The Meaning of Flowers on Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is here, and we at the Dallas Arboretum love flowers at least as much as you do, so we thought our readers might find it interesting to learn more about what the type and color of different flowers means in our society. There’s a story behind every variation in one of the most popular gifts of the holiday
Meaning of the Color of Flowers
Pink
Pink represents the playfulness of new love. More recently, the color also came to mean thoughtfulness and spontaneity.
Red
Red is the unchallenged symbol of romantic love and the heart.
Orange
Orange has represented happiness and joy for centuries. The color itself is symbolic of warmth, and flowers of this color radiate warm energy, like the Sun.
Yellow
Yellow is the color of friendship and platonic love. This makes it a great choice for a gift in the workplace, appropriate as a gift to colleagues.
Blue
Blue can represent serenity. A gift of blue flowers communicates trust, and is often calming, like the blue of the ocean.
White
White is associated with purity and innocence, which is why it appears in wedding bouquets so often. It is also the color of sympathy.
Meaning of the Type of Flower
The meanings we ascribe to flowers’ color combines with the symbolism of various types of flowers to create a compelling story in every bouquet.
Carnation
The Carnation dates back to ancient Greece, and is one of the oldest cultivated flowers. The durable flower is carefree but distinctive.
Gladiolus
Gladius the Latin word for sword, and the Gladiolus has sword-shaped leaves, hence its name. During the time of Roman Gladiators, the flower was a symbol of luck and protection. Over time, the meaning has evolved to associate the flower with strength of character.
Hydrangea
Hydrangeas are popular for their big blooms and sweet smell, and can be given as a gift to convey apology or gratitude. However, throughout much of early European history, Hydrangeas were used to declare arrogance.
Roses
With their simple, elegant beauty and their rich fragrance roses have been the favorite flower through the ages. Roses are the enduring symbol of love and appreciation.
Sunflower
Happiness shines from a Sunflower, with petals like rays of bright sunshine. This cheerful flower symbolizes loyalty and longevity.
Tulips
These international favorites—and the superstars of our upcoming Dallas Blooms spring festival, presented by IBERIABANK—are fun, bright and easy. The tulip is a comfortable flower that makes people feel happy and relaxed, and the come in a range of colors, making it a very versatile flower.
If you plan to give flowers to someone in your life on Valentine’s Day or any other time, challenge yourself to think about the message you want to communicate, and work some of these meanings into your bouquet.
As always, we’d love to get your questions and feedback. You can reach us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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