Gifting someone a flower? Maybe you’re looking for a flower with a name that starts with the same letter as the person it’s addressed to. If that letter is S, this post is for you.
The letter S is certainly a favorite among botanists naming flowers. Our list of flowers that start with S includes the likes of Salvia, Scabiosa, Statice, Snapdragon, and more. Please read on for further details on these and many more.
11 Awesome Flowers That Start With S
1. Salvia (Sage)
Salvia is a large genus that contains more than a thousand species. Offering a lasting carnival of colors, you can find Salvias that have a lifespan of 1-2 years or more!
As members of the mint (Lamiaceae) plant family, Salvia species are famous for their pleasant and strong scents. This makes them quite appealing to bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and, of course, humans.
Not big on watering? You’re in luck! Salvia species thrive best in dry and rocky soils. They just might be the best choice for you.
2. Saponaria (Soapwort)
Soapworts originally belong to Europe and Asia, but because of their forgiving nature, they can be easily grown anywhere. In fact, you’d probably find more difficulty preventing this plant from covering your entire garden than establishing it.
Soapworts grow in clusters on tall green leafy stems. Being perennials, Soapworts bloom during the hot summer months.
With their clove-like scents and the saponins they include, Soapwort roots make the greatest natural soap.
3. Scabiosa (Pincushion Flower)
Scabiosas are perennials native to europe. True to their name as pincushion flowers, they bloom as 20-50 flowers on individual thin stems, appearing as pins on a cushion.
Planted in early spring, pincushion flowers would take around 3 months to brighten up your garden with all their colorful hues, which you’ll be enjoying till early fall.
Scabiosas are among the easiest flowers to grow. All you have to provide them with are 8 hours of sunlight—think hardiness zones 5 to 9—and well-aerated moist soil.
These flowers rarely need fertilizers.
4. Scented Geranium (Pelargonium)
Scented-leaved Geraniums belong to the larger genus Pelargonium. Plants belonging to that genus have scent-glands near the base of their leaf hairs.
With their small and often subtle flowers, Pelargonium’s main stars are its leaves. Crushing or sometimes simply touching the leaves would give off their scent.
To grow Scented Geraniums, you must provide them with medium-watered well-drained soil, and a sunny, warm climate. A slightly acidic soil—pH 5.8 to 6.3—would help the plant to grow healthier.
Thanks to their scented leaves, Geraniums are generally pest-resistant. However, on the rare occasions that they do get attacked by whiteflies or spider mites, simply spray the plant with insecticidal soap or horticultural oil.
In addition to their scented leaves, Scented Geraniums are also edible, so their flowers and leaves are frequently used to add odors to foods.
5. Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum)
This flower gets its name from the snow-covered mount Shasta summit in California. Shasta daisy has been produced by the crossing over of Oyexe Daisy with Wild Daisy.
These perennial flowers bloom in spring and summertime. They’re a favorite among pollinating insects.
Shasta daisy flowers grow in moist, loose, well-drained soils. They love sunlight exposure, so make sure to plant them somewhere with plenty of it.
Forgiving in nature, Shasta daisies can do with a little shade, less watering, and infrequent feeds. However, this would surely affect their health and result in fewer flowers.
Shasta daisies are hardy plants that rarely experience diseases. However, if exposed to over-watering and excessive moisture they might develop wilt and rot.
To fix this, remove all the affected parts and pay extra care to properly drain the soil and supply the plant with good sunlight.
6. Snapdragon (Antirrhinum)
Natives to Mediterranean Europe, Turkey, and Syria, the Snapdragon gets its name from its resemblance to a dragon’s nose. Large bumblebees push them open to fertilize them.
Snapdragons are perennials that bloom from spring to fall. However, their blooms might extend into early winter in mild temperatures. However, they’re commonly grown as annuals.
Snapdragons thrive in richly fertilized, well-watered, and well-draining soil. They should be planted in a spot that gets ample sunlight in the morning and part-shade later in the day.
If you find your plant withering you must consider moving it into a more sun-exposed place. However, if the plant starts exhibiting yellow spots on its leaves, this usually hints at a fungal infection. This could be the result of overwatering.
Remember, Snapdragons are slow bloomers. You should consider planting nursery-bought seedlings or growing the seeds indoors for 6-12 weeks before the expected last winter frost.
7. Snowdrop (Galanthus)
Snowdrops are among the first flowers to bloom, casting a magical atmosphere around your gardens. Their white bulbs start to appear and shortly after open by late February or early March.
Snowdrops are cold-hardy, surviving up to hardiness zone 3. They don’t grow well in warmer climates—think hardiness zones 7 and more.
They prefer sandy, well-draining soils with an abundance of humus. They also require direct sunlight, but that’s generally not an issue since, at that time of the year, large shady trees wouldn’t have grown their leaves yet.
Snowdrops usually go dormant starting mid-summer. During this period, you should take extra care not to upset the bulbs under the surface.
Putting plant markers in the Snowdrops’ places would help you with that. You should also add fertilizer to help them stay healthy and bloom next spring.
An important note to make about Snowdrops is that they’re toxic to humans and animals. So if you have children or pets around, you might want to avoid growing Snowdrops.
On another note, Snowdrops’ toxicity means they’re pest-resistant.
8. Statice (Sea Lavender)
Statice flowers are shipped in from Mediterranean countries. Their wallet-friendly seeds, prompt sprouts, and tolerance to coastal weather and soil conditions make them a favorite among those creating a garden by the seaside.
To grow Sea Lavender, you have to provide it with ample sunlight and well-drained soil. Their ability to grow with little water and near-zero fertilizer means they’ll be ready to welcome you home when you return from your vacation.
Despite its musty odor, Statice is a favorite bouquet filler among florists owing to its lively colors and long stems. They also make the top of the flower crafters list for the same reasons.
9. Sunflower (Helianthus)
Of course, we wouldn’t have missed adding this darling flower to our list. Sunflowers are annual plants native to none other than the Americas.
Historical evidence suggests that sunflowers were among the earliest domesticated plants, earlier even than corn.
They get their name from their bright yellow-colored, sun-loving discs. They grow atop strong tall stems, which ensures they get all the sunlight they need.
Plant your Sunflower seeds in well-drained, adequately fertilized soil. Make sure they get plenty of sunlight and remove any weeds that might compete with them for nutrients.
You should also provide them with stem support and shelter them from any strong winds to prevent them from falling over.
10. Sweet Pea (Lathyrus Odoratus)
Sweet pea flowers originated in Italy and the Mediterranean islands. They bloom from summer to fall, amazing us with a mixture of vibrant pinks, blues, and whites.
They’re climbing flowers often grown on fences. It’s generally best to grow them on the fences of vegetable gardens as they attract bees and other pollinating insects, which would benefit your vegetables.
Sweet peas prefer growing in richly fertilized, well-drained, slightly alkaline soils. They also love being in the sunlight, but they rarely thrive in extremely hot temperatures, like hardiness zones 8 and more. Being Mediterranean originals, Sweet peas can endure slight frost.
Sweet peas, although sweetly scented, are toxic to humans and animals, so you need to refrain from planting them within reach of children or animals.
11. Syringa (Forsythia)
Also called Common Lilac Bushes, Syringa are shrubs that bloom in springtime and shed their leaves in autumn. Their blooms can be white or purple, and give off their signature sweet scents.
Syringa prefers moderately moist, well-drained, loose soil that has a neutral pH. Although requiring full sunlight exposure, Syringas don’t do well in extremely warm and humid conditions.
You should add fertilizers yearly to promote the plant’s healthy growth. However, choose a well-balanced fertilizer that isn’t rich in nitrogen to promote blooming.
To Conclude
Flowers are nature’s gift to us. With their vibrant colors, sweet scents, and unique textures, flowers are a carnival for the senses.
We’ve only added the most common flowers that start with the letter S in our article. However, there are still many brilliant flowers that we haven’t included.
Now that you’ve gone through our article, you have all the must-know information on how to grow and care for each of the above-listed flowers.
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