The Most Popular Flowers in Every State, From Asters to Zinnias

Rose

Most popular in: Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and Virginia

No surprise that everyone’s favorite bouquet bloom was top pick in 10 states—especially as it was named the official flower of the U.S. in 1986. (New York also chose it as its state flower, so they definitely love it there!)

In addition to being a fabulous cut flower, they’re great for sunny spots in your garden, and come in a ton of different varieties, from miniature rosebushes to grand climbing roses, so you can find something to suit any size garden.

Marigold

Most popular in: Colorado, Delaware, Kansas, Missouri, and Wisconsin

An unexpected pick for the second spot, marigolds are a garden staple that offers a unique benefit—they repel common garden pests and critters, including bugs like aphids and whiteflies, along with deer and rabbits. They also produce blooms all the way from late spring until the first frosts of fall, so if you’re seeking long-lasting garden star power, give them a try.

Fun fact: Marigolds are generally annual flowers, but if you let them go to seed, you may see new plants crop up next year.

Hydrangea

Most popular in: Alabama, Connecticut, North Carolina, and Rhode Island

Hydrangea are beloved all along the East Coast for their easy-care ways and adaptability to a variety of soil and sun conditions. They also make grand cut flowers that last for a long time—and can be easily dried to add beauty to your home for months.

Alstroemeria

Most popular in: California, Massachusetts, and Michigan

Also known as the Peruvian lily, alstroemeria is a perennial plant that provides flowers from summer to fall in most of the U.S. While often used as a “filler” flower in bouquets, they’re gorgeous in their own right.

Sunflower

Most popular in: Kentucky, New Mexico, and North Dakota

If you want drama in your garden, look no further than these sunny blooms, which can tower over even shrubs and offer pretty blooms and edible seeds for your garden. (They make a great, long-lasting cut flower, too.)

Daisy

Most popular in: Arizona and Nebraska

If you’re looking for a low-maintenance flower for your garden, daisies are a wonderful option—and many varieties are perennial. They’re also a lovely choice for bouquets, too.

Geranium

Most popular in: Washington, DC, and Vermont

A container garden favorite, geraniums are an easy-care bloom that can be an annual or a perennial, depending on the variety you choose. They can come in a variety of warm colors, including red, pink, purple, peach, and white.

Snapdragon

Most popular in: Idaho and Wyoming

Idaho and Wyoming both have the perfect cool weather to help snapdragons thrive. Snapdragons bring bright color to your garden from spring to fall, with a variety of hues available.

Lily

Most popular in: Indiana and Nevada

There are dozens of varieties of lilies, from the delicate lily of the valley to the grand Oriental lilies. They grow from bulbs and take a starring role in any cut flower arrangement.

Ranunculus

Most popular in: Maine and Montana

These gorgeous ruffled flowers are among the first bloomers in spring, and are perfect for adding to your cutting garden and your flower arrangements. If you plant them in cooler areas like Maine, they may only work as annuals, but they can be perennials in warmer climates.

Poppy

Most popular in: New Hampshire and South Dakota

Poppies come in a rainbow of colors, including red, orange, yellow, gold, blue, purple, and white or cream. You can grow them from seed as annuals, or from bulbs as perennials.

Tulip

Most popular in: Oklahoma and Texas

Tulips are arguably the most popular spring flower, often flourishing year after year from bulbs. Keep in mind, though that these fall-planted bulbs are a favorite snack of squirrels and other garden critters, so you’ll need to protect the bulbs with chicken wire or repellents like blood meal or pepper flakes.

Hyacinth

Most popular in: Oregon and Utah

Hyacinth add bright color to your spring garden, or can be forced to bloom over the winter to enjoy indoors. They’re a perfect accompaniment to tulips in your spring garden, and come in a range of colors.

Iris

Most popular in: Alaska

Alaskans adore these bulb-grown blooms, which most often come in shades of purple, gold, and white. Alaska is also home to a wild iris species, which produces purple and blue blooms during late spring and early summer.

Daffodil

Most popular in: Arkansas

For a big bang for your buck when it comes to spring bulbs, you can’t go wrong with daffodils, the favorite bloom in Arkansas. Critters don’t eat these bulbs, so daffodils will show up year after year once planted.

Orchid

Most popular in: Hawaii

It’s probably no surprise that this popular houseplant is beloved in Hawaii—orchid flowers are often used in traditional flower leis. If you’re looking for a pretty bloom for inside your home, this is a great pick.

Zinnia

Most popular in: Iowa

Honestly, zinnias should be more popular in general for flower gardens. They’re an annual that thrives on neglect, and provides you with bright blooms for weeks during the summer. Just keep them in a sunny spot to really watch them thrive.

Waxflower

Most popular in: Minnesota

Waxflower grows on evergreen shrubs, producing tiny pink and purple blooms from spring into summer. They need very little care, so they’re ideal for beginner gardeners.

Lavender

Most popular in: Pennsylvania

This pretty perennial is most well known for its soothing fragrance, but it’s a hardy plant that works beautifully in a drought-resistant garden. You can enjoy the blooms in cut arrangements, or dry them for sachets to place in your drawers.

Azalea

Most popular in: South Carolina

Azalea bushes are among the most popular spring-blooming shrubs, offering showy flowers from March until May, depending on the climate. (You’ll tend to see them earlier in warmer spots like South Carolina.) Make sure you keep your azalea shrub in partial sun, as hot afternoon sun can burn the leaves.

Peony

Most popular in: Tennessee

Peony season may be short—just a few weeks in spring to early summer—but its absolutely grand, ruffled flowers put on quite a show. (Just make sure that you stake the blooms, as they’re often so heavy they cause the stems to droop.) Peony bushes can last for decades, so you can plant once and enjoy the flowers every year.

Dahlia

Most popular in: Washington

Dahlias are a dream for cut-flower fans, as they’ll keep producing new blooms as you cut them for months in the summer. You can choose a variety of sizes, from petite, button-shaped blooms to dinner plate-sized blossoms.

Aster

Most popular in: West Virginia

Asters are a native perennial, which can thrive in even harsh growing conditions—and can be found throughout the U.S. Purple may the most common color, but they can also come in blue, pink, red, and white with yellow center.