This list was compiled by gardener Hannah Miller and reviewed by horticulturist Elizabeth Smith. Published to Ideas on the 15th March 2023.
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Pom-pom flowers, which are round flowers, can add something unique and interesting to any garden because they stand out against other flowers. They are a good choice for any gardener because they come in many colors, shapes, and sizes. Ball-shaped flowers can do a lot of good for your garden, whether you want to add variety or get pollinators to come. I’ve also found that many of these flowers don’t need much care and have blooms that last a long time. This makes them a great choice for gardeners of all levels.
Here is a list of ball-shaped flowers that I have experience growing and recommend for your garden.
Flowers come in a stunning array of shapes and sizes. Among these, flowers with round, spherical blooms hold a special fascination. Their perfectly symmetrical forms and cheerful colors make them stand out in any garden.
In this article, we’ll explore some of the most popular flowers that look like balls. Whether you’re a gardener looking to add whimsical appeal to your landscape or want to liven up a floral arrangement, these ball-shaped blooms are sure to delight.
Alluring Qualities of Spherical Flowers
Flowers with ball-shaped heads showcase nature’s ingenuity. Their round forms create a playful, lighthearted effect. Compared to spiky or drooping blooms, the spheres look more approachable and inviting.
These flowers work wonderfully as accents, adding pops of color and texture contrast The bold balls attract attention effortlessly amidst wispy grasses or spindly leaves. Their 3D shape makes them appear to float over lower growing plants.
When used en masse, the effect is even more dramatic Repeating globe shapes establishes cohesion and rhythm in garden beds It also highlights the diversity of the blooms’ colors and sizes.
Globe Alliums
The Globe Allium is a standout with its oversized, egg-shaped flower heads. Perched atop tall, slender stems, these flowers seem to defy gravity, bobbing in the breeze. The genus Allium includes edible onions and garlic, but the ornamental varieties are grown strictly for their visual appeal.
- Colors: Vivid purple, pink, white
- Height: 12 to 18 inches
- Bloom time: Late spring to early summer
- Exposure: Full sun
- Frequency of occurrence: 12
Drumstick Alliums
Also called Billy Buttons, this dainty Australian native has charming lemon-yellow heads. Each tiny floret makes up the larger flower sphere. When backlit by the sun, the blooms seem to glow like miniature lightbulbs.
- Colors: Yellow, chartreuse
- Height: 12 inches
- Bloom time: Spring to fall
- Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Frequency of occurrence: 5
Snowball Viburnum
A beloved spring-flowering shrub, the Snowball Viburnum is prized for its large, dense, snowy white blooms. Starting as lime-colored buds, the flowers gradually open into magnificent snowballs up to 8 inches across. The bold spheres contrast beautifully against the bush’s shiny dark leaves.
- Colors: White, lime-green buds
- Height: Up to 15 feet
- Bloom time: Spring
- Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Frequency of occurrence: 3
Globe Thistles
Globe Thistles have uniquely shaped flowers with spiny, ruffly bracts enveloping the petite true blooms. Resembling tiny sea urchins, these prickly spheres come in shades of steel blue, violet, and pink. The stout stems and lobed silvery foliage provide perfect accompaniment.
- Colors: Blue, violet, pink
- Height: 2 to 4 feet
- Bloom time: Summer to early fall
- Exposure: Full sun
- Frequency of occurrence: 9
Ornamental Onions
Grown for their impressive spherical flowers, ornamental alliums like A. giganteum provide big, eye-catching displays. Atop sturdy 4-foot stems, the giant purple globes are head-turners. The strappy foliage dies back before flowering, allowing the spheres to take center stage.
- Colors: Purple, pink, white
- Height: 3 to 5 feet
- Bloom time: Late spring to early summer
- Exposure: Full sun
- Frequency of occurrence: 4
Pincushion Flowers
This aptly named bloom has a distinct rounded shape reminiscent of pins stuck in a pincushion. The dense, small florets cluster together to form the cushion-like flower heads. They’re available in hues from azure blue to rosy pink. The wiry stems and lacy foliage add delicate contrast.
- Colors: Blue, pink, white, purple
- Height: 1 to 3 feet
- Bloom time: Summer
- Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Frequency of occurrence: 2
Sea Holly
Sea Holly’s flowers may seem insignificant, but the stunning powdery blue bracts steal the show. Sitting atop branched stems, these prickly spheres resemble sea creatures, foliage, or abstract art. Sea Holly makes a dramatic statement in dry gardens, bouquets, or along coastal areas.
- Colors: Blue, purple, white bracts
- Height: 1 to 3 feet
- Bloom time: Summer
- Exposure: Full sun
- Frequency of occurrence: 5
Globe Amaranth
A favorite for drying, Globe Amaranth flowers maintain their form and color when preserved. The bright clover-like blooms sparkle in shades of magenta, red, white, and purple. The low mounded plants work well along borders, in containers, or massed as ground cover.
- Colors: Red, pink, purple, white
- Height: 8 to 24 inches
- Bloom time: Summer to frost
- Exposure: Full sun
- Frequency of occurrence: 7
Globe Daisies
Also known as bush daisies, these heat and drought tolerant perennials are ideal for hot, sunny gardens. The pom pom-like flowers come in hues from lemon yellow to fire engine red. Deadheading spent blooms encourages reblooming. Their fine-textured foliage provides wispy contrast.
- Colors: Yellow, orange, red
- Height: 1 to 2 feet
- Bloom time: Spring to summer
- Exposure: Full sun
- Frequency of occurrence: 3
Craspedia
This Australian and New Zealand native, also called Billy Button, is cherished for its cute rounded flower heads. They consist of tiny yellow florets tightly clustered together. The stems are nearly leafless, adding to the simplicity and impact of the blooms.
- Colors: Yellow, green
- Height: Up to 20 inches
- Bloom time: Summer
- Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Frequency of occurrence: 4
Buttonbush
True to its name, the Buttonbush produces perfect tiny spheres resembling pearly white buttons. The fragrant flowers bloom in dense clusters. This hardy native wetland shrub has a neat, rounded shape with attractive glossy foliage that turns yellow in fall.
- Colors: White
- Height: Up to 12 feet
- Bloom time: Summer
- Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Frequency of occurrence: 2
Snowball Bush
Like its cousin the Snowball Viburnum, the Snowball Bush boasts large, abundantly-flowering white blooms in spring. Starting as chartreuse buds, the blossoms open into eye-catching snowy spheres. The bush lends gorgeous structure with its upright vase-like shape and gray-green leaves.
- Colors: White
- Height: Up to 10 feet
- Bloom time: Spring
- Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Frequency of occurrence: 3
Mums
Available in a rainbow of fall colors, these quintessential autumn flowers have many different bloom shapes. The round pom pom and daisy-like spider varieties display perfect sphere-shaped flower heads. Mums lend cheery, late season color to gardens, pots, and cut flower arrangements.
- Colors: Pink, purple, yellow, white, red, orange
- Height: 1 to 3 feet
- Bloom time: Fall
- Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Frequency of occurrence: 6
With their diversity of colors and irresistible forms, it’s easy to see the universal appeal of ball-shaped blooms. Let your imagination run wild combining these whimsical flowers in your garden beds, flower pots, or bouquets. The gorgeous globes are sure to spark joy and creativity wherever they’re planted.
My experience with Annabelle:
It was fun to grow “Annabelle” in my garden because the snowball-shaped flowers got really big and made a dramatic focal point in the space. I planted them in a partially shaded area with moist, well-draining soil, and they quickly became a showstopper. I cut back the shrubs in late winter to get lots of flowers. This led to healthy new growth, and as the new flowers aged, I saw that they turned green, which made my garden more interesting.
Read:
One of my favourite hydrangeas
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FAQ
What kind of flower looks like a ball?
What are those ball flowers called?
What is the name of the ball flower?
What flowers look like puff balls?
What flowers look like a ball?
There are many genera of plants that have flowers that look like a ball. Alliums and hydrangeas are some of the most common that you will find, but they are not the only. From vibrant and eye-catching to subtle and calming, round-shaped flowers come in an array of colors, sizes and species.
What flowers look like tennis balls?
2. Billy Balls The billy balls are flowers that would easily resemble tennis balls in many ways. In hot areas, Craspedia blooms continuously. It is a very decorative plant that will enhance the appearance of your gardes. The length of each Craspedia billy variety varies, with many different types.
What kind of flower looks like a cotton ball?
People most often associate Hydrangeas with round ball flowers. Specifically, the Japanese Hydrangea macrophylla, known colloquially as the French Hydrangea for the country where it is often cultivated, produces round ball flowers that have become very popular due to their shape.
Which flowers have the most unusual shapes?
Some of the flowers with the most unusual shapes are flowers that are shaped like balls or spheres. In most cases the flowers are actually a round-shaped cluster of many blooms of one color that give the appearance of a ball. Ornamental onions produce flowers that are globe shaped.
How tall does a ball flower grow?
Some grow only to be six inches tall, while others can reach heights of over five feet and look fabulous in flower arrangements. Other ball flowers resemble blasts of pyrotechnics, while some have to nod bell-shaped flowers. 2.
What flowers have a spherical shape?
Most of the time, the flowers are a spherical cluster of several blossoms of the same hue that give the impression of a ball, read this article, and you will be discovering a list of these flowers with their unique circular shapes. 1. Ornamental Onions 2. Billy Balls 3. Hydrangea Flower 4. Echinops 5. Dahlias 6. Agapanthus 7. Marigolds 8.