Florecer Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb florecer means to flower, to bloom, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Florecer means to flower or to bloom, and it is used for plants flowering in spring, a garden blooming and, figuratively, a business or a talent flourishing. It is mostly used in the third person, and it is a -cer spelling-change verb: florece, florecen. Like every Spanish verb, florecer changes its ending for each person and tense, and this page gives you the complete picture: every tense, every person, the gerund and the past participle, all from the verified conjugation tables. For example, in the present tense you say florezco en primavera cada año, and in the preterite you say florecí con el calor de mayo. Work through the tables below, read the notes for each tense, and then test yourself with the examples, the common mistakes and the quiz at the end of the page.
Quick facts
- Infinitive: florecer
- English: to flower, to bloom
- Verb type: irregular verb
- Ending: -er
- Gerund: floreciendo
- Past participle: florecido
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + florecido)
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for florecer, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Spelling change: c becomes zc before o and a, so yo florezco and the subjunctive florezca. It is mostly used in the third person, for plants.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for florecer. The imperfect subjunctive is shown in its -ra forms; the -se forms use the same stem. For reflexive verbs, the pronoun column shows the reflexive pronoun that goes before each form.
Present indicative
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | florezco |
| tú | floreces |
| él/ella/Ud. | florece |
| nosotros/as | florecemos |
| vosotros/as | florecéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | florecen |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | florecí |
| tú | floreciste |
| él/ella/Ud. | floreció |
| nosotros/as | florecimos |
| vosotros/as | florecisteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | florecieron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | florecía |
| tú | florecías |
| él/ella/Ud. | florecía |
| nosotros/as | florecíamos |
| vosotros/as | florecíais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | florecían |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | floreceré |
| tú | florecerás |
| él/ella/Ud. | florecerá |
| nosotros/as | floreceremos |
| vosotros/as | floreceréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | florecerán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | florecería |
| tú | florecerías |
| él/ella/Ud. | florecería |
| nosotros/as | floreceríamos |
| vosotros/as | floreceríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | florecerían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he florecido |
| tú | has florecido |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha florecido |
| nosotros/as | hemos florecido |
| vosotros/as | habéis florecido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han florecido |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había florecido |
| tú | habías florecido |
| él/ella/Ud. | había florecido |
| nosotros/as | habíamos florecido |
| vosotros/as | habíais florecido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían florecido |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré florecido |
| tú | habrás florecido |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá florecido |
| nosotros/as | habremos florecido |
| vosotros/as | habréis florecido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán florecido |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría florecido |
| tú | habrías florecido |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría florecido |
| nosotros/as | habríamos florecido |
| vosotros/as | habríais florecido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían florecido |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | florezca |
| tú | florezcas |
| él/ella/Ud. | florezca |
| nosotros/as | florezcamos |
| vosotros/as | florecáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | florezcan |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | floreciera |
| tú | florecieras |
| él/ella/Ud. | floreciera |
| nosotros/as | floreciéramos |
| vosotros/as | florecierais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | florecieran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | florece |
| él/ella/Ud. | florezca |
| nosotros/as | florezcamos |
| vosotros/as | floreced |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | florezcan |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | florezcas |
| él/ella/Ud. | florezca |
| nosotros/as | florezcamos |
| vosotros/as | florecáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | florezcan |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | floreciendo | with estar for the progressive: estoy floreciendo |
| Past participle | florecido | with haber for the perfect tenses: he florecido |
How to use each tense
Present indicative
Use the present for routines, general facts and what is happening right now. Note the spelling change here: c becomes zc before o and a, so the forms keep the same sound as the infinitive. For florecer, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Florezco en primavera cada año. Learn the present forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Preterite
Use the preterite for finished actions with a clear end, often with ayer, el año pasado or anoche. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For florecer, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, florecí en el jardín de la abuela. Learn the preterite forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperfect
Use the imperfect for background, habits and actions in progress in the past, often with de niño, antes or mientras. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For florecer, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, florecía con el calor de mayo. Learn the imperfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Future
Use the future for plans, predictions and promises, often with mañana, el año que viene or pronto. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For florecer, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, floreceré en macetas en el balcón. Learn the future forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Conditional
Use the conditional for polite requests, hypotheticals and what would happen, often with si clauses. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For florecer, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Florecería en primavera cada año si pudiera. Learn the conditional forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Present perfect
Use the present perfect for recent actions and experiences, often with hoy, esta semana or ya. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For florecer, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he florecido en el jardín de la abuela. Learn the present perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Pluperfect
Use the pluperfect when one past action happened before another past action. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For florecer, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había florecido con el calor de mayo antes de salir. Learn the pluperfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Future perfect
Use the future perfect for something that will already be finished by a future time. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For florecer, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré florecido en macetas en el balcón. Learn the future perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Conditional perfect
Use the conditional perfect for what would have happened under different conditions. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For florecer, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría florecido en primavera cada año con más tiempo. Learn the conditional perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Present subjunctive
Use the present subjunctive after expressions of wish, doubt, emotion and hope, such as espero que or quiero que. Note the spelling change here: c becomes zc before o and a, so the forms keep the same sound as the infinitive. For florecer, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él florezca en el jardín de la abuela. Learn the present subjunctive forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
Use the imperfect subjunctive after past wishes and in si clauses about the past, and note the -ra forms shown here; the -se forms use the same stem. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For florecer, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él floreciera con el calor de mayo, todo cambiaría. Learn the imperfect subjunctive forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperative (affirmative)
Use the affirmative imperative for direct commands, instructions and invitations. Note the spelling change here: c becomes zc before o and a, so the forms keep the same sound as the infinitive. For florecer, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Florece en macetas en el balcón! Learn the affirmative imperative forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperative (negative)
Use the negative imperative, always with no, to tell someone not to do something. Note the spelling change here: c becomes zc before o and a, so the forms keep the same sound as the infinitive. For florecer, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No florezcas en primavera cada año. Learn the negative imperative forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Example sentences
Ten natural sentences with florecer, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Florezco en primavera cada año. — I flower in spring every year.
- Florece en el jardín de la abuela. — He/she flowers in grandmother's garden.
- Ayer, florecí con el calor de mayo. — Yesterday, I flowered in the May heat.
- Antes, nosotros florecíamos en macetas en el balcón. — Before, we used to flower in pots on the balcony.
- Mañana, tú florecerás en primavera cada año. — Tomorrow, you will flower in spring every year.
- Yo florecería en el jardín de la abuela si tuviera más tiempo. — I would flower in grandmother's garden if I had more time.
- Él ha florecido con el calor de mayo. — He has flowered in the May heat.
- Espero que él florezca en macetas en el balcón. — I hope he flowers in pots on the balcony.
- Yo ya había florecido en primavera cada año antes de salir. — I had already flowered in spring every year before leaving.
- Ellos florecían en el jardín de la abuela cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to flower in grandmother's garden when they were young.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Yo florece en primavera cada año. — Right: Yo florezco en primavera cada año. — The person matters: florece is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is florezco. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
- Wrong: Yo floreco en el jardín de la abuela. — Right: Yo florezco en el jardín de la abuela. — In the present, the correct first-person form is florezco, not floreco. florecer is a spelling-change verb: c becomes zc before o and a, so the written form changes to keep the same sound. The regular-looking form is wrong.
- Wrong: Treating florecer and crecer as identical in every context. — Right: Florecer means to flower, to bloom, while crecer means to grow, the general verb. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: florecer fits sentences such as Florezco en primavera cada año, while crecer belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
- Wrong: Yo soy florecido en el jardín de la abuela. — Right: Yo he florecido en el jardín de la abuela. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he florecido, has florecido, ha florecido. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
- Wrong: De niño, yo florecí con el calor de mayo todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo florecía con el calor de mayo todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (florecía), not the preterite. The preterite (florecí) is for one finished action.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on florecer. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ en primavera cada año. (present tense) A. florezco B. floreces C. florece D. florecemos
Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ en el jardín de la abuela. (preterite) A. florecí B. floreciste C. florecieron D. floreció
Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ con el calor de mayo. (imperfect) A. florecías B. florecían C. florecíamos D. florecía
Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ en macetas en el balcón. (future) A. floreceremos B. florecerás C. floreceré D. florecerá
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ en primavera cada año si pudiera. (conditional) A. florecería B. florecerías C. florecerían D. florezco
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ en el jardín de la abuela. (present subjunctive) A. florezcas B. florezcamos C. florezco D. florezca
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ con el calor de mayo, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. floreciéramos B. florezco C. floreciera D. florecieras
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ en macetas en el balcón. (present perfect) A. han florecido B. hemos florecido C. he florecido D. has florecido
Complete the command: ¡___ en primavera cada año! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. florece B. florezca C. florezcamos D. floreced
Which is the gerund of florecer, used with estar for the progressive? A. florecido B. florezco C. florecí D. floreciendo
Answer key
- florezco — The first-person present of florecer is florezco. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
- floreció — The third-person preterite of florecer is floreció, the form for a single finished action in the past.
- florecíamos — The nosotros imperfect of florecer is florecíamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
- florecerás — The second-person future of florecer is florecerás.
- florecería — The first-person conditional of florecer is florecería, the form for what would happen.
- florezca — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of florecer is florezca.
- floreciera — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of florecer is floreciera.
- hemos florecido — The nosotros present perfect of florecer is hemos florecido: hemos + florecido.
- florece — The affirmative tú imperative of florecer is florece.
- floreciendo — The gerund of florecer is floreciendo: estoy floreciendo. The participle florecido is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does florecer mean in English?
Florecer means to flower, to bloom. It is used in everyday situations such as Florezco en primavera cada año. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is florecer regular or irregular?
Florecer is a fully regular -er verb, so every tense follows the standard endings for its class. Once you know the regular pattern, you can produce every form on this page, including florezco in the present and florecí in the preterite.
What is the difference between florecer and crecer?
Florecer means to flower, to bloom, while crecer means to grow, the general verb. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use florecer when you mean to flower, to bloom, as in Florezco en primavera cada año, and use crecer for to grow, the general verb. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.
How do I say “I flower” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo florecí en el jardín de la abuela. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo florecía con el calor de mayo. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he florecido en el jardín de la abuela.
How do I practise florecer?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the florecer examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Florecer in the present tense — the full present-tense table for florecer.
- Florecer examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for florecer.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Amanecer conjugation — another -er verb to compare with florecer.
- Obedecer conjugation — another -er verb to compare with florecer.
- Anochecer conjugation — another -er verb to compare with florecer.
- Spanish Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.