10 Flowers That Start with Q

Words that start with Q aren’t that common, and flowers that start with Q are even more atypical. If you want to know what flowers that start with Q you should plant next in your garden, you’ve come to the right place!

Take a look at this list of 10 wonderful flowers that start with the letter Q, along with some interesting facts and maintenance tips.

List of Flowers That Start with Q


  1. Quaker ladies (Houstonia caerulea
  2. Queen Anne’s lace (Daucus carota)
  3. Queen of the prairie (Filipendula rubra)
  4. Queen of the meadow (Filipendula ulmaria)
  5. Queen’s cup (Clintonia uniflora
  6. Quince (Cydonia oblonga)
  7. Queen’s wreath (Petrea volubilis)
  8. Quesnelia (Quesnelia spp.) 
  9. Quaking grass (Briza media)
  10. Quamoclit (Ipomoea quamoclit)

1. Quaker ladies (Houstonia caerulea)

Quaker ladies (Houstonia caerulea) - (image credit: kojoty)

Quaker ladies are also known as the azure bluet. It’s a beautiful, delicate, and colorful little flower that loves rocky edges, damp areas, and rock filled gardens. You’ll often find them in woodland paths, savannahs, and prairies. If you have really acidic soil, not much sunlight, and low moisture levels, then this is an ideal flower to consider.

  • Type: Creeping perennial
  • Water: Moderate
  • Bloom Color: Purple, white
  • Hardiness Zone: 6 to 9
  • Bloom Time: Mid spring
  • Mature Height: 3 to 6”
  • Exposure: Part to full
  • Uses: Lining garden pathways and similar uses

2. Queen Ann’s lace (Daucus carota)

Queen Anne’s lace (Daucus carota) - (image credit: phil_bird)

If you’ve ever driven along the road in North America, you’ve probably seen these white flowers that start with a Q. These flowers named Queen Anne’s lace have lacy and flat flower clusters. This flower spreads so quickly that it’s actually seen as invasive in North America.  Many people cut their heads off of these flowers regularly to stop them from spreading because they can be hard to control.

  • Type: Biennial
  • Water: Low
  • Bloom Color: White
  • Hardiness Zone: 3 to 9
  • Bloom Time: June to August
  • Mature Height: 3.3’
  • Exposure: Full sun
  • Uses: Wildflower gardens

3. Queen of the prairie (Filipendula rubra)

Queen of the prairie (Filipendula rubra) - (image credit: RukiMedia)

With deep green foliage and white or pink flowers, this is one of the most beautiful looking North American wildflowers out there. It’s tall, it’s durable, and it does well in many conditions. It’s a great option for back borders, living fences, pollinator gardens, and more. It’s one of the best low maintenance flowers out there, so there’s not much you have to do to keep it alive. It looks good and doesn’t need much maintenance.

  • Type: Herbaceous perennial
  • Water: Moderate
  • Bloom Color: Pink or white
  • Hardiness Zone: 3 to 9
  • Bloom Time: June to July
  • Mature Height: 8’
  • Exposure: Part to full sun
  • Uses: Living fences, pollinator gardens, back borders

4. Queen of the meadow (Filipendula ulmaria)

Queen of the meadow (Filipendula ulmaria) - (image credit: digoarpi)

Also known as meadowsweet, this flower blooms throughout the summer and features tiny white flowers, clusters of them. In North America, this flower is often considered invasive because it spreads very quickly. It grows really well in meadows, wetlands, and other very wet areas. This flower is also known for having quite the unique accent.

  • Type: Perennial
  • Water: High
  • Bloom Color: White
  • Hardiness Zone: 3 to 4
  • Bloom Time: June to August
  • Mature Height: 7’
  • Exposure: Full sun
  • Uses: Moist gardens

5. Queen’s cup (Clintonia uniflora

Queen’s cup (Clintonia uniflora) - (image credit: Walter Siegmund)

This flower is technically a part of the lily family, and it features a bright white color with six petals. One of the main attractions here are these super large leaves that are shaped like propellers. If you have a woodland garden that is fairly shady and doesn’t catch much soil, it makes for a great addition. This sweet-smelling flower is often a huge attraction in the mountains of North America.

  • Type: Perennial
  • Water: Moderate
  • Bloom Color: White
  • Hardiness Zone:  4 to 8
  • Bloom Time: May to July
  • Mature Height: 2’
  • Exposure: Partial sun or shade
  • Uses: Woodland gardens

6. Quince (Cydonia oblonga)

Quince (Cydonia oblonga) - (image credit: FlyOfSwallow)

As far as flowers that start with a Q are concerned, quince is certainly one of the brightest and most beautiful ones. It may be red, pink, or white, but it’s always super bright. What many people don’t know is that this flower actually produces a fruit that is somewhat similar to apples and is often used to make jellies and jams. This is also a very hearty flower that is nearly impossible to kill.

  • Type: Deciduous shrub – perennial
  • Water: Moderate
  • Bloom Color: Red, pink, or white
  • Hardiness Zone: 5
  • Bloom Time: Early to mid-spring
  • Mature Height: 3’
  • Exposure: Full or partial sun
  • Uses: Grown for its fruit

7. Queen’s wreath (Petrea volubilis)

Queen’s wreath (Petrea volubilis) - (image credit: PicsMan24)

The Queen’s wreath is technically a tropical vine, complete with purple clusters of star shaped flowers that droop down low. This vine can grow up to 40 feet long and is native to Central America and Mexico. Keep in mind that it cannot tolerate frost at all and can in no circumstances grow in cold conditions.

  • Type: Evergreen flowering vine
  • Water: High
  • Bloom Color: Purple
  • Hardiness Zone: 9 to 11
  • Bloom Time: February to June
  • Mature Height: 40’ (Length)
  • Exposure: Full sun
  • Uses: Tropical gardens

8. Quesnelia (Quesnelia spp.)

Quesnelia (Quesnelia spp.) - (image credit: firn)

When it comes to flowers that start with the letter Q, the Quesnelia is one of the most beautiful of all. This cone shaped flower sits on a rosette of leaves shaped like blades. The flower can be blue, yellow, pink, or red, or sometimes even multi-colored. This is another tropical plant, so beware that it does not grow in cool conditions.

  • Type: Perennial
  • Water: Moderate to high
  • Bloom Color: Pink, red, blue, yellow
  • Hardiness Zone: 9 to 12
  • Bloom Time: Later winter to early spring
  • Mature Height: 1.5’
  • Exposure: Full sun
  • Uses: Landscape planting for sub-tropical climates

9. Quaking grass (Briza media

Quaking grass (Briza media) - (image credit: ChWeiss)

As the name implies, quaking grass can be seen quaking or quivering in breezy or windy conditions. This is a flower that is often found in wildflower meadows, complete with green and purple heart-shaped flowers that dangle from their stems. What is interesting to note is that there are over 20 different types, and they can be perennial or annual.

  • Type: Perennial or annual
  • Water: Low
  • Bloom Color: Green and purple
  • Hardiness Zone: 4 to 11
  • Bloom Time: Mid-summer
  • Mature Height: 20”
  • Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
  • Uses: Wildflower beds

10. Quamoclit (Ipomoea quamoclit)

Quamoclit (Ipomoea quamoclit) - (image credit: kathyclark)

These flowers that start with Q belong to the plant also known as the cypress vine, and it features very bushy foliage accented by pink, red, or white flowers that are shaped like little stars. Their unique shape and appearance makes for beautiful additions to any garden.

  • Type: Annual
  • Water: Moderate
  • Bloom Color: Red, white, pink
  • Hardiness Zone: 11 to 12
  • Bloom Time: Early summer to fall
  • Mature Height: Up to 20’
  • Exposure: Full sun
  • Uses: Garden pest control

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Flowers that Start with Q


What flowers that start with Q are purple?

While there aren’t much flowers that start with a Q, some of them are Quaker ladies, queen’s wreath, and quaking grass.

What are some spring flowers that start with a Q?

Plant these flowers that start with Q if you want blooms by early or mid-spring! These are quince, quesnelia, and Quaker ladies.

What are some summer flowers that start with a Q?

When you want to see beautiful flowers that start with the letter Q during the hot summer, make sure to choose queen of the meadow, quaking grass, and quamoclit.

What flowers that start with Q are pink?

Fans of pink will also become fans of flowers that start with Q when they plant queen of the prairie, quince, quesnelia, and quamoclit.

What white flowers that start with a Q are considered invasive in North America?

Although these white flowers that start with Q are quite the stunners, be careful in planting them because they could be bad for your local ecosystem. These flowers you should keep an eye on are Queen Anne’s lace and queen of the meadow.

What flowers that start with Q grow in tropical climates?

This list contains two tropical flowers that start with the letter Q: quesnelia and queen’s wreath. If you live in colder places, it might not be a good idea to choose these plants for your flower beds.

Image credit: Depositphotos & Wikimedia

Fabian Raemy

Fabian Raemy is a dedicated anthophile, a true lover of flowers. Whether roses or rampions; red, white or blue, Fabian enjoys all of them just the same. With a knowledgeable and down-to-earth tone, he offers his tips for all of your floral needs.