This list includes 51 Flowers that start with C, from “Calla Lily” to “Cymbidium Orchid”. These are showy garden and wild species noted for colorful blooms, fragrance, and use in bouquets, borders, and teaching.
Flowers that start with C are a diverse group of ornamental and wild plants spanning familiar garden favorites to uncommon wildflowers. For example, the Calla Lily has a long association with weddings and art, making it a notable cultural flower.
Below you’ll find the table with scientific name, colors, locations and season.
Scientific name (binomial): The Latin name helps you identify each species precisely and match plants across regions and sources.
Colors: Shows principal flower colors so you can plan palettes for bouquets, borders, or identification in the field.
Locations: Lists native and widely naturalized regions so you can understand a plant’s origin and suitable growing climates.
Season: Notes typical flowering months or seasons in different hemispheres so you can time planting and viewing visits.
Flowers that start with C
| Common name | Scientific name | Colors | Locations & Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calla Lily | Zantedeschia aethiopica | White, yellow, pink, red, orange, purple | Southern Africa. Blooms late spring to summer. |
| Camellia | Camellia japonica | Pink, red, white, yellow | East Asia. Blooms fall to spring (Northern Hemisphere). |
| Campanula | Campanula medium | Blue, purple, pink, white | Europe, temperate Asia. Blooms late spring to summer. |
| Candytuft | Iberis sempervirens | White, pink, lilac | Southern Europe. Blooms spring. |
| Canna Lily | Canna indica | Red, orange, yellow, pink, cream | Americas. Blooms summer to fall. |
| Canterbury Bells | Campanula medium | Blue, purple, pink, white | Southern Europe. Blooms late spring to summer. |
| Cape Primrose | Streptocarpus saxorum | Lavender-blue, white, pink | East Africa. Blooms year-round indoors. |
| Cardinal Flower | Lobelia cardinalis | Red | North America. Blooms mid-summer to fall. |
| Carnation | Dianthus caryophyllus | Pink, red, white, yellow, purple, orange | Mediterranean region. Blooms spring to summer. |
| Catmint | Nepeta faassenii | Lavender-blue, purple, white, pink | Europe, Asia. Blooms late spring to fall. |
| Cattleya Orchid | Cattleya labiata | Purple, pink, white, yellow, orange | Central & South America. Blooms vary by species. |
| Celosia | Celosia argentea | Red, pink, orange, yellow, purple, cream | Africa. Blooms summer to fall. |
| Century Plant | Agave americana | Yellow-green | Mexico, Southwestern US. Blooms once after 10–30 years. |
| Chamomile | Matricaria recutita | White, yellow | Europe, West Asia. Blooms summer. |
| Checkerbloom | Sidalcea malviflora | Pink, lilac, white | Western North America. Blooms spring to summer. |
| Cherry Blossom | Prunus serrulata | Pink, white | Japan, China, Korea. Blooms spring. |
| China Aster | Callistephus chinensis | Purple, pink, white, blue, red | China, Korea. Blooms late summer to fall. |
| Chinese Forget-Me-Not | Cynoglossum amabile | Blue, pink, white | East Asia. Blooms spring to summer. |
| Chinese Lantern | Physalis alkekengi | White | Southern Europe to South Asia. Blooms summer. |
| Chocolate Cosmos | Cosmos atrosanguineus | Maroon, dark red-brown | Mexico. Blooms summer to fall. |
| Christmas Cactus | Schlumbergera bridgesii | Pink, red, white, fuchsia, purple | Brazil. Blooms early winter (Northern Hemisphere). |
| Christmas Rose | Helleborus niger | White, pink | Europe, Western Asia. Blooms late winter to early spring. |
| Chrysanthemum | Chrysanthemum morifolium | All colors except true blue | East Asia. Blooms fall. |
| Cigar Plant | Cuphea ignea | Red, orange, yellow | Mexico, West Indies. Blooms summer to fall. |
| Cinquefoil | Potentilla fruticosa | Yellow, white, pink, orange | Northern Hemisphere. Blooms late spring to fall. |
| Cistus | Cistus ladanifer | White, pink, purple | Mediterranean region. Blooms late spring to summer. |
| Clarkia | Clarkia amoena | Pink, salmon, purple, white, red | Western North America. Blooms summer. |
| Clematis | Clematis spp. | Purple, blue, pink, red, white | Worldwide. Blooms spring to fall, depending on variety. |
| Cleome | Cleome hassleriana | Pink, purple, white | South America. Blooms summer to fall. |
| Clivia | Clivia miniata | Orange, yellow | South Africa. Blooms late winter to spring. |
| Clover | Trifolium pratense | Pink, purple, white | Europe, Western Asia, NW Africa. Blooms spring to fall. |
| Cockscomb | Celosia argentea var. cristata | Red, pink, orange, yellow, purple | Africa. Blooms summer to fall. |
| Columbine | Aquilegia spp. | All colors | Northern Hemisphere. Blooms spring to early summer. |
| Coneflower | Echinacea purpurea | Purple, pink, white, yellow, orange | Eastern North America. Blooms summer. |
| Coral Bells | Heuchera sanguinea | Pink, red, white, green | North America. Blooms late spring to summer. |
| Coreopsis | Coreopsis grandiflora | Yellow, orange, red, pink | Americas. Blooms summer. |
| Corn Cockle | Agrostemma githago | Magenta, purple, pink | Europe. Blooms late spring to summer. |
| Cornflower | Centaurea cyanus | Blue, pink, white, purple, red | Europe. Blooms summer. |
| Corydalis | Corydalis solida | Pink, purple, white, blue, yellow | Northern Hemisphere. Blooms spring. |
| Cosmos | Cosmos bipinnatus | Pink, white, magenta, red, yellow, orange | Mexico. Blooms summer to fall. |
| Cranesbill | Geranium sanguineum | Pink, blue, purple, white | Temperate regions worldwide. Blooms spring to fall. |
| Crape Myrtle | Lagerstroemia indica | Pink, purple, red, white | Indian Subcontinent, SE Asia. Blooms summer. |
| Crocus | Crocus vernus | Purple, yellow, white, striped | Europe, North Africa, Middle East, Asia. Blooms early spring or autumn. |
| Crossandra | Crossandra infundibuliformis | Orange, yellow, salmon, pink | Southern India, Sri Lanka. Blooms year-round in warm climates. |
| Crown Imperial | Fritillaria imperialis | Orange, red, yellow | Middle East, West Asia. Blooms spring. |
| Crown of Thorns | Euphorbia milii | Red, pink, yellow, white | Madagascar. Blooms year-round. |
| Cup and Saucer Vine | Cobaea scandens | Purple, green-white | Mexico. Blooms late summer to fall. |
| Cuphea | Cuphea hyssopifolia | Purple, pink, white, lavender | Mexico, Guatemala. Blooms summer to fall. |
| Curcuma | Curcuma alismatifolia | Pink, purple, white | Thailand, Cambodia. Blooms summer. |
| Cyclamen | Cyclamen persicum | Pink, red, white, purple | Mediterranean region. Blooms fall to spring. |
| Cymbidium Orchid | Cymbidium spp. | Green, yellow, pink, white, red, brown | Tropical & subtropical Asia, Australia. Blooms winter to spring. |
Descriptions
Calla Lily
An elegant, trumpet-shaped flower popular in weddings and formal arrangements. It is not a true lily but has a similar stately appearance.
Camellia
An evergreen shrub with glossy leaves and exquisite, rose-like flowers. It symbolizes love, affection, and admiration in the language of flowers.
Campanula
Commonly known as bellflowers, these plants produce charming, bell-shaped blooms on tall stems, adding a touch of cottage-garden whimsy.
Candytuft
A low-growing perennial that forms a dense mat of pure white flowers. It’s excellent for ground cover, borders, and rock gardens.
Canna Lily
A tropical-looking plant with large, paddle-like leaves and showy, iris-like flowers. Despite its name, it is not a true lily.
Canterbury Bells
A classic biennial plant famous for its large, cup-and-saucer or bell-shaped flowers that bring old-world charm to any garden.
Cape Primrose
A popular trailing houseplant with velvety leaves and delicate, trumpet-shaped flowers that bloom prolifically on wiry stems.
Cardinal Flower
A native wildflower prized for its intensely vibrant red, tubular flowers that are a magnet for hummingbirds. Thrives in moist, damp areas.
Carnation
A classic florist flower with a long history, known for its ruffled petals, long vase life, and a lovely, spicy-clove fragrance.
Catmint
A drought-tolerant perennial with aromatic, gray-green foliage and spikes of small flowers. It’s beloved by cats and pollinators alike.
Cattleya Orchid
Often called the “Queen of Orchids,” this genus features large, fragrant, and often flamboyant flowers, a favorite among orchid enthusiasts.
Celosia
Also known as Cockscomb, it has uniquely textured flowers that can resemble brains, plumes, or flames, adding vibrant color to gardens.
Century Plant
A dramatic succulent that grows for many years before sending up a massive flower stalk, blooming once in its lifetime before dying.
Chamomile
A delicate, daisy-like flower with a sweet, apple-like scent. It is most famous for being dried to make a calming herbal tea.
Checkerbloom
A lovely wildflower, also called Checker Mallow, with hollyhock-like flowers on tall, slender stems. It’s often found in meadows and open spaces.
Cherry Blossom
The iconic flower of spring (Sakura in Japan), celebrated for its fleeting, cloud-like beauty on ornamental cherry trees in massive displays.
China Aster
A popular annual with a wide variety of flower forms, from simple daisy-like singles to dense, fluffy pompons, perfect for cut flowers.
Chinese Forget-Me-Not
An easy-to-grow annual that produces sprays of tiny, intensely sky-blue flowers, creating a sea of color with minimal effort.
Chinese Lantern
Grown for its small white flower that develops into a bright orange, papery calyx that looks exactly like a festive paper lantern.
Chocolate Cosmos
Famous for its deep, velvety, reddish-brown flowers that have a rich, delightful fragrance reminiscent of vanilla and chocolate.
Christmas Cactus
A popular, easy-care houseplant that blooms reliably around the winter holidays, producing flowers from the tips of its segmented stems.
Christmas Rose
An evergreen perennial that bravely blooms through the snow, offering cheer in the coldest months. Despite its name, it is not a rose.
Chrysanthemum
A quintessential autumn flower, often called a “mum.” It comes in a vast range of sizes, colors, and petal shapes, from daisies to buttons.
Cigar Plant
Named for its long, tubular, reddish-orange flowers that have a black and white tip, closely resembling a lit cigar. A favorite of hummingbirds.
Cinquefoil
A hardy and low-maintenance shrub with small, charming, five-petaled flowers that look like tiny wild roses.
Cistus
Also known as Rock Rose, this is a drought-tolerant shrub with delicate, paper-like flowers that often last for only a single day.
Clarkia
A native wildflower, also called Godetia, with showy, satin-like petals that are often bicolored or patterned. It’s easy to grow from seed.
Clematis
A popular flowering vine known for its spectacular, often large and uniquely shaped flowers. There are hundreds of varieties to choose from.
Cleome
Also called Spider Flower for its long, delicate stamens that create a spidery look. It grows tall, adding an airy texture to gardens.
Clivia
A shade-loving houseplant with thick, strap-like leaves and a stunning cluster of bright, trumpet-shaped flowers. It thrives on neglect.
Clover
Valued as a cover crop and for its distinctive globular flower heads that are a vital nectar source for bees and other pollinators.
Cockscomb
A unique variety of Celosia with fascinating, convoluted flower heads that look like colorful coral or a rooster’s comb.
Columbine
Known for its distinctive, bell-shaped flowers with backward-projecting spurs that hold nectar. It’s a favorite of hummingbirds and bees.
Coneflower
A popular prairie native, prized for its daisy-like flowers with a prominent, spiny central cone. It’s both beautiful and medicinal.
Coral Bells
Primarily grown for its colorful foliage, but it also sends up delicate, airy wands of tiny, bell-shaped flowers that attract hummingbirds.
Coreopsis
Also called Tickseed, this is a cheerful and dependable daisy-like flower that is very drought-tolerant, blooming profusely all summer.
Corn Cockle
A slender wildflower with silky, trumpet-shaped flowers. Once a common weed in grain fields, it is now often included in wildflower seed mixes.
Cornflower
Also known as Bachelor’s Button, this annual is famous for its intense, sapphire-blue flowers and is a classic cottage garden plant.
Corydalis
A woodland plant with delicate, fern-like foliage and clusters of small, unusual, tubular flowers. It often goes dormant in summer.
Cosmos
An easy-to-grow annual with feathery foliage and simple, daisy-like flowers that dance on long, slender stems. Perfect for beginner gardeners.
Cranesbill
The common name for hardy perennial Geraniums, named for the long, beak-like shape of their seed pods. Not to be confused with Pelargoniums.
Crape Myrtle
A tree or shrub beloved in warm climates for its long-lasting, abundant panicles of flowers with crinkled, crepe-like petals.
Crocus
One of the first signs of spring, these small but mighty bulb flowers often push their way up through the snow to bloom.
Crossandra
Also known as Firecracker Flower, it has unique, fan-shaped flowers arranged on a spike, providing continuous color in tropical settings.
Crown Imperial
A majestic bulb with a tall stalk topped by a ring of large, bell-shaped flowers hanging beneath a crown of leafy bracts.
Crown of Thorns
A thorny succulent shrub popular as a houseplant, known for its small but numerous, colorful bracts that look like durable flowers.
Cup and Saucer Vine
A fast-growing vine with large, bell-shaped flowers that emerge greenish-white and mature to a rich purple, resembling a cup on a saucer.
Cuphea
Often called Mexican Heather, this small shrub is covered in a profusion of tiny, star-shaped flowers, making it a great bedding or container plant.
Curcuma
Related to turmeric, this tropical plant is called Siam Tulip for its showy, tulip-like pink bracts which are long-lasting as cut flowers.
Cyclamen
A popular cool-season houseplant with elegant, swept-back petals and decorative, heart-shaped leaves that are often variegated with silver.
Cymbidium Orchid
A popular and hardy orchid known for its long-lasting, waxy flowers on tall spikes. Often used in corsages and floral arrangements.
