My 10 Favorite Flowers (And Why I Love Them)
If you’ve spent any time around me, you already know I love flowers. Choosing just ten favorites felt almost impossible! Every season brings something new to fall in love with, but these are the blooms I find myself planting, admiring, and cutting for bouquets year after year.
I’m definitely not a master gardener. I’m simply someone who believes flowers make life a little more beautiful. Some of these are easy annuals, some are faithful perennials that return year after year, and a few hold special memories. Together, they’ve helped make my garden one of my favorite places to be. I hope they inspire you to discover a few favorites of your own!
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1. Zinnias
If I could only grow one flower every summer, it would be zinnias. They absolutely thrive in the heat and seem happiest during those long, sunny days when everything else is struggling. The more you cut them for bouquets, the more they bloom, which makes them perfect for flower lovers.
One of my favorite things about zinnias is the endless variety of colors and shapes. I especially love the bright hot pink varieties—they’re cheerful, vibrant, and impossible not to smile at.
Good to know:
Annual
Full sun
Easy for beginners
Wonderful cut flower
Blooms all summer with regular harvesting
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2. Black-eyed Susans
These sunny yellow flowers always make me smile. They remind me of carefree summer days and look just as beautiful growing along a country road as they do in a garden bed.
One of the best things about Black-eyed Susans is that they return year after year, making them a wonderful low-maintenance choice. They’re also loved by bees and butterflies, which is always a bonus.
Good to know:
Perennial
Native to Missouri and much of the central and eastern United States
Pollinator favorite
Great for beginners
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3. Purple Coneflowers
Purple coneflowers have that perfect wildflower look that I absolutely love. They’re cheerful, hardy, and seem right at home in a Missouri summer.
One of my favorite things about them is that they’re native to Missouri, so they support pollinators while adding beautiful color to the garden. If you leave the seed heads standing after the blooms fade, you may even spot goldfinches stopping by for a snack.
Good to know:
Missouri native
Perennial
Heat and drought tolerant once established
Loved by bees, butterflies, and birds
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4. Sunflowers
Who doesn’t love a sunflower? They simply make people happy!
Most people picture the classic bright yellow varieties, but there are so many beautiful colors to discover—from creamy white to deep burgundy and soft peach. They make incredible statement flowers in the garden and in bouquets.
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5. Cosmos
Cosmos have such a delicate, whimsical look with their airy stems dancing in the breeze.
Despite looking delicate, they’re surprisingly easy to grow and bloom for months. I love mixing them into bouquets because they give everything a soft, romantic feel.
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6. Hydrangeas
I’ll be honest…hydrangeas and I are still figuring each other out.
I don’t always have the best luck growing them, but that certainly doesn’t stop me from loving them. They’re one of the most beautiful flowers you can put into an arrangement, and I’m hoping to plant a few more this fall. Fingers crossed this is the year we finally become friends!
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7. Celosia (Cockscomb)
This might be one of the most unique flowers you’ll ever grow. The velvety blooms almost look like tiny brains, making them such a fun conversation piece in the garden.
These flowers hold a special place in my heart because my dad loved growing cockscomb. Every year I plant a few in memory of him, and every bloom reminds me of those memories we shared.
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8. Tulips
Tulips are one of the very first signs that spring has arrived, and after a long winter, they’re always worth the wait.
There are so many beautiful varieties, but I’ve always had a soft spot for the full, double-flowered tulips that almost look like peonies. Planting them in the fall feels like giving yourself a little gift to open the following spring.
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9. Daffodils
Nothing says spring quite like daffodils.
Most people think of the cheerful yellow flowers that seem to pop up everywhere, but there are actually hundreds of varieties in different shapes, sizes, and colors. Every year when mine bloom, I know warmer days are finally on the way.
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10. Peonies
I saved my favorite for last!
I fell in love with peonies when I was about ten years old, and all these years later, they still stop me in my tracks.
They’re a lesson in patience. Peonies take a few years to become established, but once they do, they’re incredibly rewarding. Their blooms are breathtaking, their fragrance is unforgettable, and every spring they remind me why they’ve always been my favorite flower.
If I could only choose one flower to grow for the rest of my life, it would be peonies!
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Final Thoughts
If you’ve noticed, not all of these flowers are fancy or difficult to grow. Some bloom along country roads, some have been passed down through generations, and some simply remind me of people I love. Every one of them has brought beauty and joy into my life in its own way, and that’s really what gardening is all about.
My hope is that this list inspires you to try something new, revisit an old favorite, or simply slow down and notice the beauty growing around you. Sometimes the smallest blooms leave the biggest impression.
