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FLOWER MEANINGS

Flowers have the power to brighten up any day, making an average Tuesday feel like a special occasion – they also make special occasions even more so! It seems like common knowledge that roses symbolize love, but what do the other flowers mean?

 

Flower language - or floriography - is the art of flower symbolism, which varies depending on the type, colour and number of flowers given. Did you know that rose meanings include more than just love and romance? Or that the daisy symbolizes innocence and purity? Do you want to send a message of love, friendship, or condolences? Whatever you want to say, say it with flowers after all there is a variety for practically every feeling you could ever express.

 

To avoid sending the wrong message, take a look at what each flower symbolizes.

Red Lillies

Love

  • Red Rose - The lover's rose, often associated with Valentine's Day, meaning enduring passion.

  • Dahlia - Demonstrates the lasting bond and commitment between two people - great for anniversaries.

  • Red Tulip - Tulips in general mean perfect love. Red tulips take this a step further and symbolize true love, so are an ideal gift for the love of your life.

  • Carnation - They stand for love, fascination, and distinction but the colour you choose changes the meaning slightly:

    • Light Red - admiration

    • Dark Red - deep love and affection

    • White- pure love and good luck

    • Pink - a Mother's undying love

  • Alchemilla Mollis (Lady's Mantle) - These are given to show comforting love, at a time when you want to let someone know you are there for them.

  • Red Camellia - Choose these flowers if you want to show love, passion, and a deep desire for someone.

Friendship

  • Yellow Rose - Yellow roses symbolize friendship and joy - perfect to give at your friend's next dinner party.

  • Freesia - These delicate blooms show innocence and thoughtfulness.

  • Stocks - A pretty flower meaning lasting beauty, a happy life, and the bonds of affection - perfect for a best friend.

  • Alstroemeria (Peruvian Lilies) - This is a flower of friendship that also symbolizes wealth, prosperity, and fortune.

Yellow Roses
Chinese Wisteria

Admiration

  • Lavender Rose - This delicate colour of rose means enchantment and love at first sight - ideal for a blossoming romance.

  • Sweet William - As one of the only flowers to symbolize masculinity, sweet william means gallantry. Historically, Sweet William was mentioned in romantic ballads as a noble, lovelorn hero, so give these to your knight in shining armour.

  • Orchid - These highly distinctive flowers symbolize rare and delicate beauty. Interestingly, they were favoured by the Ancient Greeks to show masculinity, but this has now changed to a more feminine meaning.

  • Amaryllis - Give this flower to someone you find incredibly beautiful who you also value beyond their beauty.

  • Camellia - The general meaning of these flowers is love, affection and admiration. Go for white to show adoration and pink to show longing (often given to someone who is missed).

Gratitude

  • Pink Roses - Pink roses are the perfect way to show gratitude, appreciation, and admiration.

  • Hydrangea - The hydrangea symbolizes gratitude for being understood. They represent anything that is sincerely heartfelt.

  • Peach Rose - These roses are ideal for flower girls because they represent modesty and demureness. They can also be given to show someone how much you are missing them.

Close Up of Pink Roses
Colorful Flowers

Empathy &

Rememberance

This is a great place to add a tagline.

  • Poppy - This is one of the most well-known flower meanings because we buy paper ones each year for Remembrance Day. They symbolize remembrance and consolation.

  • White Stargazer Lily - As a common funeral flower these lilies resemble purity, innocence, and sympathy.

  • Statice - Statice is given for remembrance and sympathy but can also be a symbol of success.

  • Purple Hyacinth - Hyacinth gets its name from an Ancient Greek boy named Hyakinthos. The Gods Apollo and Zephyr fought for his attention and killed him in the process. The flower that grew from his blood was called the Hyacinth. Perhaps this is why purple hyacinths mean sorrow, forgiveness, and regret.

  • White Tulip - These flowers are used to show worthiness and to seek forgiveness, making them a great flower for when you are trying to apologize.

Joy

This is a great place to add a tagline.

  • Sunflower - How can the big, cheerful heads of the sunflower mean anything but happiness?

  • Chrysanthemum - These beautiful blooms symbolise optimism, joy, and long life.

  • Daffodil (Narcissus) - As one of the first signs of spring it is no surprise that daffodils represent rebirth, new beginnings, and good fortune. Make sure you give them as a bunch because a single daffodil represents misfortune.

  • Pink Rose - The blush colour of these buds symbolizes happiness, joy, gratitude, and admiration. They are a favorite in bridal, thank you and congratulations bouquets.

  • Lily of the Valley - This delicate flower represents sweetness and purity and has appeared in the royal wedding bouquets of Kate Middleton (The Duchess of Cambridge) and Meghan Markle (The Duchess of Sussex).

  • Pink Hyacinth - The pink blooms of the hyacinth symbolize playfulness.

  • Yellow Tulip - These are given to reflect cheerfulness and sunshine, but it was not always this way, yellow tulips used to mean hopeless love.

  • Sweet Pea - Symbolizing pleasure, bliss, and departure after having a good time, sweet peas make a lovely addition to wedding bouquets.

  • Gerbera - These daisy-like flowers mean cheerfulness, loyal love, innocence, and purity.

Sunflower Portrait

Other flowers and their meanings:

  • White Calla Lily - These lilies mean beauty, innocence, magnificence, and purity which is why they are an extremely popular wedding flower.

  • Iris - Named after the Greek Goddess Iris, these flowers symbolize faith, hope and wisdom.

  • Peony - Peonies are often used in bridal bouquets because they represent prosperity, along with a happy life and marriage. They can also be used to express shame or indignation and are a symbol of bashfulness.

  • Pink Stargazer Lily - These beautiful pink blooms show wealth, prosperity, honour, and aspiration.

  • Anemone - There is quite a sad meaning associated with anemones. They show feeling forsaken or faded hope.

 

For more information or guidance, please feel free to speak with our consultant.

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