Anniversary Flowers by Year: 1st to 50th

Most couples know that the first anniversary is paper and the twenty-fifth is silver. Fewer know that every year has a flower too — a carnation for the first, a sunflower for the third, a daffodil for the tenth, a rose for the fifteenth and yellow roses with violets for the fiftieth. The short answer: there is a traditional anniversary flower for years 1 through 15 and for the big milestones after that, and each one carries a meaning that fits the stage of the marriage. Below: the full chart from the 1st to the 50th, what each flower says, and how to turn it into an arrangement your partner will love. Prefer to shop now? Browse our anniversary flowers and roses, hand-arranged and delivered the same day across Los Angeles, Orange County, the Inland Empire, Ventura County, San Francisco and Honolulu.

Anniversary Flowers by Year: The Full Chart

The anniversary flower list grew up alongside the better-known list of anniversary materials — paper, cotton, leather and so on — and both are modern traditions rather than ancient ones. There is no single official version: florists, etiquette books and greeting-card makers have each nudged it a little over the decades, so you will see the 2nd year listed as lily of the valley or cosmos, and the 8th as lilac or clematis. The chart below is the version most American florists use today.

Two years on the chart are especially generous to anyone who wants to combine them. The 1st (carnation) and the 4th (hydrangea) sit together naturally in a garden-style arrangement like Alexandra, where ruffled pink carnations and garden roses rise out of a cloud of white hydrangea in a velvet hat box — one design that works for both years. If you want the meaning behind each flower in more depth, our guides to carnation meaning and hydrangea meaning go flower by flower and color by color.

Years 1 to 5: Carnation, Lily of the Valley, Sunflower, Hydrangea and Daisy

1st — Carnation. The first year is about passion that is meant to last, and the carnation fits on both counts: it comes in deep romantic reds and pinks, and it is one of the longest-lived flowers in a vase, often two weeks or more. Its symbolism goes back to ancient Greece, where its name was linked to the gods. Red carnations say my heart aches for you; pink ones stand for a love that will not be forgotten.

2nd — Lily of the valley. Tiny, white, bell-shaped and intensely fragrant, lily of the valley means humility, sweetness and the return of happiness. It is also one of the most expensive and seasonal flowers in the trade — it appears in spring and is scarce the rest of the year. If your second anniversary falls in autumn, a white arrangement with sweet-scented flowers carries the same feeling; we will suggest what is in season.

3rd — Sunflower. By the third year a marriage has seen a few seasons, and the sunflower stands for exactly what gets a couple through them: warmth, loyalty and devotion. The flower famously turns its face to follow the sun, which makes for an easy card line. Our Katrina basket is the generous version — three varieties of sunflowers with yellow roses and feathery solidago, piled high in a wicker basket that looks like summer in Southern California.

4th — Hydrangea. The hydrangea's big, abundant heads stand for gratitude and heartfelt emotion — a thank-you for four years together. White and blush hydrangeas read as romantic, blue as calm and steady. They are thirsty flowers, so keep the vase topped up.

5th — Daisy. Five years is the first round-number milestone, and the daisy, with its simple open face, stands for innocence, faithfulness and a fresh start. A daisy bouquet is cheerful rather than formal, which suits a couple who prefer a picnic to a black-tie dinner.

Years 6 to 10: Calla Lily, Freesia, Lilac, Bird of Paradise and Daffodil

6th — Calla lily. Sleek, sculptural and quietly elegant, the calla lily stands for beauty and a love that has matured. White callas are the classic; deep plum and burgundy ones feel more modern. They look striking in a tall glass vase.

7th — Freesia. The freesia is, a symbol of trust and friendship. Freesias have one of the loveliest scents of any cut flower — light, peppery and sweet — and they open bud by bud along the stem, so a bouquet keeps changing for days.

8th — Lilac. Lilac stands for the first emotions of love, which makes it a sweet choice for a couple who want to remember how it all started. Like lily of the valley it is a spring flower with a short season; out of season, a lavender-and-purple arrangement with lisianthus, stock or roses carries the same color and mood.

9th — Bird of paradise. The ninth year gets the most dramatic flower on the list: the bird of paradise, symbol of joy, adventure and paradise found. It is also the official flower of the City of Los Angeles and grows in gardens from Pasadena to Santa Monica, so for an LA couple it is a wonderfully local choice. A few stems in a tall vase are all you need.

10th — Daffodil. A decade together deserves the flower of happiness and new beginnings. Daffodils are a spring flower, bright yellow and unmistakably cheerful. In autumn, a sunny arrangement of yellow roses and sunflowers says the same thing — and if your 10th falls in March, ask for daffodils by name.

Years 11 to 15: Tulip, Peony, Chrysanthemum, Dahlia and Rose

11th — Tulip. The tulip stands for perfect, enduring love, and in the eleventh year it fits beautifully. Red tulips are a declaration of love, pink ones speak of happiness and care, and purple ones of royalty and admiration. Our Holland hat box gathers a hundred of them — soft pink, white, fringed and deep purple — and you can see more in our tulip collection. Tulips keep growing in the vase and bend toward the light, so turn the box every day to keep the dome even.

12th — Peony. The peony is the flower of a happy marriage and prosperity in many cultures, and in China it has been called the king of flowers for centuries. It is also one of the most requested flowers we have, with a short season: late spring is its peak, and outside it we work with imported stems or peony-like garden roses. Our guide to peony symbolism covers what each color means.

13th — Chrysanthemum. Chrysanthemums stand for loyalty, optimism and joy. They are an autumn flower, so a 13th anniversary in October or November is perfectly timed: bronze, burgundy and gold spider mums and pompons make a rich, long-lasting arrangement.

14th — Dahlia. The dahlia stands for commitment and a lasting bond. Dahlias peak from late summer into autumn.

15th — Rose. Fifteen years earns the flower of love itself. Every rose color has its own meaning — red for passionate love, pink for gratitude and admiration, white for a love that is true and pure, peach for warmth, lavender for enchantment. Our guide to rose color meanings walks through them all.

Milestone Anniversaries: 20th, 25th, 28th, 30th, 40th and 50th

20th — Aster. Twenty years, the china anniversary, has the aster: a star-shaped flower of patience and wisdom. Asters bring soft purple and lavender to an arrangement.

25th — Iris. The silver anniversary belongs to the iris, named after the Greek messenger goddess — its message is faith, hope and love. Blue and purple irises look beautiful with silver-toned foliage such as eucalyptus and dusty miller, a gentle nod to the silver year.

28th — Orchid. The orchid, a symbol of rare beauty and refinement, has the unusual distinction of marking the 28th year. A potted orchid like our Moonlit Orchids is a lovely choice here because it keeps blooming for weeks — a gift that lasts well past the anniversary dinner.

30th — Lily. The pearl anniversary is marked by the lily, a flower of devotion and of pride in a long love. White lilies with soft pink roses, as in our Alsu box of lilies, roses and hydrangea, echo the color of pearls.

40th — Gladiolus. The ruby anniversary gets the gladiolus, named for the Latin word for sword and a symbol of strength of character and integrity. Tall and upright, gladioli in ruby red are a striking way to mark forty years.

50th — Yellow roses and violets. The golden anniversary is marked by yellow roses for joy and friendship and violets for faithfulness. Violets are delicate and rarely available as cut flowers in Southern California, so we often add purple accents instead. Many families also celebrate the 50th with fifty roses — one for every year — which brings us to the most beloved anniversary tradition of all.

One rose for every year. Not sure what to choose for a milestone? Count: one rose per year. For a really big moment, a bouquet like 75 Red Roses — a dense, hand-tied dome with long stems — is a gesture nobody forgets. Our guide to 50 vs. 100 roses explains what each number means.

How to Choose: Year Flower, Favorite Flower or Both

The traditional list is a lovely story, not a dress code.

Start with your partner, not the chart. If your wife has always loved peonies, a peony bouquet on your 3rd anniversary will mean more than sunflowers she does not care for. The year flower is there to add meaning, not to replace a favorite.

Use the year flower as an accent. The easiest solution is both: build the arrangement around the favorite flower and add the year flower as a supporting note — a few carnations among garden roses, a stem of iris in a white bouquet, sunflowers in a bright mixed basket. Then mention it on the card. That small detail tells your partner that you thought about it.

Match the season and the setting. Some year flowers — lily of the valley, lilac, daffodil, peony — have short seasons; if yours is out of season, choose the same color and spirit and tell us what you hoped for. A box or basket suits a dinner table or an office desk; a tall hand-tied bouquet makes the bigger entrance. Our guide to romantic anniversary bouquet ideas has more inspiration.

My Thoughts — a Florist's Perspective on Anniversary Flowers

Anniversaries are some of my favorite orders to make, because the notes are always the best. A first anniversary note is usually a little shy; a fortieth is often three lines long and makes the whole studio go quiet for a moment. I have built arrangements for a couple's 1st and, a week later, for another couple's 60th, and the flowers were completely different — but the feeling behind them was exactly the same.

What I have learned is that the year flower matters most when it is personal. A man once ordered sunflowers for his 3rd anniversary not because of the chart, but because his wife had carried sunflowers at their wedding — the chart just gave him the excuse. That is the sweet spot: tradition plus your own story.

My practical advice is to order a day or two ahead whenever you can. Same-day delivery works, and we do it every day, but a little notice lets me pick the best stems of the year flower at the morning market, or find a substitute in the right color if it is out of season. And always tell me which anniversary it is. A 25th gets a touch of silver foliage, a 50th a little gold in the ribbon — small details nobody asks for but everybody notices.

FAQ

What Is the Traditional Flower for Each Anniversary Year?

The most widely used list runs: 1st carnation, 2nd lily of the valley, 3rd sunflower, 4th hydrangea, 5th daisy, 6th calla lily, 7th freesia, 8th lilac, 9th bird of paradise, 10th daffodil, 11th tulip, 12th peony, 13th chrysanthemum, 14th dahlia, 15th rose, 20th aster, 25th iris, 28th orchid, 30th lily, 40th gladiolus and 50th yellow roses with violets. Lists differ a little from source to source, so treat it as inspiration rather than a rule.

What Flower Is for the 1st Wedding Anniversary?

The carnation. It stands for young, passionate love that lasts, and it is one of the longest-lasting cut flowers — a good omen for a first year. Red and pink carnations are the classic choice; tucked among garden roses and hydrangea, they make a first-anniversary arrangement that feels romantic rather than old-fashioned.

Do I Have to Give the Traditional Anniversary Flower?

No. The year flowers are a lovely starting point and a good story for the card, but the best anniversary flowers are the ones your partner loves. A simple approach: build the arrangement around their favorite flower and add the year flower as an accent, then mention it in the note.

How Many Roses Should I Give for an Anniversary?

There is no rule, but one rose per year of marriage is a beautiful tradition — ten roses for the 10th, twenty-five for the 25th, fifty for the 50th. A single red rose says I still love you, a dozen is the classic romantic gesture, and fifty, seventy-five or a hundred roses are reserved for the big milestones.

Can I Get Same-Day Anniversary Flower Delivery?

Yes. Order before 4:30 PM (3 PM in San Francisco) and we deliver the same day between 12 and 8 PM across Los Angeles, Orange County, the Inland Empire, Ventura County, San Francisco and Honolulu. If the flowers need to arrive at a specific time — before a dinner reservation, say — an exact-time delivery option is available in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Honolulu.

What Should I Write on an Anniversary Card?

Keep it personal and short: the year, a memory and a wish. For example: Three years, and you still make every day sunnier — like these sunflowers, or Twenty-five years of you. I would choose you again, every single time. Mentioning the year flower and why you chose it turns the card into a small story.

Conclusion

Every anniversary has its flower: carnation for the 1st, sunflower for the 3rd, hydrangea for the 4th, daffodil for the 10th, tulip for the 11th, rose for the 15th, iris for the 25th, lily for the 30th and yellow roses with violets for the 50th, with a flower for every year in between. Use the chart as inspiration and combine the year flower with the one your partner loves. Whether it is a first anniversary or a golden one, the right flowers say what is hard to put into words: I would do it all again.

Pink Clover hand-arranges every order in its own studios and delivers the same day across Los Angeles, Orange County, the Inland Empire, Ventura County, San Francisco and Honolulu, with a photo of the finished arrangement before it leaves. Order from our anniversary collection and tell us the year. Sending to the Bay Area or Oahu? See our San Francisco and Honolulu pages.

Sources and further reading: Wikipedia: Language of flowers · Wikipedia: Dianthus caryophyllus (carnation)

Shop Anniversary Flowers Near You

Our anniversary designs cover the whole chart: Alexandra with carnations and hydrangea for the 1st or the 4th, the Katrina sunflower basket for the 3rd, the Holland tulip hat box for the 11th, and 75 Red Roses for the 15th or any milestone. Browse the whole anniversary collection, tell us the year in the order note, and we will send a photo of the finished arrangement before it goes out.