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The Meanings of Flowers
We all know that roses are the floral symbol of love. But did you know a yellow rose communicates jealousy and infidelity? Or that the pink carnation is the perfect flower for Mother’s Day because it celebrates a mother’s love? Understanding the meanings associated with specific flowers can help you create a floral arrangement that communicates your message and feelings more deeply. Combining flowers with similar meanings can create a unique and personalised floral gift that really celebrates the connection between you and the person you are giving it to.
Flowers have an amazing ability to bring people closer, to send love and well wishes when you can’t physically be with someone. Not only do flowers make us happy in the moment of receiving them, but they boost to our mental and emotional well being has been shown to last for days. The act of sending flowers to someone sends a message that you care about them and are thinking of them. But the language of flowers runs much deeper than that. For many centuries meanings have been attributed to different types of flowers, their colours and even the way floral arrangements are presented. Myths and creation stories featuring flowers can be found in both Western and Eastern cultures and religions.
Floriography, the cryptic communication of meaning through flowers, came into popularity during the Victorian era. With strict moral codes dictating social interactions, flowers became a way for friends, enemies and lovers to secretly communicate their feelings and intentions.
The meaning of different blooms has changed over time and can differ across countries. The list below reflects the meanings most commonly accepted in Western cultures and have been organised by occasion to help you find the perfect bloom to communicate your floral message. There is also a list of flowers to avoid given their negative attributions.
- Birthday
- Engagement/Wedding/Anniversary
- Valentine’s Day
- Bereavement/Get Well
- Mother’s Day
- Thank You/Friendship
- Home/Office
- Flowers to Avoid
Birthday
Alyssum – worth beyond beauty
Anemone – protection against evil and ill wishes
Baby’s Breath – innocence, pure of heart
Daisy – innocence and hope
Lilac – joy of youth
Lily (Calla) – beauty
Lily of the Valley – sweetness and purity
Marjoram – joy and happiness
Morning Glory – affection
Pansy – I’m thinking of you
Peony – happy life
Tulip (yellow) – sunshine in your smile
Engagement/Wedding/Anniversary
Baby’s Breath – innocence, pure of heart
Dahlia – commitment and everlasting bond
Forget-Me-Not – true love
Heliotrobe – eternal love and devotion
Honeysuckle – bonds of love
Ivy – fidelity, marriage
Jasmine (white) – sweet love
Lily of the Valley – pure love
Myrtle – good luck and love in marriage
Rose (red) – I love you
Rose (pink) – happiness
Rose (white) – I am worthy of you
Salvia (red) – forever mine
Sunflower (dwarf) – adoration
Violet – loyalty, devotion, faithfulness
TIP: If you are planning flowers for a wedding, or looking to send flowers for a wedding/engagement, make sure you check the seasonal availability of popular wedding flowers to make sure the flowers you are after will be available at that time of year
Valentine’s Day
Camellia (red) – you are a flame in my heart
Camellia (white) – perfected loveliness
Camellia (pink) – longing for you
Carnation (except yellow) – love
Chrysanthemum (red) – I love you
Daffodil – unequalled love, devotion
Gardenia – secret love
Heliotrobe – eternal love and devotion
Jasmine (white) – sweet love
Lily (Calla) – beauty
Lily of the Valley – pure love
Ranunculus – I’m dazzled by you
Rose (red) – I love you
Rose (white) – I am worthy of you
Salvia (blue) – thinking of you
Salvia (red) – forever mine
Sunflower (dwarf) – adoration
Tulip (red) – passion, declaration of love
Violet – loyalty, devotion, faithfulness
Bereavement/Get Well
Azalea – take care of yourself
Chamomile – patience in adversity
Gladioli – remembrance
Hyacinth (white) – prayers for someone
Hyacinth (purple) – sorrow
Lemon balm – sympathy
Pansy – I’m thinking of you
Peace Lily – wish of peace
Poppy (red) – consolation
Rose (dark crimson) – mourning
Rosemary – remembrance
Salvia (blue) – thinking of you
Thyme – courage and strength
Zinnia – thoughts of an absent friend
TIP: It has been scientifically proven that our brains respond to different colours in different ways
https://www.easyflowers.com.au/information/meanings
Blue – calming, lowers blood pressure
Green – soothing, mentally relaxing, helps those sufferng from depression, anxiety and nervousness
Violet – peace
Pink – relaxation, relieves tensions, soothes
Yellow – energises and improves mood
Orange – energises, stimulates
Red – stimulates brain activity, increases heart rate and respiration rate
Black – self-confidence, power, strength
Mother’s Day
Alyssum – worth beyond beauty
Camellia (white) – perfected loveliness
Carnation – a mother’s love (the Mother’s Day equivalent of a rose for Valentine’s day)
Daisy – loyal love
Iris – eloquence and wisdom
Honeysuckle – bonds of love
Jasmine (yellow) – grace and eloquence
Lily (Calla) – beauty
Lily (Day) – Chinese emblem for mother
Rose (red) – I love you
Tulip (yellow) – sunshine in your smile
Thank You/Friendship
Azalea – take care of yourself
Camellia – gratitude
Chrysanthemum – you are a wonderful friend
Geranium – true friendship
Hyacinth (blue) – sincerity
Freesia – trust and friendship
Iris – wisdom and friendship
Lotus – purity, enlightenment, self-regeneration, rebirth
Salvia (blue) – thinking of you
Home/Office
Caladium – great joy and delight
Cattail – peace and prosperity
Chrysanthemum (white) – truth
Crocus – cheerfulness, gladness
Fern – confidence and shelter
Freesia – trust
Heather (white) – protection, wishes will come true
Holly – domestic happiness
Hyacinth (blue) – constancy
Palm leaves – victory, success
Poppy (yellow) – wealth, success
Wisteria – welcome
TIP: Bringing flowers/plants into your home regularly has amazing benefits for your emotional and mental well being. Studies have shown that the presence of flowers in a home or office can help reduce stress, overcome insomnia (particularly lavender), bring calm, boost your mood, improve creativity and help with concentration and productivity. What is not to like!
Flowers to avoid
Carnation (yellow) – rejection, disappointment
Carnation (purple) – capriciousness, unreliability
Carnation (striped) – refusal
Chrysanthemum (yellow) – slighted love, rejection
Hyacinth (yellow) – jealousy
Marigold – despair, jealousy
Rhododendron – danger, beware
Rose (yellow) – jealousy, infidelity, loss of love
Sunflower (tall) – pride
If you have a special message in mind or need some help picking the right flowers for your arrangement, get in contact and we can chat through your message and flower options/availability.
Flowers meanings sourced from:
https://www.almanac.com/content/flower-meanings-language-flowers#