A Glossary of Wedding Flowers by Color

Delphinium

This flower is often used in large ceremony arrangements. It also comes in white, mauve, peach, and other blue shades.

Hydrangea

You need just a handful of these big, bountiful blooms to create an abundant centerpiece or bouquet. Hydrangeas also come in white, green, blue, and assorted pinks.

Blue Thistle

Despite its name, there's nothing prickly about the blue thistle. In fact, it makes an excellent boutonniere flower.

Tweedia

Besides hydrangea, tweedia is the only flower that comes in this shade of sky blue. It also comes in white.

Pansy

Pansies are ideal for DIY centerpieces. It comes in many color combinations and is an affordable flower option.

Muscari

Muscari—also known as grape hyacinths—makes for a chic and feminine bouquet. The flower also comes in white.

Water Lily

This aquatic flower is a good focal bloom for a tropical centerpiece. It also comes in white, blue, hot pink, and yellow.

Anthurium

Anthurium is an accent flower for a stylish bouquet. It also comes in green, red, blush, orange, white, red and green, and red and white.

Stock

This inexpensive filler is available year-round, and also comes in dusty peach, dusty pink, white, and lavender.

Clematis

This graceful, star-shaped flower is ideal for an airy, garden-inspired bouquet. It comes in a handful of colors—from purple to magenta to a striped white—and is a great accent flower. It pairs well with sweet peas, garden roses, and peonies.

Hyacinthus

This flower is hyper-scented, so don't use it on your reception tables as it could overwhelm your guests. It comes in pink, green, white, blue, peach, and soft yellow.

Blackberry

Mix this berry with garden roses for an English-cottage floral look.

Lilac

This classic bloom is most affordable in spring when it's abundant. It's highly fragrant, but isn't as hardy and doesn't do well without water, making it better for centerpieces than bouquets. It also comes in two shades of white and mauve.

Phalaenopsis Orchid

This contemporary flower, also called moth orchids, is available all year, comes in an array of colors, and is quite pricey. It's ideal for a bride who wants a formal, luxurious aesthetic. Nothing cascades better than an orchid—so if you want a tumbling, oversized teardrop bouquet, look no further.

Leucocoryne

Leucocoryne looks sweet grouped into a colorful posy. Its flowers range in color from white to pink to deep purple.

Pinks and Reds

Blossoming Oregano

Are you a foodie? Tuck a spring into the napkin at each place setting.

Rose

This flower is available year-round and pairs well with everything under the sun. A rose can work in any genre—it looks rustic with sunflowers and refined with lily of the valley.

Sharry Baby Orchid

This flower, which only blooms twice per year, often has a faint vanilla scent. It would make an interesting addition to your table centerpieces.

Parrot Tulip

Perfect for a spring wedding, parrot tulips come in a huge range of colors, from the softest pink to the brightest coral to the deepest blackened eggplant.

Anemone

This modern-looking flower also comes in white, blue, red, plum, and blush. On their own, anemone flowers feel modern, festive, and cheerful.

Nerine

This quirky flower also comes in white, fuchsia, and salmon. It looks playful in a corsage.

Dendrobium Orchid

Arrange this orchid variety en masse for an extravagant centerpiece. It also comes in white, purple, green, and magenta.

Queen Protea

This statement flower also comes in white. Consider this showstopper if you love the look of a single flower in lieu of a bouquet.

Double Tulip

This flower is only available in winter and spring. "Double" implies that it has a fatter head size and more densely layered petals than other tulips.

Scabiosa

These flowers also come in white, lavender, blue, burgundy, and black. They're a great substitute for wildflowers if you're marrying in their off-season (generally winter and spring).

Bromeliad

This rare, tropical flower is perfect for a beach wedding, but could also be an unexpected touch in a gallery or loft setting.

Garden Rose

A garden rose gives off a Victorian vibe and is available in every color except blue. It is also one of the more fragrant roses and is pricier than the average rose—but still more affordable than a peony.

Mokara Orchid

This orchid variety also comes in orange, yellow, cream with pink dots, green, and lavender. It's the most budget-conscious orchid.

Lepto

This is an affordable filler flower with a romantic vibe. Lepto also comes in white.

Quince

This flowering branch also comes in white and blush. It is only available in winter and spring.

Amaryllis

This winter flower is expensive, but you get a lot of return for your investment because the amaryllis is simply stunning. It's ideal for a holiday-inspired wedding.

Gloriosa Lily

This flower—also known as a flame lily—also comes in yellow and orange-and-yellow. Some have long, delicate stems with bright, curly leaves.

Camellia

This glossy-leafed branch blossoms in winter and spring only. It also comes in pink, blush, and white.

Gerbera Daisy

The flirty, youthful daisy is for the playful bride on a budget. It comes in fun colors (including pastels) and is scent-free.

Ginger

This long-stemmed flower, which also comes in pink, is striking in tall arrangements.

Mini Cymbidium

These make great boutonnieres as they're structured, hold up well without water, and have no fragrance.

Croton Leaf

This leaf also comes in orange, yellow, and green. This exuberant foliage is available all year long.

Chocolate Cosmos

These also come in deep burgundy. They smell like—you guessed it—chocolate.

Sweet Pea

Sweet Peas come in magnificent colors, give off a very light fragrance, and add a lot of texture to a bouquet.

Lisianthus

This flower also comes in white, green, cream, mauve, lavender, purple, white with purple, and white with mauve. It's a ballroom-friendly filler.

Godetia

This farmer's market find adds a vibrant pop of neon pink. It also comes in soft pink, lavender, white, and salmon.

Peony

This popular wedding flower is also available in white, magenta, deep red, burgundy, and soft yellow. For the ultimate feminine arrangement, splurge on an all-peony bouquet.

Cherry Blossom

A flowering branch that also comes in white. Cherry blossoms are only available for springtime wedding nuptials.

Snapdragon

This field flower is great for a loose arrangement. It also comes in red, orange, white, yellow, pink, and lavender.

Icelandic Poppy

Poppies are a graphic flower that can also be found in shades of orange, peach, yellow, cream, and white. Artsy brides love its paper-thin petals and curvy stem.

Oriental Lily

This flower also comes in hot pink, white, and yellow. Ask your florist to remove its pollen or it may stain your dress.

Spray Rose

Use this sweet-looking bud as a ringbearer's boutonniere. Cluster a few in silver julep cups, or do single-stems in stemless Champagne flutes.

Whites

Agapanthus

Agapanthus can also be found in blue. It holds up well in hot weather because it doesn't need a lot of water to survive.

Daffodil

While the bloom comes in yellow, orange, and peach, the white variety is an elegant, unexpected choice for a black-tie reception.

Chrysanthemum

In the hands of the right florist, mums can look quite lovely in centerpieces. This sturdy bloom also comes in white, lavender, yellow, and mauve. Bonus: It looks more expensive than it actually is and is available year-round.

Gardenia

Work this blossom into a chignon for a retro-glam touch. It's also available in yellow and pink.

Tuberose

Brides love this flower's feminine fragrance, making it a popular bouquet choice.

Calla Lily

Some mass-grown varieties of these flowers stay closed, so ask your florist for "big and open" stems. They're also available in pink, yellow, and deep purple.

Ranunculus

Ranunculi flowers come in every color except blue. It's one of the most versatile wedding flowers, available in a vast array of sizes, shapes, and price points.

Spirea

If you love flowering branches, but are planning summer nuptials when they aren't in season, spirea is a great alternative.

Chinch

This chic, playful blossom is tailor-made for a black-and-white-themed party.

Stephanotis

An elegant white bloom often seen on the lapel of a tuxedo.

Fritillaria

The dainty bloom also appears in plum, green, light green, yellow-brown, and black. Take note, however, it is available only in spring.

Veronica

This stem also comes in blue and pink. Use it as filler if you want a hand-picked look.

Helleborus

Helleborus blooms in the snow, making it a fitting choice for a winter nosegay. It also comes in burgundy, chartreuse, white, soft yellow, and cream.

Queen Anne's Lace

This blossom also comes in white and green. It lends extra texture to a wildflower bouquet.

Oranges and Yellows

Freesia

This lightly perfumed bloom also comes in white, yellow, and lavender. It often appears in traditional bouquets.

Pincushion Protea

Offset the quirkiness of this flower, which also comes in yellow, by pairing it with roses.

Kumquat

Unlike other fruits, this tiny citrus won't weigh down your bouquet and would also look cheerful in centerpieces.

Mini Calla Lily

This petite flower also comes in white, cream, blush, pink, lavender, burgundy, and black. It's the perfect size for a boutonniere.

Mini Gerbera Daisy

This joyful bloom comes in every color except blue and purple. It appeals to minimalists and bohemians alike.

Ruffled Tulip

These come in wonderful colors and look very modern. The ruffled tulip is definitely a flower with a big presence.

Heliconia

Looking for something stark and sculptural? Voilà! This flower also comes in red.

French Parrot Tulip

This is the largest and most artful member of the tulip family.

Carnation

Carnations are cost-effective and come in beautiful colors. Don't mix them with other flowers so they'll look even chicer.

Cymbidium

This silky bud also comes in green, cream, mauve, burgundy, and brown. The flower works equally well at a beach party or an urban soirée.

Dahlia

This popular flower comes in every color except blue. Dahlias can be tricky to find in spring and winter.

Florida Beauty

This tropical speckled leaf has graphic appeal. Use it as a filler in bouquets and centerpieces.

Yarrow

This bloom is perfect for extreme cold or hot weddings. It is pretty much wiltproof and looks great dried.

Oncidium Orchid

Getting married in the tropics? Weave these into garlands or floral arches.

Craspedia

Also known as billy balls, they look darling in bud vases or as bouquet accents.

Witch Hazel

This blooming branch, which also comes in orange, makes for deliciously scented centerpieces.

Mimosa

The mimosa makes a good addition to add some sweet aroma to your bouquet.

Sunflower

This iconic bloom also comes in yellow-and-black, burgundy, and cream. Cluster a few together for a sunny arrangement.

Greens

Snake Grass

This stalk also comes in dark green. Loop it around blooms for a modern bouquet.

Eucalyptus

This plant also comes in gray and pink-gray. It's a fragrant filler for classic arrangements.

Lotus Pod

A lotus pod also comes in brown (dried). Use it to inject exotic flavor into any arrangement.

Brunia

This coral-like plant also comes in green. It adds whimsy to a boutonniere.

Jasmine

Shown here with a fiddlehead fern, jasmine also comes in white. Use just a few sprigs and your bouquet will smell divine.

Fiddlehead Fern

It's a go-to for woodland-wedding boutonnieres.

Anthurium Leaf

This forest-green leaf has destination wedding written all over it.

Bird's Nest Fern

It's perfect for a summery, super-colorful centerpiece.

Dusty Miller

This gray foliage is a chic choice if green clashes with your palette.

Succulent

Succulents are great for brides who don't like traditional greenery. The tiny ones make great boutonnieres.

Viburnum

Seen here in the green version, this also comes in white. For an English-countryside vibe, match this pom-pom with peonies or garden roses.