18-07-2025
Anniversary Flowers: What to Give at One, Five, or Ten Years and Beyond
Anniversary Flowers: What to Give at One, Five, or Ten Years and Beyond originally appeared on Dengarden.
You're probably familiar with the traditional wedding anniversary gifts — first anniversary for paper, all the way to 25th for silver, etc. — but did you know that each year has a designated flower as well? So if you didn't order that hand-engraved wood cutting board with your monogram (fifth anniversary) six weeks ago, a trip to the florist will suffice for a thoughtful and powerfully symbolic token of your devotion. We've rounded up all of the anniversary flowers, their symbolism, and how to create the perfect arrangement. Happy anniversary!
1st Anniversary: Carnation
Charlotte York may consider them filler flowers, but carnations symbolize a range of emotions from love to fascination and distinction. Their delicate beauty is in perfect step with the passion and admiration seen in new love.
If you want to further personalize your bouquet, consider the meaning behind different colors: Dark red symbolizes deep love, a lighter red shows admiration, pink is for gratitude, and white signifies purity and good luck.
2nd Anniversary: Cosmos
Cosmos flowers are known for their flat, symmetrical petals and consistent growth pattern. It is this perfection that inspired its name, reflecting the flora's harmony with the universe. They also represent peace and tranquility, and in the Victorian Era, joy in relationships.
The perfect harmony of the cosmos shows how couples fall into step with one another by their second year. For colors, red cosmos represent love and passion, and white recognizes faithfulness.
3rd Anniversary: Sunflower
As their sunny name suggests, sunflowers represent happiness, positivity, and loyalty. Their sturdy stems represent the strength and resilience that gets married couples to their third year. In some cultures, sunflowers are also associated with good luck and abundance — which never hurts in a marriage.
4th Anniversary: Geranium or Hydrangea
While the romance is still going strong by year four, marriage has grown into an unbreakable friendship. Geraniums are known to symbolize friendship, happiness, and good health. Red blooms, in particular, represent deep love, passion, and romantic feelings.
The fourth year has a second option, as well, in the hydrangea, which represents heartfelt emotions, understanding, and quiet gratitude. This delves deeper into the varying colors. Pink represents love, blue for deep understanding and sincerity, white for purity and abundance, and purple for gratitude.
5th Anniversary: Daisy
Congratulations on celebrating half of a decade! The daisy recognizes the camaraderie and friendship that comes with a true partnership. They also represent cheerfulness and joy, and if you're in need of a change in pace, new beginnings.
6th Anniversary: Calla Lily
Known for their sculptural form, Calla Lilies represent beauty and luxury, so they are best paired with a special gift like a sophisticated piece of jewelry. They also symbolize faithfulness and marital bliss, the perfect themes to mark six years. Most commonly white, they signify purity, but other colors offer themes like joy/gratitude (yellow), admiration (pink), and intense passion (red).
7th Anniversary: Freesia
A popular wedding flower, freesias are the perfect ornate bloom to celebrate seven years. The antithesis of the 'seven year itch,' these fragrant and delicate florals represent friendship, trust, and thoughtfulness.
8th Anniversary: Clematis or Lilac
Known for their fragrant purple petals, lilacs bring a touch of nostalgia that reminds couples how their love began and how far it has come. Another option for year eight, clematis flowers symbolize affection, love, beauty, elegance, transformation, and spiritual growth. Combine the two for a powerful purple arrangement that celebrates how much your relationship has grown and solidified in eight years.
9th Anniversary: Bird of Paradise
The exotic bird of paradise flower symbolizes a vibrant, dynamic relationship, still alive with adventure and happiness after nearly a decade. As its name suggests, the flower signifies joy, paradise, and freedom.
10th Anniversary: Daffodil
For couples celebrating a full decade together, the daffodil symbolizes the hope and resilience of early spring. Acknowledge 10 years of love with this symbol of strength and the promise of continued renewal.
11th Anniversary: Morning Glory
Representing the beauty of each new dawn, the morning glory and its hardy vine are the perfect symbol for a new decade of partnership. It symbolizes love and affection, new beginnings, and seizing the moment.
12th Anniversary: Peony
These full spring flowers are as abundant as their petals, representing romance, prosperity, and good fortune. This popular bridal bouquet flower is frequently associated with love and marriage, the perfect choice for a dozen years together.
13th Anniversary: Chrysanthemum
A fall favorite, mums are often associated with joy, optimism, and longevity. Gift them in a bouquet or as a potted flower that can be planted, cultivated, and return each year to symbolize your unbreakable union.
14th Anniversary: Dahlia
Colorful, happy, and synonymous with spring, the dahlia symbolizes elegance, inner strength, creativity, and positive change. They are often associated with a lasting romantic bond. Show your commitment with a colorful bouquet that represents the diverse fabric of your lives together.
15th Anniversary: Rose
For 15 years, enter the rose, the quintessential flower of romance. Symbolizing passion, enduring love, and commitment, roses celebrate this milestone with elegance and emotional richness. Opt for red (love and passion) or pink (admiration and appreciation) or both, to express your devotion.
20th Anniversary: Aster
After two decades, these star-shaped blooms celebrate a love that has endured the test of time, shining with dedication and mature love. Asters symbolize wisdom, faith, and love, the perfect companion to the traditional gift of China.
25th Anniversary: Iris
Symbolizing admiration, royalty and valor, the iris offers a powerful, regal connotation to mark a quarter of a century. These long-lasting couples have officially established their kingdoms, representing a relationship of courage, respect, and deep love.
30th Anniversary: Lily
The lily's refined beauty is the perfect symbol for the grace and resilience developed in a marriage that has weathered many seasons. Choose a mix of white (purity and innocence), red (love and passion), and pink (admiration and abundance).
40th Anniversary: Gladiolus
At 40 years, couples have truly weathered every challenge. Named after the Latin word for sword, gladioli reflect a love that is strong, noble, and full of lasting devotion.
50th Anniversary: Yellow Rose and Violet
For half a century, it is only fitting that this milestone has two flowers: the yellow rose and violet. Together, these blooms symbolize the perfect balance of passion and partnership, with yellow roses representing joy and friendship and violets signifying humility and Flowers: What to Give at One, Five, or Ten Years and Beyond first appeared on Dengarden on Jul 18, 2025
This story was originally reported by Dengarden on Jul 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
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