What Are Flowers in American Mahjong?
Flowers are eight special tiles that are all interchangeable — any flower satisfies a Flower (F) on the card. Here's how they're used, and why a Joker can't replace a pair of them.
Flowers are a set of eight special tiles in American Mahjong. Unlike the suits, all eight Flowers are interchangeable — any one of them satisfies a Flower (shown as F) wherever the card calls for it.
How Flowers are used
Many hands on the card use Flowers — often as a pair (FF) or a group. Because they're interchangeable, you don't need a specific flower; any flower counts. Some sets print four Flowers and four Seasons, but in American play they all serve the same purpose.
Flowers and Jokers
A Joker can fill a group of three or more Flowers, but never a pair of Flowers — like any pair, FF must be two real Flower tiles. That's a common spot where beginners get tripped up.