When we think of Easter, the idea of rebirth often comes to mind. Whether we’re discussing the resurrection of Christ or the outdoor world coming alive after a long winter’s sleep, this spring holiday is the ideal time to celebrate life anew. And almost nothing symbolizes new life better than fresh flowers.
So, what are the best flowers for Easter? Luckily, Easter often coincides with beautiful spring blooms. We’re excited to introduce you to some of the best flowers for Easter, featuring timeless classics alongside some trendy new options. We’ll also provide you with some arranging tips since the Easter Bunny isn’t the only one filling baskets with goodies this year.
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Popular and Underrated Flowers for Easter
When it comes time to select Easter flowers, you have lots of options available. We’re going to introduce you to some of our favorite Easter flowers, including time-tested classics as well as some more modern blooms. We’ll even give you some ideas for arranging your flowers because the Easter Bunny isn’t the only one filling baskets with treats this year.
Lilies
Easter lilies are classic Easter flowers…and for good reason. Their stunning white, trumpet-shaped blooms and exuberant fragrance enliven any space.
Although Easter lilies are now a common sight in the United States, this wasn’t always the case. Also known as trumpet lilies, these flowers are native to parts of South Korea and Japan. Sometime during the 1700s, a Spanish monk collected some of these lilies and brought them to Bermuda. Once the flowers arrived on the island, locals began cultivating them. These lilies reached the US about 100 years later when a florist imported them for a church’s Easter display. The rest is history.
While the white trumpet lily is the traditional choice for Easter, that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy other types of lilies. White Asiatic lilies provide an elegant alternative and pink stargazer lilies add a boost of color.
One word of caution: lilies are extremely toxic to cats, so keep these blooms out of your kitty’s reach.
Tulips
Nothing signals spring quite like the view of a tulip bursting out from the ground. The tulip’s ability to remain dormant all winter as a bulb and then emerge in the spring as a colorful bloom has long been tied to Easter.
Even if you weren’t familiar with the tulip’s symbolism, you probably already knew they are gorgeous! Tulips come in all sorts of colors, so you can opt for a monochromatic arrangement or a bouquet that’s as colorful as a basket of Easter eggs. And with expert plant breeders constantly developing new types of flowers, you can now find tulips complete with frilly petals as well as varieties that contain multiple colors in one bloom.
Hyacinths
Another popular spring flower that emerges from a bulb is the hyacinth. Their spring bloom time makes them one of the best Easter flowers. These blooms have a fragrance that’s so strong you might smell them before you see them. Therefore, they might not be the best choice for anyone with a sensitive nose. Read more if you’re curious about flowers that can trigger allergies.
With that said, these flowers are gorgeous. Each spike is covered with lots of tiny flowers that resemble little lilies. Today, hyacinths are available in all sorts of colors, but pink, blue, and white are some of the most traditional options.
Sunflowers
Okay, okay sunflowers aren’t traditional Easter flowers. But we couldn’t help but include them on this list. If any flower reminds us of a bright and vibrant life, it’s sunflowers.
With bright petals and a cheerful display, these flowers serve as a symbol that light will always return, no matter how dark the present seems. Sunflowers with yellow petals and dark centers are a classic choice, but you can also find varieties with pink, maroon, and white petals.
Azaleas
While you might not recognize the azalea from Easter bouquets, they are still tied to this spring holiday. These shrubs produce delicate blooms in the spring, often around Easter. Azaleas are a diverse group of flowers; the plants range in size from two to twenty feet, and the flowers come in all kinds of colors.
While azaleas aren’t super common as cut flowers, they play another special role around Easter.
When Easter rolls around, some people follow the tradition of giving their loved ones an azalea to plant in their yard. While the plant will drop its blooms after a few months, the flowers will return again next year. As the plants grow and bloom each year, family members can look back on the years they’ve spent with their loved ones.
Daffodils
If you’ve ever walked by an unexpected patch of daffodils, you know how much joy these little yellow and white flowers can bring. They emerge from the ground after a long winter and often bloom before the world has turned green.
Since they bloom in the spring, they are popular Easter flowers. They also symbolize rebirth since they stay hidden underground all winter only to reemerge each spring.
Another type of narcissus flower is the jonquil. If you’re not familiar with this flower, it’s basically a mini daffodil. It has the unmistakable trumpet-shaped bloom of the daffodil, but it’s a bit smaller. So if you’re looking for something cute for Easter but don’t want to bring home a bunny, a jonquil may do.
Ranunculus
Talk about layers! The ranunculus is a member of the buttercup family that has blooms made up of delicate layers of petals. And since they come in a wide variety of colors, it’s easy to use these flowers to create an arrangement that provides a boost of brightness to any area.
Ranunculus aren’t traditional Easter flowers, but we think these beauties deserve a spot at your table. Since they come with long stems, they look stunning cascading out of a tall vase. They also have an excellent vase life, so you can expect to enjoy them for at least a week. Order a ranunculus bouquet for Easter with The Bouqs!
Lenten Roses
Also known as hellebore, the Lenten rose’s name references its bloom period. While many spring flowers make their appearance around Easter, the Lenten rose often arrives a few weeks earlier, during the time of Lent.
These plants have delicate flowers that resemble a simple rose. While they may look fragile, they can handle below-freezing temperatures and shady conditions. Since they bloom for multiple weeks, you can enjoy the flowers in your garden and also cut some for a vase.
Daisies
These cute flowers have long been a symbol of hope and purity, making them a great choice for Easter. They also start blooming in the spring, which is another reason they are tied to Easter.
Both arrangements made from cut daisies as well as planters filled with potted gerbera daisies are popular Easter gifts. You can choose white daisies for an elegant look or opt for colorful flowers if you want to add a bright pop to your Easter table.
Roses
Although roses aren’t typically considered spring flowers, their unmatched popularity means you can often find them in Easter arrangements. Tightly woven hybrid tea roses combine beautifully with tulips and daisies to create stunning mixed bouquets, while elegant old garden roses are so beautiful that they deserve their own arrangements.
When selecting a rose color for Easter, think about the message you want to express. White roses symbolize innocence and purity, deep pink roses convey gratitude, and yellow roses represent joy. Of course, you can mix and match colors to create a lovely bouquet you’ll adore.
Irises
With hundreds of iris species and varieties available, you can probably find one of these flowers that you’ll love. Irises often start blooming in the middle to end of spring, so they’re one of the best Easter flowers for when the holiday falls later in the season.
You can find many different iris colors, but deep purple is one of the most common and traditional choices. This color represents the passion of Christ, making it particularly suitable for Easter. However, you can also find white, yellow, peach, maroon, and lavender.
Baby’s Breath
Also known as gypsophila, baby’s breath often ends up on the back burner in the floral world. While many people view it as just an accent or filler flower, the small, delicate blooms paired with slender stems create a whimsical, beautiful appearance!
Baby’s breath symbolism also makes it a good fit for Easter. The small, white blooms represent purity, innocence, and new beginnings, reminding us to embrace the new season with joy. You can enjoy a bouquet of baby’s breath on its own or mix it with other flowers to create a lovely, seasonal arrangement.
Peonies
If there’s one spring flower you must enjoy, it’s the peony. Although these perennials can live for over a hundred years, they only bloom for a few weeks each spring. Bringing a few peonies indoors during the spring allows you to appreciate the beauty of the season and the new growth that’s yet to come.
Peonies are large flowers with layers of ruffled petals. Since the flowers are often a few inches wide, a small handful creates a stunning bouquet. Peonies come in various shades of pink, including vibrant fuchsia and soft salmon. You can also find yellow and purple peonies, but they’re not as common as the pink varieties.
Although peonies are stunning, their vase life isn’t as long as that of other flowers. Therefore, it’s essential to purchase blooms that were cut at the right time. Peonies should be cut when their buds have begun to swell and feel like they’re a marshmallow. The petals will continue to open after the flowers are cut.
Anemones
Another early spring bloomer, anemones are some of the best flowers for easter. The cold-hardy plants produce lacy foliage and burst into bloom in late winter or early spring. Their flowers feature delicate petals, leading to the name windflower. The center of each flower features a ring of visible stamens, enhancing their beauty.
Anemones are available in colors including white, blue, and pink. Since they dislike heat, they’re only available for a short period of time. That’s one more reason to enjoy them as Easter flowers!
Sweet Peas
If you’re looking for a flower that smells as great as it looks, you can’t do much better than the sweet pea. These vining plants produce unique flowers that fill the air with a sweet yet subtle fragrance. Plus, they’re gorgeous!
Sweet peas thrive in cool temperatures, so they’re typically only available in the spring. Adding a bouquet of sweet peas to your Easter table will remind you to appreciate the fleeting spring season while you still can.
Easter Basket Flowers
Now that we’ve covered some of the best flowers for Easter, let’s dive into some fun ways to add them to your home. Because while vases are nice, we think it’s a good idea to express yourself with some creativity.
Easter baskets are one of our favorite ways to arrange flowers during the spring. All you need to get started is a basket, some floral foam, and some flowers. Many different types of flowers work well in these arrangements, but we think colorful tulips look especially nice. To learn more about creating your own Easter basket arrangement, check out the post linked above.
Making a floral Easter basket is also a great activity to do with your friends and family, no matter if you’re celebrating in person or virtually. The best news is that when you’re all done each person will have a beautiful basket they can enjoy for days to come.
An Egg-Cellent Arrangement
Some of the best parts of Easter are eggs and flowers. So why not combine the two?
Fill a large glass vase with colorful Easter eggs — hand-dyed or plastic eggs will do. If you’re using plastic eggs, fill them with something heavy so they sink to the bottom of the vase. And if you’re using real eggs, be sure to use gentle hands!
After the eggs are in the vase, add in some flowers. We think white lilies provide a great contrast to the colorful eggs, but you can choose your favorite blooms.
After your stems are in, add water until the bottoms of the stems are able to drink up. Ta-da! You’ve made an Easter arrangement that will make everyone smile.
Pour Me Some Flowers
If you’re looking for an easy yet unique way to style your Easter flowers, check out this idea. Rather than placing your blooms in a basic vase, opt for a vintage milk pitcher.
We think that the long, delicate stems of daffodils and ranunculus look especially elegant cascading out of a pitcher, but feel free to use whatever flowers you like. If you’d really like to go above and beyond, you can even match your dishes to the pitcher. Talk about style!
Beauty in a Box
Since many Easter flowers are enjoyed as live flowers grown from bulbs, we’re going to give you an option to display flowers such as hyacinths and tulips. Since these bulbs are grown in soil, you won’t need to fill a vase with water. Rather, you’ll simply use a box to conceal these flowers’ pots.
Find a nice rustic window box or old farm crate. The vintage style will contrast nicely with the delicate blooms. Once you’ve found your box, all you need to do is place each flower’s pot inside. After the pots are snug, decorate the top of the box with some Easter grass and maybe an egg or two.
Now you have a living, floral centerpiece! All you need to do is keep your flowers watered and enjoy their company.
Send Easter Flowers in Time for the Holiday
Now that you know some of the best flowers for Easter, it’s time to pick your favorites and schedule a delivery. Ordering flowers ahead of time ensures you’ll receive the blooms you want and allows you to focus spending time with family during the Easter week. While placing your arrangement in a beautiful vase is a traditional way to display your flowers, you can also get a bit more creative. We’ve put together a list of some unique Easter centerpiece ideas and shown how flowers can be a part of your Easter basket inspiration.
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