But once you understand the wide variety of flower colors and their meanings, you'll come to realize there's a bouquet for almost every occasion. Indeed, D.H. Lawrence once said, "the fairest thing in nature, a flower, still has its roots in earth and manure."
The Spectrum of Flower Colors and their Meanings
Whether you're assembling a bouquet for a wedding, funeral, newborn, birthday, anniversary, or simply well-wishing, each color carries its own significant meaning. And mixing colors and flower types can create a unique, personalized bouquet for anyone.Read more about caring for your flowers here.
Red
Most often associated with passionate romance, red is, unsurprisingly, a go-to for lovers on Valentine's Day. However, the color red also symbolizes feelings of strength, courage, and respect. If you want to assemble a red bouquet, tulips, geraniums, and poppies are a few species you might include.Orange
Because of its vibrancy, orange is associated with joy, warmth, and happiness. An orange bouquet of flowers represents the wish of a full life, creativity, and excitement. Flowers you might include would be tulips, marigolds, or zinnias.Yellow
Like orange, yellow is another color associated with joy and happiness. However, yellow can also represent friendship and new beginnings. A yellow bouquet might include sunflowers, daisies, tulips, or lilies.Green
Commonly known as the color of good luck, green flowers symbolize good health, resilience, optimism, renewal, and rebirth, making them an ideal gift for someone who's recovering from a surgery or illness. A bouquet of green flowers might include bells of Ireland, button flowers, green cymbidium, or orchids.Blue
A naturally soothing color, blue helps calm worries and preoccupations. Blue flowers promote peace, openness, and serenity—perfect for someone who may be under stressful circumstances. A blue bouquet might include morning glories, hydrangeas, or cornflowers.Purple
Traditionally known as the color of royalty and ceremony, purple conveys a sense of dignity, pride, accomplishment, or admiration. Purple flowers, like clematis, iris, allium, and bellflowers, can be mixed in with other colors to add a rich depth of contrast and to tell someone "congratulations."Lavender
Perhaps the more humble sibling of purple, lavender symbolizes mature femininity, long-term commitment, refinement, grace, and elegance. A bouquet might include daisies, orchids, lilacs, or petunias.Pink
There's a reason why pink is the common color of Mother's Day flowers; it represents gentility, happiness, innocence, and joy. It's also ideal for welcoming new children into the world. Bouquets might include roses, carnations, or azaleas.White
Most often seen at weddings and funerals, white flowers represent innocence, humility, reverence, modesty, elegance, purity, and sympathy. A white bouquet might feature orchids, daisies, carnations, or roses.What Do Certain Flowers Mean?
While colors can generally define flower meanings, flower types can be even more specific in sending a message. Some flower types might even contradict the original messages of their color, which is why it's important to pay attention to the species when assembling your bouquet.For example:
Yellow carnations sometimes mean "disdain," and two-tone carnations represent subtle rejection: "I cannot be with you." Purple carnations can symbolize inconsistency or fickleness.
Black-Eyed Susans, whose yellow color might at first appear cheerful, actually symbolize justice.
Peonies, which now symbolize romance and marriage, once meant something else to the Victorians: anger.
Chrysanthemums symbolize honesty.
Pansies and red poppies represent thoughtfulness and remembrance.
Purple hyacinth might appear to be a prideful flower, but it's actually a symbol of asking for forgiveness. The name derives from the Greek myth of Apollo who accidentally killed Hyacinthus.
Yarrow, although white, is another flower of love.
Anemones, which might appear as a fitting Mother's Day gift because of its color, actually represents fragility because of how short its life span is—not exactly a welcome omen, is it?
Another pink flower, Rhododendron, is even more sinister in meaning. Its poisonous blooms send a clear warning: "beware."
Tansy is not as cheerful as its yellow color suggests. This flower says: "I declare war."
The iris, whose purple hue conveys royalty, also suggests wisdom and respect. Likewise, cornflower, which looks soothing, also has additional meanings: wealth and good fortune.
Cyclamen, whose red, pink, or even white petals can be romantic, also symbolize resignation and farewell.
Geraniums can represent stupidity or folly.
Orange lilies can mean hatred.
A cactus can symbolize strength endurance. (Plus, they don't need to be watered as often! Just be sure to keep them out of reach of children.)
Candytuft can mean indifference: "I couldn't care either way."
Buttercups can represent childishness or immaturity.
Butterfly weeds can suggest to a romantic partner: "You should break up with me."
Words of Caution
While it's important to consider the various flower colors and their meanings when assembling your bouquet, you should also keep in mind where the flowers will be placed.Will they have access to natural light? Will they be exposed to anyone who might have an allergic reaction (including pets)? Will someone be available to feed and water the flowers as necessary?
If you want to make sure the message of your flowers is clear, don't forget to send a handwritten greeting as well. Other gifts, such as balloons, chocolates, and plushes, add a nice touch. Contact us to place an order today.
