Flowers that start with A range from annual to perennial and several types in between. When you search for flowers beginning with A, remember that some can be poisonous but beautiful for gardens if you do not have children or pets.
House plants that start with A are usually succulents but a few perennials. As you search through this list, know that the plants beginning with A have been chosen because they are amazing and easy to take care of.
When choosing a flower, you want a beautiful plant that you won’t have to spend too much time keeping it alive, whether in your garden or in your home. Some house plants that start with A on this list are great for producing oxygen in your home, while others can be problematic for asthmatics.
The information below will give you unique characteristics, water, soil pH, and sun needs for each plant to help you decide if you want them in your garden.
26 Flowers That Start With A
1. Acanthus (Acanthus Mollis)
Acanthus is a perennial plant that lives in the tropics, like the Mediterranean. It’s also known as the bear’s breeches and oyster plant.
It has tall spikes of flowers, which can be purple, pink, or white. It grows best in hardiness zones 6 to 10 and will reach 3-6 feet in height.
You will need well-draining soil, plus full sun. Acanthus needs rich soil with proper drainage to grow at its best.
- Water – moderate moisture
- Soil PH – 6.5 to 7.5
- Sun – Full sun
2. African Daisy
First on the list of flowers that start with A is the African daisy. It’s a bright colorful flower that blooms throughout summer and fall.
The African daisy is also known as Osteospermum. It lives well in full sun and tolerates harsh conditions like rocky soil, neglect, and drought. But, like a perennial flower, it does not like frost.
- Water – should soak the soil for most but can be dry for short periods
- Soil PH – 5.5 to 6
- Sun – full sun
3. African Tuliptree
The African Tuliptree or Spathodea campanulate is a perennial plant needing moderate moisture. The flowers are reddish-orange with a yellow margin.
These are showy flowers that like full sun to partial shade. Consider this plant an evergreen. It lives best in hardiness zones 10 to 11 and grows 36 to 48 inches.
- Water – moderate moisture
- Soil PH – 5 to 7.5
- Sun – Full to partial sun
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4. Agapanthus
The Lily of the Nile or Star of Bethlehem is known as the Agapanthus. These beautiful trumpet-shaped flowers are native to South Africa.
As a lily, it is a uniquely designed flower and perennial. Agapanthus love full sun, needing at least 6 to 8 hours per day.
It does not do well in cold temperatures, such as anything below 20 F. It grows best in hot climates.
If you live in any cold zone, you should plant it in a pot so you can bring it inside.
- Water – moist
- Soil PH – 5.5 to 7.5
- Sun – 6 to 8 hours
5. Agave (Agave Geminiflora)
Agave plants are a type of cactus or succulents that can grow very large leaves. The Geminiflora is a perennial that doesn’t mind drought since it is a desert plant.
When it flowers, they are greenish-yellow. You can make this plant a container plant.
Agave is used in food and drinks as a good source of vitamins and sugar. It will be 24 to 36 inches in height.
- Water – can handle drought conditions.
- Soil PH – 6 to 8
- Sun – Full sun to partial shade
6. Aloe Socotrina or Aloe Succotrina
Aloe Socotrina is a type of Aloe Perryi and a perennial. It is a native species to Africa, and grows in Cape Town, South Africa.
Locally it’s known as Fynbos aloe. Based on its hardiness zone, it needs a lot of sun and well-drained soil.
It blooms in the summer season. However, the blooms can live through early fall and winter.
It is a tall flower with small red petals that grow in a cone shape. As a pollinated plant, sunbirds help it spread throughout desert areas.
- Water – moist
- Soil PH – 7 to 8.5
- Sun – Full sun
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7. Alpine Aster
The Alpine aster is a perennial plant that needs moderate moisture to survive and produce showy flowers. It’s easy to grow and will attract butterflies to your garden.
It grows in hardiness zones 5 to 7 and will reach 6 to 12 inches in height and requires a soil pH of 6 to 7.5 and full sun. The flowers are usually blue or violet, with yellow centers, which may remind you of daisies.
- Water – moderate moisture
- Soil PH – 6 to 7.5
- Sun – Full sun
8. Alstroemeria
Flowers that start with A like the Alstroemeria are beautiful additions to any garden. Known as the Lily of the Incas, it was also named for Swedish Baron Claus von Alstroemer. Alstromer discovered the plant.
This beautiful plant with its twists of the leaves, signifies friendship. It is a summer bloomer and perennial.
Alstroemeria grows 1 to 3 feet tall and does well in Europe and North America.
- Water – moist
- Soil PH – 5.5 to 6.5
- Sun – Full or partial sun
9. Alyssum
Alyssum is part of the Brassicaceae family of plants that contains about 20 species. It grows in Asia, Africa, and Europe.
These plants are perennial or herbaceous. These are beautiful pink, white, or purple shades of very small flowers that can easily cover your landscape or garden.
Flowers will bloom in spring and fall. Alyssum grows 3 to 9 inches tall in full to partial sun.
The soil needs to be moist but drained well. It is a plant grown best in 5 to 9 hardiness zones.
- Water – moist
- Soil PH – neutral to acidic
- Sun – Full or partial sun
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10. Amaranth
Amaranth is an edible plant with beautiful flowers. It has leaves and grains you can eat. The flowers are burgundy in color, although some variations can occur. The flowers can be crimson to maroon.
It is has a drought tolerance, but with regular watering, you will see verdant foliage and unique flowers. It likes full sun. The Amaranth is an annual or perennial flower.
It blooms best from July to the frost season. The leaves are very ornamental, hanging off the stem in a cone shape. Unusually, it has about 5 stamens per stem.
Depending on the species, the Amaranth can be used for a decorative plant or food. There are more than 300 species of Amaranthaceae.
- Water – moist, needs watering 2 to 3 times per week in dry conditions
- Soil PH – 6.5 to 7.5
- Sun – full sun
11. Amaryllis (Amaryllis Belladonna or A. Paradisicola)
Amaryllis is also known as a naked lady or resurrection lily. The leaves die before the flower blooms. You should plant several plants together in a loose cluster for the best look.
Amaryllis is a South African native flower, and grows well in hardiness zones 7 to 11. It likes temperatures that do not get above 85 degrees F. It needs full or partial sun, with good draining soil.
The trumpet-shaped flower can be pink to red. The Amaryllis botanical name is Hippeastrum. It is a perennial flower that will bloom from winter to spring.
- Water – well-drained moist
- Soil PH – 6 to 6.5
- Sun – Full to partial sun
12. Anemone
Anemone has numerous variations of flowers and colors. It is a fall-flowering plant with petals that resemble crepe paper. You want to plant the bulbs in spring so that the flowers will bloom in fall.
It needs full sun to partial shade, with drainage soil. Flowers can be white, pink, purple or red. Anemone resembles daffodils in shape and grow up to a foot tall, and requires rich but moist soil to grow at its best.
- Water – moist
- Soil PH – 5.6 to 7.5
- Sun – Full to partial sun
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13. Angelonia (Angelonia Angustifolia)
The Angelonia is a very fragrant flower that resembles snapdragon-like flowers. They come in purple, pink, blue, and white, and they attract hummingbirds and butterflies.
Planted in mid-spring, they can start off indoors late winter to early fall, and they like full sun or partial shade. It can be drought-tolerant for short periods. It grows best in hardiness zones 9 to 11.
The plant can reach 2 or more feet in height. They are great for flowerbeds, containers, or creating garden borders.
- Water – moist
- Soil PH – 5.5 to 6.2
- Sun – Full or partial sun
14. Angel’s Trumpet
Angel’s Trumpet or Brugmansia is a shrub. An attractive characteristic of this flower is its growth, where the flowers are bell-shaped and hang upside down. The flowers can be pink to orange.
You should know it is a poisonous flower but very fragrant. You can grow it in a container if you want.
It grows best in hardiness zones 7 to 11 and will reach 72 to 96 inches in height. As an evergreen, it needs moderate moisture and full to partial sun.
- Water – moderate
- Soil PH – 6.1 to 7.8
- Sun – Full to partial sun
15. Anise-Scented Sage (Salvia Guaranitica)
Anise-Scented Sage or Salvia Guaranitica is a perennial flower best used for groundcover in your garden. It attracts butterflies and will be deer resistant.
The flowers are easy to grow and showy. It grows best in hardiness zones 8 to 10. It will reach 24 to 60 inches in height with full to partial sun.
The flower color is a deep blue with purple-blue at the tips.
- Water – medium water
- Soil PH – 5.4 to 5.8
- Sun – Full to partial sun
16. Annual Phlox (Phlox Drummondii)
Annual Phlox is an annual flower that grows pink or rose-red. The petals are small and often evenly shaped in four to five per flower. These flowers attract butterflies and birds but repel deer. They are fragrant.
This groundcover plant grows best in 2 to 11 hardiness zones and reaches 5 to 12 inches in height.
- Water – moist
- Soil PH – acidic
- Sun – Full to partial sun
17. Annual Mallow (Lavatera Trimestris)
Lavatera trimestris or Annual mallow is an annual flower requiring medium moisture. The flower color is shades of white to pink and has maroon centers, as well as maroon veins on the petals. These flowers attract butterflies and birds.
This beautiful flowering plant is native to the Mediterranean region. It grows best in 2 to 11 hardiness zones with full sun.
Therefore, it is a good groundcover plant that requires full sun.
- Water – medium
- Soil PH – 6.3 to 6.7
- Sun – Full sun
18. Anthurium
A highly common plant, Anthurium is easy to add to your garden because it doesn’t need much attention. They can also help the air quality in your home because they give off a lot of oxygen.
Anthurium tends to thrive best inside the house, but you can grow them outside in the right climate region. Anthurium is distinctive due to its flower shape and size.
Flowers can be pink with red dots and a tail that goes down to the leaves. In addition, the leaves usually have red veins. The leaves can also change shape and color based on the amount of light.
- Water – moist
- Soil PH – 5.5 to 6.5
- Sun – Full to partial sun
19. Aquilegia
Flowers that start with A can be Asters with a common name of A too, like the Aquilegia. The botanical name for Aquilegia is Aster.
This delicate flower is a perennial that blooms in spring and summer. The blooms are more rounded and complete than other Asters.
They are hardy plants that can handle higher elevations. A unique characteristic is the symbolism of life and happiness in the yellow Aquilegia, and the purple bloom many refer to as penance.
Aquilegia grows 15 to 20 inches.
- Water – medium moisture
- Soil PH – 6.1 to 6.8
- Sun – Full to partial sun
20. Ariocarpus Iloydii
Ariocarpus lloydii is a cactus that requires dry soil. It is best known for its very unique shape. When it flowers, the petals are pink to white.
Its main feature is its green and even yellowish stem. It grows best as a container flower. It grows in hardiness zones 9 to 11. At maturity, it will reach 1 to 6 inches. It needs full sun to be at its happiest.
- Water – dry
- Soil PH – 6.1 to 7.8
- Sun – Full sun
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21. Arum
Arum or Arum italicum is a perennial flower that grows red berries. The plant sleeps in fall and withers in winter before returning to a beautiful flower in spring.
All parts of the flower are poisonous and should not be planted if you have pets, children, or vegetables in your garden. It is a showy flower with lavender, green, and white colors.
It is a light shade plant requiring water during dry spells. And it is excellent with other evergreen plants and is resistant to deer.
- Water – needs watering during dry spells
- Soil PH – 6.5 to 7
- Sun – partial shade
22. Aster
Flowers that start with A like the Aster can make you think you are looking at a beautiful daisy-like flower. Asters are usually alpine flowers that bloom in spring, although some types of asters will bloom in summer and fall.
There are over 600 varieties, which range in color and size. Asters are great for New England, Portugal, Spain, and other northern hemisphere parts of the world.
They like full to partial sun and loamy soil. Aster plants have medicinal properties that have helped treat asthma, aches, colds, coughs, and pain.
- Water – moderate moisture
- Soil PH – 6 to 8
- Sun – full to partial sun
23. Avens (Geum “Mrs. J. Bradshaw”)
Avens is a common name for several flowers in the Geum family. Geum Mrs. J. Bradshaw is named after the person who discovered the red pollinating flower.
It is a perennial flower that requires moderate moisture and a soil Ph of 5.6 to 6. The flowers can be orange to scarlet.
This plant grows well in hardiness zones 5 to 7 in full or partial sun. It offers ground cover and is deer resistant. Avens reach 12 to 24 inches in height at maturity.
- Water – moderate moisture
- Soil PH – 5.6 to 6
- Sun – Full to partial sun
24. Aylostera Narvaecensis
This cactus or succulent is the most beautiful flower and needs dry soil. The flowers are pink, and the stem is green and has small spines that cover it.
You can grow the Aylostera in a container. It grows best in hardiness zones 9 to 11. As a houseplant it requires full to partial sun and will reach 1 to 6 inches in height.
- Water – dry
- Soil PH – 4 to 6
- Sun – full sun to partial shade
25. Azaleas
Also known as Rhododendron prinophyllum, Azaleas are shrubs that bloom in spring. They are known for their brightly colored flowers, which can be pink.
They grow quite quick and tend bloom in large numbers. And usually signify intelligence, femininity, just like a princess develops into a queen.
Azaleas have shallow roots, which means the soil can dry out in the sun each day, depending on where you live. Therefore, you want to make sure that the soil is not soggy but moist to 12 inches n warm, dry weather.
Plan on watering your plant two or three times per week. Azaleas do well in hardiness zones 7 to 9 but can grow in 4.
- Water – uniformly moist
- Soil PH – 5.5
- Sun – Full to partial sun
26. Azure Monkshood (Aconitum Carmichaelii)
Also known as Aconitum carmichaelii, Azure Monkshood is a perennial flowering plant that requires moderate moisture and a soil Ph of 5 to 6. The flowers come in a deep purple or pale blue, depending on where you keep the plant.
Inside you will see a deeper color than outside. It can be an indoor/outdoor container plant or garden plant, and is happy in the sun or the shade.
It is a rabbit, deer, and most insect-resistant flower that grows in hardiness zones 3 to 7. At maturity, it reaches 24 to 36 inches in height.
- Water – moderate moisture
- Soil PH – 5 to 6
- Sun – full to partial sun
Conclusion
There are so many different varieties of plants and flowers. Choosing the ones that best suit you can be so tough. I recommend going through each list where you can check out all the flowers that start with A, and follow on with the rest of the alphabet.
This will make it easier for you to select those you like best. Take into account each plant’s requirements, to get the best success.
Happy Gardening!
