In this article, we will explore the symbolism behind some of the most popular flowers and the meanings they carry. But before we dive into that, let’s first take a look at the origins of these hidden floral messages.
A History into the Language of Flower (Floriography)
The language of flowers, also known as floriography, began in the Victorian era during the 19th century, although it has roots in ancient civilizations. In Victorian England, societal norms discouraged open displays of emotion, particularly in matters of love and affection. As a result, people conveyed messages of love, admiration, or even rejection through the thoughtful selection and arrangement of flowers.
Floriography became a fashionable pastime, with people exchanging bouquets and referring to flower dictionaries to decipher the hidden messages behind each bloom. This practice added an element of intrigue and romance to social interactions, allowing individuals to communicate feelings that words often could not express.
While floriography may not be as widely practiced today, the symbolic meanings of flowers continue to influence our lives. We choose flowers for special occasions, express condolences with specific blooms, and use flowers in art and literature to evoke emotions.
Let’s break down the most common flowers, what these flowers symbolize and suitable occasions for them.
Popular Flowers and Their Meanings
Rose
Meaning of Roses: Love, passion, and admiration (varies by color: red for love, yellow for friendship, white for purity).
Occasions: Anniversaries, weddings, Valentine’s Day.
Roses symbolize love, passion, and admiration. Each rose color carries a different meaning: red for love, yellow for friendship, pink for gratitude, and white for purity. Roses are perfect for romantic gestures, anniversaries, and expressing appreciation or affection.
Tulip
Meaning of Tulips: Perfect love and prosperity.
Occasions: Romantic gestures, spring celebrations, or new beginnings.
Tulips represent perfect love, elegance, and cheerfulness. Their simple yet elegant appearance makes them ideal for celebrating new beginnings, like spring, or expressing love and admiration. Tulips are popular for weddings, birthdays, and romantic occasions.
Lily
Meaning of Lilies: Purity, grace, and renewal.
Occasions: Weddings, sympathy bouquets, or religious events.
Lilies symbolize purity, renewal, and devotion. Their graceful, trumpet-like petals make them a popular choice for weddings and funerals. They are often used to express admiration, and their white variety symbolizes purity, while orange lilies represent passion.
Sunflower
Meaning of Sunflowers: Happiness, positivity, and loyalty.
Occasions: Birthdays, congratulations, or to brighten someone’s day.
Sunflowers represent happiness, loyalty, and adoration. Their bright, bold petals evoke feelings of warmth and positivity, making them perfect for birthdays, celebrations, and expressing admiration or support. Sunflowers are a great way to spread joy and cheer.
Orchid
Meaning of Orchids: Luxury, strength, and beauty.
Occasions: Milestone achievements, housewarmings, or anniversaries.
Orchids symbolize beauty, strength, and luxury. Their exotic, intricate blooms make them a popular choice for upscale gifts, weddings, and anniversaries. Orchids are perfect for those who appreciate unique, refined flowers that convey elegance and admiration.
Daisy
Meaning of Daisy: Innocence, joy, and new beginnings.
Occasions: Baby showers, thank-you gifts, or casual celebrations.
Daisies symbolize innocence, purity, and new beginnings. Their cheerful appearance makes them ideal for celebrations such as birthdays or baby showers, or to express heartfelt love and affection in a simple, yet meaningful way.
Carnation
Meaning of Carnations: Love, fascination, admiration, and gratitude. Carnations can also symbolize a mother’s love or a deep respect.
Occasion: Mother's Day, anniversaries, expressions of admiration
Carnations symbolize love, admiration, and gratitude. With their ruffled petals, they are perfect for expressing affection on occasions like Mother's Day, weddings, or anniversaries. Each color has its own meaning, such as pink for a mother's love and white for purity.
Peony
Meaning of Peonies: Prosperity, good fortune, wealth, happy life.
Occasion: Weddings, anniversaries, celebrations
Peonies represent prosperity, good fortune, and romance. Their lush petals make them ideal for weddings and celebrations of success. They symbolize a bright future, abundance, and a prosperous life, making them a thoughtful gift for milestones.
Hydrangea
Meaning of Hydrangeas: Gratitude, understanding, abundance and perseverance.
Occasion: Expressions of thanks, apologies, conveying deep feelings
With their large blooms, hydrangeas symbolize abundance and perseverance. They are perfect for weddings, anniversaries, or any occasion to express admiration.
Lavender
Meaning of Lavenders: Calmness, peace, devotion, healing
Occasion: Relaxation, aromatherapy, expressing admiration
Lavender represents calm, purity, devotion and love. Its soothing fragrance and soft color make it ideal for weddings, sympathy bouquets, or gifts that convey affection and serenity, offering peace and tranquility to the recipient.
Sweet Pea
Meaning of Sweet Peas: Delicate pleasures, blissful pleasure, and goodbye.
Occasion: Expressions of thanks, appreciation, pleasant surprises
Sweet peas symbolize delicate pleasures and blissful memories. Known for their soft hues and fragrance, they make great farewell gifts or expressions of affection, perfect for spring or special occasions to convey fondness and admiration.
Daffodil
Meaning of Daffodils: New beginnings, rebirth, hope
Occasion: Springtime, new beginnings, celebrating a new job, encouraging someone
Daffodils symbolize new beginnings, hope, and renewal. As one of the first flowers to bloom in spring, they are perfect for birthdays, celebrations, or to uplift someone starting a new chapter. Their bright yellow color brings joy and positivity.
Aster
Meaning of Asters: Elegance, wisdom, and love.
Occasion: Birthdays, anniversaries, convey affection, sympathy
Their vibrant colors of Asters make them charming flowers that evoke feelings of warmth and admiration. They’re perfect for moments when you want to convey heartfelt affection and grace to a loved one.
Chrysanthemum
Meaning of Chrysanthemum: Loyalty, friendship, and joy.
Occasion: Birthday celebrations, housewarmings, gifts for friends, funeral arrangements
Chrysanthemums are versatile flowers that carry meanings of both happiness and respect. They’re a popular choice for celebrations, as well as solemn occasions, making them both festive and reverent.
Anemone
Meaning of Anemones: Protection, anticipation, and new beginnings.
Occasion: Wedding, birthdays, engagements, new beginnings
Anemones are delicate flowers often associated with the idea of anticipation and excitement, making them a thoughtful gesture for those beginning a new chapter in life.
Dahlia
Meaning of Dahlias: Dignity, elegance, and strength.
Occasion: Weddings, especially in fall, birthdays, anniversaries.
With their bold, beautiful blooms, dahlias are perfect for celebrating important milestones and expressing admiration, making them a timeless favorite for various occasions.
Freesia
Meaning of Freesias: Innocence, friendship, trust, loyalty
Occasion: Gifting friends, family, and loved ones on birthdays, anniversaries, as a token of appreciation.
Freesias’ sweet fragrance and vibrant colors make them a perfect way to show gratitude and appreciation, creating an uplifting and joyful gift for loved ones.
Baby’s Breath
Meaning of Baby’s Breath: Purity, innocence, and everlasting love.
Occasion: Weddings, newborn celebrations, christenings, and anniversaries.
Baby’s breath adds a soft and delicate touch to any floral arrangement, symbolizing purity and love. It is often used as a complement to other flowers in arrangements, symbolizing support and connection.
Gerbera
Meaning of Gerberas: Cheerfulness, joy, strength
Occasion: Birthdays, weddings, brighten someone's day, congratulatory bouquets.
With their bright, bold colors, gerberas are the perfect choice for spreading joy and positivity, making them a popular choice for any cheerful occasion.
Iris
Meaning of Iris: Faith, wisdom, hope, inspiration, renewal
Occasion: Anniversaries, birthdays, weddings
Irises, with their elegant and distinct appearance, convey deep admiration and respect, making them commonly used on meaningful occasions to express gratitude, admiration or respect.
Delphinium
Meaning of Delphinium: Dignity, grace, and positivity.
Occasion: Perfect for celebrating achievements like graduations and new beginnings, like housewarming.
Delphinium’s tall, vibrant blooms stand as a reminder of ambition and perseverance. Often gifted for achievements and milestones, they inspire confidence and new beginnings.
Ranunculus
Meaning of Ranunculus: Charm, attraction, and admiration
Occasion: Perfect for romantic gestures, anniversaries, or expressing deep appreciation.
With its delicate and layered petals, the ranunculus symbolizes charm, attraction, and admiration. A symbol of romance and elegance, it’s ideal for anniversaries and heartfelt gestures.
Lisianthus
Meaning of Lisianthus: Gratitude, charisma, and lifelong bonds, embodying appreciation and sophistication.
Occasion: Great for weddings, thank-you gifts, or celebrating friendships.
Lisianthus symbolizes gratitude, elegance, and sincerity. Its delicate, ruffled petals convey appreciation and admiration, making it an ideal flower for expressing heartfelt thanks and respect.
Eustoma
Meaning of Eustoma: Represents gratitude, elegance, and appreciation. Often symbolizes a bond of love and respect.
Occasion: Perfect for weddings, thank-you gifts, and expressing admiration.
The Eustoma flower symbolizes gratitude, elegance, and admiration. Its delicate, ruffled petals convey appreciation and respect, making it a beautiful way to express heartfelt emotions and love.
Bird of Paradise
Meaning of Bird of Paradise: Joy, paradise, and freedom, signifying excitement and adventure.
Occasion: Ideal for birthdays, travel send-offs, or celebrating personal growth.
The Bird of Paradise’s exotic, vibrant appearance resembles a bird in flight, representing optimism, excitement, and new opportunities. Conveying a sense of boldness and exploration, it’s a perfect flower for celebrating milestones, travel, and personal growth.
The meaning behind flowers adds a layer of depth to the joy they bring. Whether you’re celebrating love, friendship, or sympathy, selecting the right flowers for any occasion ensures that your message is both beautiful and heartfelt.
At Noelle Fleur, we create bespoke bouquets that perfectly capture your sentiments. Reach out to us and let us bring your vision to life. View our florist picks here.
