35 Beautiful Flowers That Start With B: Names and Growing Tips

From delicate blue wildflowers to dramatic tropical blooms, flowers that start with B cover an impressive range of colors, shapes, and growing habits. Familiar favorites such as begonias and black-eyed Susans share the letter with lesser-known choices including boronia, brunnera, and blue lace flower.

Below are 35 flowers beginning with B, with their scientific names, typical bloom periods, distinguishing features, and useful growing details.

Quick List of Flowers That Start With B

Flower	Scientific Name	Typical Colors	Plant Type	Typical Bloom Period
Baby Blue Eyes	Nemophila menziesii	Blue, white	Annual	Spring
Baby’s Breath	Gypsophila paniculata	White, pink	Perennial	Late spring to summer
Bachelor’s Button	Centaurea cyanus	Blue, pink, white, purple	Annual	Late spring to summer
Balloon Flower	Platycodon grandiflorus	Blue, violet, pink, white	Perennial	Summer
Balsam	Impatiens balsamina	Pink, red, purple, white	Annual	Summer to fall
Baptisia	Baptisia spp.	Blue, purple, yellow, white	Perennial	Late spring to early summer
Basket Flower	Plectocephalus americanus	Pink, lavender	Annual	Summer
Basket-of-Gold	Aurinia saxatilis	Yellow	Perennial	Spring
Bee Balm	Monarda spp.	Red, pink, purple, white	Perennial	Summer
Begonia	Begonia spp.	Pink, red, orange, yellow, white	Annual or tender perennial	Summer to fall
Bellflower	Campanula spp.	Blue, purple, pink, white	Mostly perennial	Late spring to summer
Bells of Ireland	Moluccella laevis	Green, white	Annual	Summer
Bergenia	Bergenia spp.	Pink, red, white	Perennial	Spring
Bird of Paradise	Strelitzia reginae	Orange, blue	Tropical perennial	Variable in warm climates
Bird’s-Foot Violet	Viola pedata	Violet, blue	Perennial	Spring
Black-Eyed Susan	Rudbeckia spp.	Yellow, orange	Annual, biennial, or perennial	Summer to fall
Blanket Flower	Gaillardia spp.	Red, yellow, orange	Annual or perennial	Late spring to fall
Blazing Star	Liatris spp.	Purple, pink, white	Perennial	Summer
Bleeding Heart	Lamprocapnos spectabilis	Pink, white	Perennial	Spring
Blue Daisy	Felicia amelloides	Blue-violet	Tender perennial	Spring through fall in mild climates
Blue Flax	Linum lewisii	Blue	Perennial	Late spring to summer
Blue Lace Flower	Trachymene coerulea	Blue, lavender	Perennial in its native range; often annual or biennial in cultivation	Summer
Blue Star	Amsonia spp.	Pale blue	Perennial	Spring to early summer
Bluebell	Hyacinthoides spp.	Blue, violet, white	Bulbous perennial	Spring
Blue-Eyed Grass	Sisyrinchium spp.	Blue, violet	Perennial	Spring to early summer
Borage	Borago officinalis	Blue, occasionally pink	Annual	Late spring to fall
Boronia	Boronia spp.	Pink, purple, white	Shrub	Late winter to spring
Bougainvillea	Bougainvillea spp.	Pink, purple, red, orange, white	Woody vine or shrub	Seasonal flushes in warm climates
Bouvardia	Bouvardia spp.	Pink, red, white, orange	Shrub or perennial	Summer to fall
Browallia	Browallia speciosa	Blue, violet, white	Tender perennial, often grown as an annual	Summer to fall
Brunnera	Brunnera macrophylla	Blue	Perennial	Spring
Brugmansia	Brugmansia spp.	White, yellow, pink, orange	Tropical shrub or small tree	Summer to fall
Buttercup	Ranunculus spp.	Yellow, white, pink, orange	Annual or perennial	Spring to summer
Butterfly Bush	Buddleja spp.	Purple, pink, white, blue-violet	Shrub	Summer to fall
Butterfly Weed	Asclepias tuberosa	Orange, yellow	Perennial	Late spring to summer

Bloom times vary with species, cultivar, climate, and growing conditions. Plants that are perennial in warm climates may also be grown as annuals where winters are colder.

35 Flowers That Start With B

1. Baby Blue Eyes

Nemophila menziesii is a low-growing annual wildflower with soft blue, cup-shaped blooms that often fade toward white at the center. Native to western North America, it is especially striking when planted in groups, where the small flowers can create a carpet of blue. It favors the cooler part of the growing season and is a natural fit for borders, containers, and informal wildflower plantings.

2. Baby’s Breath

Gypsophila paniculata produces clouds of tiny white or pale pink flowers on finely branched stems. Its light, airy appearance has made it a familiar addition to bouquets, but mature plants can also create a soft haze of color in sunny borders. Perennial baby’s breath can spread aggressively and is considered invasive in some regions of North America, so local guidance should be checked before planting it outdoors.

3. Bachelor’s Button

Also called cornflower, Centaurea cyanus is best known for brilliant blue flower heads, though garden varieties also come in pink, burgundy, purple, and white. This annual has a relaxed wildflower character and readily fits cottage gardens and cutting patches. Because “bachelor’s button” has been applied to more than one plant, the scientific name is helpful when choosing seeds.

4. Balloon Flower

The unopened buds of Platycodon grandiflorus swell like miniature balloons before opening into broad, star-shaped flowers. Blue-violet is the traditional color, with pink and white cultivars also available. This perennial is valued for its unusual buds as much as its flowers and develops fleshy roots that make established plants better left undisturbed.

5. Balsam

Impatiens balsamina is an upright annual with flowers tucked closely along its fleshy stems. The blooms can be single or densely petaled and appear in shades of pink, red, purple, and white. Unlike the low bedding impatiens commonly used in shady landscapes, garden balsam has a taller, old-fashioned form that feels at home in cottage-style plantings.

6. Baptisia

Baptisia, often called false indigo, forms substantial clumps topped by spikes of pea-shaped flowers. Blue-purple Baptisia australis is particularly familiar, although the genus also includes white and yellow-flowering species and many garden hybrids. After the flowers fade, inflated seedpods continue the display. Deep roots help established plants tolerate periods of dryness and make them difficult to relocate later.

7. Basket Flower

American basket flower, Plectocephalus americanus, is a tall annual wildflower bearing large lavender-pink flower heads with fringed petals. It was formerly widely known as Centaurea americana. The common name refers to the overlapping bracts underneath each bloom, which form an intricate woven pattern resembling the surface of a basket.

8. Basket-of-Gold

Aurinia saxatilis forms low mats or mounds that become covered with vivid yellow flowers in spring. The combination of compact growth and bright color makes basket-of-gold particularly suited to rock gardens, walls, slopes, and sunny border edges. Sharp drainage is important, especially where winters or summers bring prolonged wet conditions.

9. Bee Balm

Bee balm belongs to the genus Monarda, a group of aromatic North American plants in the mint family. Their distinctive flower heads may be red, pink, purple, or white and attract a range of visiting pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. The aromatic leaves add another sensory feature beyond the unusual flowers.

10. Begonia

Begonias are among the most diverse flowers beginning with B. Some are grown chiefly for showy blooms, others for patterned foliage, and many provide both. Depending on the group, the flowers may be white, yellow, orange, salmon, pink, or red. Fibrous, tuberous, cane, and rhizomatous begonias differ considerably in size and care, so the exact type matters when choosing one for a garden or container.

11. Bellflower

The genus Campanula contains hundreds of plants ranging from tiny rock-garden species to tall border perennials. Many produce the bell-shaped flowers behind the common name, while others open into broader stars. Blue and violet are especially characteristic, although white and pink selections are also common. Their varied habits make bellflowers far more diverse than the single common name suggests.

12. Bells of Ireland

Bells of Ireland, Moluccella laevis, is grown primarily for its tall green spikes rather than colorful petals. The conspicuous bell-like structures are pale green calyces surrounding much smaller flowers. Their architectural form makes them unusual among annuals, and the stems remain attractive in both fresh and dried arrangements.

13. Bergenia

Bergenia pairs clusters of spring flowers with thick, leathery leaves that can remain attractive long after blooming finishes. Flowers usually range from pink to reddish-purple, with white forms also available. In colder weather, the broad foliage of some varieties develops bronze or red tones, giving the plant value during seasons when relatively few flowers are present.

14. Bird of Paradise

Strelitzia reginae produces dramatic orange and blue flowers whose shape resembles the head and crest of an exotic bird. Large paddle-shaped leaves reinforce the tropical effect. Native to South Africa, bird of paradise thrives outdoors in suitably warm climates but is commonly kept in containers or grown indoors where freezing temperatures would otherwise damage it.

15. Bird’s-Foot Violet

Viola pedata differs noticeably from many woodland violets. Its leaves are deeply divided into narrow segments that inspired the name bird’s-foot violet, while the flowers appear in shades of violet, lilac, and blue. The species is associated with relatively open, well-drained habitats rather than the moist, deeply shaded situations commonly associated with other violets.

16. Black-Eyed Susan

Black-eyed Susans are recognizable by golden-yellow rays surrounding dark, raised centers. The common name applies to multiple Rudbeckia species, including the widely grown Rudbeckia hirta. Their bold summer color and informal daisy shape make them characteristic plants for sunny borders, meadow-style landscapes, and native or naturalistic gardens.

17. Blanket Flower

Gaillardia species and hybrids produce warm-toned daisy flowers combining red, orange, and yellow. Many display rings or bands of contrasting color, giving the flower heads an especially vivid appearance. These sun-loving plants are often comfortable in conditions that are too hot or dry for more moisture-dependent ornamentals, provided the soil drains freely.

18. Blazing Star

Blazing star, or Liatris, sends up narrow flower spikes densely packed with purple, lavender, pink, or white florets. Many species have the unusual habit of beginning to open near the top of the spike before progressing downward. Their upright form provides a strong vertical accent among grasses, rounded perennials, and meadow plants.

19. Bleeding Heart

Lamprocapnos spectabilis is instantly recognizable when its arching stems carry rows of dangling heart-shaped flowers. Traditional plants combine rosy pink outer petals with white inner portions, while all-white selections are also available. The display is strongest in spring, and the foliage can retreat later in the season, particularly when conditions become hot or dry.

20. Blue Daisy

Felicia amelloides combines cool blue-violet ray petals with bright yellow centers. This South African plant grows as a small perennial or subshrub in mild climates but is often treated seasonally where winters are cold. Its familiar daisy shape allows the unusual blue coloring to become the main visual attraction.

21. Blue Flax

Linum lewisii bears clear blue flowers above slender stems and narrow foliage. Each bloom is delicate and relatively short-lived, but plants continue producing new flowers during their flowering period. Native to western North America, blue flax is well matched to sunny naturalistic gardens where its light texture can mingle easily with grasses and other wildflowers.

22. Blue Lace Flower

Blue lace flower, Trachymene coerulea, produces rounded clusters of many tiny blue to lavender flowers, creating a finely textured, lace-like effect. The species is perennial in its native western and southwestern Australia, while horticultural references also describe it as an annual or biennial in cultivation. Its long, slender stems make the flowers especially graceful in cutting gardens.

23. Blue Star

Blue star refers to plants in the genus Amsonia, which develop clusters of small, pale blue, star-shaped blooms. The flowering display is subtle rather than oversized, but mature clumps can be striking. Several species also have handsome narrow foliage that remains attractive after flowering, and some develop yellow or golden tones later in the year.

24. Bluebell

Bluebells are bulbous spring flowers associated strongly with woodland settings. The English bluebell, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, carries nodding blue-violet flowers along arching stems, sometimes accompanied by white forms. Because the bulbs flower before a dense tree canopy fully develops, they can create broad sweeps of spring color beneath deciduous trees.

25. Blue-Eyed Grass

Despite its name and narrow blade-like leaves, blue-eyed grass is not a true grass. Sisyrinchium belongs to the iris family. Small blue or violet flowers, often centered with yellow, appear just above compact clumps of foliage. The combination gives the plant a neat, understated character suited to meadow edges and naturalistic plantings.

26. Borage

Borago officinalis has bright blue, five-pointed flowers that look almost star-shaped, set against noticeably coarse and bristly foliage. The annual tends to grow with a loose, informal habit and can self-seed readily when conditions suit it. Its distinctive flowers also make it easy to recognize among herbs and cottage-garden plants.

27. Boronia

Boronia is a genus of Australian shrubs valued for small flowers that may be pink, purple, red-toned, or white. Several species are also notably fragrant. Boronias can be more demanding than many common border plants, particularly when climate, drainage, or root conditions are unsuitable, but their refined flowers and scent give them an appeal quite different from larger, showier shrubs.

28. Bougainvillea

Bougainvillea creates brilliant displays of pink, purple, red, orange, or white, but the colorful structures are actually modified leaves called bracts. The true flowers are small and sit inside them. This vigorous tropical and subtropical plant can climb, scramble, or form a shrub-like mass, and established specimens are well adapted to strong sunlight and relatively dry conditions.

29. Bouvardia

Bouvardia produces clusters of slender tubular flowers in shades including white, pink, coral, red, and orange. The flowers have a clean, geometric quality quite unlike the broad daisies or bells found elsewhere on this list. Several species come from Mexico and Central America, and cultivated forms are particularly familiar as cut flowers.

30. Browallia

Browallia speciosa, sometimes called bush violet, is admired for blue-violet flowers with pale centers. Naturally a tender perennial, it is frequently grown as an annual where winters are cold. Its compact leafy habit suits containers and bedding displays, especially when gardeners want blue or violet color without relying on tall flowering spikes.

31. Brunnera

Brunnera macrophylla produces small blue spring flowers reminiscent of forget-me-nots, followed by a much longer season of bold heart-shaped foliage. Many popular cultivars have silvered or patterned leaves that brighten shady areas even after the blooms disappear. For that reason, brunnera is often selected as much for its foliage as for its flowers.

32. Brugmansia

Brugmansia, commonly called angel’s trumpet, bears enormous hanging trumpet-shaped flowers in white, yellow, peach, orange, or pink. Many varieties become strongly fragrant, especially toward evening. These woody tropical plants can become substantial shrubs or small trees and are frequently grown in large containers where winters require indoor protection.

Safety note: All parts of Brugmansia are highly poisonous if eaten, and the sap can irritate skin. Gloves are advisable when handling or pruning the plant, and it should be positioned carefully around children and pets.

33. Buttercup

Buttercup is a broad common name for plants in the large genus Ranunculus. Familiar wild species often carry simple, glossy yellow flowers, while cultivated ranunculus can produce densely layered blooms in shades of pink, red, orange, yellow, and white. The enormous difference between meadow buttercups and florist-style varieties shows how diverse a single botanical genus can be.

34. Butterfly Bush

Butterfly bush refers to shrubs in the genus Buddleja, known for elongated clusters of many small, nectar-rich flowers. Purple and violet are common, with pink and white cultivars also available. Some forms, especially Buddleja davidii, can spread invasively in certain regions. Gardeners in affected areas should check local regulations and favor approved non-invasive or low-fertility selections where appropriate.

35. Butterfly Weed

Asclepias tuberosa brings vivid orange to yellow flower clusters to sunny summer plantings. This North American native belongs to the milkweed genus and serves as a host plant for monarch caterpillars as well as providing nectar for a range of adult pollinators. Its strong color is especially effective among grasses and softer-toned prairie flowers.

Flowers That Start With B by Color

For gardeners choosing plants primarily by color, several groups stand out among these B flowers.

Blue and Purple Flowers That Start With B

• Baby Blue Eyes
• Bachelor’s Button
• Balloon Flower
• Baptisia
• Bellflower
• Bird’s-Foot Violet
• Blazing Star
• Blue Daisy
• Blue Flax
• Blue Lace Flower
• Blue Star
• Bluebell
• Blue-Eyed Grass
• Borage
• Browallia
• Brunnera

Pink and Red Flowers That Start With B

• Baby’s Breath
• Balsam
• Bee Balm
• Begonia
• Bergenia
• Bleeding Heart
• Boronia
• Bougainvillea
• Bouvardia
• Brugmansia

Yellow and Orange Flowers That Start With B

• Basket-of-Gold
• Bird of Paradise
• Black-Eyed Susan
• Blanket Flower
• Buttercup
• Butterfly Weed

Best B Flowers for Different Garden Conditions

For Pollinator Gardens

Bee balm, blazing star, butterfly weed, borage, black-eyed Susan, and blanket flower can all contribute nectar, pollen, or other wildlife value. A mixture that flowers at different times is generally more useful than relying on a single species for the entire season.

For Shade and Woodland Settings

Brunnera and bleeding heart are two of the strongest choices for partly shaded perennial plantings. Bergenia tolerates a range of light conditions, while many begonias provide bright flowers or decorative foliage where intense midday and afternoon sun would be excessive.

For Sunny, Drier Sites

Blue flax, baptisia, blanket flower, basket-of-gold, and butterfly weed are worth considering where sunlight is abundant and soil drains well. Their mature forms and moisture needs differ, but none depends on the lush, consistently wet conditions required by some traditional bedding plants.

For Containers

Begonias and browallia offer manageable color for smaller pots, while bird of paradise and Brugmansia can become dramatic large-container specimens. Container culture is particularly useful for tender plants because they can be moved to protected conditions when temperatures fall.

For Tropical Impact

Bird of paradise creates strong architectural foliage, bougainvillea provides cascading masses of colorful bracts, and Brugmansia adds enormous hanging trumpets. Although all three suggest a tropical setting, their shapes are different enough to serve distinct roles in a landscape.

Why Scientific Flower Names Matter

Common names are memorable, but they can create confusion. One name may refer to several species, and an individual species may have multiple common names depending on region or tradition.

Scientific names make identification more precise. They are especially useful when buying seeds, comparing cultivars, checking whether a plant is native or invasive in a particular region, and researching mature size or hardiness. For broad entries such as bellflower, begonia, and buttercup, the genus name also makes clear that the article is discussing a group containing many different species.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some common flowers that start with B?

Begonia, black-eyed Susan, bleeding heart, bee balm, baby’s breath, balloon flower, bluebell, bachelor’s button, and butterfly weed are among the most recognizable examples.

What blue flowers start with B?

Baby blue eyes, bachelor’s button, blue flax, blue star, bluebell, blue lace flower, blue-eyed grass, borage, and brunnera all offer blue flowers. Certain bellflowers, baptisias, and balloon flowers also fall into blue or blue-violet shades.

Which perennial flowers start with B?

Balloon flower, baptisia, bee balm, bergenia, bleeding heart, blazing star, blue star, brunnera, and butterfly weed are perennial examples. Bellflowers and several other genera on the list also contain perennial species.

Which B flowers attract butterflies and bees?

Bee balm, blazing star, butterfly weed, borage, blanket flower, and black-eyed Susan are useful choices for pollinator-oriented planting. Combining several species with overlapping bloom periods can provide a longer sequence of flowers through the growing season.

Final Thoughts

The letter B covers an unusually broad range of flowering plants, from tiny baby blue eyes and woodland bluebells to substantial shrubs and tropical showpieces. Gardeners can choose among spring bulbs, summer wildflowers, shade perennials, pollinator plants, container flowers, and warm-climate vines without leaving this single letter of the alphabet.

Rather than choosing by name alone, consider the plant’s climate needs, light requirements, mature size, bloom season, and regional behavior. Those details will help turn a favorite B flower from an attractive name on a list into a plant that genuinely suits the garden.