What Is Each Wedding Anniversary’s Flower?

Just as there are traditional gifts for nearly every year of marriage, there are also traditional flowers. These range from carnations for the first anniversary to yellow roses and violets for the 50th. Florist Mallory Green shares which flowers correspond to the length of your marriage and gives insight on why each bloom is the perfect flower for that year.

Anniversary flowers by year at a glance

1st anniversary: carnation

Carnations have such a vibrant, youthful energy, which makes them a natural fit for a first anniversary. Their full, ruffled petals feel celebratory and perfectly capture the excitement of a love store that’s just getting started.

2nd anniversary: Cosmos

Cosmos have an effortless, airy beauty that pairs so well with their symbolism of harmony and balance. By the second anniversary, a couple is starting to find their rhythm, and these delicate blooms feel like a beautiful reflection of that ease.

3rd anniversary: Sunflower

Sunflowers instantly bring warmth and optimism to an arrangement, but there’s strength behind that cheerful appearance too. Their sturdy stems and sun-facing blooms make them a fitting symbol of a relationship with a strong foundation and plenty of bright moments still ahead.

4th anniversary: Geranium

Geraniums have a warm, familiar quality that feels closely connected to home, comfort, and togetherness. By the fourth anniversary, those ideas often become such an important part of a marriage as two lives grow more and more intertwined.

5th anniversary: Daisy

What I love about daisies is that they look simple and cheerful at first glance, but there’s actually so much detail within each bloom. That feels especially fitting after five years of marriage, when there are still new layers of your partner, and your life together, to discover.

Warm Sunset Bouquet

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Happy Gerbera Daisies

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10th anniversary: Daffodil

Daffodils feel inherently joyful and optimistic, which makes them perfect for celebrating a decade together. One bloom can be delicate, but gathered together they make a real statement, much like all the small moments and memories that add up over 10 years.

15th anniversary: Rose

Roses have remained the ultimate symbol of love because their beauty really is timeless. Their layered petals and classic form make them especially fitting for a 15th anniversary, when the relationship has evolved but the romance is still very much there.

20th anniversary: Aster

Asters are traditionally associated with wisdom, which feels especially meaningful after 20 years together. Their intricate, layered blooms also have a beautiful sense of depth, something that naturally reflects a relationship shaped by years of shared experiences and memories.

25th anniversary: Iris

Iris have such a striking presence. Their shape is sculptural and strong, but still incredibly elegant. Paired with their symbolism of faith, hope, and promise, they feel especially meaningful for celebrating 25 years and the commitment that has carried a couple through them.

30th anniversary: Lily

Lilies have a graceful, established beauty that feels just right for a 30th anniversary. Because they’re often associated with transitions and new chapters, they can celebrate everything a couple has built together while still looking forward to what comes next.

40th Anniversary: Gladiolus

Gladiolus make an impact with their tall, structured stems and strong vertical lines. For a 40th anniversary, that strength feels especially symbolic of a relationship that has endured, grown, and continued to stand strong through every season of life.

50th anniversary: Yellow roses and violets

Fifty years of marriage is an amazing accomplishment. To honor this milestone, this anniversary is the only one celebrated with two different flowers. As complementary colors, yellow roses and violets represent the long life of two people who have come together to support and complement each other.

Two Dozen Red Roses

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Magnificent Pink Rose & Lily Bouquet

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Ultimate Elegance ™ Premium Long Stem Yellow Roses

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How to choose anniversary flowers

When giving flowers for commemorate an anniversary, you can simply match the blooms to the year for a meaningful, tradition-based gift. To make the bouquet even more personal, add flowers in their favorite color as well. And if your anniversary slipped your mind until that morning (it happens!), take advantage of same-day delivery.