Flowers appear everywhere in Spanish: parks, markets, poems, love songs, WhatsApp stickers, your friend’s Instagram caption that definitely wasn’t about the flower. Learning flower vocabulary opens up travel conversations, small talk, cultural references, and descriptions that feel genuinely alive.
By the end of this (big!) guide, you’ll know the most common flowers in Spanish—with IPA, usage notes, example sentences, cultural meanings, mini-dialogues, and a practice plan. Think of this as your Spanish botanical garden, curated by a slightly cheeky yak tour guide.
Quick Primer
Before we explore the floral universe, three essentials:
- Most flower names are feminine: la rosa, la margarita, la orquídea.
- Spanish uses tener, dar, and regalar when talking about giving flowers:
Le regalé flores. — I gave her flowers. - Many flower names double as names for people: Rosa, Margarita, Azucena, Jacinto, Violeta, Narciso.
Okay—grab your imaginary sunhat. Let’s stroll through the vocabulary.
Core Flowers (Flores Comunes)
These are the flowers you’ll hear most in everyday Spanish.
Spanish | IPA | English
la rosa | /la ˈro.sa/ | rose
el clavel | /el klaˈβel/ | carnation
el girasol | /el xi.ɾaˈsol/ | sunflower
la margarita | /la maɾ.ɣaˈɾi.ta/ | daisy
el tulipán | /el tu.liˈpan/ | tulip
la orquídea | /la oɾˈki.ðe.a/ | orchid
la violeta | /la βjoˈle.ta/ | violet
el lirio | /el ˈli.ɾjo/ | lily
la amapola | /la a.maˈpo.la/ | poppy
la peonía | /la pe.oˈni.a/ | peony
Example sentences:
Las rosas huelen muy bien.
/las ˈro.sas ˈwe.len muj ˈbjen/
Roses smell very good.
Compré un ramo de tulipanes.
/komˈpɾe un ˈra.mo ðe tu.liˈpa.nes/
I bought a bouquet of tulips.
Exotic & Tropical Flowers
Useful if you love travel—or live somewhere florally dramatic.
Spanish | IPA | English
la flor de loto | /la floɾ ðe ˈlo.to/ | lotus
la flor de pascua | /la floɾ ðe ˈpas.kwa/ | poinsettia
la flor de jamaica | /la floɾ ðe xaˈmaj.ka/ | hibiscus
la bugambilia | /la βu.ɣamˈbi.lja/ | bougainvillea
la flor de mayo | /la floɾ ðe ˈma.ʝo/ | magnolia (regional)
la flor de azahar | /la floɾ ða.saˈaɾ/ | orange blossom
el jazmín | /el xaðˈmin/ | jasmine
la dalia | /la ˈða.lja/ | dahlia
la hortensia | /la oɾˈten.sja/ | hydrangea
la gardenia | /la ɡaɾˈðe.nja/ | gardenia
Example:
En México hay muchas bugambilias de colores vivos.
/en ˈme.ksi.ko aj ˈmu.tʃas βu.ɣamˈbi.ljas ðe koˈlo.ɾes ˈbi.bos/
In Mexico there are many brightly colored bougainvilleas.
Scented & Symbolic Flowers
These show up in perfumes, poems, and romantic hints.
Spanish | IPA | English
la lavanda | /la laˈβan.da/ | lavender
la azucena | /la a.suˈθe.na, la a.suˈse.na/ | lily (Madonna lily)
el narciso | /el naɾˈθi.so, naɾˈsi.so/ | daffodil
la camelia | /la kaˈme.lja/ | camellia
la magnolia | /la maɣˈno.lja/ | magnolia
la verbena | /la βeɾˈβe.na/ | vervain
el geranio | /el xeˈɾa.njo/ | geranium
la mimosa | /la miˈmo.sa/ | mimosa
Example:
El perfume tiene aroma de lavanda.
/el peɾˈfu.me ˈtje.ne aˈɾo.ma ðe laˈβan.da/
The perfume has a lavender scent.
Desert & Hardy Flowers
Great for travel descriptions, nature documentaries, and poetic flexing.
Spanish | IPA | English
el cactus en flor | /el ˈkak.tus en floɾ/ | cactus flower
la yuca | /la ˈʝu.ka/ | yucca
la flor del agave | /la floɾ ðel aˈɣa.βe/ | agave flower
la adelfa | /la aˈðel.fa/ | oleander
la salvia | /la ˈsal.bja/ | sage blossom
Example:
La flor del agave solo aparece una vez.
/la floɾ ðel aˈɣa.βe ˈso.lo a.paˈɾe.se u.na βes/
The agave flower appears only once.
Wildflowers
Spanish | IPA | English
la violeta silvestre | /la βjoˈle.ta silˈβes.tɾe/ | wild violet
la campanilla | /la kam.paˈni.ʝa/ | bluebell
la flor silvestre | /la floɾ silˈβes.tɾe/ | wildflower
la manzanilla | /la man.saˈni.ʝa/ | chamomile
la achicoria | /la a.tʃiˈko.rja/ | chicory
Example:
Las flores silvestres cubren el campo.
/las ˈflo.ɾes silˈβes.tɾes ˈku.bɾen el ˈkam.po/
Wildflowers cover the field.
Flower Colors & Descriptions
Spanish | IPA | English
rojo | /ˈro.xo/ | red
rosado | /roˈsa.ðo/ | pink
blanco | /ˈblaŋ.ko/ | white
amarillo | /a.maˈɾi.ʝo/ | yellow
púrpura | /ˈpur.pu.ɾa/ | purple
azul | /aˈθul, aˈsul/ | blue
naranja | /naˈɾaŋ.xa/ | orange
Useful adjectives:
Spanish | IPA | English
fragante | /fɾaˈɣan.te/ | fragrant
delicado | /de.liˈka.ðo/ | delicate
silvestre | /silˈβes.tɾe/ | wild
exótico | /ekˈso.ti.ko/ | exotic
marchito | /maɾˈtʃi.to/ | wilted
Example:
La rosa blanca es muy delicada.
/la ˈro.sa ˈblaŋ.ka es muj de.liˈka.ða/
The white rose is very delicate.
Talking About Flowers in Sentences
To say there are flowers somewhere:
Hay muchas flores en el jardín.
/aj ˈmu.tʃas ˈflo.ɾes en el xaɾˈðin/
There are many flowers in the garden.
To describe a flower:
La orquídea es muy exótica.
/la oɾˈki.ðe.a es muj ekˈso.ti.ka/
The orchid is very exotic.
To give someone flowers:
Le regalé flores a mi amiga.
/le re.ɣaˈle ˈflo.ɾes a mi aˈmi.ɣa/
I gave my friend flowers.
To talk about blooming:
Las amapolas florecen en primavera.
/las a.maˈpo.las floˈɾe.sen en pɾi.maˈβe.ɾa/
Poppies bloom in spring.
Cultural & Symbolic Meanings (Los Significados)
Knowing the symbolism can help you understand poetry, music, or subtle romantic cues.
Spanish | IPA | Meaning
la rosa roja | /la ˈro.sa ˈro.xa/ | love, passion
la margarita | /maɾ.ɣaˈɾi.ta/ | innocence
el clavel | /klaˈβel/ | pride, Spain symbol
el girasol | /xi.ɾaˈsol/ | loyalty, admiration
la lavanda | /la laˈβan.da/ | calm, relaxation
la orquídea | /oɾˈki.ðe.a/ | elegance, beauty
la amapola | /a.maˈpo.la/ | remembrance, sleep
Example:
Una rosa blanca simboliza pureza.
/u.na ˈro.sa ˈblaŋ.ka sim.boˈli.sa puˈɾe.θa/
A white rose symbolizes purity.
Flower Parts (Partes de una Flor)
Spanish | IPA | English
el pétalo | /ˈpe.ta.lo/ | petal
el tallo | /ˈta.ʝo/ | stem
la hoja | /la ˈo.xa/ | leaf
la raíz | /la raˈiθ, raˈis/ | root
el capullo | /el kaˈpu.ʝo/ | bud
el polen | /ˈpo.len/ | pollen
Example:
El capullo se abre lentamente.
/el kaˈpu.ʝo se ˈa.βɾe len.taˈmen.te/
The bud opens slowly.
Garden & Nature Vocabulary (Extra Useful)
Spanish | IPA | English
el jardín | /xaɾˈðin/ | garden
el ramo | /ˈra.mo/ | bouquet
el macetero | /ma.seˈte.ɾo/ | flowerpot
la semilla | /seˈmi.ʝa/ | seed
regar | /reˈɣaɾ/ | to water
plantar | /planˈtaɾ/ | to plant
florecer | /floɾeˈseɾ/ | to bloom
Example:
Necesito regar las plantas.
/ne.seˈsi.to reˈɣaɾ las ˈplan.tas/
I need to water the plants.
Usage Notes & Common Mistakes
Common slips for learners:
Most flower names are feminine—don’t mix articles.
La rosa, la flor, la orquídea.
But exceptions exist (el clavel, el girasol).
Don’t confuse flor (flower) with floor (English)—Spanish is simpler: /floɾ/.
Beware of double meanings: margarita can mean daisy or margarita cocktail.
Bonito works for flowers, but hermoso and precioso sound more natural in romantic or poetic contexts.
Region Notes
Spain:
Expect many references to claveles, rosas, and girasoles. Flower markets are everywhere.
Mexico & Central America:
Rich vocabulary around cempasúchil (marigold) used in Día de Muertos.
Flor de jamaica (hibiscus) is common for drinks.
Andean region:
You’ll hear orquídeas and tropical flowers a lot.
Caribbean:
Bougainvillea (bugambilia) and hibiscus everywhere.
Mini Dialogues
Dialogue 1: At a Flower Shop
¿Tiene rosas rojas?
/ˈtje.ne ˈro.sas ˈro.xas/
Do you have red roses?
Sí, ¿cuántas quiere?
/si ˈkwan.tas ˈkje.ɾe/
Yes, how many would you like?
Dialogue 2: Talking About Favorites
¿Cuál es tu flor favorita?
/kwal es tu floɾ fa.βoˈɾi.ta/
What’s your favorite flower?
Me encantan los girasoles.
/me eŋˈkan.tan los xi.ɾaˈso.les/
I love sunflowers.
Dialogue 3: Describing a Garden
¿Cómo es tu jardín?
/ˈko.mo es tu xaɾˈðin/
What is your garden like?
Es pequeño, pero hay muchas flores hermosas.
/es peˈke.ɲo ˈpe.ɾo aj ˈmu.tʃas ˈflo.ɾes eɾˈmo.sas/
It’s small, but there are many beautiful flowers.
Quick Reference (Screenshot-Friendly)
Spanish | IPA | English
la rosa | /la ˈro.sa/ | rose
el clavel | /klaˈβel/ | carnation
el girasol | /xi.ɾaˈsol/ | sunflower
la margarita | /maɾ.ɣaˈɾi.ta/ | daisy
el tulipán | /tu.liˈpan/ | tulip
la orquídea | /oɾˈki.ðe.a/ | orchid
la amapola | /a.maˈpo.la/ | poppy
el jazmín | /xaðˈmin/ | jasmine
la lavanda | /la laˈβan.da/ | lavender
la bugambilia | /βu.ɣamˈbi.lja/ | bougainvillea
Five-Minute Practice Plan
- Say 15 flower names aloud—mix common + exotic ones.
- Write three sentences describing a garden using hay, flores, and colors.
- Record yourself describing your favorite flower in Spanish.
- Shadow Dialogue 1 for natural speech rhythm.
- Build 3 romantic or poetic sentences using flower vocabulary.
- Describe a photo of a flower (real or imagined) using at least five adjectives.
Yak-Style Closing Spark
Learning flower vocabulary gives you the power to describe beauty, color, seasons, and emotions in Spanish with elegance. Keep exploring your floral Spanish, and soon you’ll be expressing yourself with the confidence of a sunflower turning toward the sun—always in the right direction.