Live, Saturday 3 October
Every flower in the world, and everything people make with them.
Phool is a free guide to flowers and flower decoration: every flower by country, city and colour, the garlands, carpets and arrangements made from them, and the gardens, markets and bloom seasons worth travelling for.
- 318
- flowers
- 80
- decorations and customs
- 221
- gardens, markets and bloom sites
- 143
- countries
Iris lacteaIris afghanicaPapeeteBeltaneEkamra KananLincoln Park ConservatoryDurban Botanic GardensRosa moyesiiMeconopsis grandisHistory of flower arrangementChristchurch Botanic GardensYuccaVaseRoyal Tasmanian Botanical GardensBaelANIMADandenong Ranges Botanic GardenKadomatsuDesert roseFoxgloveTropical Botanical Garden and Research InstituteMeconopsis gakyidianaAcaciaAgodi GardensGrammatophyllumCooktown orchidBirchPaeonia ostiiSt John's-wortPlumeria albaVanda falcataRHS Garden RosemoorOrto Botanico di BreraChamomileNong Nooch Tropical Botanical GardenEastern pasqueflowerBamboo lilyIris tectorumPersian silk treeLilacRapeseedColumbineJardí Botànic de BarcelonaArboretum KalmthoutMontaza PalaceLantanaRose waterCotton thistleElderHantam National Botanical GardenOrto Botanico dell'Università di BolognaWreathHenarathgoda Botanical GardenGreat Craggy MountainsWaling-walingNational Botanical Garden of IranLilium ledebouriiBorageQueens Park, ToowoombaStellenbosch University Botanical GardenLupinYadavindra GardensCalendulaPretoria National Botanical GardenFringed irisOrange wild tulipKhusro BaghExposition Park Rose GardenSan Diego Botanic GardenAsteraceaeIris lacteaIris afghanicaPapeeteBeltaneEkamra KananLincoln Park ConservatoryDurban Botanic GardensRosa moyesiiMeconopsis grandisHistory of flower arrangementChristchurch Botanic GardensYuccaVaseRoyal Tasmanian Botanical GardensBaelANIMADandenong Ranges Botanic GardenKadomatsuDesert roseFoxgloveTropical Botanical Garden and Research InstituteMeconopsis gakyidianaAcaciaAgodi GardensGrammatophyllumCooktown orchidBirchPaeonia ostiiSt John's-wortPlumeria albaVanda falcataRHS Garden RosemoorOrto Botanico di BreraChamomileNong Nooch Tropical Botanical GardenEastern pasqueflowerBamboo lilyIris tectorumPersian silk treeLilacRapeseedColumbineJardí Botànic de BarcelonaArboretum KalmthoutMontaza PalaceLantanaRose waterCotton thistleElderHantam National Botanical GardenOrto Botanico dell'Università di BolognaWreathHenarathgoda Botanical GardenGreat Craggy MountainsWaling-walingNational Botanical Garden of IranLilium ledebouriiBorageQueens Park, ToowoombaStellenbosch University Botanical GardenLupinYadavindra GardensCalendulaPretoria National Botanical GardenFringed irisOrange wild tulipKhusro BaghExposition Park Rose GardenSan Diego Botanic GardenAsteraceae
In flower today
Flowers follow the calendar. These are the festivals, shows and bloom seasons on now and next, around the world.
On now, around 11 Sept to 4 Oct 2026Toowoomba Carnival of FlowersQueensland's garden city spends September in bloom, with a floral parade through the centre.
On now, around 12 Sept to 11 Oct 2026FloriadeCanberra's free spring festival: about a million bulbs and annuals in a park by the lake.
On now, around 1 Oct to 9 Nov 2026Jacaranda season in PretoriaTens of thousands of jacaranda trees turn South Africa's capital purple in October.
In 5 days, 8 Oct to 6 Dec 2026Dubai Miracle Garden seasonA garden of many millions of flowers in the desert reopens for the cool months.In bloom this month
October, north of the equator.
Tuberose (rajnigandha)
Dahlia
Red spider lily
Meadow saffron
Saffron crocus
Cyclamen
Champa (champak)
Parijat (night-flowering jasmine)
Wild Himalayan cherry
Sasanqua camellia
Rose
Oleander
Cape plumbago
LantanaSouth of the equator
The same month, the opposite season.
Poppy anemone
Hyacinth
Grape hyacinth
Tulip
Persian buttercup
Freesia
Snake's head fritillary
Crown imperial
Bluebell
Lily of the valley
Arum lily
Amaryllis
Clivia
Palash (flame of the forest)Flowers
A different handful every few minutes.
MallowMalva
Edible and ornamental flowering plants with pink, purple or white blooms
🇮🇳 India and 6 more · Wildflower
Leopard plantFarfugium japonicum
A shade-loving perennial with bold leaves and yellow autumn flowers
🇨🇳 China and 1 more · Garden flower
Common sunflowerHelianthus annuus
A tall annual plant grown for its large yellow flower heads and edible seeds
🇨🇦 Canada and 4 more · Wildflower
Sphaerocoryne lefevreiរំដួល
A fragrant Southeast Asian tree with cream to yellow blossoms
🇰🇭 Cambodia and 3 more · Wildflower
Paeonia anomala
A wild peony with finely divided leaves and magenta-red flowers from northern Eurasia
🇷🇺 Russia and 4 more · Wildflower
Bay laurelLaurus nobilis
Evergreen tree with aromatic leaves used as bay leaf in cooking
🇬🇷 Greece and 9 more · Flowering tree
Narcissus
Spring-flowering bulbs with trumpet-shaped blooms in white, yellow, and orange
🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 7 more · Wildflower
Calendula
Golden daisy-like flowers used in food, dye, and rituals
Calendula · Wildflower
Where to go this month
Bloom seasons, flower markets, gardens and things to do with your hands, city by city.
🇮🇳 Chennai · All yearKoyambedu wholesale flower marketThe flower block of Chennai's vast Koyambedu wholesale complex, busiest before sunrise.
🇯🇵 Kyoto · All yearAn ikebana lesson in KyotoLearn the basics of Japanese flower arranging in the city where the art took shape.
🇳🇵 Kathmandu · Oct to NovTihar garland markets of KathmanduFor the five days of Tihar, the old bazaars of Kathmandu are hung with marigold and amaranth garlands.
🇦🇺 Sydney · All yearSydney Flower Market at dawnThe wholesale flower hall at Sydney Markets in Flemington, open to the public in the early hours.
🇦🇺 Melbourne · All yearRoyal Botanic Gardens MelbourneA landscaped garden of lakes, lawns and long views on the south bank of the Yarra.
🇬🇧 London · All yearNew Covent Garden Flower Market before sunriseLondon's wholesale flower market at Nine Elms, where the city's florists buy in the dark hours and the public may walk in.
Decorations
Garlands, wreaths, flower carpets, arrangements and offerings.
Decoration
Ikebana華道
The Japanese art of arranging flowers with form and meaning
🇯🇵 Japan · Arrangement
Decoration
Rose waterگلاب
Flavoured water made by steeping or distilling rose petals
🇮🇷 Iran and 2 more · Offering or rite
Decoration
Herbarium
A scientific collection of preserved plant specimens for study and reference
🇩🇪 Germany and 1 more · Parade or display
Decoration
Sōgetsu草月流
A modern school of Japanese ikebana open to all materials and styles
🇯🇵 Japan · Arrangement
Places
Gardens, flower markets and bloom sites to visit.
Place
RHS Garden Rosemoor
A public display garden in north Devon with woodland, roses and themed plantings
Great Torrington, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Flower garden
Place
Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden
A historic garden in Mauritius known for giant water lilies and rare palms
Pamplemousses, 🇲🇺 Mauritius · Botanical garden
Place
Botanical and Zoological Garden of TsimbazazaValan-javamaniry amam binin' i Tsimbazaza
Madagascar’s largest botanical and zoological garden in Antananarivo
Antananarivo, 🇲🇬 Madagascar · Botanical garden
Place
Meise Botanic GardenPlantentuin Meise; Jardin botanique de Meise
A vast botanical garden on the grounds of Bouchout Castle near Brussels
Brussels, 🇧🇪 Belgium · Botanical garden
By country and city
Every flower grows somewhere and every custom belongs to someone. Start with a country, then go down to its cities.
AfricaProteas and fynbos, desert daisies, flame trees, roses of the Rift Valley and the Atlas.52 pagesAsiaLotus and jasmine, marigold garlands, cherry and plum blossom, orchids, peonies and ikebana.273 pagesEuropeTulip fields, lavender, roses, alpine meadows, flower carpets and the great garden shows.104 pagesNorth AmericaPrairie wildflowers, desert blooms, dogwood and magnolia, marigold altars and rose parades.64 pagesSouth AmericaOrchids and bromeliads, passion flowers, jacarandas, flower farms of the Andes and silleteros.21 pagesOceaniaWattle, waratah and kangaroo paw, pohutukawa, frangipani and the lei of the Pacific.33 pages
🇨🇳 China 148🇯🇵 Japan 92🇺🇸 United States 92🇮🇳 India 85🇦🇺 Australia 57🇫🇷 France 43🇮🇹 Italy 37🇷🇺 Russia 37🇮🇷 Iran 36🇿🇦 South Africa 35🇬🇧 United Kingdom 35🇹🇷 Turkey 33🇪🇸 Spain 32🇲🇽 Mexico 28🇲🇲 Myanmar 28🇵🇭 Philippines 26🇮🇩 Indonesia 25🇩🇪 Germany 24🇬🇷 Greece 21🇮🇪 Ireland 20🇳🇿 New Zealand 19🇧🇷 Brazil 18🇨🇦 Canada 18🇻🇳 Vietnam 18🇪🇬 Egypt 16🇲🇾 Malaysia 16🇹🇭 Thailand 16🇵🇹 Portugal 15🇲🇳 Mongolia 14🇸🇪 Sweden 14National flowers
What flowers are for
Weddings, worship, farewells, perfume and the kitchen.
WeddingsBouquets, garlands exchanged, mandaps, arches and flower girls.34Worship and offeringsLaid before gods and shrines, strung for temples, carried in procession.65Mourning and remembranceFuneral flowers, wreaths, and flowers for the graves of the dead.14FestivalsFlowers tied to a festival, a holiday or a season of celebration.96GiftsGiven for love, thanks, birthdays, visits and apologies.35National and state emblemsFlowers chosen to stand for a country, a state or a city.199Home and everydayOn the table, at the door, in the hair, in the garden.270Perfume and scentGrown for their oil: rose, jasmine, tuberose, ylang-ylang.39
Sacred flowers
What is offered, worn and carried, faith by faith.
HinduLotus, marigold, jasmine, hibiscus and the flowers each deity is offered.16BuddhistThe lotus, flower offerings at shrines, and blossoms of the Buddha's life.20ChristianLilies at Easter, the rose and the Madonna lily, altar flowers and wreaths.21MuslimRoses and rose water, shrine offerings and the gardens of paradise.4JewishGreenery at Shavuot, the flowers of the land and the Song of Songs.0SikhGarlands and petals for the Guru Granth Sahib and for processions.0JainFlower offerings in temple worship, given with care for living things.1Other traditionsShinto, Taoist, Zoroastrian, folk and ancestral traditions.12
Flower traditions
78 customs explained: ikebana, the garland, the flower carpet, hanami, the language of flowers, the Dutch auction and more.
🇮🇹InfiorataItalian street carpets of petals laid for the feast of Corpus Christi, with whole pictures drawn in flowers on the paving.🇬🇹 🇪🇸 🇲🇽Alfombras, the procession carpetsStreet carpets of dyed sawdust, flowers and pine needles made for Holy Week and Corpus Christi, then walked over by the procession.🇺🇸 🇬🇧 🇨🇴Valentine's Day rosesThe custom of giving red roses on 14 February, and the worldwide rush of growing and flying that makes it possible.🇷🇺 🇺🇦 🇫🇷Odd numbers, even numbers and flowers not to giveThe unwritten rules of flower giving: how many stems, which colours and which flowers belong only to mourning.🇮🇳Indian loose-flower mandisIndia's dawn flower markets, where marigolds, jasmine and roses are sold by weight for garlands, temples and weddings.🇫🇷 🇮🇹 🇩🇪The French formal gardenGardens of straight axes, clipped hedges and patterned beds, made to show order imposed on nature, as at Versailles.
The map
Coloured dots are flowers and customs; white dots are places to visit.
Flower news
- Falling glass and ‘decapitated’ plants: the race to protect Edinburgh botanic garden’s plantsThe Guardian, Gardens
- How to create a vibrant cutting gardenMarin Independent Journal, Gardens
- Colorful wildflowers bloom across Chile's Atacama DesertYahoo, In bloom
- Colorful wildflowers bloom across Chile's Atacama Desert in wake of 'super' El NiñoLive Science, In bloom
- New York Botanical Garden event explores how crop diversity could shape the future of foodThe Riverdale Press, Gardens
- Gardening Tips: Night-Blooming Jasmine to Gardenia, 5 Flowers to Plant Early for Blissful WintersAsianet Newsable, India
- Aftershock PC x Zotac Gaming Pops First Blooming Cherry Blossom DesktopGeek Culture, In bloom
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Sōgetsu: Paul Davis, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Herbarium: DIST Lyon1, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Rose water: E4024, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- RHS Garden Rosemoor: Patche99z, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Botanical and Zoological Garden of Tsimbazaza: Woodlouse, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Rose: User:Tigerente, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Bay laurel: Forest and Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0 us, source
- Cyclamen: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Common sunflower: Jon Sullivan, Public domain, source
- Mallow: Luis Fernández García, CC BY-SA 2.5 es, source
- Leopard plant: Miya, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Ikebana: Joe Mabel, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Tulip: John O'Neill, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Lily-of-the-valley: Salicyna, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Dahlia: JackyM59, CC BY 4.0, source
- Oleander: Unknown author, CC BY 2.5, source
- Sacred lotus: T.Voekler, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Narcissus: Uberprutser, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden: Lonelyplanet, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, source
- Meise Botanic Garden: Rudi Devuyst, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Anemone: Aviad2001, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Hyacinth: The wub, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Calendula: Alvesgaspar, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Lantana: Alvesgaspar, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Saffron crocus: KENPEI, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Autumn crocus: Stemonitis, Public domain, source
- Sphaerocoryne lefevrei: ទេព សុវិចិត្រ at Khmer Wikipedia, Public domain, source
- Paeonia anomala: Eglekuc, CC BY 3.0, source
- Jacaranda Season Walks: Kahuroa, Public domain, source
- Bluebell Season: JackyM59, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Toowoomba Carnival Of Flowers: Sheba_Also 43,000 photos, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Floriade Canberra: Ashishlohorung, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Dubai Miracle Garden Season: Dmg200, CC BY 4.0, source
- Grape Hyacinth: Daniel78, CC BY-SA 2.5, source
- Ranunculus: SuperJew, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Freesia: Alvesgaspar, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Fritillary: Yerpo, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Crown Imperial: UpstateNYer, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Calla Lily: Eric Hunt, CC BY-SA 2.5, source
- Tuberose: SKsiddhartthan, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Red Spider Lily: Jim Evans, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Amaryllis: JJ Harrison ( https://www.jjharrison.com.au/ ), CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Clivia: Bernard DUPONT, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Palash: SumaTagadur 05:01, 28 March 2007 (UTC), CC BY-SA 2.5, source
- Champa: Francisco Manuel Blanco (O.S.A.), Public domain, source
- Parijat: J.M.Garg, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Himalayan Cherry: Patcharapapats, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Camellia Sasanqua: KENPEI, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Plumbago: ErgoSum88, Public domain, source