Four o'clock flowerMirabilis jalapa. Yellow, red, pink, purple or white; blooms summer to fall. Opens in late afternoon.
FoxgloveDigitalis purpurea. Purple, pink or white; blooms spring to summer. Toxic if eaten. Meaning: insincerity.
German chamomileMatricaria chamomilla. White rays, yellow center; blooms summer to fall. Meaning: energy in adversity.
HollyhockAlcea rosea. Most colors but blue; blooms summer to fall. Meaning: ambition.
LarkspurDelphinium ajacis. Blue, pink or white; blooms summer to fall. July birth flower. Meaning: levity. Poisonous if eaten.
LisianthusEustoma russellianum. Pink, purple or white; blooms summer to fall.
Love-in-a-mistNigella damascena. Blue, purple or white; blooms summer. Lacy bracts ring each flower. Meaning: perplexity.
MarigoldTagetes erecta. Yellow, orange or cream; blooms summer to fall. October birth flower.
Morning gloryIpomoea purpurea. Purple; blooms summer to fall. September birth flower. Meaning: affection.
NasturtiumTropaeolum majus. Yellow, orange or red; blooms spring to fall. Meaning: patriotism.
PansyViola × wittrockiana. Blue, yellow, purple, red or white; blooms fall to spring. Meaning: "think of me".
PetuniaPetunia × atkinsiana. Nearly every color; blooms summer. Most garden petunias are hybrids.
Pot marigoldCalendula officinalis. Yellow or orange; blooms spring to summer. The florets are edible and color salads.
SnapdragonAntirrhinum majus. Yellow, orange, pink, purple or white; blooms spring to fall. Meaning: a gracious lady.
🌻SunflowerHelianthus annuus. Yellow to orange rays, dark center; blooms summer to fall. Meaning: adoration.
Sweet peaLathyrus odoratus. Red, pink, purple or white; blooms spring to summer. April birth flower. Strongly scented.
Sweet WilliamDianthus barbatus. Pink, purple, red or white; blooms spring. Meaning: gallantry.
WallflowerErysimum cheiri. Yellow, orange, bronze or purple; blooms spring. Meaning: fidelity in misfortune.
ZinniaZinnia elegans. Most colors but blue; blooms summer to fall. Meaning: thoughts of absent friends.
Zonal geraniumPelargonium × hortorum. Red, pink or white; blooms summer. Meaning: gentility. Flowers in tight balls.
Garden perennials 27
African lilyAgapanthus. Blue, purple or white; blooms summer. Clusters of bell-shaped flowers.
AstilbeAstilbe. Red, pink, purple or white; blooms spring to summer. Feathery plumes of tiny flowers.
Baby's breathGypsophila paniculata. White or pink; blooms summer. Meaning: innocence.
Bearded irisIris × germanica. Nearly every color; blooms mid to late spring. Meaning: a message.
Bee balmMonarda didyma. Red; blooms summer to fall. Attracts hummingbirds.
Black-eyed SusanRudbeckia hirta. Yellow to orange rays, dark brown center; blooms summer. State flower of Maryland.
Bleeding heartLamprocapnos spectabilis. Pink or white; blooms spring. Other names are lady-in-a-bath and lyre flower.
CarnationDianthus caryophyllus. Most colors but blue; blooms summer. January birth flower. Meaning: fascination.
Christmas roseHelleborus niger. White or pink; blooms winter to spring. Meaning: "relieve my anxiety".
ChrysanthemumChrysanthemum × morifolium. Most colors but blue; blooms fall. November birth flower. Meaning: joy.
ColumbineAquilegia vulgaris. Blue or purple with nectar spurs; blooms spring to summer. Meaning: folly.
DaylilyHemerocallis fulva. Tawny orange; blooms summer. Each flower lasts one day. Meaning: coquetry.
DelphiniumDelphinium elatum. Blue or purple; blooms summer. Meaning: flight of fancy. Tall spikes that need staking. Poisonous if eaten.
English lavenderLavandula angustifolia. Lavender-purple, sometimes pink or white; blooms summer. Meaning: devotion.
Garden lupinLupinus polyphyllus. Blue, purple, pink or white; blooms spring to summer. Meaning: imagination.
Garden phloxPhlox paniculata. Blue, pink, purple, red or white; blooms summer. Meaning: harmony.
Gerbera daisyGerbera jamesonii. Yellow, orange or red; blooms summer to fall. Also called the Barberton daisy.
Lily of the valleyConvallaria majalis. White; blooms spring. May birth flower. Meaning: returning happiness. Highly poisonous.
New England asterSymphyotrichum novae-angliae. Purple; blooms summer to fall. September birth flower. Meaning: daintiness.
Oriental poppyPapaver orientale. Orange, red, pink or white with a dark center; blooms spring to summer.
PeonyPaeonia lactiflora. White, pink or crimson; blooms late spring. Meaning: bashfulness. Large and fragrant.
PrimrosePrimula vulgaris. Cream, yellow or white; blooms spring. February birth flower. Meaning: childhood.
Purple coneflowerEchinacea purpurea. Pink-purple rays; blooms summer. Monarch and swallowtail butterflies visit it.
Red hot pokerKniphofia uvaria. Red buds that mature to yellow; blooms late summer to fall.
Shasta daisyLeucanthemum × superbum. White rays, yellow center; blooms summer. Bred by Luther Burbank in 1890.
Sweet violetViola odorata. Blue or purple; blooms spring. February birth flower. Meaning: modesty.
YarrowAchillea millefolium. Most colors but blue; blooms summer. Meaning: healing.
Flowering shrubs, trees and climbers 25
AzaleaRhododendron indicum. Red, pink or white; blooms spring. Meaning: temperance.
Bigleaf hydrangeaHydrangea macrophylla. Blue, pink, purple or white; blooms summer. Round mophead or flat lacecap clusters.
CamelliaCamellia japonica. White, pink or red; blooms late winter to early spring. Meaning: constancy.
Catawba rhododendronRhododendron catawbiense. Purple or pink; blooms spring to summer. Meaning: beware.
Chinese wisteriaWisteria sinensis. Blue, purple, pink or white; blooms spring. Meaning: welcome.
ClematisClematis. Nearly every color; blooms spring to fall. Meaning: mental beauty. Poisonous if eaten.
Common hawthornCrataegus monogyna. White, often pink; blooms late spring. May birth flower. Meaning: hope.
Common jasmineJasminum officinale. Pure white; blooms summer. Grown for its intense scent.
Crape myrtleLagerstroemia indica. Pink, purple, red or white; blooms summer. Meaning: eloquence.
Flowering dogwoodCornus florida. White or pink bracts, tiny green flowers; blooms spring. Meaning: durability.
ForsythiaForsythia × intermedia. Yellow; blooms early spring. It flowers on wood that is one or two years old.
GardeniaGardenia jasminoides. White or cream; blooms spring to summer. Meaning: secret love.
Golden wattleAcacia pycnantha. Golden; blooms July to November. Floral emblem of Australia.
Hardy fuchsiaFuchsia magellanica. Magenta-red with purple petals; blooms summer to fall. Meaning: grace.
HeatherCalluna vulgaris. Pink, purple or red; blooms summer to fall. Meaning: solitude.
HoneysuckleLonicera periclymenum. Cream to yellow; blooms spring to summer. June birth flower. Meaning: bonds of love.
JacarandaJacaranda mimosifolia. Blue or purple; blooms spring.
🌸Japanese cherry blossomPrunus serrulata. White or pink; blooms spring. Cherry blossom is widely seen as Japan's national flower.
King proteaProtea cynaroides. Bracts from cream to deep crimson. National flower of South Africa.
LilacSyringa vulgaris. Purple, pink, blue or white; blooms spring. Purple lilac means first love.
Mountain laurelKalmia latifolia. White or pink; blooms spring to summer. Pennsylvania and Connecticut both have it as state flower. Poisonous if eaten.
PoinsettiaEuphorbia pulcherrima. Red, pink or white bracts, tiny yellow flowers; blooms winter to spring.
🌹RoseRosa. Most colors but blue; blooms summer. June birth flower. Meaning: love.
Southern magnoliaMagnolia grandiflora. White or cream; blooms spring to summer. Meaning: perseverance.
Witch hazelHamamelis virginiana. Yellow; blooms fall to winter. Four ribbon-like petals. Meaning: a magic spell.
Wildflowers 25
Bee orchidOphrys apifera. Pink-purple sepals, a hairy lip patterned like a bee; blooms summer.
Canada goldenrodSolidago canadensis. Yellow; blooms summer to fall. Meaning: encouragement.
Cardinal flowerLobelia cardinalis. Red; blooms summer to fall. Meaning: distinction.
ChicoryCichorium intybus. Bright blue; blooms summer to fall. Open mornings, shut by noon. Meaning: frugality.
🌼Common daisyBellis perennis. White, pink or red rays; blooms spring to summer. April birth flower. Meaning: innocence.
Common milkweedAsclepias syriaca. Dusty pink or lavender; blooms summer. A main food plant of monarch caterpillars.
Oxeye daisyLeucanthemum vulgare. White rays, yellow center; blooms spring to summer. Meaning: patience.
Pink lady's slipperCypripedium acaule. Pink; blooms spring to summer. Provincial flower of Prince Edward Island.
Queen Anne's laceDaucus carota. White; blooms summer to fall. The wild carrot. Often one red floret sits in the center.
Red and green kangaroo pawAnigozanthos manglesii. Red and green; blooms August to November. Emblem of Western Australia.
Red cloverTrifolium pratense. Pink; blooms spring to summer. Meaning: industry.
Scarlet paintbrushCastilleja coccinea. Red-tipped bracts hide green-yellow flowers; blooms spring to summer.
Sturt's desert peaSwainsona formosa. Red with a black boss; blooms June to October. Emblem of South Australia.
Texas bluebonnetLupinus texensis. Blue with touches of white; blooms spring. State flower of Texas.
Virginia bluebellsMertensia virginica. Pink buds open light blue; blooms spring.
WaratahTelopea speciosissima. Red; blooms spring in Australia. Floral emblem of New South Wales.
White trilliumTrillium grandiflorum. White, turning pink with age; blooms spring. Floral emblem of Ontario.
Tropical, water and indoor flowers 24
African violetStreptocarpus ionanthus. Blue, pink, purple or white; blooms all year. Only a distant relative of true violets.
Arabian jasmineJasminum sambac. White; blooms all year. National flower of the Philippines.
Bird of paradiseStrelitzia reginae. Orange sepals and bright blue petals; blooms summer to fall. Also called crane flower. Meaning: magnificence.
Blue passion flowerPassiflora caerulea. Blue and white; blooms summer to fall. Meaning: belief.
BougainvilleaBougainvillea glabra. Pink, red or purple bracts, small white flowers; blooms spring to summer.
Bush lilyClivia miniata. Orange, yellow or red; blooms winter to spring.
Cattleya orchidCattleya. Most colors but blue. The corsage orchid. Most flowers are 4 to 10 inches across.
🌺Chinese hibiscusHibiscus rosa-sinensis. Red, pink, yellow or white; blooms spring to fall. National flower of Malaysia.
Christmas cactusSchlumbergera × buckleyi. Magenta-red to pink; blooms winter.
Corpse lilyRafflesia arnoldii. Reddish-brown with white spots. The largest single flower on Earth, about 1 m across.
Desert roseAdenium obesum. Pink, red or white; blooms summer.
Flamingo flowerAnthurium andraeanum. Red, pink, green or white spathe; blooms all year.
FrangipaniPlumeria rubra. Pink, white or yellow; blooms summer to fall. National flower of Nicaragua.
Ghost orchidDendrophylax lindenii. White to creamy green; blooms spring to summer. Seems to float in mid-air.
Giant water lilyVictoria amazonica. White at first, pink to purple by day two; blooms summer. Opens at night.
Jade vineStrongylodon macrobotrys. Turquoise, ranging between blue-green and mint green. Pollinated by bats.
Moth orchidPhalaenopsis. White, pink, yellow or purple. Blooms last several weeks. Meaning: refined beauty.
Queen of the nightEpiphyllum oxypetalum. White; blooms spring to summer. Opens at night only. Meaning: transient beauty.
🪷Sacred lotusNelumbo nucifera. Pink or white; blooms summer. National flower of India. Meaning: purity.
Titan arumAmorphophallus titanum. Green outside, dark burgundy inside. Blooms rarely and smells of rotting flesh.
Torch gingerEtlingera elatior. Showy pink. The buds are eaten across Southeast Asia.
Vanilla orchidVanilla planifolia. Greenish-yellow; blooms spring. A main source of vanilla. Each flower lasts a day.
White water lilyNymphaea alba. White; blooms summer. July birth flower. Meaning: purity of heart. Opens in the daytime.
Ylang-ylangCananga odorata. Six long yellow petals. Its flower oil is widely used in perfume.
How this list was compiled: List and wording are own work. Botanical names: all 150 checked against the GBIF Backbone Taxonomy name match service, https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/match (tulip, daffodil, crocus, gladiolus, dahlia, amaryllis, freesia, astilbe, African lily, rose, clematis and the moth and cattleya orchids are listed at genus level because garden plants are hybrids; larkspur is under the accepted name Delphinium ajacis and marigold under Tagetes erecta, which GBIF treats as including the French marigold; Rafflesia arnoldii is spelled as in its Wikipedia article). Flower colors and bloom seasons: the Flower Color, Flower Bloom Time and Flower Description fields of the NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, one page per plant at https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/ (for example https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/helianthus-annuus/), so seasons are Northern Hemisphere garden seasons. Colors, seasons and fact lines for plants NC State does not list (paperwhite, English bluebell, Madonna lily, larkspur, zonal geranium, peony, common hawthorn, golden wattle, king protea, harebell, edelweiss, kangaroo paw, waratah, Sturt's desert pea, Texas bluebonnet, bee orchid, vanilla orchid, frangipani, torch ginger, white water lily, corpse lily, titan arum, jade vine, ylang-ylang, Arabian jasmine) and every national, state and provincial flower line: the English Wikipedia article for the species, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ plus the botanical name, and the articles Dahlia, Cherry blossom, Crocus, Edelweiss and Lily of the valley. Flower meanings: only entries that carry a citation in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_plants_with_symbolism; entries tagged citation needed were left out. Birth month flowers: The Old Farmer's Almanac, https://www.almanac.com/content/birth-month-flowers-and-their-meanings. All checked 2026-09-18. Changed 2026-09-19: Bird of paradise now carries its season (Flower Bloom Time: Fall, Summer on https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/strelitzia-reginae/). The Japanese cherry line is hedged, because https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherry_blossom says the blossom is thought of as Japan's national flower and names no official act. The meanings of flamingo flower and king protea were removed, because their rows in the symbolism list carry no citation. Poison rule: a card says so when the Poison Severity field of its own NC State page reads High, or that of its genus page where NC State has no page for the species: foxglove (digitalis-purpurea), clematis (clematis), mountain laurel (kalmia-latifolia) and larkspur (delphinium, the genus page). Delphinium elatum carries the line too, because the genus page reads High although its own page reads Medium. Lily of the valley keeps the warning it already had (NC State rates it Low; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lily_of_the_valley, checked 2026-09-19, says it is highly poisonous if consumed and that all parts are potentially poisonous). Cards NC State rates Medium or Low say nothing about poison, and a card that says nothing is no statement that the flower is safe. All 150 pages read 2026-09-19. Licence: own work
How it works
One press deals five flowers, say a snapdragon, a waratah and a ghost orchid. All 150 are grown for the bloom. Every card gives the botanical name, the colors and the season. Of those, 80 add a Victorian meaning and 21 name a birth month.
Read the full guide
A bouquet with a message, a sketch prompt, a gap in the border
Victorian senders chose flowers for what they said. Draw 3, read the meanings in order and you have a message: snapdragon, zinnia and forget-me-not say a gracious lady, thoughts of absent friends, true love. Sketching? Tap Wildflowers and give yourself five minutes a flower. Gardeners can set Blooms in to the season their border looks bare, add a color, and draw 10.
Seasons are for the Northern Hemisphere
Bloom seasons in this random flower generator are garden seasons north of the equator, most of them from the NC State Extension plant database. In the Southern Hemisphere spring starts on 1 September, so shift each season by six months. Eight flowers, the titan arum among them, show no season because our sources give none. A card says poisonous only where NC State rates the flower High, so a card that says nothing is no promise that a flower is safe to eat.
Some petals are not petals. On a poinsettia, a bougainvillea and a flowering dogwood the color comes from bracts, and the true flowers are the tiny ones in the middle.
A few flowers keep hours. Chicory shuts by noon, the four o'clock flower opens in late afternoon and queen of the night opens only after dark.
No flower here is on the random plant generator list, so one draw from each never doubles up.
Questions and answers
What kinds of flower are in the draw?
150 flowers: 22 bulbs, corms and tubers, 27 annuals and bedding flowers, 27 garden perennials, 25 flowering shrubs, trees and climbers, 25 wildflowers and 24 tropical, water and indoor flowers. Birth month flowers cut across those six and hold 21. The Color and Blooms in rows narrow any of them: Blue with Wildflowers leaves 4.
What is my birth month flower?
Choose your month in the Birth month menu and its one or two flowers come up, following The Old Farmer's Almanac. January has the carnation and the snowdrop, June the rose and the honeysuckle, October the marigold and the cosmos. Other countries publish different lists, so treat this as one tradition.
Why do some flowers show no meaning?
Only meanings with a cited source made the list, which left 80 of the 150. The old flower dictionaries often gave several readings. The daffodil alone stood for regard, self-love and new beginnings, so each card keeps one.