A Glossary of Wedding Flowers by Color

Updated 03/05/21

Bride with birdcage veil smiling and looking down at white and green bouquet — Photo by Chi-Chi Ari Love; Floral Design by Adore NYC

Choosing wedding flowers is not the easiest of tasks. With so many types of flowers to pick from, where does one even begin? Luckily, pinpointing a color scheme can guide you in the right direction and narrow down the options. But now you may be wondering if hydrangeas come in pink. (They do!) Or you may be curious as to whether creamy white orchids can be found year-round. (They can!)

Compiling your dream wedding arrangement is part inspiration, part knowledge, and we've got them both covered in this comprehensive guide to wedding flowers by color. From the most popular of blooms (garden roses and ranunculi aplenty) to rising stars like succulents, we’ve got the lowdown on exactly which buds flower in which shades and when. And our research wouldn’t be complete if we stopped at blooms. We’ve polished off this compilation by adding noteworthy additions like flowering branches, graceful grasses, showstopping leaves, and herbaceous blends. Plus, we've included tons of additional industry tidbits, like which types of flowers will be the most budget-friendly (mums and carnations) and which will be in season for your holiday nuptials (amaryllis and anemones).

Read on for our complete guide to types of wedding flowers by color.

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Delphinium

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

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Hydrangea

You need just a handful of these big, preppy blooms to create an abundant centerpiece. It also comes in white, green, blue, and assorted pinks.

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Blue Thistle

Despite its name, it's not prickly and makes an excellent boutonniere flower.

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Tweedia

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

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Muscari

An all-muscari bouquet is chic and ladylike. It also comes in purple and white.

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Water Lily

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

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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.

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Hyacinth

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

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Lilac

This classic bloom is most affordable in spring—when they're available locally. A springtime lilac is very fragrant, but isn't as hardy. It also comes in white and mauve.

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Leococoryne

It looks sweet grouped into a colorful posy.

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Clematis

Fancy a trailing bouquet? Use this flowering vine, which also comes in blue, purple, white, mauve, and blush.

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Phalaenopsis Orchid

This contemporary flower 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, oversize teardrop bouquet, look no further.

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Blossoming Oregano

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

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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.

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Sharry Baby Orchid

It often has a faint vanilla scent.

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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.

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Stock

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

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Anthurium

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

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Anemone

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

Anemones close naturally when it's dark, and open when it's bright. If your venue is dimly lit, put them in warm water and they'll open up fast.

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Pansy

This flower is ideal for DIY centerpieces. It comes in many color combinations.

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Dendrobium Orchid

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

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Snapdragon

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

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Anemone

The white-with-a-green-middle anemone is ideal if you're putting it in your bouquet. Anemones with black eyes can stain dresses because the center pollen easily dusts off.

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Agapanthus

This flower also comes in blue and holds up well in hot weather.

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Daffodil

This flower also comes in yellow, orange, and peach. The white variety is an elegant, unexpected choice for a black-tie reception.

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Chrysanthemum

In the hands of the right florist, mums can look quite lovely in centerpieces. Bonus: These common blooms are cheap!

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Gardenia

Work this blossom into a chignon for a retro-glam touch.

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Lilac

This flower, which comes in two different shades of white and also in purple, does not hold up well without water, so it's best to keep it in your centerpieces.

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Tuberose

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

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Calla Lily

Some mass-grown varieties of these flowers stay closed, so ask your florist for "big and open" stems.

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Ranunculus

Ranunculuses 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.

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Spirea

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

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Chinch

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

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Stephanotis

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

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Garden Rose

This classic flower comes in every color except blue and is one of the more fragrant roses. It's pricier than the average rose, but more affordable than a peony.

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Phalaenopsis Orchid

In addition to the white version, this breed of orchid comes in lavender, fuchsia, blush, and yellow.

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Fritillaria

This flower also comes in plum, green, light green, yellow-brown, and black. The dainty bloom is available only in spring.

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Veronica

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

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Nerine

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

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Helleborus

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

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Ranunculus

This tailored flower makes a wonderful single-bloom boutonniere, or looks great en masse in a nosegay. Florists prefer to use them in bouquets or low centerpieces as their stems are on the shorter side.

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Queen Protea

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

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Icelandic Poppy

This graphic flower also comes in orange, peach, yellow, cream, and white. Artsy girls love its paper-thin petals and curvy stem.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Cherry Blossom

This flowering branch also comes in white. It's available for springtime nuptials only.

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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).

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Peony

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

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Godetia

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

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Bromeliad

This rare, tropical flower is perfect in a gallery or loft setting.

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Sweet Pea

These small flowers come in magnificent colors, give off a very light fragrance, and add a lot of texture to a bouquet.

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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.

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Garden Rose

A garden rose has a Victorian look that speaks to a vintage-inspired garden wedding. They're extraordinary even as they start to wilt.

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Rose

Classic brides are drawn to roses—they have a timeless elegance. Bonus: they're hardy, too!

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Lepto

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

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Mokara Orchid

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

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Ranunculus

These blooms have endless layers of paper-thin petals. They're exported from all around the world, and they're decently priced.

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Blackberry

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

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Scabiosa

This is a pretty, very affordable, informal flower that's readily available in the summer. They pair beautifully with dahlias.

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Chocolate Cosmos

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

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Black Queen Anne's Lace

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

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Anemone

Anemone season starts in winter, making them a great pick for a holiday wedding.

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Succulent

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

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Croton Leaf

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

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Jasmine

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

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Mini Cymbidium

These make great boutonnieres as they're not foofy, hold up well without water, and have no fragrance.

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Ginger

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

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Gerbera Daisy

This flirty, youthful flower is for a playful bride on a budget. It comes in fun colors (including pastels) and gives off no scent.

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Camellia

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

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Amaryllis

This winter flower is expensive, but you get a lot of look for your buck. It's ideal for a holiday-inspired wedding in a loft or gallery.

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Ranunculus

For an ultra-modern centerpiece, arrange all red ranunculus en masse.

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Gloriosa Lily

This flower also comes in yellow and orange-and-yellow. Some have long, delicate stems with bright, curly leaves.

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Chrysanthemum

This sturdy bloom also comes in white, lavender, yellow, and mauve. It looks more expensive than it actually is—and is available year-round.

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Bromeliad

This heat-resistant plant also comes in hot pink.

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Freesia

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

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Quince

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

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Pincushion Protea

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

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Kumquat

Unlike other fruits, this tiny citrus won't weigh down your bouquet.

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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.

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Mini Gerbera Daisy

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

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Spray Rose

This comes in every color except blue. The diminutive bloom is ideal for hair wreaths.

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Garden Rose

The garden rose is the bridal flower du jour, along with the ubiquitous ranunculus.

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Ruffled Tulip

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

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Ranunculus

These would look beautiful in a rustic-chic bouquet with sprigs of wheat.

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Heliconia

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

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French Parrot Tulip

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

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Amaryllis

This flower also comes in white, chartreuse, and variations of red. For a contemporary centerpiece, arrange this flower without foliage or filler.

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Carnation

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

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Sweet Pea

This feminine flower comes in every color except yellow and blue. It adds delicate texture to a fluffy bouquet.

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Cymbidium

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

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Dahlia

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

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Double Tulip

This bloom comes in every color except blue. It gives you the same soft, full look as a peony at a third of the price.

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Daffodil

A sunny, low-key flower for a free-spirited bride. It's affordable and available winter through spring.

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Lady's Slipper Orchid

This variety also comes in green, chartreuse, burgundy, and white. Use this for an unusual statement bouquet.

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Mini Cymbidium

This flower also comes in green, white, cream, mauve, burgundy, peach, and brown. Put a few in your hair for a summertime celebration.

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Rose

The ultimate chameleon flower, it transcends all genres—from romantic, to traditional, to modern.

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Florida Beauty

This tropical speckled leaf has graphic appeal.

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Yarrow

It's pretty much wiltproof and looks great dried.

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Oncidium Orchid

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

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Craspedia

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

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Witch Hazel

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

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Sunflower

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

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Mimosa

It's a good ingredient for an aromatic bouquet.

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Snake Grass

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

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Eucalyptus

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

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Lotus Pod

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

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Brunia

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

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Fiddlehead Fern

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

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Anthurium Leaf

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

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Bird's Nest Fern

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

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Dusty Miller

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

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Rose

This classic comes in every color except blue. It's the widely available, totally affordable flower of love.

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Protea

This unusual-looking flower also comes in cream and orange. Want to keep your bouquet forever? Proteas are easy to preserve.

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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.

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Chrysanthemum

This is a cost-effective flower that looks fabulous in a modern setting.

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Carnation

High quality carnations are so ruffly and silky, they look like they're made of fabric. Gorgeous, romantic, and best of all—cheap!

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