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

These non-flowering, rootless plants have stems and leaves and reproduce through spores. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 13 Mar. 2026

To propagate begonias, take 3- to 4-inch cuttings from non-flowering begonia stems. —Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Nov. 2025

Noun

With over 4,000 species of parasitic flowering plants in the world, there are a lot of incredible species out there. —Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026

Proper fertilization and watering also support flowering, but too much nitrogen fertilizer can reduce blooming by encouraging vegetative growth instead of flowers. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 1 Apr. 2026

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