Anniversary Flowers by Year: The Traditional Chart and How to Use It

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Most anniversary flower charts follow one idea: each year of marriage gets a traditional flower, so the first year is a carnation and the fifteenth is a rose. The charts are easy to read and easy to repeat, but they are not a shared standard. Florists, wedding sites and gift guides publish different lists, and the same year often has two answers.

Treat a chart as a starting point, not a requirement. Your partner’s taste and the things you have shared will tell you more than a number on a list.

The traditional chart

The table follows one widely shared list from an April 2026 florist guide. Where that guide gives an alternate, both are shown.

Year	Traditional flower
1st	Carnation or pansy
2nd	Lily of the valley or cosmos
3rd	Sunflower
4th	Hydrangea or geranium
5th	Daisy
6th	Calla lily
7th	Freesia
8th	Lilac or clematis
9th	Poppy or bird of paradise
10th	Daffodil
11th	Morning glory or tulip
12th	Peony
13th	Chrysanthemum
14th	Dahlia
15th	Red rose
20th	Aster
25th	Iris
30th	Lily
40th	Gladiolus
50th	Yellow rose and violet
60th	Orchid

Where the lists disagree

The lists differ most in the details. One guide gives the second year as lily of the valley, another as cosmos. Some lists say rose for the fifteenth year, others say red rose. The first year can be a carnation or a pansy. When sources disagree, choose the flower that says what you mean, and check that it fits the design you are ordering.

Matching the chart to our designs

Some years have a direct match in the Love & Anniversary line:

• First year, carnation: First Dance Bouquet pairs red roses with red and blush pink carnations in a ruby glass vase.
• Fifteenth year, red rose: Classic Roses in red, offered by stem count. It is the simplest way to send one color.
• Thirtieth year, lily: Love Letter Bouquet includes white Asiatic lilies with red roses. True lilies are dangerous for cats, so skip this design in a home with a cat. The FDA’s guidance on lilies and cats explains the risk.
• Fiftieth year, yellow rose and violet: Classic Roses in yellow covers the rose. We do not carry violets, so if the violet matters, name it in the card.
• Sixtieth year, orchid: Signature Orchid is a Phalaenopsis orchid in a ceramic vessel, offered in one, two or three stems and in several colors.

Other years on the chart, such as the tenth (daffodil), the twentieth (aster) or the fortieth (gladiolus), are not part of our Love & Anniversary line right now. A rose or mixed bouquet can still carry the feeling, and the card can name the year.

Check the selected size and color on the product page. The photo shows one arrangement, and the flowers in a design can vary slightly from the picture.

Put the year in the card

A card can carry the year, even when the flowers do not match the chart. Use a year you actually want to mark:

“Thirty years of choosing each other, and I would choose you again. Happy anniversary.”

“Fifteen years in, and I still look forward to our Sunday walks. Here’s to the next fifteen.”

If the anniversary is a hard one, you may prefer to skip the year entirely. The partner anniversary guide covers how to build a gift around shared memories without a script.

Questions about anniversary flowers by year

Is there one official list of anniversary flowers?

No. Florists, wedding sites and gift guides publish different lists, and they often disagree on the middle years. Use a chart as a tradition you can draw on, not an official standard.

What is the first anniversary flower?

Most charts give the carnation for the first year, and some also allow a pansy. First Dance Bouquet includes carnations alongside red roses.

What flower is traditional for a 50th anniversary?

The list used above gives yellow roses and violets. Classic Roses in yellow matches the rose part. We do not carry violets.

Further reading

• 28 Best Flowers for Anniversary Bouquets
• FDA: Lovely Lilies and Curious Cats