Wedding anniversary flowers by year
The traditional flower for each wedding anniversary from the 1st to the 50th, with season, vase life and pet safety, and what to do when the flower is out of season.
Key facts
- 1st carnation, 5th daisy, 10th daffodil, 15th rose, 25th iris, 30th lily, 50th yellow roses and violets.
- Lists vary between sources; lily of the valley (one choice for the 2nd) and lilies (30th) are highly toxic to cats.
| Anniversary | Flower | Also listed as | In season | Vase life | Pets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Carnation | — | Year-round | 10–14 days | mildly toxic |
| 2nd | Lily of the valley | Cosmos | Spring | 4–7 days | ⚠ toxic to cats |
| 3rd | Sunflower | — | Summer | 6–10 days | ✓ ASPCA non-toxic |
| 4th | Hydrangea | Geranium | Summer | 5–7 days | mildly toxic |
| 5th | Daisy (marguerite) | — | Spring, Summer | 5–7 days | mildly toxic |
| 6th | Calla lily | — | Year-round | 7–10 days | mildly toxic |
| 7th | Freesia | — | Winter, Spring | 5–8 days | — |
| 8th | Lilac | Clematis | Spring | 3–5 days | — |
| 9th | Bird of paradise | Poppy | Year-round | 10–14 days | mildly toxic |
| 10th | Narcissus (daffodil) | — | Winter | 4–7 days | mildly toxic |
| 11th | Tulip | Morning glory | Winter, Spring | 4–7 days | mildly toxic |
| 12th | Peony (herbaceous) | — | Spring | 5–7 days | mildly toxic |
| 13th | Chrysanthemum | — | Autumn | 10–14 days | mildly toxic |
| 14th | Dahlia | Orchids (cut) | Summer, Autumn | 4–6 days | mildly toxic |
| 15th | Rose | — | Year-round | 5–7 days | ✓ ASPCA non-toxic |
| 20th | Aster | — | — | — | — |
| 25th | Iris | — | Spring, Summer | 4–6 days | mildly toxic |
| 30th | Lily | — | Year-round | 7–10 days | ⚠ toxic to cats |
| 40th | Gladiolus | — | Summer, Autumn | 7–10 days | mildly toxic |
| 50th | Yellow roses and violets | — | — | — | — |
There is no single authoritative list: published lists agree on most milestone years but differ on several others, which is why some years show a second flower. Season, vase life and pet notes refer to the first flower. In China there is no fixed flower per year; roses in a meaningful number are the usual choice. How many flowers to give: meanings and taboos by culture
Flower meanings: the language of flowers · Wedding flowers by season · Birth month flowers
FAQ
What is the flower for a first wedding anniversary?
Carnations. They last 10–14 days in a vase and are available all year.
What flower is for a 10th anniversary?
Daffodils (narcissus). Condition them alone for 12–24 hours before mixing them with other flowers.
What flower is for a 25th and a 50th anniversary?
Iris for the 25th (silver) and yellow roses with violets for the 50th (golden).
What if the anniversary flower is out of season?
Several are seasonal: lily of the valley for year 2 (spring); sunflower for year 3 (summer); hydrangea for year 4 (summer); daisy (marguerite) for year 5 (spring, summer); freesia for year 7 (winter, spring); lilac for year 8 (spring). Use the flower's colour, a close substitute, or simply the couple's wedding flowers.