95 Flowers That Start With S: Complete Guide & Care

Quick Answer: Flowers with S include Sunflower, Snapdragon, Sweet Pea, Sweet William, Salvia, Scabiosa, Shasta Daisy, Stock, Sea Thrift, Spiderwort, Snowdrop, and Statice. .

Flowers starting with S include some of the most familiar names in ornamental gardening, bold summer bloomers, soft cottage garden favorites, and flowers valued for scent, color, texture, or unusual form. Some names here are strict flowers where the bloom is the whole point; others are broader flowering ornamentals (shrubs, vines, succulents) commonly folded into S-flower lists. That split is worth keeping visible rather than blurring together, which is exactly how this guide is organized.

S Flowers Names: At a Glance

Category	Strong Picks
Most common	Sunflower, Snapdragon, Shasta Daisy, Sweet Pea, Sweet William
Perennials	Salvia, Scabiosa, Sea Thrift, Speedwell, Spiderwort
Annuals	Sunflower, Strawflower, Spider Flower, Sweet Alyssum, Stock
Purple picks	Salvia, Scabiosa, Statice, Spiderwort, Speedwell
Fragrant picks	Sweet Pea, Stock, Stephanotis, Sweet Rocket, Sweet Alyssum
Beginner-friendly	Sunflower, Sweet Alyssum, Salvia, Snapdragon, Sweet William
Best for pollinators	Salvia, Scabiosa, Sea Thrift, Sweet Alyssum, Sunflower
Best for bouquets	Sunflower, Sweet Pea, Stock, Statice, Snapdragon
Best for containers	Scaevola, Sweet Alyssum, Swan River Daisy, Stock, compact Salvia
Best early bloomers	Snowdrop, Snowflake, Starflower, Saffron Crocus, Sweet Rocket
Best rare picks	Saffron Crocus, Sturt’s Desert Pea, Sea Holly, Sun Star, Strelitzia
Best broad-intent names	Star Jasmine, Spirea, Sweetshrub, Sedum, Syringa

For a comparable format, see Flowers That Start With T.

---

Most Popular and Common Flowers That Start With S

Sunflower is one of the clearest examples large flower heads, bold color, and a strong summer presence. Snapdragon remains a staple for tall flower spikes and a wide color range. Sweet Pea is one of the best-known fragrant choices, especially for spring planting and bouquets. Sweet William brings clustered flowers and a classic cottage-garden look. Salvia is widely grown for long bloom, heat tolerance, and pollinator appeal. Shasta Daisy stays popular for its clean white petals and simple, bright form. Snowdrop is one of the most recognized early bloomers, signaling the shift out of winter. Sweet Alyssum is a common edging flower with soft fragrance and quick gap-filling growth. Statice is well known in fresh and dried flower work because its color holds so well. Stock combines soft flower color with a stronger clove-like scent. Scabiosa is popular in cutting beds and softer mixed borders. Sun Star adds a less common but visually striking option for bright spring or indoor display.

For another alphabet group with a strong mix of familiar garden favorites, see Flowers That Start With A.

---

Easy Care Comparison for Popular S Flowers

Flower	Best Light	Water Need	Best Use	Beginner Level
Sunflower	Full sun	Moderate	Tall borders, pollinator beds, cut flowers	Very easy
Snapdragon	Full sun	Moderate	Borders, containers, bouquets	Easy
Sweet Alyssum	Full sun–part sun	Light–moderate	Edging, containers, path borders	Very easy
Salvia	Full sun	Low–moderate	Pollinator beds, sunny borders	Easy
Shasta Daisy	Full sun	Moderate	Perennial borders, cottage gardens	Easy
Scabiosa	Full sun	Moderate	Cut flowers, mixed borders	Easy
Sea Thrift	Full sun	Low	Rock gardens, edging, coastal beds	Easy
Stock	Full sun	Moderate	Fragrant beds and bouquets	Moderate
Sweet Pea	Full sun	Regular	Trellises, fragrance, bouquets	Moderate
Statice	Full sun	Low–moderate	Dried flowers, cutting beds	Easy

---

List of Flowers That Start With S

Core S Flowers

Common Name	Scientific Name	Main Color	Bloom Season	Plant Type	Best Known For
Saffron Crocus	Crocus sativus	Purple	Fall	Corm-grown flower	Valuable saffron stigmas
Salvia	Salvia spp.	Purple, red, pink, blue	Spring–fall	Annual/perennial	Long bloom, pollinator appeal
Sand Phlox	Phlox bifida	Lavender, pale blue	Spring	Perennial	Low spring bloom
Sanvitalia	Sanvitalia procumbens	Yellow	Summer–fall	Annual	Compact daisy-like flowers
Saxifrage	Saxifraga spp.	White, pink, red	Spring–summer	Perennial	Rock garden favorite
Scabiosa	Scabiosa spp.	Purple, pink, white, blue	Summer–fall	Annual/perennial	Pincushion-style blooms
Scaevola	Scaevola aemula	Blue, purple, white	Spring–fall	Tender perennial	Fan-shaped flowers
Scarlet Flax	Linum grandiflorum	Red	Late spring–summer	Annual	Light, airy habit
Scarlet Rose Mallow	Hibiscus coccineus	Red	Summer–early fall	Perennial	Tropical-looking wet-site blooms
Scarlet Sage	Salvia splendens	Red	Summer–fall	Annual	Bright bedding color
Sea Holly	Eryngium spp.	Blue, silver	Summer	Perennial	Spiky metallic look
Sea Lavender	Limonium latifolium	Lavender, purple	Summer	Perennial	Dried flower value
Sea Thrift	Armeria maritima	Pink, white	Spring–early summer	Perennial	Compact mounded growth
Serbian Bellflower	Campanula poscharskyana	Blue, lavender	Late spring–summer	Perennial	Cascading rock garden bloom
Shasta Daisy	Leucanthemum × superbum	White	Summer	Perennial	Classic daisy flower
Shirley Poppy	Papaver rhoeas	Red, pink, white	Late spring–summer	Annual	Soft papery petals
Shooting Star	Dodecatheon meadia	Pink, white	Spring	Perennial	Reflexed petals
Showy Stonecrop	Hylotelephium spectabile	Pink	Late summer–fall	Perennial	Late-season clusters
Siberian Iris	Iris sibirica	Purple, blue, white	Late spring–early summer	Perennial	Elegant upright blooms
Silene	Silene spp.	Pink, white, red	Spring–summer	Annual/perennial	Cottage garden appeal
Small Globe Thistle	Echinops ritro	Blue	Summer	Perennial	Round sculptural flower heads
Sneezeweed	Helenium autumnale	Yellow, orange, red	Late summer–fall	Perennial	Long late-season color
Snapdragon	Antirrhinum majus	Pink, red, yellow, orange, white	Spring–early summer	Annual/short-lived perennial	Tall spikes for borders/bouquets
Snow in Summer	Cerastium tomentosum	White	Late spring–early summer	Perennial	Silvery foliage, groundcover bloom
Snowdrop	Galanthus nivalis	White	Late winter–early spring	Bulb-grown flower	Early seasonal bloom
Snowflake	Leucojum spp.	White	Spring	Bulb-grown flower	Nodding bell-shaped flowers
Soapwort	Saponaria officinalis	Pink, white	Summer	Perennial	Dense bloom clusters
Society Garlic	Tulbaghia violacea	Purple	Summer–fall	Perennial	Garlic-scented foliage/flowers
Solitary Clematis	Clematis integrifolia	Blue, violet	Summer	Perennial	Nodding bell-shaped flowers
Speedwell	Veronica spp.	Purple, blue, pink, white	Late spring–summer	Perennial	Upright flower spikes
Spider Flower	Cleome hassleriana	Pink, purple, white	Summer–fall	Annual	Tall airy flower heads
Spider Lily	Lycoris radiata	Red	Late summer–fall	Bulb-grown flower	Spider-like petals
Spiderwort	Tradescantia spp.	Purple, blue, pink	Spring–summer	Perennial	Three-petaled blooms
Spring Vetch	Lathyrus vernus	Purple, blue	Spring	Perennial	Woodland spring color
Star of Bethlehem	Ornithogalum umbellatum	White	Spring	Bulb-grown flower	White starry blooms
Starflower	Ipheion uniflorum	Blue, white	Spring	Bulb-grown flower	Star-shaped spring flowers
Statice	Limonium sinuatum	Purple, pink, white, yellow	Summer	Annual/tender perennial	Dried flower value
Stephanotis	Stephanotis floribunda	White	Spring–summer	Flowering vine	Waxy fragrant blooms
Stock	Matthiola incana	Pink, purple, white, red	Spring–early summer	Annual/biennial	Sweet clove-like scent
Stokes’ Aster	Stokesia laevis	Purple, blue, white	Summer	Perennial	Large fringed flowers
Strawflower	Xerochrysum bracteatum	Yellow, orange, pink, red, white	Summer–fall	Annual	Papery long-lasting blooms
Sturt’s Desert Pea	Swainsona formosa	Red, black	Spring–summer	Annual/short-lived perennial	Rare dramatic bloom
Sun Star	Ornithogalum dubium	Orange, yellow, white	Winter–spring	Bulb-grown flower	Bright indoor/patio display
Sunflower	Helianthus annuus	Yellow, bronze, red	Summer–fall	Annual	Bold sunny flower heads
Surprise Lily	Lycoris squamigera	Pink	Late summer	Bulb-grown flower	Sudden bloom after bare stems
Swan River Daisy	Brachyscome iberidifolia	Blue, purple, pink, white	Spring–summer	Annual	Fine-textured daisy flowers
Sweet Alyssum	Lobularia maritima	White, pink, purple	Spring–fall	Annual	Fragrant edging flower
Sweet Pea	Lathyrus odoratus	Pink, purple, white, red	Spring–early summer	Annual climber	Strong fragrance
Sweet Rocket	Hesperis matronalis	Purple, white	Spring–early summer	Biennial/short-lived perennial	Evening scent
Sweet Sultan	Centaurea moschata	Purple, pink, white	Summer	Annual	Soft fragrant cut flower
Sweet William	Dianthus barbatus	Red, pink, white, purple	Late spring–summer	Biennial/short-lived perennial	Dense clustered blooms
Sweet Goldenrod	Solidago odora	Yellow	Late summer–fall	Perennial	Fragrant foliage, pollinator value
Sweetscented Bedstraw	Galium odoratum	White	Spring	Perennial	Light woodland fragrance
Sweet Violet	Viola odorata	Purple, white	Spring	Perennial	Small fragrant blooms
Sweet Woodruff	Galium odoratum	White	Spring	Perennial	Shade-friendly white flowers
Scilla	Scilla siberica	Blue	Early spring	Bulb-grown flower	Small blue spring flowers
Sacred Lotus	Nelumbo nucifera	Pink, white	Summer	Aquatic perennial	Large water-garden bloom

Extended S Flowering Plants and Ornamentals

Common Name	Scientific Name	Main Color	Bloom Season	Plant Type	Best Known For
Safari Sunset	Leucadendron ‘Safari Sunset’	Red, burgundy	Winter–spring	Shrub	Bold-bracted stems
Sage	Salvia officinalis	Purple, blue	Late spring–summer	Herbaceous perennial	Culinary herb with flowers
Sasanqua	Camellia sasanqua	Pink, white, red	Fall–early winter	Flowering shrub	Early camellia bloom
Sedum	Sedum spp.	Pink, yellow, red, white	Summer–fall	Succulent perennial	Drought-friendly flowering foliage
Senecio	Senecio spp.	Yellow	Variable	Perennial/succulent	Broad ornamental group
Sensitive Plant	Mimosa pudica	Pink	Summer	Tropical perennial	Sensitive foliage, pompom bloom
Shepherd’s Purse	Capsella bursa-pastoris	White	Spring	Annual/biennial	Tiny field flowers
Silver Lace Vine	Fallopia baldschuanica	White	Summer–fall	Flowering vine	Fast climbing bloom
Silverweed	Argentina anserina	Yellow	Summer	Creeping perennial	Low wildflower habit
Skunk Cabbage	Symplocarpus foetidus	Maroon, yellow	Late winter–spring	Wetland perennial	Early bog flowering spathe
Snowball Viburnum	Viburnum opulus	White	Spring	Flowering shrub	Rounded flower clusters
Southernwood	Artemisia abrotanum	Yellow	Late summer	Shrubby perennial	Aromatic foliage, small flowers
Spirea	Spiraea spp.	White, pink	Spring–summer	Flowering shrub	Massed flowering shrub
Star Jasmine	Trachelospermum jasminoides	White	Spring–summer	Flowering vine	Strong fragrance
Starwort	Stellaria spp.	White	Spring–summer	Annual/perennial	Small star-like flowers
Sugarbush	Protea spp.	Pink, red, cream	Winter–spring	Shrub	Large architectural blooms
Swamp Hibiscus	Hibiscus moscheutos	Pink, white, red	Summer–fall	Perennial	Large wet-site flowers
Syringa	Syringa vulgaris	Purple, white, pink	Spring	Flowering shrub	Classic lilac fragrance
Sweetshrub	Calycanthus floridus	Burgundy, red	Spring–summer	Flowering shrub	Spicy-scented blooms
Scotch Broom	Cytisus scoparius	Yellow	Spring–early summer	Flowering shrub	Bright shrubby bloom
Sea Grape	Coccoloba uvifera	Greenish white	Spring	Coastal shrub/tree	Coastal ornamental flowers
Snowberry	Symphoricarpos albus	Pink, white	Summer	Flowering shrub	Small bell flowers, berries
Sweet Osmanthus	Osmanthus fragrans	White	Fall	Flowering shrub	Strong sweet fragrance
Scarlet Bottlebrush	Callistemon citrinus	Red	Spring–summer	Flowering shrub	Brush-like blooms
Silk Tree	Albizia julibrissin	Pink	Summer	Flowering tree	Airy powder-puff blooms
Star Magnolia	Magnolia stellata	White, pale pink	Early spring	Flowering shrub/small tree	Early starry flowers
Solomon’s Seal	Polygonatum odoratum	White	Spring	Perennial	Hanging woodland flowers
Scarlet Runner Bean	Phaseolus coccineus	Red	Summer–fall	Flowering climber	Bright edible climber flowers
Strawberry Tree	Arbutus unedo	White, pink	Fall–winter	Flowering shrub/tree	Bell flowers, fruit
Summersweet	Clethra alnifolia	White, pink	Summer	Flowering shrub	Sweet summer fragrance

Five Genuine Additions

Common Name	Scientific Name	Main Color	Bloom Season	Plant Type	Best Known For
Sternbergia	Sternbergia lutea	Yellow	Fall	Bulb-grown flower	“Autumn daffodil,” crocus-like fall color
Scutellaria	Scutellaria spp.	Blue, purple	Summer	Perennial herb	Skullcap, hooded two-lipped flowers
Strelitzia	Strelitzia reginae	Orange, blue	Varies, year-round in warm climates	Tropical perennial	Bird of Paradise, dramatic crane-like bloom
Sarracenia	Sarracenia spp.	Red, yellow, maroon	Spring	Carnivorous wetland perennial	Pitcher plant, unusual nodding flowers
Salpiglossis	Salpiglossis sinuata	Purple, gold, red, mixed	Summer–fall	Annual	Painted tongue, richly veined petals

For a wider alphabetical browse, see Flowers That Start With C. For the letter before or after this one, see Flowers That Start With R or continue to Flowers That Start With Y.

---

Types of Flowers That Start With S

Group	Examples	Best Use
Perennials	Salvia, Scabiosa, Sea Thrift, Speedwell, Spiderwort	Long-term garden structure
Annuals	Sunflower, Strawflower, Spider Flower, Sweet Alyssum, Sanvitalia	Fast seasonal color
Bulb/corm-grown	Snowdrop, Snowflake, Saffron Crocus, Spider Lily, Sun Star, Sternbergia	Seasonal repeat bloom
Cut flowers	Scabiosa, Stock, Sweet Pea, Statice, Snapdragon	Bouquets, vases
Compact/edging	Sweet Alyssum, Sea Thrift, Swan River Daisy, Scaevola	Borders, containers
Flowering shrubs/vines	Star Jasmine, Sweetshrub, Spirea, Syringa, Stephanotis	Structure, fragrance, coverage
Wildflower/meadow	Spring Vetch, Scarlet Flax, Silene, Shepherd’s Purse	Informal, naturalized planting
Rock garden	Saxifrage, Sea Thrift, Snow in Summer, Serbian Bellflower	Small spaces, stony beds
Dried flower favorites	Statice, Strawflower, Sea Lavender, Scabiosa	Dry arrangements, texture
Water/bog-associated	Sacred Lotus, Scarlet Rose Mallow, Swamp Hibiscus, Skunk Cabbage, Sarracenia	Wet areas, water gardens
Carnivorous	Sarracenia	Bog gardens, specialty collections
Tropical/statement	Strelitzia	Warm-climate specimen planting

---

Annual Flowers That Start With S

• Sunflower is one of the strongest annual picks for bold height and clear seasonal impact.
• Spider Flower adds open, airy height and less crowded texture. Strawflower is valued for papery blooms that stay colorful even after drying.
• Sweet Alyssum stays low, fills gaps quickly, and works well in edging or containers.
• Stock is often grown as an annual in cool-season planting where fragrance matters.
• Sweet Pea behaves as a seasonal annual in many climates, adding light climbing texture.
• Scarlet Flax offers a lighter, more delicate flowering effect than heavier summer annuals.
• Swan River Daisy is useful for softer mounds of color in small beds and pots.
• Sweet Sultan brings fragrance and a gentler cut-flower texture.
• Sanvitalia is a compact annual with strong container and edging value.
• Shirley Poppy adds airy movement and a softer paper-petal look.
• Salpiglossis brings a genuinely different, richly veined petal pattern to annual beds a strong pick for anyone wanting more visual complexity than a typical solid-color annual.

Some flowers in this group behave differently by climate, Stock, Snapdragon, and Sweet Pea can act more like cool-season annuals in warmer regions and last longer in milder weather.

---

Bulb and Corm Flowers That Start With S

• Saffron Crocus flowers in fall, notable for its saffron-producing stigmas.
• Snowdrop is one of the earliest white flowers in the group, tied closely to late-winter color.
• Snowflake offers nodding white bells with a slightly softer look than snowdrop.
• Spider Lily adds dramatic late-season bloom with narrow, recurved petals.
• Star of Bethlehem gives neat, star-shaped white spring flowers.
• Starflower brings a lighter, often blue-toned spring display.
• Sun Star is popular for bright spring or indoor seasonal display.
• Surprise Lily stands out for blooming after bare stems appear.
• Scilla adds small early blue flowers, working well in spring drifts.
• Sternbergia, one of this guide’s additions, fills a genuine seasonal gap, it’s essentially a fall-blooming, crocus-like yellow flower at a time of year when most bulb flowers on this list have already finished.

---

Rare Flowers That Start With S

Saffron Crocus stands out for its link to saffron production alongside ornamental use, with a fall bloom season that sets it apart from most spring and summer flowers. Sturt’s Desert Pea is one of the most striking rare flowers in the group — bold red petals and a dark center give it a dramatic look very different from softer border flowers. Sea Holly is memorable for its metallic color and sculptural form, less widely planted than familiar summer flowers but strong in texture. Sun Star adds another less common option for container or indoor display, with bright orange or yellow blooms. Strelitzia (Bird of Paradise) is genuinely one of the most dramatic flowers on this entire list — its crane-like orange-and-blue bloom is unmistakable, though it needs a warm, frost-free climate or greenhouse to flower reliably. Sarracenia, the pitcher plant, is rare in most home gardens for a different reason — it needs boggy, nutrient-poor soil that’s the opposite of typical garden conditions, making it a specialist bog-garden plant rather than a casual border addition.

For more uncommon alphabet-based garden names, see Flowers That Start With E.

---

Indoor and Container-Friendly S Flowers

For outdoor containers, the strongest choices are Sweet Alyssum, Scaevola, Swan River Daisy, compact Salvia, Stock, and Sanvitalia — all manageable in size, filling small spaces well and suiting patio planters, raised edges, window boxes, and mixed seasonal pots.

For indoor or sheltered display, Sun Star and Stephanotis are better choices than large border flowers — Sun Star stays compact with bright seasonal color, while Stephanotis needs warmth, support, and bright filtered light.

Use	Best S Flowers	Why They Work
Outdoor containers	Sweet Alyssum, Scaevola, Swan River Daisy, Stock	Compact size, steady seasonal bloom
Patio planters	Compact Salvia, Sanvitalia, Sweet Alyssum	Easy color without heavy spreading
Hanging baskets	Scaevola, Sweet Alyssum	Trailing/soft-edging growth
Bright sheltered display	Sun Star, Stephanotis	Better suited to protected conditions
Beginner pots	Sweet Alyssum, Sanvitalia, Stock	Easy placement, clear flowering result

Most S-flowers still perform best outdoors, indoor growing works best when the plant has compact growth, strong light, good drainage, and enough airflow.

---

Conclusion

Flowers starting with S range from familiar garden favorites like Sunflower, Snapdragon, Sweet Pea, Salvia, and Shasta Daisy to less common choices like Saffron Crocus, Sturt’s Desert Pea, Sea Holly, Strelitzia, and Sarracenia. The most useful way to read this list is to separate core flower names from broader flowering plants, core entries work best for a strict flower list, while the extended section helps for wider S-name coverage that includes shrubs, vines, herbs, succulents, and ornamentals with notable blooms. For garden planning, these flowers can be further compared by season, color, fragrance, pollinator value, container use, and cutting value.

---

FAQ

References

• Missouri Botanical Garden — Plant Finder (Helianthus annuus, Antirrhinum majus, Lathyrus odoratus, Salvia farinacea, Scabiosa)
• NC State Extension — Plant Toolbox (Lobularia maritima, Armeria maritima, Matthiola incana, Stokesia laevis, Tradescantia × andersoniana)
• Royal Horticultural Society — RHS Plant Finder
• USDA — PLANTS Database
• Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew — Plants of the World Online