Meaning of flowers

 

Flowers are plant’s reproductive organs that evolved to captivate the attention of pollinators. However, as a side effect, they have enchanted the imagination of human beings too.

 

Undoubtedly, blooms are one of nature’s most optically stunning inventions. Humans, being highly visual and imaginative creatures, took notice of all the astounding colors and shapes, assigning them meanings beyond their original purpose.

 

Let’s dive into the world of flower symbolism – where the bloom colors express feelings, intentions, and wishes.

Flowers that represent love

 

Love is one of the most intense human emotions – it is a phenomenon of its own. It is only natural that warm, fiery, stimulating colors are strongly associated with love.

 

Flowers that symbolize love are thus bright, lavish, and have deep hues – usually reds, pinks, and oranges, although cooler colors such as blue and white are sometimes also connected to sublime loving emotions.

 

• Red rose. Probably the most classical representation of love in horticulture, the red rose represents deep, passionate love. Be careful when picking the hue, though – the deep, crimson rose often depicts mourning.
• Gerbera. Tall, broad, optimistic, soft to the touch, and deeply beautiful, gerberas are another evident expression of love in the bloom world. In particular, gerberas – especially the red ones – stand for loyal love and joy.
• Red tulip – the red tulip is another classical representation of love and new beginnings. The fact that tulips bloom prolifically in the spring makes them ideal for spontaneous courtship.
• Camelia. This tender and beautiful flower stand for affection, admiration, and – love. If your darling is far away from you, pink camellias are ideal for expressing the “missing you” factor and all the longing that comes with it.
• Carnation – for a long time and before many exotic species became common, the red carnation was one of the more dramatic blooms to express love and affection. In general, a carnation reflects a female or mother’s love, but also romantic fascination. Red carnation stood for deep (and sometimes tragic!) love. White carnation symbolized innocence and pure, young love. Pink carnation meant that you’ll never forget someone. Ironically, all types of carnation seem to be a bit forgotten these days. That can be an advantage if you want to add some old-timey romance to your floral statement.

 

Flowers that represent life

 

Unlike love, there are not a lot of flower types that represent “life” itself. However, somewhat logically, flowers that symbolize life-affirming qualities are also used to celebrate life. Let’s explore how these flowers are connected to the value of living.

 

• Amaranth symbolizes immortality because the flowers don’t lose their color or shape even after the plant dies. The name ‘amaranth’ actually originates from the Greek word ‘amarantos,’ meaning ‘(one) which does not whither.’ Of course, whatever can cheat death automatically becomes a symbol of life.
• Lavender. Lavender also symbolizes long life among its other meanings, such as purity, grace, and devotion. Besides the lavender’s hardiness and general resilience to adverse conditions, the calming properties of lavender fragrance surely contribute to its connectedness to wellness and well-being.
• Peonies. Well-known for their lush and extravagant look, peonies have a “larger than life” look (speaking of that, Marco Polo described them as “roses big as a cabbage”). It is no wonder they symbolize a happy life, as well as a happy marriage.
• Lotus represents purity and rebirth. This pretty flower looks so pure but grows from the swamp mud and muck. That is why it is such a potent symbol of transformation and new life.

 

Flowers that represent hope

 

Because of their inherent beauty, the appearance of many flowers is instantly soothing. Therefore, flowers are commonly used as a representation of hope – for a better future, recovery, peace, or fulfillment of another longing. Since hope is a gentle and pacifying concept, it is no wonder that many “hope flowers” come in color blue or purple.

 

• Irises stand for hope, bravery, and camaraderie. It is no wonder it served as a direct inspiration for the fleur-de-lis symbol.
• The blue cornflower (Centaurea cyanus) is also known as a Bachelor’s button because it represents a special kind of hope – a hope regarding love. Folk beliefs say that a young man – a wannabe bachelor – can foresee the strength of his beloved one’s feelings by wearing this flower in his buttonhole. If the color remains strong, he can expect true, lasting love. However, if it fades quickly, the love is fleeting and not true.
• Cherry blossoms – and fruit blossoms in general – represent a hope of a new beginning. These blooms represent the first splashes of color after long and dull winters in temperate climates. Quite expectedly, they are consequently associated with the anticipation of good things to come.

 

Flowers that represent healing

 

Many flowers that represent healing are actually medicinal or aromatic plants – and quite often, its those with a long history of traditional use. Here are some of the more famous examples.

 

• Yarrow symbolizes healing, love, and protection. The symbolism is probably derived directly from the plant’s medicinal properties. It may not be widely known, but yarrow is one of the oldest medicinal plants in the world. As often with ancient healing plants, it is seen as protective against all sorts of supernatural evil influences.
• Sage is gorgeously decorative and, like yarrow, has been hailed as a symbol of healing due to its wide-ranging medicinal properties. Also, burning sage is ritualistically done to ward off evil spirits.
• Daisies are among the best “get-well-soon” flowers and a great gift for a sick person in recovery. While wild daisies possess some medicinal properties, they are commonly picked to pass a healing message due to their bright looks and the feeling of abundance and positivity they instill.

 

The Meanings Of Flower Colors

 

You must have figured out by now that red flowers indicate love, passion, or other deep feelings.

 

Still, what about other flower colors? What do they represent?

Continue reading, and you’ll find out.

 

What is the meaning of yellow flowers?

 

Yellow flowers have the color of sunshine, naturally being connected to optimism, positivity, happiness, and loyalty.

 

Still, in the earlier days, the yellow color of some flowers wasn’t interpreted exclusively as cheery. During Victorian times, when gifting flowers was used to convey positive and negative messages, the yellow rose was a symbol of jealousy.

 

What is the meaning of lavender flowers?

 

Although it’s a stand-alone hue, the lavender color is still mostly associated with the Lavender flower, so the two have a shared symbolism. Lavender color thus represents serenity, purity, devotion, and grace. As a hue of purple, it gives off an elegant, refined, royal vibe as well.

 

What is the meaning of Orange flowers?

 

Orange is the most vibrant and vivid color on the spectrum. That is why orange blooms portray excitement, enthusiasm, fervor, and happiness. Another dimension of orange flowers is that they’re commonly associated with autumn and are used to symbolize (and decorate) this season.

 

What is the meaning of blue flowers?

 

Blue flowers are special. Since the color is relatively rare in the natural world, the blue flower represents striving for the unreachable and infinity. This is also true in the context of symbolizing desire and love in this special way. Certain blue flowers likewise symbolize beauty, hope, and sometimes ambition.

 

What is the meaning of pink flowers?

 

According to psychologists, pink is the most peaceful, pacifying color of them all. Thus, it is no wonder that pink flowers are associated with gentility, grace, innocence, happiness, joy, and gentle love. Also, pink flowers often represent youth.

 

What is the meaning of white flowers?

 

White flowers are symbols of purity, innocence, sympathy, reverence, and dedication. Due to their sublime and spiritual nature, white flowers are often featured in key life ceremonies such as weddings and funerals.

 

Conclusion

 

Knowing how to choose the right flower for a beloved person can convey emotion, signal deep dedication, but also evoke a sense of much-coveted mystery in relationships. Good luck with making the right pick!

 

We hope you have enjoyed this little journey to the realm of colorful flower symbols. Hopefully, you can now navigate this enchanting world with more knowledge and understanding.