30 Types of Small Flowers (with Pictures) - Flower Keen (2024)

As a beginner, choosing the best addition to your garden can be confusing, especially because of the endless choices. We can’t blame you – the flower species worldwide are over hundreds of thousands! To help you get started, here are 30 types of small flowers and everything you need to know about them.

1.Bugleweed

Bugleweed is a low-growing flowering plant popularly used for medical purposes. Some believe bugleweed effectively treats an overactive thyroid, breast pain, insomnia, and menstruation cramps.

On the other hand, the flowers are typically small blue to purple perennials. The stems measure about 12 inches long. Bugleweed blooms best from May to June. It is native to Europe, Southwestern Asia, and Northern Africa.

2.Lily of the Valley

Lily of the valley is a flowering herb that produces fragrant, bell-shaped white flowers. It is low-growing, blooming best in late spring from 6 to 12 inches in height. It thrives in moist clay to sandy soils in areas with shade. The Lily of the valley is commonly used in Christian traditions. In fact, it was mentioned many times in the Bible.

3.Baby’s Breath

Baby’s breath is a well-known small flowering perennial plant. It springs tiny, star-shaped flowers that vary in color.

They can be light pink, purple, baby blue, or white with a soft indigo undertone. The Baby’s Breath is often used as a filler in flower arrangements like bridal bouquets. It conveys gentle emotions, appreciation, and affection.

4.Dwarf Heron’s Bill

Dwarf Heron’s Bill is a dwarf perennial. This tiny plant produces a cluster of small flowers best for pathways, borders, containers, and rockeries. Dwarf Heron’s Bill’s flowers are white to pink with green foliage.

They grow best in full sun outdoors, particularly from May to September. Dwarf Heron’s Bill’s average landscape size is about 10 inches wide and 8 inches tall.

5.Pansy

Pansy’s flowers measure about 2 to 3 inches in diameter, but some variations can be tinier than the rest. The petals could be white, blue, purple, or yellow. The plants grow approximately 9 inches tall. They bloom best when planted directly in the soil, receiving direct sunlight to partial shade for about six hours daily.

6.Heather

Heather is a known small flower from the family Ericaceae. This plant is meaningful. The flowers symbolize cleanse or adorn, which comes from the plant’s genus, “Calluna.” Heather is native to some areas in Europe, although it could be hard to grow in a few locations in the US.

Heather flowers are small, but their stalk can reach up to 12 inches tall and 24 inches wide.

7.Blue Moneywort

Blue Moneywort, or Lindernia grandiflora,is a semi-evergreen flowering plant that produces purple to blue blooms with a white center. They bloom best in early summer, requiring abundant, full sun to semi-shade.

These cute violet flowers grow on and off all season. Blue Moneywort plants are excellent for miniature and fairy gardens. They grow about an inch tall, spreading about 4 inches wide.

8.Sparkler Mondo Grass

Sparkler Mondo Grass, botanically namedOphiopogon japonicus, is also called monkey grass. It is a slow-growing flowering plant with thin, long, and slender dark green leaves that curl downward.

This plant has showy, light lavender flowers that add texture and beauty to small gardens and landscapes. The Sparkler Mondo Grass is actually native to Asian countries, like Korea, Japan, and China.

9.Kenilworth Ivy

Kenilworth Ivy is a popular tiny filler plant native to Northern America and Europe. This flowering, trailing plant produces tiny Ivy-like leaves and showy, lilac to blue flowers.

Some see Kenilworth Ivy’s leaves are similar to a cymbal because of their shape. Kenilworth Ivy grows about 2 to 3 inches, or about 5 to 7 centimeters tall. It has a fantastic texture, making it an excellent addition to pathways and courtyards.

10.Rock Cress

Rock cress is a perennial from the Brassicaceae family. Rock cress flower is one of the types of tiny flowers that are captivating and vigorous. This plant produces fragrant, vibrant purple to red flowers, blooming from spring to early summer.

Rock cress is similar to the Aubrieta, known as “False Rock Cress,” as they look alike. They both spring vivid purple flowers that creep and cover pathways and walls in the spring.

11.Lobelia

Lobelia is one of the genera of the bellflower family called Campanulaceae. This annual flowering plant produces attractive purple to blue flowers in wide varieties. Lobelia is often cultivated in garden beds, containers, and hanging baskets. Lobelia is native to warm regions, excluding western Asia and eastern and central Europe.

12.Thrift

Thrift is a perennial plant with long, pointed, slender leaves and white flowers with a pinkish hue. Hence, Thrift is also named “sea pink.” This plant springs in the spring and summer.

Thrift is an easy-to-maintain evergreen. Plus, they love receiving full sun in well-drained soils. If you’re planning to grow Thrift, remember they don’t like moist grounds!

13.Foamflower

Foamflower is a perennial native to eastern America and Canada. It has small, frothy white, star-shaped flower spikes. Foamflower has a tiny floret with five lobes and narrow petals only a few millimeters in width.

This plant is low maintenance, needing partial to full sun and regular watering. Foamflowers love loamy soil, and they bloom best from April to July.

14.Dianthus

Dianthus, or “pinks,” are flowering plants from the family of carnations or Caryophyllaceae. This quintessential plant is native to Asia and Europe. It produces small flowers that grow about 4 to 18 inches in height and at least 4 inches wide.

Dianthus grows best in full sun, although it can also thrive in partial shades in warm zones. It is a spring to early summer bloomer that can live in various conditions.

15.Fairy Foxglove

Fairy Foxglove is a small, sweet, evergreen perennial found mostly on old stone walls. This plant blooms a cluster of eye-catching rosettes in spring and summer.

It grows best in shady areas of rock gardens and is native to southern and central Europe. Fairy Foxgloves can be toxic to touch. If you aren’t aware, you can unknowingly transfer the poison to your mouth and eyes.

16.Sweet Alyssum

Sweet Alyssum grows tiny flowers perfect for hanging baskets, alpine rock gardens, and borders. The flowers have pink, salmon, white, and yellow petals produced in clumps.

They are native to Europe, blooming best in full or partial shade from June to October. Sweet Alyssum requires little maintenance – some even refer to it as maintenance-free.

17.Begonia

Begonia is a small perennial flowering plant that belongs to the family Begoniaceae. This flower is often seen in shaded summer beds and homes as it is straightforward to grow.

Begonia requires little maintenance, needing bright light and well-drained soil. Begonia’s attractive flowers come in orange, pink, yellow, and white, with stems growing about 10 inches tall.

18.Snow-In-Summer

If you’re into fresh, dainty flowers, growing Snow-in-Summer is a perfect choice. Snow-in-summer is a known evergreen perennial native to Europe. This lovely, low-growing plant blooms best in the summer with beautiful white flowers that resemble snow.

Snow-in-summer requires full sun exposure and dry soil. Among the best places to plant Snow-in-summer is on slopes, rock gardens, pathways, and curbsides.

19.Thyme

Thyme is a known herb, and they also grow small, mesmerizing flowers. Thyme is a popular herb in the Mediterranean used for dietary, ornamental, and medicinal purposes. This flowering plant is not just an afterthought ingredient – it can beautify your garden, too!

It blooms small purple flowers that are attractive to bees and beneficial insects. Thyme loves sunny areas and well-drained soil. If you have thyme in your garden, it’s best to provide water-soluble plant food.

20.Tulipa Tiny Timo

Tulipa Tiny Timo is another small flower that grows best in rockeries, lower borders, flower beds, or alpine beds. This plant presents attractive 2-inch star-shaped petals with a pointed tip.

The flowers are a colorful addition to any space, with pink, crimson red, or yellow hues and a blue center. Tulipa Tiny Timo has a beautiful white contrast at its center, making the flowers more sophisticated and lovely!

21.Periwinkle

Periwinkle or Vinca flower is one of the most popular types of small flowers. In the old times, periwinkles were once called the “flower of death” because their thorns were worn as crowns by the dead.

But in contrast to the dark, gloomy folklore is a beautiful purple flower with a pink center. Periwinkle is an easy-to-grow and maintain plant, requiring moist soil and bright light. They make a pleasing aesthetic on patios and decks in plant pots or hanging baskets.

22.Crocus

Crocus is a low-growing seasonal flower in distinct shades of lilac, yellow, and white. It grows beautiful flowers reaching about 3 inches tall without stems.

Because of its fresh and vibrant appearance, some say this flowering plant symbolizes joy and romantic devotion. Crocus is native to Asia, Europe, and the Mediterranean, blooming best (and quickly!) from late winter to early spring.

23.Forget-Me-Not

Everyone knows the Forget-Me-Not flower, botanically known as Myosotis scorpioidesplant. This popular plant grows small, beautiful blue flowers that symbolize various religious themes and tales.

According to some, Forget-me-nots also represent true love and respect, making them an excellent gift to someone you cherish. Forget-me-nots tolerate shady spots and moist soil with adequate drainage.

24.Purple Emperor Sedum

Sedum is a large genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Crassulaceae. One of the species that stand out is the Purple Emperor. This plant grows clusters of small, dark purple flowers shaped like tiny stars. They bloom best in early summer, presenting distinctive fleshy foliage of wide varieties.

25.Catmint

If you’re looking for a purple flower to add to your garden, Catmint or Catnip might be an excellent classic choice. This plant is an aromatic herb that grows showy, rich purple to white flowers.

The plant is known for being versatile and easy to maintain. Catmint loves full sun, but it can also grow in afternoon shade. Don’t supplement Catmint with fertilizer, as they grow best in little to none of it!

26.Coral Bells

Coral Bells, scientifically known as Heucheras, are traditional semi-evergreen perennials native to North America. They have new varieties discovered every year, forming red, pink, white, or orange flowers and ruffled burgundy leaves.

They prefer full shade and well-drained soil that can be slightly acidic. One of the features of Coral Bells that stand out is their spikes covered with coral-colored petals.

27.Phlox

Phlox can be a pleasant and beckoning plant to add to sunny outdoor gardens. Phlox is a low-growing perennial plant that blooms purple flowers in early spring to fall.

It is known for attracting hummingbirds, butterflies, and other beneficial pollinators to gardens. Symbolically, some people believe planting Phlox represents harmony, unity, and compatibility.

28.Brass Buttons

Brass Buttons got its name from its small, yellow button-like flowers. Because of its vibrant blooms, Brass Buttons can add aesthetic appeal to any space. Besides that, they are easy to maintain.

This low-growing plant has a fast growth rate – they spread aggressively in ideal conditions. Caring for Brass Buttons require full sun or partial shade and well-drained soil. They also love frequent watering, so make sure they don’t get dry!

29.Super Star Creeper

Super Star Creeper grows adorable tiny white to sky blue flowers that come in a shape of a star. The plant reaches about 1 to 2 inches tall, spreading up to 24 inches in width.

Star Creepers are typically found in nursery beds, between stepping stones, and underplantings for larger plants. The best thing about this tiny flower is that it’s super easy to grow and maintain. It has become a common addition to gardens to give impeccable aesthetics.

30.Dwarf Betony

Dwarf Betony or Stachys minimais one of the rare types of small flowers. This plant is a herbaceous perennial that grows hugging rosettes of crimped leaves and tall flower stems.

This plant is the perfect choice for fairy gardens and tiny household landscapes as they are so cute and tiny. If you don’t have a large space and would like to grow various flowering plants, consider Dwarf Betony!

Final Thoughts

The list of the types of small flowers is indeed extensive! There are various flowers coming from an array of families, genera, and classifications.

We know how confusing it is for new garden hobbyists, so we hope our list of the best types of small flowers has helped you out. If you think we missed one of your favorites, let us know by commenting below!