20 Flowers That Start With O - FlowersLib (2024)

1. Oenothera Rosea

The Oenothera Rosea, also known as the Pink Evening Primrose, is a perennial herbaceous plant from the Onagraceae family. It has a large main root; its stems often grow in clusters, growing 30-50 cm tall with multiple branches. The plant has curved, soft hairs, which are densely grown when young.

The lower part is often purplish-red. The basal leaves are closely attached to the ground, inversely lanceolate, with a sharp or blunt end. The leaf stalks are pale purple-red, with blunt sharp ends at the top and sharp ends in the middle.

The edges are toothed, and the base is finely feathered. The fruit is rod-shaped, winged, and ends in a short beak. The seeds are numerous in each chamber, nearly transversely clustered, and long ovoid.

Originally found in southern Texas to Mexico, it is also located in the temperate mountainous regions of the southwestern United States, Central, and South America.

It is cultivated in Eurasia, South Africa, and has also become wild. It grows in wastelands, sunlit slopes, secondary forest edges, roadside, riverbanks, gaps in houses, and semi-shaded ditches at altitudes of 1000-2000 meters.

The Pink Evening Primrose is suitable for adorning night scenes and for use in gardens, courtyards, flower beds, and roadside greening. It has excellent ornamental value, and high economic and medicinal value. Its roots are medicinal, having anti-inflammatory and blood pressure-lowering effects.

2. Oenothera Speciosa

The Oenothera Speciosa, also known as the Showy Evening Primrose, is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Onagraceae family. It grows about 50 cm tall; its leaves are lanceolate with sparse teeth on the edges. Flowers, often in pairs, grow in the leaf axils at the upper part of the stem.

The flowers have four petals, are pink, and aromatic. The fruit is nearly cylindrical, flowering from April to August, and fruiting from September to December.

Originally native to southern United States, it is now widely distributed, including in many provinces in China. It enjoys light, tolerates semi-shade; likes a warm and humid climate; drought-resistant; likes loose soil with good drainage. It mainly reproduces by seeding or dividing plants, and can also reproduce by self-seeding.

The Showy Evening Primrose has significant medicinal value. The entire plant can be mashed with warm water to create a paste, which can be used topically to treat skin injuries, skin diseases, and other inflammations.

Additionally, the Showy Evening Primrose emits a pleasant aroma, which can relieve nervous tension, alleviate fatigue, and promote sleep. The Showy Evening Primrose symbolizes the highest state of love, friendship, and kinship – unconditional giving.

3. Oncidium Hybridum

The Oncidium Hybridum, also known as Dancing Lady Orchid, is a perennial herbaceous plant of the orchid family. It features a flattened, oval pseudobulb, robust rhizomes, and green foliage. Typically, one to three leaves grow at the top, which are elliptical or lanceolate in shape.

The inflorescence is racemose, growing from the base of the pseudobulb. The lip of the flower comes in shades of yellow, white, or maroon. The size of the flowers varies greatly, and some species are fragrant. The seeds are small and reddish-brown. The flowering period lasts for one to two months.

Native to tropical regions such as Brazil, Peru, and Mexico in the Americas, this orchid is also distributed in countries like the United States, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.

It prefers a warm, semi-shaded, and humid environment, thriving in loose, fertile, well-ventilated, well-drained, lime-rich sandy loam. It enjoys soft, scattered light and is not cold-resistant. There are two methods of propagation for this plant: tissue culture and division.

The plant structure of the Dancing Lady Orchid is lightweight, with graceful flower stems and charming blossoms that resemble flying butterflies, exuding a dynamic charm.

This makes it very suitable for home cultivation. It is an emerging orchid plant with high commercial value, hailed as one of the “Five Beauties” of cut flowers. It is one of the mainstream commodities in the domestic and international flower markets.

4. Orchidaceae

The Orchidaceae, commonly referred to as orchids, are monocotyledonous, terrestrial or epiphytic herbaceous plants. They feature several to many leaves, usually growing at the base or lower nodes of the pseudobulb, arranged in two rows. The leaves are strap-shaped or rarely lanceolate to narrowly elliptical in shape.

The base usually has a broad sheath enclosing the pseudobulb. The racemose inflorescence bears many flowers in various colors including white, pure white, white-green, yellow-green, pale yellow, pale yellow-brown, yellow, red, blue, and purple.

In traditional Chinese culture, “orchid” refers only to a few terrestrial orchids in the Orchidaceae family that are native to China, such as the Spring Orchid, Graceful Orchid, Jianlan Orchid, Ink Orchid, and Hanlan Orchid, commonly known as “Chinese Orchids”.

These orchids, though lacking the striking color and size of tropical orchids, possess a modest, quiet, refined, and noble character that aligns with Eastern aesthetics.

Chinese people have always regarded the orchid as a symbol of elegance and nobility. Along with the plum blossom, bamboo, and chrysanthemum, it is honored as one of the “Four Gentlemen”.

The term “orchid chapter” is used to praise the beauty of poetry and prose, while “orchid fellowship” symbolizes true friendship. The orchid also serves as a metaphor for pure love, as expressed in phrases like “As constant as the fragrance of the orchid” and “A heart like an orchid, forever unchanging”.

5. Orchis Chusua

The Orchis Chusua, widely distributed, stands 5-45 cm tall. Its tuber is oblong or spherical, fleshy, and undivided. The stem is erect and cylindrical. The leaves are oblong to lanceolate, without purple spots on the surface. The flower cluster has 1-20 flowers, often leaning to one side.

The flowers are purple-red or pink. The petals are erect, obliquely ovate, broadly ovate or narrowly ovate to oblong, 5-7 mm long, 3-4 mm wide, blunt at the apex, with no eyelashes on the edges, and slightly or obviously protruding at the base.

The lip petal extends forward, larger and wider than the sepals, without eyelashes on the edge, and is three-lobed. It blossoms from June to August.

It grows under forests, shrubs, alpine shrubs, or alpine meadows at altitudes of 500-4500 meters. It is found in China, the Korean Peninsula, Japan, Western Siberia in Russia, Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan, Northern India, and Northern Myanmar. This flower is cultivated and has high horticultural value.

6. Orchis Italica

The Orchis Italica, also known as the Naked Man Orchid or Italian Man Orchid, is a species of the Orchid family. The plant stands 20-50 cm tall. The flowers are pale pink or purple, with dark stripes on the helmet-shaped petals, resembling a naked man wearing a straw hat. The fruit is erect, and it blossoms in April and May.

Its habitat is grasslands, limestone soils, fallow lands, and jungle areas. It originates from the Mediterranean region.

7. Osmanthus Fragrans

The Osmanthus Fragrans, a species of the Oleaceae family, is an evergreen tree or shrub. Its flowers are extremely fragrant; the fruit is skewed, typically oval, and purplish-black; the leaves are opposite, leathery, oval or elliptical lanceolate, tapering at the apex and base. It blossoms from September to October, and the fruiting period is the following March.

Osmanthus Fragrans is also one of China’s top ten famous flowers. Pucheng in Fujian Province, China, is one of the main production areas of Osmanthus Fragrans. The growth of Osmanthus Fragrans requires a warm and humid climate, and a certain intensity of sunlight.

Both strong sunlight and shade are not conducive to the normal growth of Osmanthus Fragrans. The optimum sunlight duration is usually 6-8 hours. Therefore, the growth area requires good hydrothermal conditions, suitable precipitation, and soil that is mostly yellow-brown soil or yellow-brown earth.

The vegetation is mainly subtropical broad-leaved forest types. The main propagation techniques of Osmanthus Fragrans include asexual reproduction, cutting, grafting, and layering propagation.

8. Osmanthus Fragrans Cv. ‘Changbingjingui’

Osmanthus Fragrans Cv. ‘Changbingjingui’: An evergreen shrub or small tree. The leaves are opposite, single, leathery, with entire margins, and usually have glandular spots on both sides; they have petioles.

Flowers are bisexual, with different male and female plants or male flowers and bisexual flowers on different plants. Umbellate inflorescences cluster in the leaf axils, with short, terminal conical inflorescences; there are two bracts that are fused at the base.

The calyx is bell-shaped and 4-lobed; the corolla is white or creamy white, bell-shaped, cylindrical or campanulate, with 4 lobes arranged like roof tiles in bud. There are two stamens, attached to the upper part of the corolla tube, with the anther’s partitions often extended into small points.

The ovary is bicameral, with two pendulous ovules in each chamber. The style is longer or shorter than the ovary, the stigma is capitate or 2-shallowly lobed, and the sterile pistils are drill-like or conical.

The fruit is a drupe, ellipsoid or oblique-ellipsoid, with a hard or bony endocarp, usually having one seed; the endosperm is fleshy, the cotyledons are flat, and the radicle is upward. The chromosome base number is X=23.

‘Changbingjingui’ is a very rare and fast-growing variety among the autumn osmanthus. It is a cultivated horticultural variety for ornamental use.

9. Osmanthus Fragrans Cv.’Rixianggui’

Osmanthus fragranscv.’rixianggui’ is an evergreen shrub of the family Oleaceae. ‘Rixianggui’ has a full and compact shape, with a well-developed root system; its leaves are evergreen, smooth; the leaves are round, with shallow and few serrations; the new leaves are slightly purplish-red, with a soft color and many branches, with short internodes and continuous flowering on the same branch; the flowers are white first, then yellow, with light red stamens; it has a large amount of flowers and a long flowering period; when in full bloom, it has a large degree of opening and a strong fragrance, hence its name ‘Rixianggui’.

‘Rixianggui’ originates from Cangxi County in northern Sichuan, China. It prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil rich in organic matter and a sunny, cool and humid climate, has a wide adaptability, can still bloom at around -10℃, and has a strong resistance to harmful gases such as hydrogen fluoride. ‘Rixianggui’ mainly propagates by cutting, grafting and layering.

‘Rixianggui’ is often cultivated into compact large lawn shrubs, street trees, exquisite New Year’s potted flowers, exposed root stumps, bonsai, etc.

Due to its strong resistance, ‘Rixianggui’ is suitable for the large area south of the Yangtze River for courtyard, rooftop garden, green space and other landscaping and fragrance cultivation; small plants can be used as exquisite potted flowers, and branches and leaves can be used as high-grade flower arrangements.

10. Osmanthus Fragrans ‘Jin Qiu Gui’

Osmanthus fragrans ‘Jin Qiu Gui’ is a new variety of osmanthus. It is a precious and superior variety bred from the golden osmanthus population by scientific and technological personnel over several decades. Its identification features are obvious and its phenotypic features are consistent.

The flowers are golden yellow and dazzling, the fragrance is strong and lasting, the flower buds are dense, there are many flowering nodes, the internodes are short, and the inflorescences are relatively concentrated.

‘Jin Qiu Gui’ is superior to other golden osmanthus in terms of flower volume, petals, flower color, and fragrance. The 4-5 buds of ‘Jin Qiu Gui’ are 2-4 times more than other golden osmanthus.

Moreover, old branches from the previous two years can also produce flower buds, extending the inflorescences into the depths of the shrubbery, resulting in a tree full of flowers when in full bloom, which is very spectacular.

This variety has dense flower buds. When in full bloom, all 4-5 flower buds on both sides of the opposite nodes open, with dozens of small flowers grouped on the same node to form a cluster of small flower balls, which are very eye-catching and beautiful, hence being named ‘Jin Qiu Gui’.

11. Osmanthus Fragrans ‘Jiulonggui’

Osmanthus Fragrans ‘Jiulonggui’ is a traditional variety of osmanthus native to Sichuan. It’s an evergreen shrub or small tree. The leaves are opposite, simple, leathery, entire, and often glandular on both sides. Each leaf has a petiole.

The flowers are bisexual, dioecious or monoecious, and the umbels cluster in the leaf axils, with small terminal corymbs. There are two bracts, fused at the base. The calyx is bell-shaped and 4-lobed. The corolla is white or yellowish-white, bell-shaped, cylindrical or urn-shaped, with four lobes, arranged like tiles when in bud.

There are two stamens, which attach to the upper part of the corolla tube. The anther extends to form a small point. The ovary is 2-chambered, each chamber with two hanging ovules. The style is longer or shorter than the ovary, with a capitate or 2 shallowly lobed stigma.

The sterile pistil is diamond-shaped or conical. The fruit is a drupe, elliptical or oblique elliptical, with a hard or bony endocarp, usually containing a single seed. The endosperm is fleshy; the cotyledons are flat; the radicle is upward. The chromosome base number is X=23.

12. Osmanthus Fragrans ‘Mantiaohong’

Osmanthus fragrans ‘Mantiaohong’ is an evergreen small tree with a rounded crown, medium density, and strong growth. The leaves are opposite, simple, leathery, entire, and often glandular on both sides. Each leaf has a petiole.

The flowers are bisexual, dioecious or monoecious, and the umbels cluster in the leaf axils, with small terminal corymbs. There are two bracts, fused at the base. The calyx is bell-shaped and 4-lobed.

The corolla is orange-red, bell-shaped, cylindrical or urn-shaped, with four lobes, arranged like tiles when in bud. There are two stamens, which attach to the upper part of the corolla tube. The anther extends to form a small point. The ovary is 2-chambered, each chamber with two hanging ovules.

The style is longer or shorter than the ovary, with a capitate or 2 shallowly lobed stigma. The sterile pistil is diamond-shaped or conical.

The fruit is a drupe, elliptical or oblique elliptical, with a hard or bony endocarp, usually containing a single seed. The endosperm is fleshy; the cotyledons are flat; the radicle is upward. The chromosome base number is X=23.

13. Osmanthus Fragrans ‘Qiu Gui’

Osmanthus Fragrans ‘Qiu Gui’: This perennial small tree is characterized by its round, spherical canopy. The bark is densely covered with pores of varying sizes and shapes, including ellipses and circles. The leaves are opposite, single-leafed, leathery, entire, and usually dotted with glands on both sides; they have stems.

The flowers are bisexual, dioecious or male and bisexual, with umbel inflorescences clustered in the axils, and the top-growing short conical inflorescence; there are two bracts, which are conjoined at the base.

The calyx is bell-shaped and 4-lobed; the corolla is medium yellow to yellow, bell-shaped, with 4 petals, arranged like tiles when in bud; there are 2 stamens, attached to the upper part of the corolla tube, and the anther is often extended into a small point; the ovary is 2-chambered, each chamber contains 2 pendulous ovules, the style is longer or shorter than the ovary, the stigma is capitate or 2 lobes, the sterile pistil is drill-shaped or conical.

The fruit is a drupe, oval or oblique oval, the endocarp is hard or bony, often with 1 seed; the endosperm is fleshy; the cotyledons are flat; the radicle is upward. The basic chromosome number is X=23.

14. Osmanthus Fragrans ‘Xiaoye Fodingzhu’

Osmanthus fragrans ‘Xiaoye Fodingzhu’: This is a perennial shrub or small tree. The leaves are opposite, single-leafed, leathery, entire, and usually dotted with glands on both sides; they have stems.

The flowers are bisexual, dioecious or male and bisexual, with umbel inflorescences clustered in the axils, and the top-growing short conical inflorescence; there are two bracts, which are conjoined at the base.

The calyx is bell-shaped and 4-lobed; the corolla is white or yellowish white, bell-shaped, cylindrical or urn-shaped, with 4 petals, arranged like tiles when in bud; there are 2 stamens, attached to the upper part of the corolla tube, and the anther is often extended into a small point; the ovary is 2-chambered, each chamber contains 2 pendulous ovules, the style is longer or shorter than the ovary, the stigma is capitate or 2 lobes, the sterile pistil is drill-shaped or conical.

The fruit is a drupe, oval or oblique oval, the endocarp is hard or bony, often with 1 seed; the endosperm is fleshy; the cotyledons are flat; the radicle is upward. The basic chromosome number is X=23.

The seedlings can bloom in the same year. During blooming, the inflorescences are concentrated at the tip of the new shoots, and when the buds are ready to burst, they look like white pearls, hence the beautiful name of ‘Fodingzhu’. It is more suitable for pot cultivation.

15. Osmanthus Fragrans ‘Yu Ling Long’

The Osmanthus fragrans ‘Yu ling long’ is an evergreen shrub to small tree with an elliptical crown, strong upright branching, and good growth. Its leaves are opposite, single, leathery, with entire margins, and usually contain glandular dots on both sides; and it has a leaf stalk.

The flowers are bisexual, dioecious or male flowers, bisexual flowers dioecious, umbellate inflorescences clustered in the leaf axils, terminal short conical inflorescences; there are 2 bracts, fused at the base; the calyx is bell-shaped, 4-lobed; the corolla is lemon yellow to milky white, urn-shaped, with 4 lobes, arranged like roof tiles when in bud; there are 2 stamens, attached to the upper part of the corolla tube, the anther septum often extended into a small tip; the ovary is 2-chambered, each chamber with 2 pendulous ovules, the pistil longer or shorter than the ovary, the stigma capitate or 2 shallowly lobed, sterile pistil diamond-shaped or conical.

The fruit is a drupe, elliptical or oblique elliptical, with a hard or bony endocarp, usually with 1 seed; the endosperm is fleshy; the cotyledons are flat; the radicle is upward. The chromosome base number is X=23.

The ‘Yu ling long’ is an old variety of Osmanthus native to East China, commonly cultivated. Its dense branches, narrow leaves, and dense flowers make it a very intricate and elegant model, and it is aptly named ‘Yu ling long’.

16. Osmanthus Fragrans ‘Zhuang Yuan Hong’

The Osmanthus fragrans ‘Zhuang Yuan Hong’ is an evergreen shrub or small tree. The crown is spherical, with many branches, and a fairly full interior. The bark is dark gray, with round lenticels, in a moderate amount.

The leaves are opposite, single, leathery, with entire margins, and usually contain glandular dots on both sides; and it has a leaf stalk.

The flowers are bisexual, dioecious or male flowers, bisexual flowers dioecious, umbellate inflorescences clustered in the leaf axils, terminal short conical inflorescences; there are 2 bracts, fused at the base; the calyx is bell-shaped, 4-lobed; the corolla is orange-red, bell-shaped, with 4 lobes, arranged like roof tiles when in bud; there are 2 stamens, attached to the upper part of the corolla tube, the anther septum often extended into a small tip; the ovary is 2-chambered, each chamber with 2 pendulous ovules, the pistil longer or shorter than the ovary, the stigma capitate or 2 shallowly lobed, sterile pistil diamond-shaped or conical.

The fruit is a drupe, elliptical or oblique elliptical, with a hard or bony endocarp, usually with 1 seed; the endosperm is fleshy; the cotyledons are flat; the radicle is upward. The chromosome base number is X=23.

17. Osmanthusfragrans’Tian Xiang Taige’

Osmanthus fragrans ‘Tian Xiang Taige’ is an evergreen shrub or small tree in the Oleaceae family. It is one of the varieties of osmanthus. Its leaves are thick or thin leathery; the corolla is white or yellow-white, orange-red, bell-shaped, cylindrical or urn-shaped; the buds are arranged in a tile-like pattern; the fruit is a drupe, elliptical or oblique elliptical.

Inside normal flowers and leaf-like flowers, it can grow leaves or flowers again, forming an interesting phenomenon where leaves are hidden in flowers or flowers within flowers, and emitting an extraordinarily intense fragrance, hence it is named “Tian Xiang Taige”.

Tian Xiang Taige is native to Southwest China. Apart from China, it is also distributed in Southeast Asia and the Americas. It prefers a warm, moist environment and is not frost-resistant. The flowering period is usually in early September to October, and the fruiting period is in March of the following year.

Tian Xiang Taige has extremely high ornamental value, with bright flowers, and is usually cultivated for viewing in gardens. At the same time, it has high economic value. Its flowers are fragrant and are a famous fragrance in China, and can also be used as a food flavoring.

18. Oxalis Corniculata

Oxalis Corniculata, or creeping woodsorrel, is a perennial herbaceous plant in the Oxalidaceae family. The stem is erect or creeping, slender, and multi-branched, with roots growing on the nodes of the creeping stems; the leaves are basal or alternate on the stem; the stipules are small, elongated oval or ovate; the flowers are solitary or several clustered into an umbel-like inflorescence, the pedicel is pale red, the petals are yellow, elongated oval or inverted ovate, and the filaments are translucent white; the capsule is nearly cylindrical, ribbed, and softly hairy; the seeds are flat-ovate, brown or reddish-brown; the flowering and fruiting period is from February to September.

Creeping woodsorrel is currently found throughout China and in temperate and subtropical Asia, Europe, the Mediterranean, and North America.

It likes sun-facing, warm, and moist environments; it grows in grass patches, roadsides, valleys, and damp places under forests; in hot summer regions, it prefers semi-shade, has strong drought resistance, and is not frost-resistant; it can grow in general garden soil, but it grows vigorously in sandy loam rich in humus, and has a short period of dormancy in summer.

The reproduction methods of creeping woodsorrel are by perennial root propagation and seed propagation.

Creeping woodsorrel has the effects of clearing heat and dampness, cooling the blood and dispersing stasis, and detoxifying and reducing swelling. It has good antibacterial effects and can inhibit many bacteria. Creeping woodsorrel is an excellent groundcover plant for garden greening.

The tender stems and leaves of creeping woodsorrel can be served in cold dishes or soups. Its sour taste is pure and thick, refreshing and appetizing. The stem and leaves of creeping woodsorrel contain oxalic acid, which can be used to polish copper mirrors and other copper utensils, making them shiny and bright.

19. Oxalis Corymbosa

The Redwood Sorrel, Oxalis corymbosa, is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Oxalidaceae family. It has basal leaves with three small, flat, round, heart-shaped leaflets that have an indentation at the tip. The stipules are oblong, tapering at the top, and fused at the base with the petiole.

The inflorescence stem is also basal, forming a bifurcated corymb, typically arranged in an umbellate pattern. The plant has five petals, heart-shaped and ranging in color from light purple to purplish-red.

It blooms and bears fruit between March and December. Named for its sour-tasting sap, the Redwood Sorrel with red flowers is known specifically as Redwood Sorrel.

Originally from the tropical regions of South America, the Redwood Sorrel was introduced to areas north of the Yangtze River in China as an ornamental plant. It has naturalized in various southern regions, growing in low-altitude mountains, along roadsides, in wastelands, and in paddy fields.

The plant enjoys sunlit, warm, and moist environments. In hot summer regions, it prefers partial shade, has strong drought tolerance, but does not tolerate cold. It mainly propagates by division but can also be grown from seed.

The entire Redwood Sorrel plant is used in herbal medicine for its sour taste and cooling properties. It is used to clear heat and dampness, detoxify, and disperse stasis and swelling.

When the Redwood Sorrel blossoms into rose-colored flowers, the ground appears covered in a layer of green leaves and red flowers, making it highly ornamental.

The flowers and leaves of the Redwood Sorrel are light-sensitive and close at night and on rainy days, hence its other name “Night Plum” and its symbolic association with indecisiveness.

20. Oxalis Triangularis

The Purple Shamrock, Oxalis triangularis, is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Oxalidaceae family. It grows in clumps with basal leaves and long, thin petioles. The leaf blade is composed of three heart-shaped leaflets, colored a vibrant purple-red, without an obvious stem.

It blooms with pink and pale white umbellate flowers. Varieties include the violet and triangular-leaved, with a light purple or white corolla. It flowers from April to December, blooming continuously in spring and autumn. The Purple Shamrock is named for its entirely purple leaves.

The Purple Shamrock originates from tropical America and southern Africa but is now widely distributed in China and around the world.

It thrives in warm, moist, semi-shaded, and well-ventilated environments, is drought-tolerant, somewhat cold-resistant, and grows rapidly, slowing or entering dormancy in the height of summer. The Purple Shamrock propagates by division or by seed, and can also be propagated through tissue culture.

The Purple Shamrock has medicinal uses and can also be steeped in water for drinking, offering edible value.