There’s something about flowers that makes a garden come to life. Whether it’s the burst of colour, the sweet scents, or just the cheerful vibes they bring, flowers are the stars of any outdoor space.
If you’re looking to learn more about the different types of flowers you can grow or admire in Australia, you’ve come to the right place.
Below is a huge list of flowers – some native, some not – each with a little info to help you get to know them better.
So, whether you’re planning your next garden project or just love a good floral scroll, settle in and enjoy this guide.
List of 50 Flowers
1. Lavender (Lavandula)
Lavender’s not only a stunner with its soft purple spikes, but it’s also one of the most fragrant flowers you can grow.
It thrives in hot, dry Aussie climates and doesn’t need much fussing over. It’s also brilliant for attracting bees and can even be used in teas or potpourri.
2. Kangaroo Paw (Anigozanthos)
With its quirky claw-shaped flowers and fuzzy texture, Kangaroo Paw brings that wild Aussie look to your garden.
It loves the heat, doesn’t mind dry spells, and adds a striking architectural vibe. As a bonus, birds and pollinators absolutely love it.
3. Frangipani (Plumeria)
The ultimate summer flower, frangipanis bring that tropical resort feel straight to your backyard.
Easy to grow in warmer areas, they’re perfect for pots, coastal gardens or as shade trees. Their sweet scent, creamy petals, and pink or yellow centres make them an instant crowd-pleaser.
4. Spider Flowers (Grevillea)
This low-maintenance Aussie native is both beautiful and tough.
Grevilleas are perfect for attracting honeyeaters and native bees to your garden, and it flowers nearly all year.
Their spider-like blooms come in fiery reds, yellows and oranges, which are gorgeous to look at.
5. Camellia
Camellias are elegant shrubs that flower in the cooler months, brightening shady spots when most plants are dormant.
With rose-like blooms in whites, pinks and reds, they’re ideal for hedges, feature plants or containers
Best of all? They’re relatively low-fuss once established.
6. Banksia
Banksias are true-blue Aussie legends. Their bottlebrush-style flowers are bold and unique, and they’re a magnet for nectar-loving birds.
These plants are built to survive in tough conditions, so they are a favourite among gardeners in drought-prone areas and sandy soils.
7. Hibiscus
If you’re after colour and drama, hibiscus has your back. These big, tropical blooms are part of the Malvaceae family and come in vivid shades of red, pink, yellow and orange.
They love full sun and warm weather, and once established, they’ll flower on and off all year round.
8. Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)
Sunflowers are all about cheer. With their tall stems and massive golden blooms, they’re easy to grow and make a bold statement.
Kids love planting them, and they’re fantastic for attracting bees and birds to your garden. Of course, their seeds are edible too, which is a nice little extra!
9. Rose (Rosa)
Roses are timeless for a reason. Whether you’re after old-fashioned perfumed blooms or modern fuss-free varieties, there’s a rose for every garden.
Give them sun, regular pruning and some TLC, and they’ll bloom beautifully from spring through to autumn.
10. Petunia
Petunias are absolute workhorses when it comes to colour.
Great in pots or garden beds, they’ll brighten any spot, especially in full sun. They bloom non-stop in pinks, purples, whites and even stripes.
Just make sure you keep deadheading to get the most flowers.
11. Bottlebrush (Callistemon)
Named after its fluffy, cylindrical flowers that resemble bottle brushes, this Aussie native is great for screening, hedging or adding texture.
The bright red blooms are irresistible to birds and make a striking visual statement in any native or mixed garden.
12. Snapdragon (Antirrhinum)
These fun, dragon-mouthed flowers add whimsy and vertical interest to your garden.
They are available in pastel and bold tones, snapdragons are ideal for borders and flower beds, especially in cooler seasons.
As a bonus, bees love diving into their tubular blooms!
13. Daisy (Bellis perennis)
Daisies are cheerful, classic and incredibly easy to grow.
Whether you choose the African daisy, Shasta daisy or our own native paper daisies, they’re reliable bloomers that work in garden beds, borders or pots.
They also have a lovely trait of making everything look that little bit happier.
14. Marigold (Tagetes)
Marigolds are garden MVPs. Their bold orange and yellow blooms not only brighten veggie patches but also deter pests like whitefly and aphids.
Hardy, sun-loving and quick to flower, they’re great for beginner gardeners or companion planting.
15. Zinnia
Zinnias deliver wow factor with minimal effort. Their large, vibrant flowers come in almost every colour and can handle the heat like champs.
Plant them once and they’ll keep blooming through summer and well into autumn with a bit of deadheading.
16. Pansy (Viola tricolor var. Hortensis)
With their charming “faces” and cool-season resilience, pansies are favourites for autumn and winter colour.
They come in almost every shade and are ideal for pots, borders and hanging baskets. Give them a sunny spot and regular watering for best results.
17. Begonia
Begonias thrive in shade and humid spots, making them great for undercover patios or darker garden corners.
With waxy leaves and a variety of flower forms and colours, they add texture and lushness with very little maintenance.
18. Orchid (Orchidaceae)
Orchids might have a fancy rep, but varieties like the Cymbidium are easy to grow at home.
They prefer filtered light and reward you with stunning blooms that last for weeks. So, they are great for indoors, patios or tropical gardens.
19. Geranium (Pelargonium spp.)
Geraniums are tough, sun-loving and versatile, which makes them a backyard favourite.
Their clusters of blooms add colour to pots, window boxes or dry garden beds, and they’re super easy to propagate from cuttings too.
20. Waratah (Telopea speciosissima)
With its large, crimson flower heads and leathery leaves, the Waratah is an absolute showstopper.
This native prefers well-drained soil and a bit of shade, but when it blooms, it becomes the star of any garden.
21. Heliconia (Heliconia spp.)
Known for their lobster-claw-shaped blooms, Heliconias bring tropical vibes wherever they grow.
These striking plants love heat, humidity and rich soil, and are most often seen in lush, north Queensland-style gardens.
22. Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus)
Cosmos are carefree annuals that bloom like mad in summer. With delicate foliage and daisy-like flowers in pink, white, and crimson, they self-seed easily and attract butterflies, making them ideal for cottage gardens or wildflower meadows.
23. Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium)
Chrysanthemums are synonymous with autumn. Their tightly packed blooms range from tiny pom-poms to large, showy heads.
Generally, they’re long-lasting in the garden and in vases, and they are perfect for floral arrangements or gifting.
24. Bluebell (Wahlenbergia stricta)
These dainty native blooms pop up in early spring, bringing delicate blue-violet tones to woodland gardens or shady spots.
Bluebells are low maintenance, grow well in naturalised settings, and offer a lovely nod to Aussie bushland.
25. Dahlia
Dahlias are total drama queens in the best way. With their bold colours and intricate petal patterns, they add serious wow factor.
From dinner-plate sized blooms to pom-poms, there’s a dahlia for every taste.
26. Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)
Towering spikes of bell-shaped flowers make foxgloves a striking choice for cottage gardens.
These blooms are especially popular with bees and look fantastic when planted en masse in dappled light.
27. Sweet Pea (Lathyrus odoratus)
Sweet peas are climbers with heavenly fragrance and delicate petals. Sow them in autumn for spring blooms, and train them up trellises or fences.
They’re great for cutting and will flower longer if you keep picking them.
28. Lily (Lilium)
Lilies grow from bulbs and burst into fragrant, trumpet-shaped flowers in spring and summer.
Whether in pots or garden beds, they bring height, perfume and grace, and many varieties come back year after year.
29. Wattle (Acacia)
Wattles are Aussie legends, with golden, fluffy blooms that appear in late winter to early spring.
These drought-tolerant trees and shrubs are perfect for tough conditions, and many varieties grow quickly with little fuss.
30. Tibouchina (Tibouchina urvilleana)
Tibouchinas boast vibrant purple flowers and velvety green leaves, creating a lush, tropical vibe.
They bloom from late summer into autumn and are perfect for warm, humid areas. Prune lightly to keep them tidy and bushy.
31. Bougainvillea
Bougainvilleas put on a riot of colour with their papery bracts in pink, red, purple and orange.
They love full sun, tolerate dry soils, and make excellent climbers or groundcovers in low-maintenance gardens.
32. Anemone
Anemones add elegance with their poppy-like blooms and soft colours.
Excellent for woodland or shaded gardens, they bloom in spring or autumn depending on the variety, and make gorgeous cut flowers.
33. Iris
Irises offer regal beauty with their upright form and intricate blooms.
Their striking flowers appear in late spring and early summer, and they thrive in full sun, with some varieties tolerating wet soils.
34. Coreopsis
Also known as tickseed, coreopsis brings sunshine into the garden with masses of yellow, orange or pink blooms.
It’s super easy to grow, drought-resistant and flowers for ages, so they are great for wildflower borders.
35. Peony (Paeonia)
Peonies are the garden equivalent of a luxury spa – lush, fragrant and eye-catching.
These hardy perennials thrive in cooler regions and reward you with massive blooms each spring.
36. Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus)
Carnations offer long-lasting blooms with a soft, clove-like scent. Ideal for floral arrangements, they also look great in borders and pots.
Newer varieties are more drought-tolerant and easy to grow.
37. Gazania (Gazania rigens)
Gazanias are ground-hugging sun-lovers with bold, stripy petals.
Perfect for rockeries, coastal gardens and verges, they close at night and open with the sun. Once established, they need barely any water.
38. Verbena
Verbena is a flowering powerhouse, producing clusters of blooms for months. It thrives in full sun and poor soils, and is a go-to for adding colour to borders or hanging baskets.
39. Canna (Canna indica)
Lily Cannas bring a tropical feel with bold flowers and banana-like leaves.
They’re real statement plants that like sunny, moist spots and can be grown in containers or water gardens.
40. Statice (Limonium sinuatum)
Statice blooms last forever, making them a florist’s favourite for dried bouquets. Their papery flowers come in purples, pinks and whites, and they thrive in sunny, dry spots.
41. Delphinium
Delphiniums are tall and elegant, with spires of blue, purple or white blooms.
They love cooler climates and need some shelter from strong wind, but their impact in a flower bed is unmatched.
42. Scaevola (Scaevola aemula)
This hardy Aussie native is a trailing beauty perfect for hanging baskets and pots.
With fan-shaped purple or blue flowers, scaevola is low-maintenance and perfect for sunny spots.
43. Impatiens (Impatiens walleriana)
Impatiens love the shade and provide non-stop colour in pinks, whites, purples and reds.
They’re ideal for growing in pots, under trees or shaded patios, and if you keep them moist and they’ll reward you with lush growth.
44. Calendula (Calendula officinalis)
Calendulas are cheerful and edible! Their golden blooms attract pollinators, deter pests, and can be used in salads, balms or teas.
They’re easy to grow and great for kids or companion planting.
45. Alyssum (Lobularia maritima)
Alyssum grows low and spreads like a floral carpet, with clusters of tiny, fragrant blooms.
It’s great for edging paths or softening hard landscaping and does well in poor soils.
46. Ranunculus (Ranunculus asiaticus)
Ranunculus produce layered, almost rose-like flowers in rich jewel tones.
They’re brilliant for bouquets and look spectacular en masse. Plant the bulbs in autumn for stunning spring colour.
47. Portulaca (Portulaca grandiflora)
Also known as moss rose, portulaca is a drought-tolerant groundcover with vibrant blooms.
It’s perfect for dry spots, rock gardens or pots, and its succulent leaves store water, making it very hardy.
48. Salvia
Salvias are tough perennials that flower for months. With blooms in deep purple, red or white, they attract bees, require little water, and look great in native, cottage or Mediterranean-style gardens.
49. Viola (Viola tricolor)
Violas are like miniature pansies, blooming in cooler months with rich colours and adorable faces.
They’re ideal for borders, pots or hanging baskets and are edible too – great for topping salads.
50. Protea (Protea cynaroides)
Proteas are striking South African natives that thrive in Aussie conditions. Their large, sculptural blooms are great for waterwise gardens and flower arranging.
They are also long-lasting, and they do brilliantly in poor soils and full sun.