Check the Meaning Behind These Flowers Before Gifting a Bouquet (2024)

Check the Meaning Behind These Flowers Before Gifting a Bouquet (1)

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Giving flowers is a thoughtful way to show someone you care about them. Whether you're looking to buy flowers for an anniversary, birthday or celebration or you simply want to surprise a loved one with a thoughtful arrangement, learning flower meanings can help you pick the right ones.

While most of us know red roses embody love, there are an array of beautiful flowers that symbolize romance and various rose colors represent different meanings. Be on the lookout for red blooms (think red camellias and red tulips) while shopping for Valentine's Day flowers to gift to your significant other. For someone who recently graduated or started a new job, gift an arrangement of dahlias and amaryllis to congratulate them. Or, gift scotch brooms and blue stars to symbolize strength and resilience to support someone going through a difficult time.

The meanings behind flowers becomes especially important when it comes to negative connotations or misunderstandings. Yellow roses may appear to be a bright alternative to red roses for a significant other, but they represent friendships and platonic love — not something you'd want to give on an anniversary! Even worse, some beautiful flowers, such as tansies, are deceiving, as they represent a declaration of war.

So, before you visit your local florist or order a flower delivery, be sure to consult our guide on flower meanings below. We've included details from A Victorian Flower Dictionary, The Farmer's Almanac and more, so any bouquet you choose shows exactly how you feel — good or bad!

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1

Heather

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Wish someone good luck with heather flowers. The Victorians saw these beautiful blooms as good luck because of the flower's rarity. Gift an arrangement of white or pink heathers for someone before a big exam, game or performance.

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2

Lotus

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Believe it or not, lotus flowers grow in the mud. Each night, they return to the mud, and then miraculously re-bloom in the morning. They're a symbol of rebirth, self-regeneration, purity and enlightenment in many Eastern cultures.

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3

Bird's-Foot Trefoil

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Another dainty flower with a dark meaning behind it, the bird's-foot trefoil flower symbolizes revenge. While revenge is never the answer in real life, writers can use this symbolization in their stories and movies.

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4

Iris

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These regal blooms have long stood for royalty as well as wisdom and respect. And their opulent-looking blooms sure suggest the same. It's certainly a compliment to be gifted an arrangement of irises.

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5

Yellow Acacia

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Whether you're secretly dating someone or simply enjoy keeping your love life private, forbidden or secret relationships can be exciting and difficult at the same time. Brighten the mood with yellow acacia flowers, which represent concealed love. White acacia symbolizes platonic love, so be sure to pick the right color!

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6

Strelitzia

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Also known as "Bird of Paradise," this uniquely shaped and colorful flower represents freedom. Gift this flower to someone who is embarking on an adventure, just ended a bad relationship or recently moved into their own place.

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7

Balloon Flowers

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Strengthen your apology to a friend by adding in an arrangement of balloon flowers as a gift. These purple and blue blooms represent the desire for a friend to return, honesty and endless love.

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8

Pink Delphiniums

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Gift pink delphiniums to your partner when renewing your vows as they represent youth and renewal. They're also a great option to include in bouquets for anniversaries to celebrate another year together.

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9

Red Camellias

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Tell your significant other you love them by gifting a bouquet of red camellias. Embodying passionate love, romance and desire, these flowers look gorgeous and have a beautiful meaning behind them.

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10

Pink Tulips

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Pink tulips symbolize well wishes, happiness and love — in a platonic sense. Save red blooms for a significant other and gift pink tulips to friends and family members to express how much they mean to you.

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11

Blazing Star

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Also commonly known as Liatris and Gayfeather, these blooms symbolize joy, happiness and blissfulness — especially in romantic relationships. Gift them to your significant other for their birthday, an anniversary or another celebratory moment.

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12

Pink Azalea

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Along with nostalgia for your childhood home, elegance and femininity, this bright pink flower can represent taking care of yourself and your family. Bring a bouquet of pink azaleas to your family when you visit or arrange them in your room to celebrate yourself.

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13

Blue Star

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Don't let this flower's dainty appearance fool you — blue stars represent strength, resilience and perseverance. Give these flowers to someone going through a difficult time or after a notable achievement.

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14

Coral Roses

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If your romantic relationship began as a friendship, consider gifting them coral roses. A blend between friendly yellow and romantic red, coral roses represent a mix of deep companionship and love.

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15

Forget-Me-Not

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Yes, it's all in the name! Forget-me-nots ask that you forget-me-not. A faraway friend or long-distance partner would surely appreciate these delicate blossoms, which also represent loyalty and devotion.

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16

Tansy

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Think twice before adding tansies to a bouquet for a loved one or a friend. These little yellow flowers represent resistance and a declaration of war or battle. So, unless you're leading a revolution, it's in your best interest to steer clear of tansies.

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17

Yellow Roses

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Spoil your best friend with yellow roses, which symbolize friendship and happiness. Whether it's their birthday, they need some cheering up or you simply want to tell them how much their friendship means to you, this shade of roses will do the trick.

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18

Orange Tulips

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Is there someone you've connected with spiritually and physically? If so, orange tulips are a thoughtful gift, as they symbolize understanding and appreciation.

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19

White Camellia

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Like other white flowers you might consider gifting, white camellias stand for purity and innocence. Other meanings include admiration and respect.

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20

Yellow Tulips

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Bring cheer to anyone's day with yellow tulips. Victorians even gave them the literal meaning, "there's sunshine in your smile," making them the perfect flower to convey happiness.

Check the Meaning Behind These Flowers Before Gifting a Bouquet (2024)

FAQs

What gifting different flowers mean? ›

Red roses for love and passion. Yellow roses for joy. Daisies for innocence and cheerfulness. Calla lilies signify great beauty (great gift for a girlfriend or wife) Sunflowers mean loyalty and longevity.

What do different flowers mean in a bouquet? ›

Red roses mean romantic love. Purple roses signify that the giver has fallen in love with the recipient at first sight. Coral and orange roses signal desire. Yellow roses are joy and friendship. Pink roses express our gratitude and appreciation.

What does giving a bouquet of flowers mean? ›

When Someone Receives Flowers, They Feel Loved. Flowers are often seen as a symbol of love and affection, and when someone is given a bouquet, it's a sign that they are loved and appreciated. Flowers can make anyone feel warm and fuzzy inside, and they are the perfect way to show someone that you care about them.

What is the meaning behind a bouquet? ›

The word bouquet comes from the Old French term meaning "clump of trees." Because it would be difficult for a bride to lug a clump of trees down the aisle at her wedding, thankfully the word now means "a small bunch of arranged flowers." Bouquet can also describe the scent of these flowers, or anything that is a blend ...

What does giving different flowers mean? ›

Notorious symbols of love, beauty, and affection, each color also holds a different meaning. Red roses say, "I love you." Pink roses express happiness & admiration, and white roses represent innocence & purity. Of course, sending an assorted rose bouquet for someone born in June would be super-special.

What does 5 flowers in a bouquet mean? ›

5 flowers: Happiness, goodness, and luck. There is even a saying, “Five blessings on your doorstep!” in some cultures that accompanies giving a five-flower bouquet. 10 flowers: Admiration; this number of flowers says, “You are ten times golden, and ten times beautiful.”

What does 6 flowers in a bouquet mean? ›

6 ROSES. Signifies 'I want to be yours'; or the completion of the beginning. If you're dating someone and wish to take your relationship to the next level, gifting them with six roses is a perfect way express those feelings subtly.

What does 12 roses in a bouquet mean? ›

12 roses: A bouquet of 12 roses is a romantic way to express your love. The number 12 is often associated with completeness and perfection, and is a way to show the person you care about that they are the one and only person in your life.

What is the tradition of gifting flowers? ›

The flowers, in turn, served as a form of communication. It exchanged messages between lovers, friends, families, and even acquaintances. Flowers showed sentiments ranging from "I love you", to "I treasure you, my friend", to "I'm sorry". They played a vital role in how Victorian-era citizens made their feelings known.

What does a bouquet of sunflowers mean? ›

A sign of positivity, happiness, cheer, good luck, health and hope, these classic blooms will add a cheerful touch to any wedding bouquet, table centerpiece or flower arrangement. Sunflowers are perfect for happy celebrations.

What's a good number of flowers to give? ›

A bouquet of 13 or 19 flowers can be given for various anniversaries and weddings, as well as round dates and birthdays. A bouquet of flowers with more than 21 plants is given to very close people. The number of flowers in a bouquet can also be determined by the type of plant.

What flower symbols female strength? ›

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.

What flower represents healing? ›

The Soothing Embrace of Lavender

Due to its gentle yet powerful properties, lavender is a popular choice for symbols of healing and strength.

What does give someone their flowers mean? ›

So, what does it mean to 'give someone their flowers'? No, we're not just talking about a bouquet of roses here (though that's always a nice touch). The phrase is metaphorical, suggesting we should express our love, gratitude, and appreciation to those we care about while they're still alive.

What does giving 3 flowers mean? ›

1 flower: A single flower can symbolize unity, the concept of “one heart.” 3 flowers: “I love you.” 4 flowers: Not a good number for a bouquet in many cultures. In some cultures, the number 7 is also avoided. 5 flowers: Happiness, goodness, and luck.

Why do people give each other flowers? ›

Flowers and Gift-Giving Traditions.

The Greeks used them as props for storytelling. They also made them into decoration for ceremonies. Later, they began exchanging flowers to show affection towards each other. Societies all throughout history have kept the tradition of gifting flowers.

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