Which Flowers Please Lord Shiva

Devotees consider worshiping and performing prayers and doing fasting completes worshiping but there are some flowers that are to be used during rituals which pleases Lord Shiva ,so have a look about all flowers those are used to worship Lord Shiva

Some of the items used to Worship :Curd, Milk, Honey, Tender Coconut water, Vibhuti (holy ash),Coconuts, Panchamruta (Solution made with Milk, Sugar, Ghee, Honey, curd), Bananas, Sandalwood Paste, Ghee (Clarified butter), Turmeric & Bilva leaves ( Bilva leaves used in prayer should be of 3 leaflets even if one of the leaves gets detached of three leaves then it is of no use.),

Flowers :
Bow string Hemp Flowers, Datura Flowers, Lotus(Blue, Pink/White )Flowers are very auspicious

Qualities which are considered as 8 Flowers That Please Lord Shiva :

• Non-violence/Ahimsa 
• Control over all senses 
• Kindness 
• Forgiving is really a speacial and the Fourth Flower 
• Peace 
• Penance 
• Meditation 
• Truth

Flowers To Avoid During Praying Lord Shiva:

Champak & Ketak Flowers 

Champaka, or Yellow Champak is not used in the worship of Lord Shiva.Here is the story and reason why it is not used.

A beautiful Champaka tree with full of flowers stood near Lord Shiva's Temple in Gokarna . Sage Narada once on his way to temple noticed this tree and admired it.One day he found a Brahmin who came to pluck the flowers, but when he saw Narada he refrained from doing it.

Sage Narada asked the Brahmin about his where about and why did he refrained from plucking the flowers then the Brahmin answered him that he was on his way to a nearby village and just stood their enjoying the Fragrance of Champaka tree.

Narada went to temple and when he returned he observed again the Brahmin plucking and this time he hid those flowers in a basket . So, Sage Narada approached the Champaka tree and asked it whether anyone plucked its flowers,which answered "NO".

But still Sage Narada had his doubts so he went back to the temple and found that the Shivling was covered with Champaka flowers. Sage Narada asked a man who was meditating nearby as to who offered this flowers to Lord Shiva. The man told that an evil Brahmin daily comes and showers the Shivlingam with champak flowers.

Lord Shiva is pleased with this act and due to His blessings the Brahmin has become very powerful in the King’s court and now harasses poor people. The Sage Narada went to Lord Shiva and asked why he is helping the bad man. Shiva told that I cannot deny a devotee who worships me with Champaka flowers. Sage Narada went back to the Champaka tree and cursed it for lying to him. He said that the champa flowers will never be accepted in worship of Lord Shiva. He also cursed the evil Brahmin to be born as demon and will attain only moksha when Lord Ram kills him.

It is said that Ketaki Flower is cursed by Lord Shiva. This goes like this ,
Once Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu got it into a fight over who is supreme. To sort out the issue Lord Shiva made His first appearance in the form of Jyotirlinga or Lingodabhavamurti (a column of fire with no end or beginning) before Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma.

Lord Shiva intervened in the fight and said whoever can find out the origin or end of the Shivling is superior. Lord Brahma and Vishnu set off to explore the beginning and end of the mighty column of light. Vishnu went down in the form of a boar and Lord Brahma went up in the form of a swan. Lord Vishnu was unable to find the base and came up and admitted defeat.

Brahma on his journey upwards came across a Ketaki flower. Brahma again went up but was unable to find the uppermost limits. So He decided to take the help of the Ketaki flower. Brahma decided to take the Ketaki flower back to Vishnu to bear witness that he had reached the top of the pillar of light. Brahma said he found the Ketaki flower atop the Jyotirlinga and ketaki supported it.

This lie infuriated Shiva. Brahma was cursed that for telling lie, He would not be worshiped on earth by people. Similarly, ketaki was also cursed that she would never again be used in worship of Shiva. Thus, ketaki is not used for pujas and worship of Lord Shiva.

Flowers/Leaves that can be Used for Worshiping Lord Shiva:Tulasi :

In my last posts I have elaborated the importance of Tulasi and its greatness. Puranas mentions that pooja without the use of Tulasi is incomplete and hence worthless
Bilva Leaves :

It is believed that Lord Shiva is present in this sacred tree.Bilva leaves are very sacred to offer Lord Shiva . It is used while offering prayers to Lord Shiva. Bilva leaves resembles like the three eyes of Lord Shiva, hence got the name Tripatra .Lakshmi Devi wears the fruit of Bilva in her right hand. Hence this tree is also called Sriphalam. The fruit is also known as golden apple, stone apple and such names in English
Cassia siamea (Tangedu ):

These flowers are seen on (snake) ant hills and are used only for Lord Shiva
Butterfly pea (Shankhupushpam):

Shankhupushpam means a conch shaped flower.Because of its unique it is used to worship Lord Shiva
Nandiaarvattam :

As Lord Shiva like white color this is used for worshiping Him.This is used to pray even to all deities as well
Bow String Flower :

The flower of Bow String is mainly used in Shiva temples. It is not used in Vishnu temples.
Marigold:

This is a very familiar and widely used flower for praying Lord Shiva due to its availability.
Lotus:

Lotus flowers are used in all temples and are considered the most auspicious .The growth of its pure beauty from the mud of its origin holds a beginning of spiritual promise.From ancient times the lotus has been a divine symbol in Hindu tradition. It is often used as an example of divine beauty, Its unfolding petals suggest the expansion of the soul.
Ixora coccinea (Chethi):

Techi flower is commonly used in all temples. This is also called as , Flame of the Woods, and Jungle Flame.
Hibiscus:

These flowers are used for worshiping  all deities including Lord Shiva