Flower Meanings and Symbolism
Flowers speak their own language, and you don’t have to be a detective to find out what it is. As you might know, red roses light the fire of passion, while white flowers gently convey purity and innocence. But be careful when choosing flowers to share your feelings because some flowers have hidden meanings that can change how your loved ones receive them. They can be more mysterious than you think. For example, giving a single daffodil is said to bring bad luck, and white tulips are a good choice if you want to ask for forgiveness.
The word flower thrives in every language,
adorning what everyone says and imagines
with the beautiful thought of flowers
which teach by timeless example
that life goes by anyway; you might as well flower.
– Kate Farrell
Have you ever wondered if you should give a red or pink rose? Or what the bouquet of white and yellow flowers you received means? Do you want to know what flowers say thank you? If you don’t know the meanings of flowers, read further!
Flower Meanings List
| Flower Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Amaryllis | Pride, pastoral poetry |
| Anemone | Forsaken |
| Aster | Symbol of love, daintiness |
| Alstroemeria | Devotion and friendship |
| Begonia | Beware |
| Bluebell | Humility |
| Blue iris | I believe in you |
| Calla Lily | Beauty |
| Camellia | loveliness |
| Carnation | Fascination, women love |
| Chrysanthemum | Love and Truth |
| Daffodil | Regard, unequalled love |
| Dahlias | Inner strength |
| Daisy | Innocence, loyal love, I’ll never tell, purity |
| Fern | Magic, fascination, confidence and shelter |
| Geranium | Stupidity, folly |
| Flower Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Gladiolus | Give me a break |
| Grass | Submission |
| Heather | good luck |
| Hyacinth | Games and sports, rashness |
| Hydrangea | Thank you for understanding, frigidity |
| Iris | Your friendship means so much to me, faith, hope |
| Larkspur (pink) | Fickleness |
| Lilac | Old love |
| Lily | Fertility and rebirth |
| Orchid | Love, beauty, refinement |
| Peony | Shame, happy life, happy marriage |
| Poppy | Eternal sleep, oblivion, imagination |
| Rose Meaning | Love & Passion |
| Snapdragon | Deception, gracious lady |
| Sunflowers | loyalty, adoration |
| Tulip | Perfect lover, fame, flower emblem of Holland |
Surprising Language of Flowers
- Bouquet of withered flowers mean —Rejected love
- Dead leaves mean —Sadness
- White & Green flowers mean – Funerals
- Bouquet of yellow flowers mean – congratulations
Flower Symbolism for Occasions
Weddings: Roses, lilies, and orchids are the common popular flowers for wedding bouquets and decorations
Funerals: Lilies, chrysanthemums, and white roses are the most popular flowers used for funerals.
Anniversary: Each milestone has specific flowers. For instance, for the 25th anniversary, red roses will be used, while purple suits for the 50th anniversary.
Birthdays: Each month has a flower to celebrate a birthday. For example, carnations signify January, while daisies are meant for April births.
Valentine’s Day: Red roses are the universal flower to express love on Valentine’s Day. Tulips and orchids are also good choices.
Christmas: Christmas flowers like roses, tulips, carnations, orchids, and alstroemeria symbolize cheerfulness and happiness.
History of the Language of Flowers
The language of flowers, called floriography, is often linked to the Victorian era. During Queen Victoria’s time, flowers became a way to share feelings that strict social rules made hard to express. This practice grew in the 19th century in both Victorian England and the United States. With their rigid customs, Victorians used flowers to say what they couldn’t speak aloud.
For instance, bouquets, known as tussie-mussies or nosegays, usually had one meaningful flower and fragrant herbs. Using these bouquets involved specific actions: holding the bouquet at heart level meant acceptance, holding it down indicated rejection, giving it with the right hand meant ‘yes,’ and using the left hand meant ‘no.” It’s interesting how times have changed!
Master gardener Marie Iannotti notes that Shakespeare also used flowers to show emotions in his works. In “Hamlet,” flowers are important; Ophelia explains what certain blooms mean (the speech begins with, “There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance; pray you, love, remember. And there are pansies, that’s for thoughts” (Act II, Scene IV) while others are mentioned without details.
Cultural Meaning of Flowers
The significance and symbolism of flowers differ considerably across diverse cultures, highlighting the rich tapestry of traditions and beliefs that shape our understanding of their meaning.
South America: In Brazil, women gift yellow, pink, and white flowers, while black and purple are linked to mourning.
Asia: Red flowers symbolize good fortune, and lotus blossoms and orchids represent peace. Potted plants are avoided as gifts.
Russia: Single flowers are common for birthdays
Europe: In Germany, red roses indicate romantic intentions whereas carnations are used for mourning. In Italy, people gift flowers in odd numbers (not 13) as they believe even numbers bring bad luck. In Portugal, on Worker’s Day, people give yellow flowers called ‘Maias’ for protection.
Arab world: The three favored options of the Arab world are Red Roses, Peonies, and Lilies.
Australia: The Golden Wattle stands for unity and remembrance as it representing the resilience of the Australian people. it is often worn on national days of mourning as a sign of reflection.
North America: Flowers play a significant role in various cultural celebrations. For example, flowers are important to Día de los Muertos In Mexico, honoring deceased loved ones. In contrast, roses in the United States and Canada predominantly symbolize love, particularly on occasions like Mother’s Day, reflecting deep emotional connections.