There’s nothing more annoying than knowing the letter a flower starts with, but not being able to remember the name. I’ve had to take to Google so many times to save my frustrated brain as I desperately try to remember the flower I’m referring to.
Luckily for you, I’ve pulled together this helpful guide with a full list of flowers beginning with A. You’re welcome!
20 Flowers Starting With A
Aconitum
Aconitum is a mysterious flower that you may know as wolf’s bane.
It is also known as monkshood and devil’s helmet – presumably because of its shape – as well as aconite, mousebane, women’s bane, blue rocket, queen of poisons and, perhaps my favourite, Dumbledore’s delight.
As some of its names suggest, this herbaceous perennial flower is highly poisonous and requires a great deal of caution. It is know to be toxic when ingested and can also cause skin irritation. Fun fact: it has been used as poison on arrow heads!
This tuberous flower, which is commonly found in purple or blue, is native to the Northern Hemisphere, Europe, Asia, and North America.
African Daisy
This gorgeous flower is a member of the Asteraceae family and is native to Africa and the Southwest of Asia.
Much brighter and more vibrant than the common garden daisy, the African daisy comes in shades of purple, orange, pink, yellow, and white.
Popular for adding a splash of colour to gardens, the perennial African daisy is an easy bloomer that reaches 1 – 3 feet in height and blooms from spring to fall.
Agapanthus
Agapanthus, or Lily of the Nile, takes its name from Greek – agap? (meaning love) and anthos (meaning flower).
Also known as African lily, this flower is native to southern areas of Africa. But, despite its name, its not actually a lily at all!
Agapanthus blooms throughout the summer months and can reach heights of up to 4 feet when mature.
Ageratum Houstonianum
Ageratum Houstonianum is a herbaceous annual that is often known as bluemink, although you may also hear it called blueweed, flossflower, Mexican paintbrush or pussyfoot.
This flower is originally native to Central America, but has spread to other areas and has become somewhat of an invasive weed.
It is most commonly found in shades or blue (although it can be found in pinks, whites and purples) and can grow up to 3 feet high.
Alchemilla
Alchemilla is an unusual plant and would not be at the top of a gardener’s list!
Also known as lady’s mantle, this herbaceous perennial flower is mostly native to Southern Europe and can reach around 18 inches tall.
Allium Roseum
Allium Roseum, which is widely referred to as rosy garlic is actually an edible flower and a type of wild garlic. It comes in a sort of pinky-lilac colour.
It is native to the Mediterranean and nearby regions, this flower enjoys full sun and can reach heights of up to 3 feet.
Alstroemeria
A stunning flower, Alstroemeria is often known as lily of the Incas, Ulster Mary, or as the Peruvian lily.
This brightly-coloured bloom is native to South America and can be found in most shades aside from blue and green.
Alyssum
Alyssum is a flowering plant from the Brassicaceae family. It’s a perennial herbaceous flower that is native to Asia, Europe, and Northern Africa.
There are actually around 100–170 species in this particular genus and these flowers are most commonly white or yellow, although it’s not unheard of to find them in shades of pink or purple.
The foliage of Alyssum is favoured by certain types of caterpillars.
Amaranthus
Amaranthus is a popular summer bedding flower as it is super easy to grow. However, it is short lived and sensitive to frost.
Did you know that, as well as making a beautiful addition to your garden, Amaranthus is also edible? It’s actually super nutritious.
Commonly known as Love Lies Bleeding, the name Amaranthus comes from the Greek Amaranth which translates as the unfading flower.
Amaryllis
Amaryllis is a gorgeous flowering bulb with just two species in the genus. This plant is native to the tropical regions of South America and comes in colours of orange, pink, white, and red – as well as multicolour mixes.
It’s a popular flower for gardener’s looking to brighten up their blooms due to the wonderful colours and the fact that it can flower for up to 10 weeks.
Anemone
Did you know that the anemone is actually part of the buttercup family? This super cute flower, commonly known as a windflower, can be found is shades of red, white, orange, ivory, pink, yellow, blue, and purple.
These herbaceous perennial beauties can grow up to 4ft in height and they are toxic to both humans and pets.
Angelonia
Angelonia, also known as the summer snapdragon, is a herbaceous plant native between Mexico and Argentina.
They can add a lovely splash of colour to any garden and bloom from spring through to fall, reaching heights of up to 3 feet.
The flowers are slightly tubular in shape and come in a range of colours including blue, purple, pink, and white, as well as a variety of multicolours.
Anthurium
The Anthurium is often known as laceleaf or the flamingo flower and is native to the Americas.
It is commonly grown as an indoor plant, but it is also possible to grow it in the garden. This is not a flower you’re likely to forget, with its heart-shaped petals and glossy leaves – a beautiful choice wherever you decide to grow it.
Antirrhinum Majus
Antirrhinum Majus, or as you may know it – the snapdragon – is one of my favourite flowers because it reminds me of my lovely grandfather, who always had them blooming in his garden.
These are perfect bedding plants that bloom for quite some time and add wonderful colours to any garden. Found in shades of pink, orange, yellow, red, purple, white, and multicolours, this flower is very easy to grow, so is perfect for beginners.
Snapdragons are split into four main groups, dependent on their size: Dwarf (4 – 9 inches), Short (9 – 12 inches), Intermediate (12 – 24 inches), and Tall (24-36 inches).
Aquilegia
Aquilegia are often known as columbine or granny’s bonnet, and they make a wonderful bloom for cottage gardens.
There are around 60-70 species of perennial plants in this genus and favour woods and meadows. These bell shaped flowers bloom in shades of pink, blue, yellow and purple.
Asclepias Syriaca
Asclepias Syriaca is often referred to as common milkweed, silkweed, butterfly flower, or swallow-wort and is native to the United States and Southern Canada.
The name of this genus of flowers (Asclepias), of which there are around 115 species originates from the Greek God of Medicine, Asklepios – this plant has been known to be used for medicinal purposes.
Aster
The aster is a perennial flower that blooms from late summer and into the fall. They can reach heights of 4 feet and they are a low maintenance flower, making them ideal for new gardeners.
Asters come in a range of lovely colours including purple, pink, red, blue, and white. They are a popular garden plant as they bloom much later than other flowers.
Astilbe
There are 18 types of Astilbe and this plant is native to Asia and North America. You may have heard it referred to as false goat’s beard!
These herbaceous perennials are very hardy, preferring to grow in woodlands and mountain ravines, and they are somewhat fern-like in appearance.
Astrantia
Astrantia, or greater masterwort, is an unusual looking flower that is native to Eastern, Central and Southern Europe.
The name of this flower originates from the Latin ‘aster’ which translates to star, in reference to the flower’s interesting star-like shape.
Aubreita Deltoidea
Aubreita Deltoidea is actually part of the mustard family and is also referred to as purple rock cress, lilacbush or rainbow rock cress.
This small flowering plant is native to South Eastern parts of Europe. The flower contains four pink or purple petals, and blooms from mid-spring through to early summer.
Gardener’s Final Thoughts
Hopefully this article contains the flower you were looking for! There are a lot of beautiful flowers starting with A, but my absolute favourite has to be the African daisy and the snapdragon.
As I move into my mid-thirties, I find myself more eager than ever to enjoy having a beautiful garden. I’m also keen to grow my own produce where possible and enjoy a level of self-sufficiency.
As well as loving the great outdoors, I also try to live as much of an eco-friendly life as possible. so I absolutely love composting!
I’m definitely still learning about gardening and composting and I wanted to share this journey with you by taking it back to basics and learning from the ground up.
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