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

At one point, Adeline plucked a tiny flowering weed and tried to hand it to Eleanor, a 3-year-old girl. —The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 June 2025

Do this throughout the spring flowering season, as additional flowers may form after your first session. 4. —Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 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