What do flowers symbolize? We created a quick guide to 50 kinds of flowers and their meanings, with some unexpected surprises — for instance, did you know that the gladiolus is a flower that represents strength and the water lily represents enlightenment and purity? Throughout history, the symbolic meanings of flowers have changed and shifted. For instance, there are many ways to interpret a beautiful lily: In the Roman era, it was stuffed into pillows, so the lily often represented love; in the Middle Ages, it became a religious symbol representing purity; but today, they’re often used in funerals. Common flowers like the peony or the daisy are still loaded with meaning, too. The language of flowers became popular during the Victorian era, when outward shows of affection were frowned upon but lovers still wanted to express how they felt. We’ve taken a deeper look at the etymology to find some of the most surprising and interesting different flower meanings.
Flower Meanings: A List by Color
White Flowers: Meaning innocence, perfection, and fidelity, white roses and calla lilies are often used in weddings, funerals, and religious occasions. In Western cultures, they tend to be linked with purity.
Red Flowers : You likely have already heard this one; red is typically associated with romantic love and seduction, especially red roses. Red roses are perfect for romantic gestures and a classic anniversary gift for married couples. Red in other flowers can represent desire and courage as well.
Orange Flowers: Seeing a big orange daisy will often put your gift recipient in a good mood! This color typically stands for joy and happiness. In roses, it translates to enthusiasm. Meaning aside, it’s also a great color for fall-themed gifts.
Yellow Flowers: Meaning joy and positive energy, a yellow rose tends to be considered the “friendship” flower. If you’ve received a gift like this and are wondering, “What do yellow flowers mean?” it tends to be the appropriate color for a non-romantic gift for a platonic friend. That doesn’t necessarily mean the gift-giver doesn’t have any romantic feelings, but yellow flowers tend to symbolize an appreciation for a dear friendship. They’re also a great way to say “thank you!”
Green Flowers: Representing luck, nature, harmony, and renewal, green flowers also make for an excellent gender-neutral gift for someone expecting a baby or an encouragement to get well.
Blue Flowers: Meaning tranquility, serenity, and calmness, this color is meant to help people de-stress and convey trust. A blue hydrangea is a good flower to say “I’m sorry” with, as it represents apology.
Purple Flowers: Meaning refinement and grace, dark purple reminds people in Western cultures of the opulence of royalty, and the lighter lavender color represents elegance and youth. Soft lavender roses represent love at first sight.
Flower Meanings: A List by Flower Types
- Roses: Rose comes from French, translating to “pink,” and the flower has been known to represent romantic love and passion.
- Sunflowers: This sun-facing flower was traditionally used for food and oil, but today, it’s been taken to mean adoration, longevity, and loyalty.
- Gerbera Daisies: These flowers, which are now synonymous with cheerfulness and innocence, were named after Traugott Gerber, the German botanist who helped discover them.
- Lilies: This flower has had a long history in art, religion, and culture, but today, it represents humility, devotion, and restored innocence. White lilies are commonly found at religious events and funerals.
- Orchids: The orchid is a very ancient flower! The name comes from the ancient Greek órkhis, meaning “testicle,” because of the shape of the roots of some orchids, and today, orchids stand for fertility, elegance, and luxury.
- Hydrangeas: Taken to mean gratitude, honestly, and understanding, the hydrangea is perfect for conveying deep emotions.
- Tulips: From the French tulipe, tracing back to the Persian word dulband, “turban,” after the shape of the bloom, this flower represents royalty, hope, and true love.
- Daisies: What’s more friendly and pure than a daisy? Coming from the phrase “day’s eye” in Old English, this flower represents innocence, purity, and motherhood.
- Carnations: Meaning love, admiration, and good fortune, the flower was once used in Greek ceremonial crowns.
