Wedding Anniversary Flowers by Year: The Complete Guide
Most people know the big ones — silver at 25, gold at 50 — but did you know nearly every wedding anniversary has its own traditional flower too? It’s one of the loveliest gifting traditions going, and after years of arranging anniversary bouquets I can tell you it turns an ordinary bunch into something that feels researched and meaningful. Here’s the full year-by-year list.
Why anniversaries have flowers at all
The tradition of assigning a flower (and a material, like paper or silver) to each year dates back generations. The idea is simple and rather sweet: each bloom reflects the character of that stage of marriage, from delicate early years to the grand, established later ones. You don’t have to follow it religiously — but mentioning it on the card is a guaranteed way to make the gift feel personal.
The early years (1–10)
The traditional flower for each of the first ten years:
- 1st — Carnation: young, devoted love.
- 2nd — Lily of the valley: sweetness and renewed happiness.
- 3rd — Sunflower: warmth, loyalty and adoration.
- 4th — Hydrangea: heartfelt emotion and gratitude.
- 5th — Daisy: loyalty and cheerful innocence.
- 6th — Calla lily: enduring beauty.
- 7th — Freesia: trust and lasting friendship.
- 8th — Lilac: the joy of love that has settled in.
- 9th — Bird of paradise: faithfulness and a touch of the exotic.
- 10th — Daffodil: hope and fresh beginnings.
The milestone years
The big anniversaries and their blooms:
- 12th — Peony: a happy, prosperous marriage.
- 15th — Rose: love in its fullest bloom.
- 20th — Day lily / aster: devotion and wisdom.
- 25th (Silver) — Iris: faith, hope and treasured memories.
- 30th — Lily: deep, enduring commitment.
- 40th — Gladiolus: strength of character.
- 50th (Golden) — Yellow roses & violets: joy, warmth and lasting devotion.
How to use the tradition as a gift
You don’t need a bouquet made entirely of the exact flower — though we can often feature it. The lovely move is to lead with it where we can and mention it on the card: “The rose is the flower for fifteen years — here’s to fifteen more.” For the milestone years especially, a grander gesture suits; our luxury & milestone anniversary flowers are made for exactly these days.
Anyone can send roses on an anniversary. Sending the flower that belongs to that specific year says you did your homework — and people never forget that.
When the exact flower isn’t in season
Flowers are seasonal, so the precise traditional bloom isn’t always available — and that’s fine. A skilled florist will feature the closest match or build a beautiful arrangement around the right spirit and colour. If a particular flower matters to you, mention it in the order notes and browse our anniversary flowers to find a design to build on. Order by 2pm for same-day delivery across Australia.
