This list covers 40 flowers, from “Magnolia” to “Mexican Fire Plant.” Most bloom in shades of white, pink, purple, yellow, red, and orange, and you’ll find everything from towering trees and climbing vines to low ground covers and hardy wildflowers. People grow them in gardens and landscapes, use them in bouquets and floral arrangements, and plant them to attract pollinators like butterflies and hummingbirds.
Flowers are the reproductive structures of flowering plants, built to attract pollinators and produce seeds. Many carry symbolic meanings that go back centuries, like myrtle, which brides have woven into wedding bouquets for generations as a sign of love and fidelity. Beyond their beauty, flowers like marigolds also serve practical roles in gardens, helping keep pests away from nearby crops.
Below you’ll find the table with the flower, scientific name, growing region, color, meaning, and description for each entry.
Flower: the common name you’ll recognize and use when searching for or talking about this plant.
Scientific Name: the botanical name that identifies the exact species, useful for precise research or plant shopping.
Growing Region: where the flower originates or grows best, helping you decide if it suits your climate.
Color: the typical bloom colors you can expect to see, so you know what to picture or plant for.
Meaning: the symbolic association tied to the flower, handy if you’re choosing blooms for a gift or occasion.
Description: a short overview of the flower’s appearance and character, giving you a quick sense of what makes it stand out.
Flowers
| Flower | Scientific Name | Growing Region | Color | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Magnolia | Magnolia spp. | East Asia, North America | White, pink, purple | Nobility, dignity |
| Marigold | Tagetes spp. | Mexico, Central America | Yellow, orange, red | Passion, creativity |
| Morning Glory | Ipomoea purpurea | Central America | Blue, purple, pink, white | Love, affection |
| Mimosa | Acacia dealbata | Southeastern Australia | Yellow | Sensitivity, secret love |
| Moss Rose | Portulaca grandiflora | South America | Pink, red, orange, yellow, white | Enduring love, playfulness |
| Mock Orange | Philadelphus coronarius | Southern Europe | White | Memory, sincerity |
| Monkshood | Aconitum napellus | Europe | Purple, blue | Chivalry, danger |
| Mallow | Malva sylvestris | Europe, Asia | Pink, purple | Consumed by love |
| Mariposa Lily | Calochortus spp. | Western North America | White, pink, purple, yellow | Beauty, love |
| Michaelmas Daisy | Aster amellus | Europe | Purple, pink, white | Farewell, afterthought |
| Milkweed | Asclepias syriaca | North America | Pink, orange | Hope, healing |
| Moonflower | Ipomoea alba | Tropical Americas | White | Dreams, night beauty |
| Musk Mallow | Malva moschata | Europe | Pink, white | Sweetness |
| Myrtle | Myrtus communis | Mediterranean | White | Love, marriage, fidelity |
| Mexican Sunflower | Tithonia rotundifolia | Mexico, Central America | Orange, red | Warmth, admiration |
| Meadowsweet | Filipendula ulmaria | Europe, Western Asia | Creamy white | Peace, usefulness |
| Grape Hyacinth | Muscari armeniacum | Mediterranean, Southwest Asia | Blue, purple | Trust, forgiveness |
| Montbretia | Crocosmia x crocosmiflora | South Africa | Orange, red, yellow | Festivity |
| Moth Orchid | Phalaenopsis spp. | Southeast Asia | White, pink, purple | Elegance, love |
| Mountain Laurel | Kalmia latifolia | Eastern North America | Pink, white | Ambition, hope |
| Mullein | Verbascum thapsus | Europe, Asia | Yellow | Good nature, protection |
| Marguerite Daisy | Argyranthemum frutescens | Canary Islands | White, yellow, pink | Innocence, purity |
| Mandevilla | Mandevilla spp. | South America | Pink, red, white | Passion, beauty |
| Marsh Marigold | Caltha palustris | Northern Hemisphere | Yellow | Desire for riches |
| Matilija Poppy | Romneya coulteri | California, Mexico | White | Comfort in grief |
| Meadow Saffron | Colchicum autumnale | Europe | Purple, pink | My best days are past |
| Mexican Marigold | Tagetes erecta | Mexico | Yellow, orange | Remembrance of the dead |
| Mexican Hat | Ratibida columnifera | Central North America | Yellow, red | Cheerfulness |
| Moss Campion | Silene acaulis | Arctic, alpine regions | Pink | Resilience |
| Moth Mullein | Verbascum blattaria | Europe, Asia | Yellow, white | Attraction |
| Money Plant | Lunaria annua | Southeastern Europe | Purple | Honesty, sincerity |
| Musk Rose | Rosa moschata | Southern Europe, North Africa | White | Capricious beauty |
| Mexican Bush Sage | Salvia leucantha | Mexico, Central America | Purple, white | Wisdom, good health |
| Maltese Cross | Lychnis chalcedonica | Russia, Eastern Asia | Red | Fiery love |
| Marvel of Peru | Mirabilis jalapa | South America | Pink, red, yellow, white | Timidity |
| Mountain Bluet | Centaurea montana | Europe | Blue, purple | Delicacy |
| Rose Campion | Lychnis coronaria | Southeastern Europe | Magenta | Grace under pressure |
| Meadow Rue | Thalictrum aquilegiifolium | Europe, Asia | Purple, white | Purity, hesitation |
| Madagascar Periwinkle | Catharanthus roseus | Madagascar | Pink, white | Pleasant memories, healing |
| Mexican Fire Plant | Cuphea ignea | Mexico, West Indies | Red, orange | Energy |
Descriptions
Magnolia
An ancient flowering tree with large, fragrant, cup-shaped blooms that appear before or with the leaves in spring.
Marigold
A cheerful, easy-to-grow annual with ruffled blooms, popular in gardens and famous for warding off garden pests.
Morning Glory
A fast-climbing vine whose trumpet-shaped flowers open at dawn and close by afternoon.
Mimosa
A fast-growing tree covered in fluffy, fragrant yellow puffball blossoms in late winter.
Moss Rose
A low, drought-tolerant succulent with cheerful, paper-thin blooms that open wide in full sun.
Mock Orange
A deciduous shrub prized for its citrus-scented white blossoms that resemble orange blooms.
Monkshood
A tall, hooded-flower perennial that looks striking in gardens but is highly toxic if ingested.
Mallow
A hardy wildflower with soft, saucer-shaped blooms often seen along roadsides and meadows.
Mariposa Lily
A delicate wildflower with tulip-like blooms marked by colorful blotches at the petal base.
Michaelmas Daisy
A late-blooming perennial aster that lights up autumn gardens with daisy-like flowers.
Milkweed
A wildflower known as the essential host plant for monarch butterflies, with clusters of star-shaped blooms.
Moonflower
A night-blooming vine whose large, fragrant white flowers unfurl at dusk and glow under moonlight.
Musk Mallow
A bushy perennial with delicate, musk-scented pink flowers that bloom through summer.
Myrtle
An aromatic evergreen shrub with small white flowers traditionally woven into bridal bouquets.
Mexican Sunflower
A tall, vigorous annual with bright, daisy-like blooms that attract butterflies and hummingbirds.
Meadowsweet
A moisture-loving perennial with frothy clusters of sweetly scented cream flowers.
Grape Hyacinth
A small spring bulb whose tight clusters of bead-like flowers resemble tiny bunches of grapes.
Montbretia
A hardy corm plant with arching sprays of vivid, funnel-shaped summer flowers.
Moth Orchid
A popular houseplant orchid with broad, flat blooms that resemble moths in flight.
Mountain Laurel
An evergreen shrub with clusters of intricate, cup-shaped blossoms in late spring.
Mullein
A tall biennial with a thick, woolly stalk topped by small, densely packed yellow flowers.
Marguerite Daisy
A bushy, long-blooming perennial that produces abundant daisy-like flowers nearly year-round in mild climates.
Mandevilla
A tropical vine grown for its glossy leaves and large, trumpet-shaped summer flowers.
Marsh Marigold
A wetland perennial with glossy, buttercup-like flowers that bloom in early spring near water.
Matilija Poppy
A tall, shrubby perennial with huge, crepe-paper white petals surrounding a golden center.
Meadow Saffron
A crocus-like bulb that surprises gardeners with goblet-shaped flowers emerging in autumn without leaves.
Mexican Marigold
A robust annual with large, ruffled blooms traditionally used in Day of the Dead celebrations.
Mexican Hat
A drought-tolerant prairie wildflower with drooping petals around a tall, cone-shaped center.
Moss Campion
A cushion-forming alpine plant that carpets rocky slopes with tiny, star-shaped pink flowers.
Moth Mullein
A slender biennial wildflower with delicate, saucer-shaped blooms spaced along a tall spike.
Money Plant
Also called Honesty, this plant bears small purple flowers followed by papery, coin-shaped seed pods.
Musk Rose
An old climbing rose species with clusters of fragrant, musky-scented white blooms.
Mexican Bush Sage
A velvety-stemmed perennial with long, fuzzy purple flower spikes that bloom into autumn.
Maltese Cross
A cottage-garden perennial topped with clusters of brilliant scarlet, cross-shaped blooms.
Marvel of Peru
Also called the Four O’Clock flower, its fragrant blooms open in late afternoon and close by morning.
Mountain Bluet
A cornflower relative with shaggy, star-shaped blue blooms that thrive in cottage gardens.
Rose Campion
Also known as Mullein Pink, this silvery-leaved perennial produces vivid magenta blooms on wiry stems.
Meadow Rue
A tall, airy perennial with delicate, fluffy flower clusters held above fern-like foliage.
Madagascar Periwinkle
A compact, heat-tolerant bloomer with glossy leaves and flat, five-petaled flowers used in traditional medicine.
Mexican Fire Plant
Also called the Cigar Plant, it produces small tubular flowers tipped in a dark band resembling a lit cigar.