8 Old-Fashioned Flowers Grandma Always Grew in Her Garden—and You Should Too, According to Experts

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Flowers intrinsically have a romantic quality about them, but there’s something about flowers that were popular in eras past that feels even more romantic. People of previous time periods communicated certain messages through flowers (something called floriography), and you can just imagine someone of bygone times giving their sweetheart a symbolic bouquet.

“Old-fashioned flowers never go out of style, and they absolutely evoke a memory in most people, whereas an ‘on trend’ flower will sometimes feel out of place and devoid of any sentimentality,” remarks Teresa Sabankaya, florist and author of The Posy Book and Modern Floriography.

Sabankaya defines old-fashioned flowers as “a long-lived garden favorite, and not a newer hybrid, but what you’d call an heirloom in the seed, flower, and plant world.”

Luxury florist Ondrea Kidd says that many of these types of flowers were grown not only for their beauty but for their incredible fragrance, resilience, and emotional connection to memory and home.

“Today, I believe we’re seeing a renewed appreciation for old-fashioned flowers because people are craving beauty, slowness, and connection again,” Kidd says. “More people are recognizing the mental and emotional health benefits of having fresh flowers in their homes and daily lives. Flowers encourage us to pause, notice beauty, and become more present.”

If this sounds like a vibe that’s right up your alley, read on for old-fashioned flowers you can grow in your garden or include in arrangements and that are sure to inspire nostalgia.

Sweet William

JudiDicks – Getty Images (JudiDicks – Getty Images)

Describing sweet william flowers as “a perennial with silvery-gray foliage and a prolific flower that can be multi-petaled or single,” Sabankaya says that these blooms come in a wide range of colors and styles and carry a sweet, clove-like scent.

Recalling their history, Sabankaya says, “Sweet William makes perfect boutonnieres. With their sweet clove scent, the gentlemen often preferred this bloom over the rose to decorate their buttonholes.”

Calla Lily

Alison Fleck, founder of Bloom Culture Flowers, says that both the standard and mini versions of the calla lily harken back to times past. These flowers have a “green, spongy stem with one single bloom at the end,” she says, and adds that they are being used heavily in 2026 weddings in both white and burgundy.

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Hollyhock

Sabankaya says that hollyhock flowers are “a tall, columnar biennial that blooms in rosettes up a long, vertical stem.” Although they don’t have a fragrance, Sabankaya says that these flowers are “stunning” arranged in a mono-botanical, en masse formation inside the home, “providing much-needed drama.”

“To me, a garden should never be without this classic, tall, and sometimes whimsical element,” she adds.

Sweet Pea

At one time, Kidd says that these beautifully scented, climbing flowers represented “gratitude and goodbyes.”

“Their presence in the garden and bouquets evokes timeless beauty with their multitude of colors and bloom types—ranging from single to triple and frilly,” Sabankaya says. “They can be sweet and sentimental in a vase, or highly theatrical when used en masse in bouquets and centerpieces.”

Carnation

You can’t miss these classic single-stem blooms that show off their frills in shades of red, pink, and white. They have a storied history, with Fleck calling them a “polarizing flower” that some adore and others dislike. But Fleck says that they are often used in modern weddings.

Daisy

“There are many varieties of daisies, but a Shasta daisy is a stalwart of an old-fashioned flower,” Sabankaya says. “It has a long history as a cottage garden staple, as a hardy perennial forming thick clumps of robust greenery, and as tall, majestic, single white flowers with a golden center. They are the hallmark of a summer garden.”

Lily of the Valley

Fleck says that lily of the valley flowers feature their quintessential “petite and delicate blooms along a stem,” and they are a classic because “many will recognize them from royal weddings.”

Kidd adds that in floriography, lily of the valley flowers convey “sweetness and humility.” However, it’s worth noting that these dainty little flowers are poisonous to humans and furry friends.

Rose

Does it get any more old-fashioned and nostalgic than a garden full of roses? They are as romantic and traditional as you get, with red roses taking the prize as the ones with the most old-fashioned feel. Conveying “meaningful moments,” as Kidd says, she adds that, unsurprisingly, red roses have always symbolized deep love.