What Do Different Flowers Symbolize? Think Love, Passion, and Goodbye!

How do we even get to wondering what different flowers symbolize? I guess I can start by sharing one of my weekly routines.

My husband and I enjoy a leisurely walk around our town every Saturday. If you drove by us, you might think, “What is that crazy woman doing, running around taking pictures of every single flower?” And it’s true! I love stopping to check them out and take pictures as we work our way through the neighborhood.

But I’ve never been super interested in knowing their names or what they mean. Recently, I thought  – that could be fun! So, I decided to improve my knowledge on this subject and learn what different flowers symbolize.

There are some with obvious meanings that we’re all probably familiar with.  For instance, when I received my first dozen red roses for my thirteenth birthday, I was so excited because I knew that must have meant true love, ha! But I didn’t realize that a baby’s breath means “everlasting love,” lilacs represent “first signs of love,” and daisies mean “playfulness and happiness.” Did you? As it turns out, there’s a Secret Language of Flowers, and every flower has a unique and special meaning.  

A little history of the meaning of flowers

Called floriography, flowers have been used to express emotions for thousands of years. This custom was extremely popular in the 19th century in Victorian England and across the sea in the United States. With their strict social customs, the Victorians turned to flowers to help them say what they couldn’t say out loud. (Isn’t that fascinating? My how things have changed.)

Master gardener Marie Iannotti shares that Shakespeare used flowers to convey emotion in his storylines. “Even dashing Leopold, in the movie ‘Kate and Leopold,’ knew better than to send a woman orange lilies.” (They signify hate!)

How to use flowers to symbolize feelings

Today, it might be fun and creative to give a themed bouquet as a special treat to someone you love (or don’t love, depending on the flower ;-), along with hints for figuring out the meaning. For example, if a friend or loved one is embarking on a new adventure, you could give them a custom bouquet of heather (good luck), camellia (loveliness), and blue iris (signifying “I believe in you”).

You could also make a statement by keeping things simple. Consider a small bouquet of alstroemeria (devotion and friendship) for an enduring, loving friendship. Or, if you are in a long-lasting, loving relationship, send a bouquet of tulips (happy years!). Lastly, if you are passionate about someone you recently met, have an orchid delivered (romantic love that tends to have racy connotations).

Now that you know so much more about how flowers communicate emotions, you can enjoy selecting the right one for the moment at hand.

See if you can use this list to “Say it with flowers!”

List of flowers and their meanings:

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Alstroemeria: Devotion and friendship
Apple Blossom: Good fortune
Artemisia: Dignity
Baby’s Breath: Everlasting love 
Blue Iris: “I believe in you” –  wisdom, hope, faith. 
Calla Lily: Magnificent beauty
Camellia: Perfected loveliness
Cyclamen: It’s over, goodbye
Dahlia: Dignity, confidence, and strength. A bouquet says gratitude. 
Daisy: Playfulness and happiness. Innocence and hope.
Forget-me-not: Memories
Foxglove: Insincerity
Gardenia: Secret Love
Gladiolus: Strong character and splendid beauty
Heather (pink): Good luck
Jasmine: Cheerful and graceful
Lilac: First sign of love
Lily: purity and innocence (white);  prosperity (pink)
Lily of the Valley: sweetness and purity; pure love
Marigold: Cruelty or jealousy
Orchid: Romantic love that tends to have racy connotations.  Exotic and graceful.
Queen Anne’s Lace: Fantasy
Rose: A fully open rose represents beauty;  Red roses stand for passion and love, while yellow and peach symbolize friendship.
Sweet Pea:  Pleasure and gratitude: “Thank you for the time we spent together.” 
Tulip: Happy years. Purple is associated with royalty
Violet: Modesty
Yellow Daylilies: Coquetry – flirtatious
Zinnia: Thoughts of absent friends
 

Links and resources: 

• Flower Meanings from The Old Farmer’s Almanac 
• The Language of Flowers 
• The Secret Meaning of Herbs 
• The Meaning of Flowers – International Feng Shui School
• Oak Spring Garden Foundation

Flowers can bring so much happiness to someone. See a few things that bring happiness to me here.

(This post was originally published on April 6, 2021, and has been updated for increased thoroughness and clarity.)