Flowers and Their Meanings

It's common for people to choose particular flowers based on the sentiment the arrangement represents. All flowers have their own meanings; that's why red roses are popular on Valentine's Day and poinsettias can be seen in homes during the holiday season. People have interpreted the language of flowers for thousands of years, as they've selected certain examples to demonstrate the feelings they want to express - even if they can't always say them out loud.

Purple flowers signify accomplishment and can be sent as a congratulatory gift.

The History of Floriography

Introduced in Europe in the early 1700s, floriography - the language or symbolism of flowers - gained popularity during the 1800s, especially in Victorian-era Britain. The publishing of several books on flowers and their meanings propelled the subject into the public lexicon and ignited a study into the deeper significance of these plants.

Flowers and their connotations had roots in earlier forms of literature as well. In Shakespeare's "Hamlet," Ophelia passes out her own arrangements while commenting on their symbolic meanings.

Today, common definitions now exist for the majority of flowers. These specifications usually came about by studying the appearance and behavior of the flower itself. Elements like color and stages of maturation played a large part in discerning what each bloom signified.

The Definition of Color

Color is one of the most important aspects of any flower. While each bloom has its own particular significance, when associated with the hue, the arrangement can combine multiple meanings or enhance the connotation completely.

Red
There's no way to ignore red flowers. The vibrancy of this color represents passionate love, admiration and desire.

Orange
Nothing screams life quite like orange flowers. Arrangements that feature this bright color signify warmth, happiness and exuberance.

Yellow
It is often frowned upon to present yellow flowers for romantic occasions, as the color symbolizes friendship. Yellow also conveys trust, optimism and compassion.

Green
Flowers and plants of this color represent renewal and a wish for good fortune and health.

Blue
Available in many shades, blue arrangements signify serenity, relaxation and openness to a variety of situations.

Purple
Purple has been the color of royalty for years and as such symbolizes grace and dignity. This color can be used to celebrate success and demonstrate admiration.

Pink
While red represents passionate love, pink flowers signify a more gentle type of adoration. The color also conveys innocence and joy.

White
The bare nature of the color white represents innocence and simple, untainted beauty. In addition to pure love, white flowers evoke elegance and honesty.

Blooms and Their Meanings

People have many options to choose from when deciding which type of arrangement to send to friends and family. It's important to understand the significance of the selected color as well as the flower itself. Here's a breakdown of popular flowers and their meanings:

Amaryllis
The amaryllis, complete with strong red trumpet-like blooms, signifies splendid beauty and strength, according to The Flower Expert. It is often shared around the holiday season.

Aster
Aster is September's birth month flower and represents patience. With its resemblance to a wildflower and luxurious texture, this flower is also associated with enchantment. People can send asters to celebrate a 20-year anniversary.

Azalea
With its soft petals, azaleas are a symbol of femininity and fragile passion, according to The Language of Flowers. Often given during times of sickness, the flowering shrubs request that the recipient take care of him or herself.

Begonia
Begonias are simple, cup-shaped flowers that are mainstays in many arrangements. Senders should be wary of sending a full bouquet of these flowers, however, as they symbolize a fanciful nature and can be seen as a warning to the recipient.

Bleeding Heart
Bleeding hearts are a unique flower, identifiable by their pink heart-shaped bloom and tear-like droplet. The flower represents an open expression of emotion as well as deep and passionate love, according to Flower Meaning. Bleeding hearts demonstrate that love can grow even during periods of sorrow.

Bird of Paradise
The unique appearance of birds of paradise indicates joy and magnificence, similar to the sight of seeing a bird in flight.

Calla Lily
Calla lilies are the perfect example of beauty. The simple and delicate folds symbolize innocence, especially when paired with the color white. Often, these flowers are featured in wedding bouquets.

Carnations
Carnations are one of the most well-known flowers available today and represent people born in January. Arrangements featuring this flower signify pride and beauty.

Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemums are November's birth month flower. The tendrils of the chrysanthemum evoke long life, while the various colors symbolize optimism and happiness.

Daffodil
Also known as Narcissus, daffodils are representative of the spring season. They embody rebirth and eternal life. This flower is also the birth month flower of March and signifies a 10-year anniversary.

Dahlia
Although dahlias are a member of the aster family, they have their own meaning. The flower, with its color gradually fading from its center, signifies enduring grace, inner strength and creativity.

Daisy
Often seen in white with a yellow center - but available in a variety of colors - daisies signify innocence and loyal love. Daisies can be sent to celebrate loved ones born in April or to celebrate a five-year anniversary.

Freesia
Commonly a component of popular fragrances due to their distinguishable scent, freesias represent thoughtfulness and innocence.

Forget-Me-Not
Although every variety of forget-me-not is different, the most common version produces small blue petals. This flower represents remembrance, undying love and loyalty in one's relationships.

Fuchsia
Probably most well-known for its distinctive scent, fuchsias are also called "Lady's Eardrop" because of their unique shape. These flowers represent abundance and intoxicating beauty due to their luscious colors.

Gardenia
People may send gardenias to demonstrate their secret love or the recipient's loveliness. Gardenias also signify sweetness and joy.

Gladiolus
Gladioli are August's birth flower and are named for the shape of their leaves - the Latin term gladius means sword. These flowers represent moral integrity and strength.

Hibiscus
The many species of the hibiscus flower each have their own distinct appearance. Arrangements featuring this flower evoke delicate beauty, as they were once used as adornments for clothing. The flower itself is quite fragile.

Hyacinth
Highly fragrant, hyacinths usually come in pastel colors. Perfect for spring arrangements, hyacinths invoke playfulness and dependability.

Hydrangea
Hydrangeas are easy to identify in an arrangement due to their large blooms. These flowers are often given as a form of gratitude and to symbolize heartfelt sentiment.

Iris
Commonly seen in a deep purple, irises represent wisdom and eloquence. Bouquets with irises can be used to celebrate a 25-year anniversary and are perfect for Mother's Day.

Larkspur
Larkspurs are July's birth month flower. Due to their small blooms, the flower signifies lightness and strong love.

Lilac
The time of lilac's bloom tells growers whether spring will be early or late, according to Teleflora. Representing youth and confidence, lilacs are a standard in arrangements.

Lily
May's birth month flower, lilies are available in many shades. The flower itself represents refined beauty. The popular white version of this flower symbolizes modesty and virginity.

Lotus
The lotus flower's meaning is deeply rooted in its nature. Typically, the lotus is implanted in the mud, yet floats on the water without becoming stuck in the mud or becoming wet. This symbolizes a sense of rebirth, as people shouldn't become too attached to their surroundings in order to grow.

Magnolia
Magnolias often take the role of the most noticeable flower in an arrangement with their large and fragrant blooms. A symbol of femininity, magnolias also signify dignity, purity and gentleness. Since the flower comes in many different colors, more meaning can be assigned based on their hue.

Marigold
Marigolds are October's birth month flower and symbolize passion and creativity. The flower boasts edible petals and also represents grace and affection.

Oleander
Although the oleander is a poisonous flower, it can still be used in arrangements. Due to its nature, however, it symbolizes a need for caution. In addition, oleanders symbolize a dangerous beauty and grace.

Orchid
Orchids are a good choice if senders are looking to demonstrate their desire for the recipient. Signifying luxury, love, virility and exotic beauty, these blooms are a favorite around romantic holidays, including Valentine's Day.

Pansy
The pansy adds bright pops of color to arrangements, as its petals contain vibrant bursts of various hues. Once used for secret courting in Victorian England, pansies symbolize love and adoration for another. The flower also represents free thinking and remembrance.

Peony
While orchids may represent confidence in one's love, peonies demonstrate bashfulness and compassion, according to Real Simple.

Petunia
The petunia is a flower with a fickle meaning. It can represent both resentment and anger, as well as the desire to be with a recipient whose attitude and presence is soothing, according to Canadian Flower Delivery.

Poinsettia
The poinsettia is December's birth month flower. With large red petals, this flower evokes merriment and well wishes for the recipient.

Poppy
Often seen adorning men's lapels - especially around Veteran's Day - or on display in peoples' cars, poppies signify remembrance. The flower can also represent imagination and extravagance.

Primrose
Due to their appearance, primroses were called Key Flowers in England, according to Garden Guides. These flowers represent youth and young love. They are often sent as an expression of the phrase "I can't live without you," a typical sentiment of first loves.

Queen Anne's Lace
The stark white and rounded flowers of Queen Anne's Lace can resemble a dainty bird's nest when in full bloom. As such, the flower symbolizes sanctuary and makes a great but simple addition to a wedding arrangement.

Ranunculus
Those looking for a flower that will match their partner's radiant charm should look no further than the ranunculus. Ranunculi are also known as buttercups and are a way to comment on a person's attractive qualities and nature.

Rose
Although roses represent people born in June, they are often seen more around romantic holidays. On average, 110 million roses are sold every Valentine's Day, according to ProFlowers. That's because the flower - available in various hues - represents love in multiple forms. The meaning of roses is differentiated by the number, color and variety. Roses also symbolize a 15-year anniversary.

Snapdragon
Although snapdragon blooms are often some of the most obvious flowers in an arrangement, they symbolize deception. On the other hand, snapdragons also represent graciousness and are a cordial flower for hosts to display in their homes.

Sunflower
Looking to brighten up someone's spirits or the room itself? The bright appearance of sunflowers invokes fascination, dedication and pure and happy thoughts. People who send these flowers are aiming to showcase their devoted love.

Sweet Pea
Just like their name, sweet peas indicate blissful pleasure and complete joy. Since its stand-out fragrance seems to linger even once the arrangement is gone, the flowers are symbolic of departure after a good time, according to The Flower Expert.

Stephanotis
Stephanotis is a flower that is commonly seen in wedding arrangements and bouquets. With tubular white star-shaped blooms, the flower has a mild scent and symbolizes marital bliss, The Knot says.

Tulip
Tulips are comprised of many layers - soft, silky petals on the outside with a velvety black center - so the flower has several meanings. Representing elegance as well as passionate grace, tulips have come to rival roses in the romance department. In fact, about 100 million are sold by Fresh Tulips USA, one of the nation's largest providers, with Valentine's Day accounting for 15 percent of those sales, according to CNN Money.

Violet
Violets are February's birth month flower and connote a delicate love and modesty, according to Garden Guides. The flower has religious significance, as it is often associated with the Virgin Mary's faithfulness and spiritual wisdom. Violets also represent a 50-year anniversary.

Zinnia
Blooming in mid-summer, zinnias represent remembrance of good memories and long-lasting love, Bloom of Glory says. The flower symbolizes dependability and trustworthiness and has more specific meanings based on its various colors.

There are a variety of flowers available today, each with their own meaning. People selecting and sending arrangements should be aware of the symbolic nature of not only the flower, but of its color as well. These two components are able to demonstrate sentiments buyers may or may not be able to say out loud to the recipient. Working with a florist to create a unique design or purchasing an arrangement online gives senders the opportunity to find the perfect bouquet of flowers for their loved ones. From hydrangeas to amaryllis to stephanotis, people can use the language of flowers to indicate a variety of emotions.