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 helping people choose anniversary flowers 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 to every major city and most towns.