For the wholesale side of all this, see our guide to choosing a wholesale flower supplier and our ultimate guide to cut flowers.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most popular types of flowers?

The rose leads worldwide, followed by carnations, chrysanthemums, tulips, lilies, gerberas, sunflowers, hydrangeas and orchids. The full A–Z above covers 38 of the flowers you are most likely to meet.

Which flowers are available all year round?

Roses, carnations, chrysanthemums, hydrangeas, gypsophila, alstroemeria, gerberas, lilies, orchids and anthuriums are reliably available every month from specialist growers, which is why they anchor most flower programs.

What is the longest-lasting flower in this list?

Carnations and chrysanthemums lead at two to three weeks, with orchids, anthuriums, statice and gypsophila close behind. Dahlias, poppies and sweet peas are the shortest-lived. See our longest-lasting flowers guide.

What do the different flowers mean?

Each profile above lists the flower's traditional meaning — rose for love, lily for purity, sunflower for loyalty, peony for prosperity, and so on. The full picture, including colour meanings, is in our flower meanings guide.

Which flower is right for my occasion?

Match the flower's meaning and mood to the moment: roses and peonies for romance, lilies and white chrysanthemums for sympathy, gerberas and sunflowers for cheer. Our best flowers by occasion guide maps them all out.

One partner for every flower

Whatever the flower, fresh and on time is what matters. At Vibra we bring the whole range together across Colombia and Ecuador — focal flowers, fillers and finished bouquets — under one standard and one point of contact. Tell us what your range needs and we will keep every flower in this encyclopedia within reach.

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