9 Flowers that Symbolise Femininity (2024)

This entry was posted on January 12, 2024 by Becca Armstrong-Benson.

9 Flowers that Symbolise Femininity (1)

Across the centuries, flowers have been associated with different cultural symbols and messages, each bloom carrying its own distinctive meaning.

From love and devotion to happiness and optimism, there’s a flower to celebrate every emotion and character attribute under the sun.

Femininity is no exception. Yes, the term means different things to different people – there isn’t a fixed set of traits that characterises all women – but there are plenty of blooms that symbolise womanhood. Roses, pink lilies, azaleas – whichever you choose, they represent femininity in all its glory.

The mimosa flower, for instance, is a symbol of International Women’s Day, a global event held on March 8th each year to celebrate women’s social, economic, cultural and political achievements.

The event has been observed across Europe and the US from the early 1900s but it wasn’t until 1946 that flowers began to be linked to the occasion. In the early days Italian feminists chose mimosa as the traditional International Women’s Day flower but these days stems of every kind are handed out to honour women and the work they do.

We don’t need any excuse to gift flowers to our loved ones but if you’re looking for blooms that symbolise femininity you’ll be spoiled for choice. Here are some of our floral favourites.

Pink Roses

With their soft petals and enchanting fragrance, pink roses are commonly associated with femininity, grace and admiration. Countless writers, poets and artists have immortalised the rose in their work over the years, using this classic flower to celebrate women’s strength and beauty.

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Yellow Roses

Yellow roses celebrate female friendship so they make the perfect presents for women friends. We reckon that these cheery blooms are like a ray of sunshine in a bouquet – they’re just the ticket to show how much you care. The first variety grew wild in the Middle East but by the 18th century they were popular all over the world.

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Lilies

Often associated with qualities like purity, virtue and beauty, lilies are a classic choice for bridal bouquets. Their trumpet-shaped blooms and elegant stems always stand out from the crowd. In ancient times pink lilies were symbols of femininity and fertility and Greek and Roman brides threaded pink lilies through their hair in the belief that they would bring them family and fortune.

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Peonies

Sweet scented and soft petalled, these elegant and graceful flowers symbolise romance, prosperity, good fortune and a happy marriage. Celebrated in Chinese culture as “the king of flowers”, peonies also signify feminine strength and sensuality.

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Daisies

Unpretentious and classy, daisies symbolise fidelity and true love. In days gone by they were nicknamed “day’s eyes” because their petals close over their centres at night and open again in the morning – which is where the phrase “as fresh as a daisy” comes from. Often associated with youthful femininity, they’re a favourite choice for bridal bouquets.

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Orchids

One of the world’s most ancient flowers, these exotic and sophisticated blooms are often associated with feminine mystique. They symbolise pure, valued and respected friendship so they are a wonderful gift for your women friends at any time of year. With multiple flowers on each stem, they come in a confection of colours, from winter white to deep pink. The added bonus is that these long-lasting stems are easy to care for and can cope well in centrally heated homes. So what’s not to like?

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Carnations

Carnations, with their ruffled petals and spectacular colours, symbolise feminine love and fascination so they’re favourites to give to the women in your life. They're especially popular for Mother's Day, and in the USA they're the official Mother's Day flower.

Even better, these blooms are available all year round and are incredibly hardy, so as long you keep them away from direct sunlight and heat and regularly refresh their water, they can happily last up to three weeks in a vase.

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Azaleas

Lush and vibrant, azalea plants are members of the rhododendron family and are popular all the year round. With clusters of funnel-shaped petals and jewel-like colours, they signify a host of meanings, from elegance and wealth to femininity and feminine beauty. When it comes to colour, you have got countless options – there are more than 10,000 varieties of azalea, with colours ranging from pinks and reds to blues and purples.

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Mimosa

Italian feminists selected the mimosa as the official flower for International Women’s Day in 1946. They chose the bright yellow mimosa flower because it’s a symbol of female strength, sensitivity and sensibility. Sturdy and resilient, it’s the kind of bloom that catches the eye and puts a smile on everyone’s faces.

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9 Flowers that Symbolise Femininity (2024)

FAQs

9 Flowers that Symbolise Femininity? ›

The rose, an enduring classic in the botanical realm, stands as a poignant symbol of both love and femininity, especially the pink rose. Its velvety petals and intoxicating fragrance have made it an emblematic representation of the delicate yet resilient nature of femininity.

What flower symbolizes femininity? ›

The rose, an enduring classic in the botanical realm, stands as a poignant symbol of both love and femininity, especially the pink rose. Its velvety petals and intoxicating fragrance have made it an emblematic representation of the delicate yet resilient nature of femininity.

What is the symbol of femininity? ›

Venus symbol The Venus symbol (♀) is one of the most widely recognized symbols for women. In ancient Greece, Venus and Mars (representing men) symbols were used in alchemy to represent copper and iron.

What flower is associated with beauty? ›

Amaryllis. The amaryllis is often said to represent splendid beauty, and it's also meant to indicate worth beyond physical beauty.

What is the plant for strong woman? ›

The rose is one of the most beautiful and iconic plants that symbolizes female strength and determination. This flower, with its delicate petals and intoxicating fragrance, represents beauty in all its essence.

What flower is the feminist symbol? ›

Ever since Italian feminists chose this flower on March 8, 1946, the mimosa has been given to women to symbolize their strength, sensitivity, and sensibility.

What are the flowers of divine feminine? ›

The rose is considered to be the flower of the goddess in general. It was even assigned to the Divine Mother Mary. The aroma and image of pink roses persists in visions of the faithful, despite having been replaced by the more modest white lily by a medieval church council.

What are the 4 types of femininity? ›

All women have different modes of expression, but each woman carries the universal expressions of four main archetypes embodying the feminine essence: The Maiden, The Wild Woman, The Nurturer, and The Wise Woman.

What things are associated with femininity? ›

Traits such as nurturance, sensitivity, sweetness, supportiveness, gentleness, warmth, passivity, cooperativeness, expressiveness, modesty, humility, empathy, affection, tenderness, and being emotional, kind, helpful, devoted, and understanding have been cited as stereotypically feminine.

What represents divine feminine? ›

You'd find lists explaining that Divine Masculine usually represents qualities like strength, action, logic, and rationality, while Divine Feminine represents qualities like intuition, nurturing, creativity, and emotional intelligence.

What does lavender symbolize? ›

Lavender flowers represent purity, silence, devotion, serenity, grace, and calmness. Purple is the color of royalty and speaks of elegance, refinement, and luxury, too. The color is also associated with the crown chakra, which is the energy center associated with higher purpose and spiritual connectivity.

What do peonies represent? ›

Generally symbolic of love, honor, happiness wealth, romance, and beauty, the peony is traditionally given on special occasions as an expression of goodwill, best wishes, and joy.

What does a daisy symbolize? ›

These sunny springtime blooms have several positive meanings. The meaning of a daisy flower can be purity, innocence, new beginnings, joy and cheerfulness. In the Victorian Era, daisies symbolised innocence, loyalty and an ability to keep things secret.

What is the flower for feminine strength? ›

Peonies. Sweet scented and soft petalled, these elegant and graceful flowers symbolise romance, prosperity, good fortune and a happy marriage. Celebrated in Chinese culture as “the king of flowers”, peonies also signify feminine strength and sensuality.

What plants represent feminism? ›

The water lily is a metaphor for woman. It is an allegorical device for drawing attention to the vegetal world. Women and the vegetal world have much in common. The water lily is also a sexuate being.

Why are flowers associated with femininity? ›

Flowers and women mirror feminine biology and the growth and change of reproduction. After pollination, a seedpod swells from within the beautiful petals of a flower (the womb) creating a seed through which that flower will be born anew. Flowers represent life, much like women do.

What is the symbol of female flower? ›

The symbol used to represent male flower is ♂ (staminate flower) and the symbol used to represent female flower (pistillate flower).

What flower represents our lady? ›

FLOWERS ASSOCIATED WITH MARY

Mary is often portrayed with a lily, for example, as a symbol of her purity and openness to God's will. The word “rosary” is derived from the rose and represents a garland of prayer and reflection on moments from the lives of Jesus and Mary.

What are masculine and feminine flowers? ›

Female flowers have pistils and male flowers have stamens. An easy way to remember is that stamen has the word “men” in it. A pistil consists of three parts: the stigma, style, and ovary.

What flower symbolizes gender equality? ›

The official flower that symbolizes International Women's day is the Mimosa, a deciduous plant native to Africa, Central Asia, and the Middle East it has an intriguing history that dates back to March 8, 1946, when Italian feminists Teresa Mattei and Rita Montagna, presented branches of Mimosa to other women who were ...

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