Zeeland Florist

Floriography 101

Flowers, Bouquets, and their Meanings

No history of flowers is complete without finding out about the stories behind it. Because of that, we're here to give you a run-through on flower meanings and various arrangements!

This crash course will help you discover the meanings behind both popular and rare blooms. Then, we go over the development of its place in ancient history.

For this article, we talk about a quick overview on the history of flower meanings. After that, we go over how it shaped human behavior and culture across time.

Peaking in the Victorian times, flowers still take a large role in human communications. In fact, it plays a role in our relationships with friends and special someones. Of course, people also saw its merit as a means to express one's sentiment.

Flowers also remain valuable to creative works for their symbolic meanings. This included legends in ancient mythologies and folklore. Later on, this also included sonnets, plays, and productions in the Renaissance period.

Interested in a formal track on floristry? Want to get verified as an expert on everything flower related? We suggest looking into professional bodies and schools in floristry.

These include American Institute of Floral Designers of the AIFD (www.aifd.org), the Society of American Florists (www.safnow.org), the American Floral Endowment (www.endowment.org). You can also consider similar institutions offering courses in floristry.

Brief History on Flower Meanings

The language of flowers, from The Natural Wedding Company

Ever wonder about violets and their importance to Sapphic relationships? How about sunflowers and daisies and their popularity in friendly floral bouquets? Or the climb of roses to their standing as a favorite flower?

Whatever it is, we're here to help you. This guide will take you through the development of flower meanings throughout time.

Since its peak in the Victorian times, flowers have influenced the writing and retelling of many art forms. This included mythologies and legends in ancient civilizations. Later, it turned up in plays authored by world famous artists like William Shakespeare.

In reality, the Victorians were so into flower meanings that they wrote entire handbooks for it. It was one way for people to make sure they got their bouquets and flower arrangements right.

Today, flowers hold the same importance in expressing one's emotions. This of course, extends to showing sentiments to their significant others and loved ones.

Everyone recognizes the basics of the language of flowers. Red flowers, especially roses, display your love and passion for that special someone. Yellow flowers represent friendship. White symbolizes purity and innocence. And so on, so forth.

But how complicated does it become?

Does the meaning change when put together with other flowers, other colors, other arrangements? Does it matter if the mixture of flowers is a mix of different species or only one species? Does it matter if the arrangement leans to the left, the right, or stands still and upright?

The short answer is, yes.

There are widely accepted meanings for each color. But there are other differences to each color for different species.

Colors and Species

Flowers usually mean nice things, like passion and affection. They can also just as easily represent negative emotions such as conceit and disdain.

For example, red roses are a plain display of feelings for another. At the same time, red tulips are a love declaration from one person to another.

Likewise, white violets meant innocence, but purple ones meant emotions of love. Pink carnations expressed "I'll never forget you," while pink roses meant poise and gentleness.

While calla lilies represented magnificent beauty, peonies showed bashfulness, and tulips symbolized passion.

Of course, even the presentation of these blooms and particular arrangements matter. Trust us, you'll need it if you want to properly crack the meaning behind flower gifts.

Arrangement and Presentation

Flowers gave people a very exquisite means of interaction.

Suitors used them when trying to win over the object of their affections. Friends made use of them to offer condolences to a grieving family. Now, people also gift flowers to celebrate their loved ones' birthdays and achievements.

We've talked about the different meanings that a species' different colors may express. Now, we take a closer look into the specifics of arrangement and presentation. We also get to know how they may amplify or change the message that we would like to send.

Here is a great example. Suitors usually used tulips, carnations and roses to confess their love. Women answered one of two ways.

Some gave the suitor yellow carnations to show disdain and rejection. Some were more discreet and responded to their suitor with how they handed over a bouquet. Giving with the right hand meant "yes", while the left hand meant "no".

On top of that, the presentation and state of the bouquet added meaning to the present. For instance - delivering the arrangement upside down. This signified that the giver meant the opposite of what the flowers usually meant.

Another good example is the angle of the ribbon tying the arrangement together. The meaning symbolized the giver if the ribbon pulled to the left. The symbolism represented the recipient if it went to the right.

List of Flowers, Bouquets, and their Meanings

As we've learned, flower meanings have evolved and developed over history. Today, they remain useful in our relationships and how we express ourselves.

Here is a brief compilation of varied species and their meanings. This also features variants from the colors they come in.

• Aloe - bitterness, healing, protection

• Amaryllis - worth beyond beauty

• Angelica - inspiration

• Anthurium - hospitality, abundance

• Aster - love, daintiness

• Begonia - beware, warning

• Bird of Paradise - magnificence, joyfulness

• Dahlia - dignity, pomp

• Daisy - innocence, hope

• Forget-me-not - memories of true love

• Gardenia - secret love, purity

• Gerbera - cheerfulness

• Hydrangea - heartfelt emotions, gratitude, sometimes frigidity and heartlessness

• Orchid - exotic beauty, mature charm, glorious femininity

• Peony - bashfulness, compassion, sometimes shame and indignity

• Sunflower - purity, adoration, dedication

Camellia

• Red - "You're a flame in my heart"

• White - "You're adorable"

• Pink - "Longing for you"

Carnation

• Red - love, pride, "my heart aches for you"

• Pink - "I'll never forget you", mother's love

• Purple - capriciousness, erratic

• Yellow - disdain, rejection

• White - innocence, agape (unconditional love), "lovely and sweet"

• Striped - refusal

Chrysanthemum

• Red - love

• White - truth, loyalty/fidelity

• Yellow - jealousy, wounded love

• Daffodil - rebirth, chivalry, eternal life

• Single - misfortune

• Bunch - joy and happiness

Hyacinth

• Red or Pink - playfulness

• Blue - constancy

• White - loveliness

• Purple - sorrow

• Yellow - jealousy, infidelity

Iris

• Purple - wisdom, compliments

• Blue - faith, hope

• Yellow - passion

• White - purity

Lilac

• Field - charity

• White - humility, youthful innocence

• Purple - first love

Lily

• Lily of the Valley - sweetness, purity of heart

• Easter - Virgin Mary

• White - modesty, chastity

• Yellow - gaiety

• Orange - passion

Rose

• White - purity, innocence, a fresh start

• Red - passion, "I love you"

• Deep crimson- mourning

• Pink - grace and gentleness

• Yellow - jealousy and infidelity

• Orange - desire, enthusiasm

• Lavender - love at first sight

• Coral pink - friendship, sympathy

Tulip

• Red - passion, declaration of love

• Yellow - "There's sunshine in your smile"

Violet

• White - innocence

• Purple - love, affection

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