flowering

1 of 2

adjective

flow·​er·​ing ˈflau̇(-ə)r-iŋ 

1

: producing or bearing flowers

a flowering cactus

a flowering branch

: capable of producing flowers

a collection of flowering plants

flowering trees

2

: covered with or full of flowers

a flowering meadow

flowering

2 of 2

noun

1

: the act or state of producing flowers : the period during which a plant produces flowers

the flowering of the iris

a plant that should be pruned only when flowering ends

Early flowering was followed by heat waves in July and August …

—James Suckling

2

: an unfolding or development

the gradual flowering of his talent

: a flourishing state or period of new development or growth

… when Christians, Muslims and Jews lived and worked together in peace and friendship, producing a rare flowering of art, science and commerce.

—Liesl Schillinger

… the theatre is a wonderful testimony to the city's artistic flowering in the era of art nouveau.

—Robert Fox

Examples of flowering in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Should seed mixes contain only flowering plants, or is including some non-flowering plants in the mix also helpful? —Grrlscientist, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025

Stroll through the exotic and flowering plant life during the December Nights festival on Dec. 6 from 1-7pm and Dec. 7 from noon-6pm. —Kate Murphy, Axios, 26 Nov. 2024

Noun

Find out the preferred flower colors and shapes to include in your garden, plus, get tips on helping these tiny birds feel at home in your yard and a list of their favorite flowering plants. —Erica Browne Grivas, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 June 2025

Opt for loropetalum to bring color and texture to your garden early in the spring when other flowering shrubs haven’t yet begun their show. —Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 10 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1592, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing flowering

• flowering dogwood
• flowering plant

Rhymes for flowering

• cowering
• glowering
• powering
• scouring
• showering
• souring
• towering
• devouring
• empowering