Discover the language of flowers and always make the right impression.
Do you want to show how much you care about someone, what a person means to you or how grateful you are? But you don't know how to express it? Then say it with flowers. Not only is there nothing more thoughtful than giving a beautiful bouquet of fresh flowers, but each flower also has its own meaning. So you can say anything with it, but of course you have to know what they stand for. On this page we have therefore listed the meaning of flowers for you, so that you can order the perfect bouquet for every occasion.
Floriography: the language of flowers
First of all, something about the language of flowers, or floriography. Floriography dates back to the time of the Romans, but only really flourished (no pun intended) in the second half of the nineteenth century, in Queen Victoria's Great Britain. At that time it was absolutely not done to openly express your feelings to someone.
So what did the upper middle class do to communicate feelings despite strict etiquette? Exactly: they used flowers to express how they felt about the other. What they did was send a small bouquet: a bouquet with fragrant herbs and one or a few flowers that indicated exactly what someone wanted to say.
To successfully communicate in this way, it was very important that both the sender and the recipient were aware of all the subtle differences in meaning between all flower types. For example, a single daffodil is not very good, while several daffodils bring good luck.
Curious about the meaning of the most common flowers or do you just want to brush up on your floriography? Then read on!
The meaning of flowers that symbolize romantic love
Are you in love with someone? Then go for romantic flowers such as red roses, dahlias, carnations, peonies and red tulips. By carefully choosing your bouquet, you can express exactly how you feel about someone!
Red roses
First of all, of course, the ultimate love flower: the red rose . According to legend, the Greek goddess of love, Aphrodite, once cut her hand on a rose thorn. Her blood then flowed onto the white leaves, creating the red rose. Believe what you want, but what is certain is that red roses represent love and passion.
Not only the flower itself, but also the number of roses you give has a meaning:
- 1: love at first sight
- 2: love and passion
- 3: to celebrate one month of being together
- 10: to show that someone is perfect
- 15: to apologize lovingly
- 24: you declare your unconditional love to someone
- 100: eternal love, or the ultimate romantic statement
Dahlias
Dahlias are also flowers that are often given in a romantic bouquet. They are also perfect for wedding bouquets, because they symbolize a close bond and a promise to be faithful. A red dahlia stands for strength and passion, while the pink variant symbolizes more tenderness and femininity. In white they represent purity.
Carnations
The carnation is also a classic in many love bouquets. They symbolize love and affection. Please pay close attention to the color you order, because it contains some nuances. Red always represents love, but light red is more admiration while dark red represents true passion. A white carnation shows pure love and the pink ones are often seen as a symbol of motherly love.
Peony
Peonies are naturally very steadfast. Even after more than a hundred years, the plant can still produce beautiful flowers. A peony is therefore the perfect flower for weddings. In addition to long-lasting strength, this flower represents romance and love and is therefore an omen for a long and happy marriage. Keep in mind that peonies only bloom in spring and early summer!
Red tulips
Perhaps the most beautiful spring flower: the red tulip. In any case, the heart of the recipient of these beautiful flowers will skip a beat because of their beauty, but there is an even deeper layer behind it. Red tulips represent budding passion. Someone who gives you a bouquet of red tulips wants to be very close to you (at least if he or she knows floriography).
Friendship flowers and their meaning
Flowers are not just for lovers and weddings, they can also say a lot as a sign of friendship. So would you like to put that one friend in the spotlight that you always have so much fun with? Then do it with a bouquet with the flowers below.
Yellow roses
Where the red variety stands for passion, yellow roses really stand for friendship. The bright sunny color symbolizes fun, friendship and that real summer feeling of happiness. In addition to this special message, yellow roses also provide a truly unique explosion of color. When the buds open it is as if the sun is rising. Beautiful!
Freesia
The delicate freesia is really a flower to show friends that you are thinking of them and that you are there for them. This beautiful flower symbolizes emotional support. A perfect flower in bouquets to wish someone strength or recovery . Together with this special meaning, the beautiful colors will immediately make the recipient feel better.
Matthiola
The Matthiola, also known as Violier, is a wonderfully scented flower that blooms beautifully white-pink. He basically says everything a romantic flower says, but without the passion. It therefore fits very well in romantic bouquets as a beautiful addition and is also perfect in friendship bouquets. This is really a flower that you give to your best friend or soulmate.
Inca lily
Would you like to congratulate a good friend on a birthday , for example? Then you can't go wrong with a bouquet containing inca lilies. This beautiful tropical-looking flower not only represents friendship, but also symbolizes all the happiness someone could wish for. According to the stories, each petal of the flower also symbolizes what is important in friendship: commitment, humor, understanding, patience, respect and compassion.
The symbolism of thank you flowers
Are you extremely grateful to someone? Because of a certain act or simply because someone is there for you? Then show your gratitude with a special bouquet containing the following flower types.
Pink roses
Pink roses are ideal for showing someone how grateful you are and how much you admire what someone has done. Give these beautiful flowers to a friend or family member who means a lot to you or who has helped you through a difficult time. They are real symbols of gratitude.
Hydrangea
The beautiful hydrangea is also a beautiful flower to show how grateful you are. The meaning of the hydrangea in floriography is comparable to that of the pink rose, but there is a subtle difference. The hydrangea specifically represents gratitude for someone's good heart, i.e. someone's lofty intentions towards you.
Flowers that represent admiration
You can show someone how much you admire them with flowers that symbolize admiration. The following flower types are very suitable in bouquets that you give to your mother or grandmother, for example, or to someone who has achieved a great achievement.
Orchids
Orchids are beautiful, delicate flowers: in our opinion, one of the most beautiful flowers on earth! And the special thing is that the orchid is not only incredibly beautiful, but also symbolizes this: an orchid stands for rare and delicate beauty. Giving a loved one an orchid says that you appreciate him or her enormously.
Camellia
Do you have great admiration for someone, but does he or she live far away? Then have a bouquet containing (pink) camellias delivered. This flower shows that you care deeply about them and admire them. In addition, the pink color also represents missing, so with a pink camellia you express admiration and indicate that you miss someone.
A thousand beautiful ones
The daisy, a flower that blooms late in the summer, is also a perfect flower to show gratitude. In addition to gratitude, the sweet pea represents strength and masculinity. A beautiful flower to give to a hero in your life, such as your father or your husband.
Amaryllis
The amaryllis is a flower that we often use in Christmas bouquets , because it is a flower that blooms in winter. In addition, it is a perfect flower to give as a gift to someone you appreciate immensely, because the amaryllis symbolizes pride and stands for enchanting beauty.
Lavender rose
Finally, the lavender rose is also a beautiful flower to give to someone out of admiration. The lavender rose is truly the princess of the floral world, with its countless shades of purple enchanting its beholders. And that is exactly what the flower stands for: enchantment. So give a lavender rose to someone who makes a huge impression on you.
Flowers that convey respect and sympathy
Unfortunately, death is also a part of life. Death is a theme par excellence for which the right words are often difficult to find. With the following flower types you show respect for the deceased and support your relatives.
White lilies
The white lily is a flower that is often used in funeral arrangements and coffin coverings . Besides looking very beautiful, the white lily also symbolizes purity, innocence and sympathy. In floriography, this flower also represents the immortality of the soul and the natural balance between life and death.
Hyacinths
The hyacinth is a flower that symbolizes regret and sadness. According to Greek legend, the gods Apollo and Zephyrus once fought for the love of Hyacinthos, a beautiful young hero. However, their fight got so out of hand that they killed Hyacinthos. At the place where his blood flowed, a special flower began to bloom: the hyacinth.
Statice
Statice represents a mix of happy memories and sympathy, which makes it an ideal flower if you want to wish someone strength after the loss of a loved one. In addition, the colors and looks of statice can also give people some distraction, hope and lightness, which is certainly useful in dark times.
Poppies
The poppy – also known as poppy – is a flower that represents comfort and gratitude. This beautiful deep red flower is often used to commemorate the dead. The flower owes this meaning to the fact that it grew spontaneously in the bloody trenches of the First World War, after its seeds were brought back on the boots of a Canadian soldier. This symbolism is beautifully expressed in the world-famous poem In Flanders Fields by John McCrae.
Flower types that mean life and pleasure
Every flower brings joy, comfort and beauty to your home like nothing else. But there are also some flower types that symbolize life and pleasure even more.
Sunflowers
Sunflowers enchant you like no other flower. The bright yellow colors and the large, almost happy flower heads radiate pleasure and happiness in everything. So are you looking for a flower to bring someone into ecstasy? Then one or more sunflowers should not be missing from the bouquet!
Gerberas
Gerberas also bring color, fun and life to your home. It is a favorite flower of our florists, because they fit beautifully and add intense colors to any bouquet. They symbolize cheerfulness and also stand for loyal love. In other words: with Gerberas you will definitely make someone's day.
Chrysanthemums
Beautiful chrysanthemums are also flowers that make every bouquet even more beautiful. Not only that, because they stand for optimism, fun and a long and happy life. Perfect to give on countless occasions. In addition, the chrysanthemum is the birth flower of the month of November, so it is a great gift for someone whose birthday is in this month!
Daffodils
Daffodils are one of the first flowers you see when spring begins. So you guessed it: they represent new beginnings and symbolize rebirth and a happy future. So give these flowers to someone if you want to wish him or her good luck. Always give several, because a single daffodil brings bad luck.
Yellow tulips
In the language of flowers, yellow stands for hope and optimism, and the yellow tulip is no different! The yellow tulip is really a flower that represents happiness and a sunny future. And not only the meaning of flowers such as a yellow tulip is optimistic, their beautiful intense colors also radiate pleasure and optimism. A beautiful flower for a cheerful spring bouquet !
