When I started my quest to find flowers that start with L, I didn’t expect to find this diversity of gorgeous blossoms and descriptive flower names. I’ve gathered a host of flower types and collected all you need to know to plant them in your garden. Mix and match them to create a fragrant and colorful display that will turn heads.
Lantana
Scientific name: Lantana sp
In the right environment these pretty multi-colored flowers self-propagate. So, you’ll have to keep them well under control. The bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds love them. Many varieties contain blossoms of contrasting colors that stand out beautifully against the dark green leaves.
These shrubs enjoy fairly dry conditions and mild winters. Plant them in a sunny spot in the garden.
Larkspur
Scientific name: Consolida ajacis
Dressed in shades of blue or pink, larkspur blossoms grow along a long stem. Place them in a vase and brighten up your home. These plants will self-propagate. So, look after them and they’ll repay you with a lovely show of color every summer.
Larkspur prefers full sun and sandy soil. As with many flowers, you can encourage blossom regrowth by deadheading.
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Lavender
Scientific name: Lavandula sp.
There are many varieties of Lavender. They bloom at different times of the year, depending on local conditions. Lavender can come in shades of purple, blue, pink, white, and even yellow. The leaves are also quite different varying between shades of grey and green.
Lavender will grow in beds or pots, but they do like full sun. They also prefer well-drained soil. Lavender needs little maintenance.
Lilac
Scientific name: Syringa vulgaris
Lilac blossoms grow on a large shrub. It is part of the olive family. The sweet-smelling blossoms appear in late spring. The clusters of blossoms may be white, pink, blue, or purple. Lilacs also look great in a vase. They are easy to grow and need little maintenance, preferring well-drained, fertile soil and full sunlight.
Lily
Scientific name: Lilium sp.
Beautiful bright lilies bloom from early in the summer all the way into fall. These fragrant flowers make a lovely display in shades of white, pink, red, and orange. Lilies grow from bulbs. You can plant them in spring. Still, they will do better if you give them time, and plant them in the fall.
Lilies like well-drained soil and full sun. They look great in a vase.
Lily of the Valley
Scientific name: Convallaria majalis
Lily of the Valley has been around since 1000 BC. These fragrant blossoms consist of tiny white bells along a stem. These stand out against a backdrop of bright green narrow leaves. These plants prefer moisture and they’re great for adding color to the shadier parts of your garden. They are adaptable and will grow under almost any circumstances.
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Lisianthus
Scientific name: Eustoma grandiflorum
Originating in the western US, Lisianthus looks a little like a rose. They come in single and double varieties and in various colors including white, pink and blue. These plants like full sun and can withstand dry conditions thanks to their thick waxy leaves.
Flowers will last for as much as two weeks in a vase so they are popular boutique flowers.
Lotus
Scientific name: Nelumbo sp.
The national flower of India comes in shades of white, pink, yellow, purple, and blue. These magnificent aquatic flowers will reach up 12 inches in width. Plant the tubers into the soil at the bottom of a pond or in pots and lower these into the pond. These plants need six hours of sun a day.
Love in the Mist
Scientific name: Nigella damscena
These dreamy flowers are an old-fashioned favorite. The colorful blossoms appear to have a misty web about them. They grow up to two feet tall so they stand out in any garden. They come in shades of blue, pink, white, and purple. The fine fennel-like foliage offers an interesting contrast to the delicate flowers. The flowers and their attractive seeds will do any arrangement proud.
Sow the seeds in spring and make sure that they get plenty of sunlight.
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Love Lies Bleeding
Scientific name: Amaranthus Caudatus
Also known as the tassel flower, Love Lies Bleeding requires little care after the seeds have sprouted. The plant, an Amaranth, produces long crimson flowers. These can make an interesting backdrop during the summer months.
The plant enjoys full sunlight. It can reach 5 feet in height and it thrives in poor soil, blooming for longer. Remove the seeds before they drop as this plant will self-seed and can take over.
Lupine
Scientific name: Lupinus polyphyllus
Stately Lupine needs sunlight to blossom. They will grow in the shade but will produce blooms reluctantly. There are several varieties but all have long heavily flowered stems that can grow up to four feet in height. Lupines don’t like damp soil so they need good drainage. Still, they need water at least once a week.
Laburnum
Scientific name: Laburnum Anagyroides
The flowering Laburnum tree is a sight to behold. Blossoming in May, the tree literally drips with bright yellow flowers. The deciduous trees like full sunlight and well-drained soil. These trees are low maintenance and need no feeding or water. Get them back into shape with the occasional prune.
Lady’s Bedstraw
Scientific name: Galium verum
This flower’s name comes from the legend that Mary lay upon it when she gave birth to Jesus. Originating in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, this type of flower now grows all over the US. Lady’s Bedstraw grows in sun or partial shade and it’s not particularly fussy about the soil, though a little more alkali is best.
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Laurestine
Scientific name: Viburnum tinus
Laurestine is a small evergreen shrub that boasts lovely pink and white flower clusters. These fragrant blossoms bloom from late winter into early spring. Through spring, berries of blue adorn the shrub. These shrubs make good hedges. They don’t need much water and they’re low maintenance.
Lady’s Eardrop
Scientific name: Fuchsia magellanica
The Lady’s Eardrop is also known as fuchsia. These types of flowers have colorful pendulous blooms that will keep your garden looking gorgeous from spring to fall. They come in a variety of color combinations from white to pink, red and purple. Fuchsias will present more blooms when they have a little shade. Still, as long as you keep them wet and well-fertilized, they will deliver plenty of flowers.
Lenten Rose
Scientific name: Helleborus x hybridus
As the flower name suggests, the Lenten Rose blossoms around Easter or late winter. Though it looks like a rose, this plant belongs to the buttercup family. Choose from a variety of colors that include yellow, pink, blue, lavender, purple, and red. The large flowers rise above the evergreen foliage. Lenten roses are easy to maintain and don’t require a lot of water. Still, they don’t like severe winter winds.
Lewisia
Scientific name: Lewisia sp.
A beautiful flowering succulent native to the US, Lewisia requires little maintenance and will even grow in pots. The pretty pink, yellow, white, orange, and red flowers, grow close to the ground like full sun. Though some variants will grow in partial sunlight.
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Liverwort
Scientific name: Hepatica sp.
Part of the buttercup family, these spring-blooming flowers are gorgeous. The name of the flower originates from the leaf’s appearance. They like partial to full shade and they’re often found growing wild in wooded areas. Once planted they need little care. Single flowers grow off a naked stem. They have a delicate scent and come in shades of pink, white, blue, and purple.
Lobelia
Scientific name: Lobelia sp.
Lobelias are lovely flowers and easy to grow. They will grow in beds or pots and they’re weather tolerant. They prefer sunlight but will tolerate shade. Lobelias come in many shapes and forms and in shades of white, pink, blue, and red. Besides water, these types of flowers need little maintenance.
Lindheimers Bee Blossom
Scientific name: Gaura lindheimeri
The Bee Blossom is a perennial plant that bears many flowers from early summer to fall. These airy blossoms in pink and white stand atop tall spiky stems. The Bee Blossom likes full sun and well-drained soil. It will tolerate some shade, heat, and humidity and it requires little water.
Lance-leaved Coreopsis
Scientific name: Coreopsis lanceolata
This pretty yellow flower, a member of the daisy family, grows naturally on the eastern side of the USA all the way from Mexico to Canada. It makes a lovely addition to a wildflower garden. It is low maintenance and will grow in almost any type of soil. These flowers have nice long stems and look great in a vase. They are self-seeding with a tendency to take over so you may need to take control.
Loosestrife
Scientific name: Lythrum salicaria
The perennial loosestrife blooms in bright shades of red, purple, and yellow. They bloom in early to late summer and make excellent cut flowers. These plants like a lot of moisture so they’re best grown next to ponds and streams. They enjoy full sun to partial shade. Loosestrife can grow to a height of up to 4 foot and they can become invasive since they have a strong rhizome system.
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Leucadendron
Scientific name: Leucadendron spp.
The Leucadendron is a protea. These types of flowers are indigenous to South Africa but will grow almost anywhere. These low-maintenance plants are drought resistant. Yet, they produce beautiful bright flowers that look great in a vase. They don’t like cold temperatures. Still, if you live in colder climes, you could pot your plant and bring it inside for the winter.
Laurel (The Mountain Laurel)
Scientific name: Laurel Nobilis
Mountain laurel is the state flower of Pennsylvania. The plant has several flower names including American Laurel, Calico Bush, Ivy Bush, and Spoonwood. The evergreen shrub that hosts the pretty pink, white, or red flowers can grow to ten feet. Mountain Laurels belong to the rhododendron family. They will grow in full and partial shade. They like well-drained acidic soil. Though their shallow root system needs frequent watering.
Lucerne
Scientific name: Medicago Sativa
Commonly known as alfalfa, lucerne grows to 3.3 feet tall. The blooms form in purple, yellow, or white clusters of between five and 30 blossoms. Lucerne blooms between May and October. It is drought tolerant thanks to its deep-seated nitrogen-fixing roots.
Lady’s Slipper
Scientific name: Cypripedium
Native across North America, the Lady’s Slipper orchid blooms in shades of white, yellow, and pink. These types of flowers need frequent watering with distilled or rainwater. Orchids prefer humus-type soil that drains well. The Lady’s Slipper likes dappled sunlight since they live naturally on forest floors.
Lavatera Rose Mallow
Scientific name: Lavatera
Related to the hollyhock and hibiscus, the Lavatera Rose Mallow grows wild across most of the US. It has impressive four-inch flowers that bloom throughout the summer right up to the first frost. The flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies. They don’t need the best soil. Though it must be well-drained. These plants are drought tolerant but for the best blooms water regularly.
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Leadwort
Scientific name: Ceratostigma plumbaginoides
Also known as plumbago, leadwort grows close to the ground so it makes a good ground cover. In the mid-summer star-shaped, deep blue flowers appear above the glossy oval leaves. Blossoms in other shades like red or white are less common. These plants are popular because they are fast-growing and tough. They can tolerate a variety of growing conditions.
Lobster Claw
Scientific name: Heliconia Latispatha
The gorgeous multi-colored Lobster Claw needs rich nutritious soil that is slightly acidic. The soil must also drain well. The plant grows from a rhizome so you need to keep it moist. It likes partial shade. Fertilize the plant once a month and deadhead and prune it as the flowers die off. The plant will bloom throughout summer.
Lungwort
Scientific name: Pulmonaria
The low-growing Lungwort, named for its mottled leaves, flowers in spring. This plant tolerates shade well, attracting bees to the garden. There are several species of Lungwort that display changed leaf patterns and flowers in shades of blue, pink, and white. Lungwort is good for ground cover. They prefer well-drained fertile soil and require little maintenance.
Conclusion | Flowers that start with L
There you have it, a beautiful collection of flowers that start with L that you can add to your home, inside or outside. Impress your friends and family with your choice of flowers and gardening skills.