Popular Seasonal Flowers by Month (2024)

In this guide, you’ll find the most popular seasonal flowers for every month of the year. Many of the flowers mentioned here make spectacular cut blooms for gifting and the home. Others are an excellent way to keep color in your garden throughout the year.

Seasonal Flowers by Month in Winter

With short days and cold temperatures, winter might seem to be a dormant period for the garden. But there are still plenty of flowers to be found. Careful planning can help you maintain a fantastic display of color even when the cold sets in.

The winter season gives the garden a chance to rest, taking a deep breath before starting a new growing season in spring. In late winter, you’ll also start to spot the first stars of spring – crocuses, cyclamen, and snowdrops.

For plant owners, winter is a time of preparation. It’s the best time of year to clean your tools and wash nursery pots ready for spring flowers.

December

The focal point of December is, of course, Christmas. While our minds turn to gifting, there are plenty of festive flowers to enjoy as well.

Holly, mistletoe, and rosehips are fabulous components for a homemade wreath or cut stem display. Poinsettias are traditionally used as houseplants for display or given as gifts thanks to their striking red flowers. Helleborus niger, otherwise known as the Christmas rose, makes a brilliant cut flower for your vases.

December birth flowers are well-represented as well, with three flowers; holly, paperwhite narcissus, and poinsettias.

1. Amaryllis
2. Christmas Rose (Helleborus niger)
3. Cyclamen
4. Holly
5. Mistletoe
6. Paperwhite narcissus
7. Poinsettias
8. Rosehips
9. Winter clematis
10. Winter jasmine

January

Although January may be the start of the year for us, it’s still the midway point of the garden’s dormant period. But color is still there to be found for those who want a wintery New Year’s floral display.

The large, showy blooms of carnations and Christmas rose provide the centerpieces. Dogwood’s deep red or orange woody stems can add structure to vases and displays. January is also well-stocked with winter varieties of flowering climbers and vines such as clematis, honeysuckle, and jasmine.

For a beautiful January birth flower display, celebrate with some carnations or snowdrops.

1. Carnations
2. Christmas Rose (Helleborus niger)
3. Cyclamen
4. Dogwood
5. Pansies
6. Snowdrops
7. Winter aconite
8. Winter clematis
9. Winter honeysuckle
10. Winter jasmine

February

After slowing down for most of the winter, the garden stirs in February. Charming carpets of crocuses will start to appear, while early daffodils can begin springing up. Snowdrops’ crisp white bell-shaped blooms are still strong, while groups of sweet-smelling daphnes also emerge.

Of course, Valentine’s Day is the most significant floral occasion in February. While red roses are a traditional gift, why not mix things with glorious daffodils or pretty Peruvian lilies? February birth month flowers include irises, primrose, and violets.

1. Crocuses
2. Daffodils (Narcissus)
3. Daphnes
4. Irises
5. Magnolia
6. Peruvian lilies (Alstroemeria)
7. Primrose
8. Red roses
9. Snowdrops
10. Violets

Seasonal Flowers by Month in Spring

Spring sees many incredible flowers burst into life as plants fully awaken from winter slumber. The garden gradually gets brighter thanks to the emergence of bulbs. Think of the cheery yellows of daffodils, the deep blues and purples of Muscari, and the heady scents of hyacinths.

Primrose pops up in gorgeous patches, while camellia shrubs start to show off their beautifully arranged white or pink flowers. And trees and shrubs begin to break out into rich explosions of blossom.

For both plants and plant owners, spring is the busiest season. Spring is by far the best time to repot and propagate houseplants and start sowing seeds for your desired flowers. It’s also an excellent time to prune back many rose or clematis species ready for flowering.

The main spring holiday is Easter, focusing on rebirth and renewal (and chocolate). Easter can fall towards the end of March but usually takes place in April. Mother’s Day also forms part of the spring calendar, occurring in March in the UK and May in the US.

March

The first true taste of spring usually comes in March as more and more plants start to flower. Daffodils, hyacinths, Muscari, and primroses continue to grow, joined by viburnums and sweet violets. Pollinators may start to emerge, helping the garden come back to life.

Depending on the exact timing, March can also mean two key holidays: Easter and Mother’s Day (if you live in the UK). Daffodils are among the most popular flowers for these two occasions because they symbolize spring and have religious relevance to Easter. The daffodil is also the official birth flower for March.

1. Camellias
2. Daffodils (Narcissus)
3. Daphnes
4. Hellebores
5. Hyacinths
6. Iris reticulata
7. Muscari (Grape hyacinths)
8. Primrose
9. Sweet violets
10. Viburnums

April

April arrives as the soil warms up and the spring garden is in full swing. Bees and butterflies travel from flower to flower, creating a gorgeous show of color. Bluebells and tulips are April’s most famous flowers, joined by lavish blooms from gardenias and hellebores.

This is also an excellent month to start sowing summer seeds, such as sunflowers, zinnias, pot marigolds, and love-in-a-mist. Deadhead any spent flowers to keep the blooms coming.

April’s birth month flowers are the delightful daisy and the seductive sweet pea.

1. Anemones
2. Bluebells
3. Cherry blossom
4. Daisies
5. Forget-me-nots
6. Gardenias
7. Hellebores
8. Ranunculus
9. Tulips
10. Sweet peas

May

As we get into May, the weather gets sunnier and warmer. It’s an excellent month for cut flowers, thanks to show-stopping carnations, peonies, tulips, and wallflowers. May is also the ideal time to start growing dahlia tubers outside, ready for the summer and fall.

Carnations take pride of place in May because they make excellent Mother’s Day flowers. Pink or white carnations are great choices. Another essential flower for May is the Lily of the Valley, which is the official May birth flower.

1. Carnations
2. Euphorbias
3. Geraniums
4. Honesty
5. Lily of the Valley
6. Peonies
7. Stock flowers
8. Tulips
9. Violas
10. Wallflowers

Seasonal Flowers by Month in Summer

Summer is unquestionably the high point of the flowering year. Dazzling displays of color are abundant throughout the season, accompanied by intoxicating scents and the steady buzz of bees. The warm weather and intense sunlight fuel many of the year’s most impressive flowers, like sunflowers, hydrangeas, and lilies.

Many of these varieties make excellent cut flowers, especially hydrangeas and peonies. When growing summer flowers, remember to keep deadheading them as the blooms expire. This helps encourage an extra burst of fresh flowers as the season goes on. Always keep your flowers well-watered in hot, dry periods to avoid problems.

June

June can be a spectacular show of color, both inside and out. Carnations and pinks – both members of the Dianthus genus – are at their best right now. Both make fantastic additions to a vase of cut flowers. Other beautiful plants to use are foxgloves, hibiscus, irises, and lupins.

Roses are beginning to bloom during the summer, giving you dramatic blooms and soothing scents. Continue to deadhead any wilting flowers on your plants to help them keep blooming.

Plant lovers can celebrate with beautiful June birth month flowers – honeysuckle and roses.

1. Carnations
2. Foxgloves
3. Hibiscus
4. Honeysuckle
5. Irises
6. Lavender
7. Lilies
8. Lupins
9. Peonies
10. Roses

July

For many climates in the Northern Hemisphere, July is the height of summer. The days are long, warm, and sunny, which is great for flowers. In July, plant lovers are spoilt for choice thanks to agapanthus, hydrangeas, sunflowers, and zinnias. All make excellent cut flowers.

Try a summer arrangement using sunflowers or zinnias. July represents the crescendo of color for the season before we begin to drift towards the fall. Larkspur, also known as delphinium, is the official birth flower for July.

1. Agapanthus
2. Gerbera daisies
3. Hydrangeas
4. Jasmine
5. Larkspur (Delphiniums)
6. Love-in-a-mist
7. Pot marigolds (Calendula)
8. Sunflowers
9. Tiger lilies
10. Zinnias

August

August gives us the last official throes of summer before fall sets in. Flowers are still vibrant, but many species may start to fade. Thankfully, you can still enjoy bountiful blooms from hydrangeas and agapanthus. August is also one of the best months for the spectacular colors of begonias, cosmos, and dahlias.

Celebrate with the official August birth month flowers, colorful towers of gladiolus, and charming blooms of poppies. Both of these species are brilliant as cut flowers. Gladiolus, in particular, can last for up to 12 days.

1. Agapanthus
2. Begonias
3. Cosmos
4. Dahlias
5. Gladiolus
6. Hydrangeas
7. Marigolds
8. Nasturtiums
9. Poppies
10. Sunflowers

Seasonal Flowers by Month in Autumn

As the height and heat of summer give way to cooler weather in the fall, flowers are still putting out incredible displays. Dahlias, gerbera daisies, poppies, and rudbeckias are all in full swing. Fall also brings us Thanksgiving and Halloween, with some appropriately themed flowers, such as Chinese lanterns.

For many summer perennials that have finished flowering, now is the time to cut them back, ready for next year. This is also the best time of year to plant or pot up bulbs that you want to flower next spring. Think hyacinths, Muscari, and daffodils.

There are also some fantastic cut flowers available during the fall. Asters, chrysanthemums, Peruvian lilies, and snapdragons are undoubtedly the stars of the show, along with the last of the dahlias.

September

September straddles the transition between late summer and early autumn, giving plant lovers the best of both worlds. As the foliage of shrubs and trees gradually turns orange, some gorgeous flowers are still producing blooms. Crocosmia, dahlias, echinaceas, and gerbera daisies immediately spring to mind.

September birth month flowers offer plenty of color and character for your celebration. These birth flowers are asters and morning glory – both of which have vibrant blooms.

1. Asters
2. Cleomes
3. Crocosmia
4. Dahlias
5. Echinacea
6. Fuchsia
7. Gerbera daisies
8. Morning glory
9. Poppies
10. Verbena

October

By the time October rolls around, fall has officially arrived. The color palette turns to beautiful hues of orange and red, creating a fiery display. Splashes of color are also provided by the impressive blooms of chrysanthemums and the floral spires of salvias.

October also brings us Halloween, which really suits the orange colors of this time of year. Why not use Chinese lanterns to simulate little pumpkins for a festive cut flower display? October birth month flowers include cosmos and marigolds.

1. Asters
2. Chinese lanterns
3. Chrysanthemums
4. Cosmos
5. Dahlias
6. Marigolds
7. Poppies
8. Rudbeckias
9. Salvias
10. Snapdragons

November

November brings fall to a close before the onset of winter but still offers some bursts of color. Asters, snapdragons, and Peruvian lilies are some of the most popular November flowers.

Thanksgiving takes place in November, so why not use cut flowers for a table centerpiece? Chrysanthemums, lilies, and roses are all excellent choices. The official November birth month flower is the chrysanthemum.

1. Amaryllis
2. Asters
3. Chrysanthemums
4. Clematis
5. Lilies
6. Nerines
7. Peonies
8. Peruvian lilies (Alstroemeria)
9. Roses
10. Snapdragons

Wrapping Up

There’s always a lovely range of seasonal flowers, from hyacinths and tulips in the spring to amaryllis and paperwhite narcissus in the winter. Birthdays and holidays throughout the year are also well-represented by a fabulous array of flowers. Daffodils are the stars of Easter and Mother’s Day, while poinsettias and Helleborus niger add some festive floral feel to Christmas.