Anniversary flowers by year: the complete traditional and modern guide

Every wedding anniversary has a traditional flower associated with it — a system that dates back centuries and assigns meaning to each milestone year. Some are well known (roses for a 15th anniversary, violets for the 50th). Many are surprising. All of them give you a thoughtful, personalised starting point for a gift that goes beyond a generic bouquet.

This guide covers the traditional anniversary flower for every major milestone year, the modern alternatives, and what to actually send — with recommendations for each.

Why anniversary flowers matter

The tradition of anniversary gifts by material (paper for year 1, silver for year 25, gold for year 50) is well known. What fewer people know is that flowers follow a parallel tradition — each year has an associated bloom that carries specific meaning. Sending the traditional anniversary flower signals that you know the tradition and cared enough to look it up. That thoughtfulness is often worth more than the flowers themselves.

For couples who receive flowers regularly, the traditional anniversary flower is a meaningful departure from the usual favourites. A fifth anniversary carnation or a twelfth anniversary peony says something different and more considered than another dozen roses.

Anniversary flowers by year — the complete list

Year	Traditional flower	Meaning	What to send
1st	Carnations	New love, fascination, distinction	A generous bunch of carnations in their favourite color — red for love, pink for admiration, white for purity and new beginnings.
2nd	Cosmos	Harmony, order, balance	Cosmos are delicate and wildflower-like. Arrange with greenery for a soft, romantic look.
3rd	Fuchsia	Confiding love, good taste	Bright and distinctive. A fuchsia arrangement stands out — great for a couple who appreciates something unusual.
4th	Geraniums	Comfort, friendship, true friendship	Pink geraniums communicate warm affection. Arrange with soft foliage for a cottage garden feel.
5th	Daisies	Innocence, loyal love, cheerfulness	A generous mixed daisy arrangement in white and yellow. Simple and genuinely joyful — don’t overthink it.
6th	Calla lilies	Magnificent beauty, gratitude	Elegant and architectural. White calla lilies are one of the most sophisticated cut flowers available.
7th	Freesia	Trust, thoughtfulness, friendship	Freesia has one of the finest fragrances in the flower world. A mixed arrangement of freesia perfumes an entire room.
8th	Clematis / Lilac	Mental beauty, persistence	Lilac (if in season) or a purple arrangement that evokes the color of lilac — deep, soft purple tones.
9th	Bird of paradise	Joyfulness, paradise, freedom	Tropical and dramatic. A statement arrangement of bird of paradise is genuinely unforgettable.
10th	Daffodils	New beginnings, creativity, inspiration	The 10th anniversary is a major milestone. A generous bunch of yellow daffodils communicates pure optimism.
11th	Tulips	Perfect love, elegance, grace	Any color of tulip works — match their favourite or go with red for an anniversary. Parrot or fringe varieties add drama.
12th	Peonies	Romance, prosperity, good fortune	The 12th anniversary peony is one of the most beautiful pairings in the tradition. A full blush or coral peony bouquet.
13th	Chrysanthemums	Abundance, loyalty, devoted love	Often overlooked, chrysanthemums are actually extraordinary cut flowers with tremendous vase life. White or deep bronze.
14th	Dahlias	Elegance, inner strength, dignity	The 14th anniversary is where dahlias shine. A dramatic dinner plate dahlia arrangement is one of the most impressive flower gifts possible.
15th	Roses	Deep love, beauty, passion	The 15th anniversary is a major milestone and roses are the traditional choice — send something exceptional. Garden roses, not standard.
20th	Asters	Love, wisdom, faith	Star-shaped and delicate. A generous aster arrangement in purple and white communicates lasting devotion beautifully.
25th	Iris	Hope, wisdom, courage	The silver anniversary iris — often in deep purple or blue — is a stunning and unusual choice for a major milestone.
30th	Sweet peas	Blissful pleasure, gratitude, departure	Sweet peas are the most fragrant and delicate of all anniversary flowers. A generous bunch fills the room with one of the finest flower scents.
40th	Nasturtiums	Conquest, victory in battle	Bright, warm, and unusual — nasturtiums in orange and yellow for four decades of partnership.
50th	Violets / Yellow roses	Faithfulness, modesty, everlasting love	The golden anniversary deserves something exceptional. Yellow roses (modern) or violets (traditional) for fifty years together.

What to order if the traditional flower isn’t available

Some traditional anniversary flowers — freesia, sweet peas, clematis — are only available in season or may not be stocked by every florist. Here’s how to handle each:

If the flower is out of season

Choose a flower in the same color family as the traditional choice. A 7th anniversary without freesia works beautifully with white ranunculus or white sweet peas when freesia isn’t available.

If the flower is unusual or hard to source

Focus on the meaning rather than the exact bloom. The 9th anniversary bird of paradise can be substituted with any tropical arrangement that conveys the same exotic, statement quality.

If you want to modernise

Many anniversaries have modern alternatives — roses are the modern choice for almost any milestone where you’re unsure. Garden roses specifically feel considered and premium rather than generic.

How to personalise an anniversary bouquet

Beyond the traditional flower, here are ways to make an anniversary arrangement feel genuinely personal:

• Include their wedding flowers — a single stem of the flower used in the bridal bouquet woven into an anniversary arrangement is a deeply personal touch
• Match their favourite color — the traditional flower in their favourite color bridges the meaningful and the personal
• Add a handwritten card with the significance of the flower — most people don’t know the anniversary flower tradition. Explaining it doubles the meaning
• Consider the arrangement style — a loose, garden-style arrangement feels romantic and personal; a structured formal arrangement feels significant and ceremonial. Match it to their personality

Ordering anniversary flowers in San Francisco

Flower Icon handles anniversary orders for same-day delivery across San Francisco and next-day delivery throughout the Bay Area. For milestone anniversaries (10th, 25th, 50th) or if you have a specific traditional flower in mind, contact us directly at contact@flowericon.com or +1 (628) 294-4455 and we’ll source exactly what you’re looking for.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a traditional flower for every anniversary year?

The complete traditional list covers every year from 1 to 15, then jumps to 20, 25, 30, 40, and 50. For years not on the traditional list — 16, 17, 18, 19, for example — there’s no single traditional flower. In those cases, the modern default is roses, or any flower that carries personal meaning for the couple.

Do I have to follow the traditional anniversary flower?

Not at all. The tradition is a starting point, not a rule. Many couples aren’t aware of it — which means following it becomes a thoughtful surprise. But if their favourite flower happens to be different from the traditional choice, their favourite flower is always the right answer.

What’s the most popular anniversary flower people order?

Roses are by far the most ordered anniversary flower across all years. Peonies (12th anniversary) and dahlias (14th anniversary) are also increasingly popular as people become more aware of the tradition and want something more distinctive.

Can I get anniversary flowers delivered same day in San Francisco?

Yes — Flower Icon offers same-day delivery across San Francisco for orders placed by early afternoon. For next-day delivery across the Bay Area, order by the afternoon before.

Shop anniversary flowers in San Francisco

Flower Icon is a local San Francisco florist sourcing premium, seasonal flowers — including traditional anniversary blooms when in season. Same-day delivery across SF, next-day across the Bay Area.

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For specific requests: contact@flowericon.com or +1 (628) 294-4455.