The language of flowers has been cherished in myths, ancient stories, and poetry for centuries. It even played a role in delivering hidden messages during the Victorian era. Love, hate, disdain—all the untold emotions of the society ruled by strict etiquette norms were expressed through a secret code conveyed by some of the most delicate petals.
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, let’s take a moment to dive into the subtle world of flowers. While in the past, every little detail mattered (like the number of flowers or the hand they were given by!), in this article, we’ll mainly focus on the symbolism of different colors. Of course, expressing our true feelings directly is perfectly acceptable today, but this “spy game” can still be entertaining to try. And though Valentine’s Day is known for romantic gestures, let’s not forget to express love to all the important people in our lives. And what better way to do so than with flowers?
Red: Confess to Your Significant Other
When conveying love, passion, and devotion, no color does it like red. While roses are a classic choice, we recommend taking a closer look at other less popular yet eloquent beauties. For example, red carnations, tulips, hibiscuses, and camellias have been given as tokens of deep love since Victorian times.
Pink: Give Your Mom a Love Note
Pink flowers are another big hit for Valentine’s Day. They’re gentle and sweet and are often chosen to represent femininity, delicacy, and grace. For example, calla lilies have a long history of being associated with beauty, daylilies symbolize motherhood, and asters will communicate daintiness through your bouquet. You can also let peonies, orchids, alstroemerias, gerberas, azaleas, or heather be your messengers.
White: Show Your Siblings How Special They Are
When it comes to color symbolism, white is often seen as pure and elegant but also as a symbol of sweet, innocent, and everlasting love. So why not celebrate the special bond you share with your siblings with some of these delicate flowers? The beauty of daisies, chamomiles, and jasmine in a bouquet will speak softly about how much you care for them. Another gentle way to express your feelings is with a potted Anthurium, Spathiphyllum, and Saintpaulia.
Blue: Make Your Grandma’s Day
The color blue holds the meaning of tranquility, loyalty, and constancy. Just like a loving grandma, blue flowers symbolize peace, harmony, and cherished memories of true love. To convey these feelings, consider including irises, hydrangeas, and bluebells in your flower composition, or let a potted forget-me-not, hyacinth, or pansy reveal your deepest emotions.
Yellow: Hand Your Bestie a Burst of Sunshine
The sheer vibrancy of yellow flowers is a beautiful way to express your feelings, as the color itself radiates happiness, energy, and joy. If you want to brighten up a day for your friends and celebrate your best moments, tulips and chrysanthemums in a bouquet or a potted Kalanchoe will be the best choice.
Purple: Give a Heartfelt Thank You to Your Favorite Teacher
Historically, the color purple has been linked to royalty and wealth, so it’s no surprise that purple flowers are still frequently picked to show respect, regard, and dignity. And who deserves it more than people who guide us through the unknown and help us bloom into our best? Orchids in deep dark shades, clematis, calla lilies, or potted verbenas and violets are all lovely options to applaud them.
Orange: Let Your Dearest Coworker Know You Care
If there’s someone in the office who is always up for a coffee break, floods your inbox with the latest memes, and just has your back no matter what, consider yourself lucky! Sending them some flowers is such a nice way to show your gratitude, and the color orange will be perfect to represent all the warmth, happiness, and enthusiasm they bring into the working space. So, look at floral compositions filled with orange roses, gerberas, and clivias, or consider a potted Strelitzia, Nemesia, or Lantana to make your feelings shine through!
At the end of the day, the most important messages are the ones you put into your flower arrangements, but we hope this deciphering game will give you some fresh ideas. May this Valentine’s Day be filled with love that touches the hearts of your close ones!