Which flowers are the most beautiful in the world? There is no single answer, but some flowers are admired everywhere: people travel to see them, hold festivals in their honour, paint and photograph them. Here are the top 20 most beautiful flowers in the world with photos and names, from Japanese sakura and the sacred lotus to the king protea, with where they grow, when they bloom and what they mean.
More on this topic: types of flowers with names and photos, language of flowers, 20 most beautiful UFL bouquets.
Clouds of soft pink sakura are probably the most famous floral view on the planet. In Japan, admiring cherry blossom in spring has its own name, hanami: people picnic under the trees and the bloom forecast is on the news.
Sakura blossom lasts only a week or two, so it stands for the beauty of the moment and the brevity of life. In Ukraine, cherry trees bloom most lavishly in April, and Uzhhorod is famous for its sakura alleys.
The lotus grows out of mud, yet its flower opens above the water perfectly clean, as the petals repel dirt and droplets. That is why in Buddhism and Hinduism it symbolises purity, spiritual awakening and rebirth.
Lotus seeds are incredibly hardy: scientists have germinated seeds more than a thousand years old. The lotus blooms in July–August, and a single flower lives only a few days.
The rose is rightly called the queen of flowers: tens of thousands of varieties exist, from tiny spray roses to metre-tall stems, from classic cup-shaped blooms to peony-like ones with hundreds of petals. Red roses mean love, white ones purity, pink ones tenderness and gratitude.
Lush and fragrant, with petals that open in layers, the peony has long been called the king of flowers in China and stands for prosperity and a happy marriage. A peony bush can grow in one spot for half a century.
In Ukraine, peonies bloom in late May and June, the moment everyone wants to give them. Peony-like garden roses look similar and are available all year round.
Orchids are one of the largest plant families, with about 28,000 species, from tiny ones to blooms that resemble a butterfly, a bird or even a monkey’s face. The most popular houseplant is the phalaenopsis, which flowers for months.
The orchid stands for refinement, luxury and admiration, a gift that reminds the recipient of the giver for a long time.
Tulips come from the mountains of Central Asia, and in the 17th century the Netherlands was gripped by tulip mania, when a bulb of a rare variety cost as much as a house. Today millions of tulips bloom every spring in the Dutch park of Keukenhof.
The tulip symbolises spring, new beginnings and sincere love, and is probably the most popular flower for 8 March.
The hydrangea impresses with huge globe-shaped heads and an amazing trick: the colour of a garden hydrangea depends on the soil. In acidic soil it turns blue, in alkaline soil pink.
Hydrangeas stand for sincerity and gratitude. Read more about their types and shades in our hydrangea photo guide.
The orange-and-blue flowers of strelitzia look like the crested head of a tropical bird. The plant comes from South Africa and is named after Britain’s Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.
Strelitzia symbolises freedom and joy; indoors it is grown as a large houseplant.
Lilies win hearts with their large flowers, elegant stamens and strong scent. Since ancient times the white lily has been a symbol of purity and innocence, often depicted on icons and coats of arms.
In a bouquet, lilies open gradually and last up to two weeks.
Ranunculus, or Persian buttercup, has dozens of thin, paper-like petals wrapped tightly into a ball. It is often mistaken for a rose or a miniature peony.
It means charm and admiration, perfect for wedding and spring bouquets.
Lisianthus comes from the North American prairies. Half-open buds look like roses, while open flowers resemble poppies or bellflowers. White, lilac, purple, pink or with a contrasting edge, its palette is very wide.
It symbolises gratitude and tenderness and lasts about two weeks in a bouquet.
The magnolia is one of the oldest flowering plants: its ancestors bloomed in the age of dinosaurs, before bees existed, so beetles pollinated them. Large fragrant flowers open in spring, often before the leaves appear.
In Kyiv, the April magnolia bloom draws crowds to the Hryshko National Botanical Garden every year.
Wisteria is a climber with cascades of lilac, white or pink clusters half a metre long or more. Japan’s Ashikaga Flower Park has a wisteria over 150 years old whose canopy on supports covers more than a tennis court.
In Ukraine, wisteria thrives in the south and in Zakarpattia, flowering in May.
The dahlia is the national flower of Mexico. Its heads range from a few centimetres to the size of a dinner plate, in forms from round pompons to spiky cactus types.
They bloom from August until the first frost and symbolise dignity and gratitude.
Bleeding heart flowers are pink hearts with a white drop seemingly falling from them, hence the folk names. A whole row of hearts dangles from each arching stem.
It flowers in May, grows easily in a shady garden and stands for deep feelings.
The king protea is South Africa’s national flower. Its head, up to 30 centimetres across, looks like a crown or an artichoke, and the protea family dates back to the supercontinent Gondwana.
Protea symbolises courage and transformation; in bouquets it keeps its shape for a long time and then dries beautifully.
Huge, crumpled-silk petals in red, orange or pink with a black centre make the oriental poppy impossible to miss in a flowerbed. Each flower lives only a few days, but the plant blooms for several weeks.
It blooms from late May into June. The red poppy is a symbol of remembrance, and in many cultures also of sleep and rest.
Five waxy petals twisted into a spiral and a sweet scent: plumeria adorns tropical islands, and in Hawaii it is woven into traditional leis for guests.
Plumeria smells strongest in the evening and at night, to attract the moths that pollinate it.
The glossy heart of an anthurium is not a petal but a spathe surrounding the spike of tiny flowers. Red, pink, white or lime-green, it looks almost artificial, its shape is so perfect.
Native to tropical America, the anthurium symbolises hospitality and passion, and a cut stem lasts up to three weeks in a vase.
The gerbera is a sunny daisy from South Africa that comes in almost every colour except blue. Its bright heads lift your mood at first sight.
It stands for joy, optimism and sincerity. More on colour meanings in our article on gerbera bouquets.
You don’t have to travel to Japan or Hawaii to see beautiful flowers: roses, orchids, hydrangeas, lisianthus, lilies and gerberas can be delivered across Kyiv. We add a sachet of flower food to every bouquet to help it stay fresh longer.
See lisianthus and orchids.
There is no single answer, but the rose, sakura, lotus, peony and orchid are named most often.
Among the rarest are Middlemist’s Red camellia, kadupul, jade vine and the ghost orchid.
Rafflesia arnoldii, a single flower up to a metre across.
Garden roses, lisianthus, hydrangeas, orchids or ranunculus look luxurious and last well.
Author: Maria Svitlovir
Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.
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