“There are always flowers for those who want to see them,” wrote painter Henri Matisse. For many, planting flowers is a way to ensure that they are always easy to see. Flowers bring many joys to human lives, with their vibrant colors, delightful scents, and shapes both elegant and simple as well as intricate and complex. Some types of flowers are particularly good at attracting butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. Some have only a short blooming period and others will continue to bloom all season long. If you want to make sure that there are flowers for you to see, check out this list of the 86 best types of flowers you need to plant.
Perennials
1. Peruvian lily
This beautiful six-petaled flower is originally from South America. They come in several colors including red, orange, purple, and white. Many have streaks of darker colors as well. These are long-lasting lilies.
2. Coreopsis
Often called Mango Punch for its mango orange color, this is a low-maintenance flower that is great for attracting butterflies. They typically have a red blush color as well.
3. Geum chiloense
Also called Red Dragon for it’s fiery color, this flower will bloom for long periods. This red and orange stunner will attract butterflies.
4. Gaillardia x grandiflora
This blanket flower has petals of yellow, orange, and shades of red radiating from a large base. It does best with full sun and is very low maintenance.
5. Black-eyed Susan
Part of the sunflower family, this flower goes by a number of names, including brown betty, gloriosa daisy, English bull’s eye, and golden Jerusalem. It’s a large flower with long yellow petals and a black or brown center.
6. Jerusalem sage
This shrub has wrinkled green leaves and tubular flowers in a light yellow. The leaves have a sage-like aroma.
7. Euphorbia characias wulfenii
This plant features bottlebrush-like yellow-green flowers. The sap can be toxic so it’s important to handle this flower with great care.
8. Penstemon
This plant produces long-living flowers in a deep purple. the penstemon is known for attracting bees and hummingbirds.
9. Heuchera
Also called Coral Bells, these come in a rainbow of colors and produce large masses of blooms.
10. Gaura lindheimeri
Often called Lindheimer’s beeblossom, these are a favorite bloom for the honeybee. These flowers have four pink or white petals and long stamens.
11. ‘Moonshine’ yarrow
These fragrant, bright yellow clumps of flowers add a nice burst of color. It’s tolerant to many adverse conditions.
12. Pineapple sage
The plant is so named due to the pineapple-like aroma of its tubular red flowers.
13. Sedum telephium
This plant has many nicknames, including frog’s-stomach, harping Johnny, life-everlasting, and witch’s moneybags. It features dense heads of reddish or yellowish-white flowers.
14. Scarlet Tanager African Daisy
This stunning flower has large scarlet petals. It blooms twice a season.
15. Salvia leucantha
Also called Mexican brush sage, this plant grows to be pretty tall. It features white or purple flowers. This is one of the best types of flowers for attracting hummingbirds.
16. Veronica
The Veronica flower is also known as speedwell, bird’s eye, and gypsyweed. They are great for ground cover and the flowers come in blue, pink, purple, or white.
17. Sea holly
If you want really low maintenance, sea holly is one of the very best types of flowers to plant. The blue and white flowers and silver leaves are very hardy.
18. Redbirds in a Tree
The evocative name is a good descriptor, as these flowers really do look like red birds perched on branches.
19. Russian Sage
Tall lavender or blue flowers on silver wands make this flower unique. These types of flowers make great borders.
20. Miniature Mat Daisy
It’s hard to find more beautiful ground cover than a mat of small daisies.
21. Asters
Asters add some beautiful vibrancy to a garden, with flowers in shades like pink, purple, blue, and white. This is one of the types of plants that thrives with full sun.
22. False goat’s beard
The types of flowers that do well in shade aren’t always the prettiest, but this is an exception. Fluffy plumes of pastel flowers tower above the fern-like leaves.
23. Purple Coneflower
This proven performer features a large center cone from which pretty pink-purple petals unfurl.
24. Yarrow
Often seen growing in the wild, these types of flowers also look great in a garden. The most common color is white but they grow in a rainbow of shades.
25. Peonies
Always a crowd pleaser, peonies don’t bloom for long, but they are glorious while they last. The huge flowers come in a variety of colors.
26. Switchgrass
When you think of types of flowers, you usually think of colorful blooms, but there is a need for more neutral plants in a garden as well. This upright grass is attractive in a garden.
27. Threadleaf Coreopsis
Also called Threadleaf tickseed, this flower features golden yellow blooms. These types of flowers like sun and can tolerate drought.
28. Siberian Iris
These frilly purple blooms are one of the more unique types of flower with their drooping petals.
29. Red Devil Perennial Verbena
These types of flowers are great for ground cover. They feature brilliant red blooms.
30. Daffodils
These types of flowers inspire happiness. They feature a trumpet and a ring of petals.
31. Tall Garden Phlox
This is one of the more hardy types of flowers. The eye-catching clusters of pink, purple, lavender or white blooms look great in any garden.
32. Moss Phlox
Like tall garden phlox, moss phlox is hardy and has beautiful flowers. The difference is that moss phlox is one of the best types of flower for ground cover.
33. Pincushion Flower
The name is apt as these flowers really look like pincushions. Available in blue, pink, and white, they do best in full sun.
34. Sedum
This flower looks good both when in bloom and when not in bloom. Sedum is low maintenance.
35. Red Hot Poker
There are few types of flowers with names as evocative as this one. The tubular spikes of flowers really do resemble a hot poker.
36. Daylily
This stunning flower will thrive in a variety of climates and is available in a variety of colors. When asked what types of flowers are a favorite, many will answer this one.
37. Hardy Hibiscus
These large and vibrant blooms do best in full sun.
38. Asiatic Lily
This variety of lily is a favorite for many. They bloom earlier than many lilies and the bloom is long-lasting.
39. Chrysanthemum
Also called mums, these flowers have multiple layers of radiating petals.They come in several colors.
40. Hosta
Known mostly for their green and white foliage, these plants also produce tall and delicate white-purple flowers.
41. Tiger lily
This fiery orange lily is covered in spots. Its vibrant and unique look makes it one of the most beloved types of flowers.
42. Bellflowers
Shaped like delicate bells, these flowers come in shades of blue, purple, pink, and white.
43. Irises
This famous flower is recognizable by its drooping petals. There are several different varieties.
Annuals
44. Geranium
These types of flowers come in a variety of colors and feature clusters of blooms.
45. Marigold
These vibrant and happy flowers come in yellow, orange, or a mix of yellow and orange. In addition to being pretty and smelling good, they’re edible.
46. Sweet Alyssum
The best types of flowers provide a function in addition to being beautiful. Sweet alyssum makes great groundcover, looks lovely, and smells divine.
47. Zinnia
Available in many colors, these flowers feature large blooms with layers of petals.
48. Petunia
These trumpet-shaped flowers come in a variety of colors.
49. Fuchsia
This trailing flower works particularly well in a hanging capacity. They come in combinations of white, red, pink, and purple.
50. Impatiens
Impatiens are one of the best types of flowers for shaded areas. They add some tropical flair.
51. Lobelia
These delicate blooms stay relatively compact. Available in white, blue, or pink, they prefer sun but can tolerate shade.
52. Diamond Frost Euphorbia
This flower has white blooms above green foliage. It prefers partial sun and blooms all year.
53. Cosmos
The types of flowers that make people happiest tend to have bold, vibrant colors. The cosmos is a joy-bringing bright yellow.
54. Summer Snapdragon
This plant grows upright and features orchid-like blooms on spikes.
55. Sunflower
This is a flower everyone can identify, even those without any interest in gardening. The cheery yellow leaves around the large center are iconic.
56. Superbells Lemon Slice calibrachoa
This is one of the more unusual types of flowers. The pinwheel pattern of alternating yellow and white is quite striking.
57. Vinca
A perfect flower for ground cover, the vinca has pink, lavender, or red petals in a shape reminiscent of a parasol.
58. Begonia
The most common kinds of begonia are wax and tuberous. All begonias feature colorful blooms and do best in shade.
59. Scarlet Sage
Native to Brazil, this flower has tubular blooms in a rich scarlet shade and is known for attracting butterflies and hummingbirds.
60. Morning Glory
Vines of these blue, purple, pink, and white flowers can only be fully enjoyed in the morning.
61. Cardinal Vine
These climbing vines produce red, pink, or white flowers. The blooms only remain open during the first part of the day.
62. Cypress Vine
This is another climbing vine that produces flowers that only remain open for through the afternoon. The red, pink, or white flowers are star-shaped.
63. Moonflower
These delicate and aromatic white flowers only open at night.
64. Spanish Flag
As the name suggests, these types of flowers feature the colors red and yellow.
65. Hyacinth Bean
This vine has long-blooming lavender flowers that end as rich purple seedpods.
66. Nasturtium
A climbing vine with red, orange, yellow, apricot, or cream flowers, the edible nasturtium does best in full sun.
67. Scarlet Runner Bean
The red-orange blooms on this quickly growing vine offer beauty and attract hummingbirds.
68. Sweet Pea
The delicate beauty of the sweat pea is just part of their allure. They are also incredibly fragrant.
69. Black-Eyed Susan Vine
Like the perennial black-eyed Susan, the black-eyed susan vine features yellow flowers around a dark center.
70. Cup and Saucer Vine
On this delightful flower, the blooms begin as white and eventually mature to a purple. The shape is cup-like and the vines can grow to a great height.
71. Lantana
Small clusters of flowers in various colors make the Lantana particularly attractive to butterflies.
72. Million Bells
In the nightshade family, million bells look similar to petunias. They are easy to care for. Though an exaggeration, the name signifies how abundantly they bloom.
73. Moss rose
Not truly a rose, moss rose offers a blanket of green and a wealth of colorful blooms. The flowers come shades like orange, pink, purple, and yellow.
74. Pentas
These are often called Egyptian stars, due to their five-pointed shape. Typically found in red, pink, and white, and they are quite easy to grow.
75. Profusion zinnia
This series of zinnia is known for producing an abundance of blooms. These are available in a variety of colors and will bloom throughout the season.
76. Scarlet sage
Tubular flowers in a deep scarlet red make this flower a stunner. These types of flowers are really a jewel of summer.
77. Spider flower
A nickname for cleomes, this flower features long leaves that look somewhat like the legs of some spiders. The pink, lilac, or white blooms are large and have intricate designs.
78. Flower-of-an-hour
This variety of hibiscus is so named because it blooms only once and only for a few hours. The brevity makes its beauty all the more precious.
79. South African foxglove
This exotic plant features clusters of graceful, drooping blooms. The elegant bloom is white with a hint of lavender.
80. Tassel flower
These types of flowers feature bright orange pompoms of blooms. This unique flower adds a whimsical touch to a garden.
81. Honeywort
This is one of the types of flowers best known for its pleasant scent. The tubular flower is dark blue and rather unusual looking but it can add a nice touch of contrast.
82. Flowering tobacco
Another one of the types of flowers that are known for attracting hummingbirds, flowering tobacco features star-shaped blooms in a variety of colors.
83. Creeping zinnia
This flower is perfect for creating a mat of blooming ground cover. The orange or white petals spiral out from a large center button.
84. Annual clary sage
Available in white, pink, or purple, always with darker streaks, this flower is unique and elegant. It stays in bloom for a long time and it is known for attracting butterflies.
85. Castor beans
Although the plant can be toxic, its beauty makes it worth planting as long as you handle it with care. The shrubs have large leaves in dark greens and purples and clusters of small, cup-shaped flowers.
86. Sunset hibiscus
This plant is known for its large yellow flowers. The five petals unfurl from a dark red eye.
We hope this list helps you plan your flower garden. These 86 types of flowers are really just a starting point, as there are many more flower species to choose from. Do you have a favorite flower on this list?