largeflowered

Largeflowered is a descriptive term used in botany and horticulture to indicate that a plant has relatively large flowers compared with related taxa or cultivars. It is not a formal taxonomic category; rather, it is qualitative and subjective, often applied in field notes, horticultural catalogs, and cultivar descriptions. The term may be applied to a species with unusually large flowers, or to a selected cultivar or hybrid marketed for its showy blooms. In horticulture, breeders may select largeflowered forms for ornamental appeal, with petals that are larger, more numerous, or more vividly colored, sometimes accompanied by earlier or longer blooming or improved fragrance. The interpretation of “largeflowered” can vary by genus or cultivar group since flower size is relative to plant size and typical bloom morphology within that group.

Because it is a non standardized descriptor, "largeflowered" should be considered descriptive rather than a taxonomic criterion. For this reason, catalogs often pair “largeflowered” with other qualifiers (such as color, fragrance, bloom period, or growth habit) to convey more precise traits. The term is commonly encountered in descriptions of ornamentals—such as roses, lilies, and azaleas—and in wildflower notes where a population exhibits conspicuously large blooms.

See also: large-flowered cultivars, ornamental horticulture, plant morphology, cultivar naming.