Discover 26 of America's Favorite Types of Flowers

Google searches reveal the flowers Americans love best. Sunflowers have the highest search volume in the United States, according to plant company Breck's, though flower preferences vary widely from state to state. Camellias are the most searched-for flowers in North Carolina, and poppies are the most searched-for in Alaska. And when it comes to shopping trends, petunias are top sellers in Ohio, according to Breck's, but pansies are best sellers in Texas. Some of these flowers are familiar garden standards you will find in almost any cottage or formal garden, but some might be more unexpected. Read on to see if any of these pretty posies make an appearance in your home garden.

Gladiolus (Grandiflora gladioli) are stunning perennials known for their tall flower spikes, which bring vertical drama to the garden. Part of the iris family (Iridaceae), gladiolus are ideal for a cutting garden with their wide array of colors and sizes, although most common gladiolus reach from 2-5 feet in height. Plant gladiolus in full sun and in well-drained soil in the spring once the danger of frost has passed.

Named after a Greek goddess, it is no wonder these tall, architectural beauties are one of America's favorite flowers. Made up of over 250 species in the Iris genus, the most familiar of these flowering plants are the tall bearded irises (Iris germanica), which reach 2 to 3 feet tall. Hardy and easy to grow, irises grow from rhizomes, are best suited to Zones 3-9 and prefer full to part sun.

A member of the mallow (Malvaceae) family, hibiscus are native to warm, tropical climates and require warm temperatures to bloom. These lush, vibrantly colored flowers are, sadly, fairly short-lived, most blooming just for one day. The most common hibiscus variety is Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, which is well-suited to a warm climate or can be grown in cooler locations as a houseplant.

Most clematis varieties thrive in full sun — that means at least six hours of sun a day, except in the hottest regions where protection from sizzling afternoon sun is needed. While most clematis vines need sun to flower well, they also prefer shade on their roots. A garden adage that's said for clematis is, "Flowers in the sun, roots in the shade."

These colorful climbing plants are split into three groups: early bloomers, repeat bloomers and late bloomers. Group one clematises produce flowers on old wood and blossom in spring. Group two starts blooming in late spring to early summer on new and old wood, continuing throughout summer, and sometimes into fall. Group three only produces flowers on new wood and starts blooming later in summer, usually lasting into fall.

Shown here: 'Bees Jubilee' features soft pink petals with dark pink striking the center of each petal. Brown anthers with yellow bases add contrast to this perennial.

Also known by their genus name Narcissus, daffodils are beloved for the bright, cheery welcome they offer to spring. The flowers symbolize rebirth and new beginnings and bring gorgeous color from bright yellow to creamy white to the garden. There are more than 25,000 cultivars of these perennial bulbs that originated in Europe and are members of the amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae). Daffodil bulbs are planted in fall because they require cold exposure before emerging, and they can grow in full sun or part shade.

A classic Southern plant, this ornamental shrub (genus Rhododendron) has been adapted to a variety of climates and can now do well in Zones 5-9. While some azaleas are evergreen, others are deciduous, with many varieties to choose from including some rebloomers cultivated to last beyond the usual three-week azalea bloom period. Azaleas work well planted en masse as drifts or as hedges. Certain compact varieties can even be grown in containers.

These perennial tender evergreen shrubs produce sweet-scented white flowers with an intoxicating fragrance that is virtually synonymous with the South. Members of the coffee (Rubiaceae) family, gardenia originate in tropical and subtropical regions in Asia, Africa and Australia. Gardenia boasts thick, dark green leaves and prefers full sun to light shade, especially during the warmer months when their leaves may scorch and buds may fall off if they receive too much direct sun.

Lilies (Lilium) is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants that signify purity and fertility and include 80 to 100 different species. They are among the oldest cultivated plants in the world and were used by the ancients for medical uses while the bulbs were used for food. They are one of America's favorite flowers for their dramatic upright shape, unique narrow leaves and a dazzling array of colors.

Another harbinger of spring, fragrant hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis) are perennials grown from bulbs that need at least six to eight hours of sunlight and well-draining soil to thrive in the garden. Even after the plant finishes blooming hyacinth leaves should be kept intact to allow them to conserve energy for the following season. Hyacinths are native to Lebanon, Turkey and Syria. Like daffodils, hyacinths need cold to bloom in spring so they are planted in late summer to fall.

Petunias originated in South America and are one of the most popular flowering annuals in America. Why? Well, for one thing, their gorgeous colors makes them a garden standout. For another, they are drought and heat-tolerant, work in many types of soil and are exceedingly easy to grow. Just make sure to plant them in the sun if you want to be rewarded with lots of pretty blooms — a shady site will yield fewer flowers.

Known for their deliciously distinctive sweet scent, freesia are exotic beauties native to Africa. They were named for the German botanist Friedrich Freese. Part of the iris family, freesia are among the world's — and America's — most beloved cut flowers.

Poppies are famous for commemorating fallen soldiers beginning in World War I. These vibrant flowers usually bloom from spring into early summer. The most familiar poppy type is the bold red hue of the field poppy.

Old-fashioned sweet peas are annual climbing plants that come in shades of blue, pink, purple and white. It should be noted that all parts of the plant are poisonous. This pretty bloomer was a favorite in the Victorian era, when nosegays of sweet peas were cherished for their fragrance. Sweet peas grow best in cool seasons.

Shown here: ‘Knee High Mix’ sweet pea features a blend of perfumed types that open flowers in shades of pink, lavender, rose, purple, burgundy and white.

How perennially popular are tulips? Well, they are known to have caused a major financial crisis in the Netherlands in the 17th century. Long before the housing crisis of 2008, the tulip is famous for being at the center of one of the most infamous investment bubbles in history. Known as Tulip Mania, the event occurred during the Dutch Golden Age when tulip prices reached extraordinarily high levels before the market collapsed. Tulip Mania is considered to be the first asset bubble in history.

Today there are around 75 species of tulips, with more than 3,000 varieties altogether. Tulips do need some extra attention to make sure they bloom again and again in your garden.

Shown here: Tulipa 'Texas Flame' has big "flaming" yellow and red blooms.

You may not know that dahlias are the national flower of Mexico (though they are also exceedingly popular in America) and that they come in 49 species and more than 57,000 varieties. Dahlias are categorized into eight groups: decorative dahlias; pompon and ball dahlias; cactus and semi-cactus dahlias; anemone and collarette dahlias; mignon dahlias; single dahlias; peony and orchid shaped dahlias; and waterlily dahlias.

Dahlias can be challenging to grow in a colder climate because you will need to dig up and store the tubers over the winter to plant again in the spring.

Part of the reason for hydrangea's popularity with American gardeners is the ease of growing these spectacular perennials and how beautifully these plants can fill out a garden. One interesting feature of hydrangeas is how their blooms change color depending on the pH of the soil they are growing in. More acidic soil produces blue flowers and more alkaline soil produces pink flowers.

What's not to love about this gorgeous, lush perennial flower with its ballgown-like layers of petals? There are 33 species of peonies that come in an extraordinary array of colors. The only downside is their very brief bloom time in late spring and early summer and the fact that after planted they can take several years to first bloom.

There are more than 300 natural rose species and tens of thousands of cultivated varieties making it an extraordinarily popular flower synonymous with beauty and romance. Roses come in three types: climbing, groundcover and shrub. Roses generally grow best in full sun, with soil of medium moisture and a pH ranging from neutral to slightly acidic.

Shown here: a miniature rose, Sunblaze Cherry, which grows nicely in containers or the garden, maturing at 1 to 2 feet tall and wide. Cut it back by about one-third in late winter or early spring to manage its size and shape. Take out any broken or dead wood, too.

Though many fear orchids because of their supposedly difficult-to-maintain blooms, these tropical flowers are relatively easy to care for if you have the right information. Orchids (Orchidaceae) belong to an incredibly diverse group of flowering plants with colorful, architectural flowers that make them ideal for gift-giving.

Moth orchids (shown here), also known as Phalaenopsis orchids, open flowers that resemble butterflies in flight and are considered the easiest to grow.

Begonia is a flowering plant in the Begoniaceae family. Native to tropical and subtropical climates, the begonia genus features thousands of different species from annuals to perennials, each with its own unique look and characteristics. The beauty of begonias is their variety. Popular wax begonias are known for their waxy leaves and vibrant blooms. Rex begonias are beloved houseplants with showy, colorful foliage. Both annual and perennial begonias prefer part shade and well-drained soil.

African violets prefer bright, indirect light and make wonderful, colorful small houseplants that feature continuous flower blooms in white, blue and purple. Though they are not true violets as their name suggests, African violets originate in the tropical rainforests of East Africa and belong to the genus Streptocarpus.

Synonymous with fall, it would be hard to imagine an American autumn without entryways decorated with pots of colorful, lush chrysanthemums (Chrysanthemum x morifolium). Mums are hardy perennials though the decorative varieties you buy at grocery stores are not bred to be equally hardy and should be treated as annuals. If you do plant a cold-hardy perennial mum made to withstand low temperatures, early spring is the ideal time to plant, preferably in full sun in well-drained soil.

For a shot of pure sunshine in the garden, go with a daisy. Daisies are flowering plants that are part of the aster family (Asteraceae). Daisies have become synonymous with innocence and purity. In the Victorian era, daisies were associated with not only innocence but also with loyalty and an ability to keep a secret. Daisies thrive with very little care. For the best blooms, daisies should be grown in full sun and in moist but well-draining soil.

The shasta daisy, ‘Becky’, shown here, is a tireless performer in hot, humid climates.

Common sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is known for its bright yellow outer petals and dark-colored inner disc and the cheerful, "sunny" look that makes it one of America's favorite flowers. Its name, Helianthus annuus, comes from Greek and a combination of helios (“sun”) and anthos (“flower”). It is also a favorite of pollinators. Sunflowers are an annual that grows best in full sun or partial shade in average fertile soil with good drainage.

Geraniums are a genus of flowering plants often referred to as Pelargonium (aka common geraniums). These colorful, small-to-medium herbaceous annuals are summertime favorites that bloom from late spring to fall and are popular for hanging baskets and containers, window boxes and bedding plants. The plants originate in South Africa and come in a wide variety of colors. These sun lovers require at least five hours of sun per day and moist, well-drained soil. They can be left outside until fall frosts.

Pictured here: 'Angel's Perfume,' whose burgundy blossoms are backed by ruffled, cool-green leaves. Best of all, this geranium can take shade to full sun. The plants grow 12" to 14" in height and width.