The Flower Almanac: Learn The Language of Flowers

When you can't think of a gift, we are sure you will buy a bouquet of beautiful flowers for that special someone. There is no shame in buying a bunch of blooms; there shouldn't be!

Flowers can be the best way to express your real feelings or emotions to someone.

It is considered a very thoughtful way to show someone you care about them, whether it’s on their birthday, anniversary, a surprise, as a thank you or to show your support.

The flower meaning 'Floriography' can sometimes be contrary based on its colour. For example, yellow roses may appear vivid or lucent, But they represent platonic love or friendships.  Similarly, Tansies represent a declaration of War! It is shocking; I mean, how can flowers represent war, don’t you think?    

It might come as a surprise, but flower symbolism has unique language and colours that express different emotions.

So, take notes if you plan to buy flowers for your date!

Without any further a do, let’s get reading this flower almanac and understand flowers and their meanings.

What is Floriography?

Floriography is understood as a term which is used to represent the language of flowers. It was fabricated during the Victorian era to define the various flower meanings. Floriography is the art of flower symbolism or a cryptic way of communication by presenting blooms.

Flowers come in a myriad of different shapes, sizes and colour combinations. There are over 400,000 types of flowering plants, So there has to be a unique way of expressing each variety that speaks for their personality!

Let's get on with the petal pages, shall we?

Rose

Rose is the most popular flower in the world,  generally associated with love and romance,  however, it carries different flower meanings with each colour and number of roses given to someone.

• A single rose symbolises love at first sight.
• Two roses symbolize mutual and deep love.
• Three roses say 'I love you'.
• Six roses indicate 'I want to be yours'.
• Seven roses imply 'I am infatuated with you'.
• Nine roses symbolize 'everlasting love'.
• Ten Roses states 'You are perfect'.

Red Roses represent 'passionate love', making it an ideal choice to give to someone to express your interest or love for someone romantically.

Yellow roses, on the other hand, the symbolic meaning of the flower is friendship and happiness making them suitable to give to a friend,  but when given to a lover the flower symbolism can be of apology and fading love. It is important to be very careful whom you give that yellow rose to!

Coral roses represent a mix of deep compassion and love,  which can be a great gift if you are relationship began as a friendship.

White roses signify innocence and purity reverence or the start of something new.

The flower symbolism of a pink rose is gentleness,  happiness and grace.

 An orange rose can help express your desire and enthusiasm towards something or someone.

Lotus

Lotus is the National Flower of India and comes in several colours like pink and white. Its flower symbolism is also spiritual, as it is considered the flower of many gods and goddesses in the Hindu culture. Lord 'Brahma' emerged from a lotus. The goddess 'Lakshmi' is often depicted seated on a lotus. This flower is a beautiful bloom but grows in the mud in waterbeds, blooming miraculously every morning. Its flower meaning is of re-birth and self-regeneration, and it’s a floral symbol of purity. It also symbolises the heart, beauty, fertility, spiritual purity and growth, and prosperity.

Sunflower

With its vibrant yellow petals and unique appearance, the sunflower carries flower meaning in various cultures. It is a joyful emblem, symbolising warmth, happiness, and an optimistic outlook. The floral symbolism is of loyalty, adoration, and unwavering faith.

Across societies, the sunflower is considered a representation of longevity and good fortune. This beloved flower is more than just a beautiful bloom; it is a heartfelt gesture, often chosen to convey positive sentiments, good luck, and well-wishes in art, literature, and gifting traditions.

Carnation

Carnations, with their delicate petals and subtle fragrances, carry nuanced meanings that vary with their colours. These timeless blooms are often associated with love and fascination.

A red carnation expresses deep love and admiration, making it a classic symbol of affection. White carnations signify good luck, often used in weddings or to convey sympathy.

Pink carnations convey motherly love and admiration, making them a thoughtful gesture.

Meanwhile, the flower meaning of purple carnations is capriciousness, and yellow ones represent disappointment or rejection.

Dahlia

The Dahlia flower meanings depend on their hues. These vibrant flowers are often associated with various emotions and sentiments. With their rich symbolism, dahlias are not just exquisite blooms; they convey a spectrum of emotions and messages through their captivating colours.

The red Dahlia symbolises strength and passion, conveying a sense of enduring love.

White Dahlias represent purity and innocence, while pink Dahlias express gratitude and grace.

The yellow Dahlia is associated with joy and positivity, embodying the sun’s warmth.

Orchid

Orchids carry diverse flower meanings associated with luxury, beauty, love, and refinement. The floral symbolism of orchid colours adds another layer to their significance.

White orchids embody purity and innocence, while pink convey grace, joy, and happiness.

The floral symbolism of purple orchids is of admiration and respect, making them a thoughtful choice for expressing admiration.

Yellow ones convey friendship and new beginnings, while red orchids signify passion and desire.

Lavender

Lavender carries meaningful flower symbolism and represents calmness, tranquillity, and grace. Regardless of the colour, lavender symbolises refinement and quiet beauty, often chosen to convey love, admiration, and peaceful intentions. There are more than 40 varieties of lavender and has many uses, including making teas, skincare, bathware, foods and potpourri, as it is extremely aromatic and flavourful.

The classic purple lavender symbolises admiration and elegance, making it popular for expressing respect or adoration.

Pink lavender signifies affection and sentimentality, while white lavender embodies purity and serenity.

Marigold

The marigold, with its vibrant colours, holds significance in Hindu culture. The bright orange symbolises positivity and the sun, while the yellow represents friendship. Widely used in religious ceremonies, the marigold is favoured for its flower meaning with purity and divine blessings, adorning temples and homes during festivals. Its presence brings joy and auspiciousness to cultural practices. This is an extremely useful flower, as it is largely used in the clothing and food industries. It is good to dye with and is also edible and highly nutritious.

Tulip

Over 150 species and 3,000 varieties of tulips originate from the family of lily.

The symbolic meaning of flowers' The pink tulip symbolises well wishes, happiness, and love. It is ideal to gift to close family and friends, expressing how much they mean to you.

Yellow tulips, as in the Victorian era, mean 'there is sunshine in that smile of yours', making it perfect to express happiness.

Gifting someone an orange tulip can be the floral symbol of understanding and appreciation; meanwhile, red tulips represent love, and blue ones symbolise helping to achieve peace of mind, calmness and serenity.

Iris

The symbolic meaning of the flower Iris is of royalty. They suggest admiration, wisdom and respect. The specific colour of the flower adds to the flower’s meaning. Blue Iris speaks of hope and faith, while the white Iris represents purity. It is the 25th wedding anniversary flower and the national symbol of France, from the fleur-de-lis. These flowers are extremely fragrant, which makes them a great choice to make potpourri.

Lily

Lily, with its elegant petals and graceful presence, carries flower symbolism significance across cultures. Often associated with purity and renewal, the lily serves as a versatile emblem, capturing sentiments of purity, prosperity, passion, and admiration through its various colours.

The white Lily flower meaning is of innocence and virtue. On the other hand, the vibrant hues of coloured Lilies convey different meanings.

Pink lilies represent prosperity and abundance, while orange lilies denote passion and confidence. Whereas, the majestic and regal purple lily is associated with royalty and admiration.

Different Flower Life Cycles

Flowering plants can be divided into three main categories about their life cycle:

Annual

Plants that have a life space of just a single season including going from seed to flower once before they die.  Some popular examples include sunflower, petunia and marigold.

Perennial

Plantae have a lifespan of three or more seasons, meaning that they need planting once and they will grow and blossom each year with proper care. Some common examples include asters, peonies, and daffodils.

Biennial

Biennials are plants that have a lifespan of two seasons, meaning they have a two-year life cycle. During the first season, seeds produce the root structure, stems, and leaves; in the second season, the plant completes its growth with the formation of flowers, fruit, and seeds.

What are the most unique flowers?

• Corpse flower or Amorphophallus titanum, is a huge, 100-pound plant only flowers once for 2-3 days every year or two before it dies and gives off a strong, putrid odour. The bloom can be up to 8 feet tall and it is considered the largest unbranched inflorescence in the world.
• The black bat flower or Tacca Chantrieri resembles a bat with long, cascading whiskers and black wing-like petals. The flower is found in the tropical forests of Southeast Asia and is considered poisonous if ingested. However, it is used in Chinese traditional medicine to treat several deadly ailments.
• Monkey orchid or Dracula Simia is a variety of orchid that looks remarkably like the face of a monkey. Native to Ecuador, it is now in danger of extinction.
• King protea flower is humungous and measures up to 12 inches in diameter having the largest flower head in the genus. This is a miraculous flower as it has the power to regenerate from intense wildfires and resist deadly drought and it is considered a symbol of South Africa's resilience.
• Ghost orchid or Dendrophylax lindenii is a rare, endangered orchid that is leafless and grows on trees, with a shape like a floating ghost. It is native to Florida, Cuba and the Bahamas. The plant is so rare that it is said there are only 1500 left in Florida and are under threat of poachers and habitat loss.
• Skeleton flower or Diphylleia grayi are native to moist mountainous regions of Eastern Asia like Japan, Korea and China. When they get wet, the petals of this simple white flower become transparent and appear to be made of ice.
• Jade Vine, also known as Emerald Vine and Strongylodon macrobotrys. The flower is turquoise in colour and adds a pop to the green jungles. The most exciting fact about this flower is that its spikes are designed in a way that they can be pollinated by bats. They are one of the endangered plants and are also considered one of the rarest flowers.
• Middlemist Red is considered an unidentified camellia and is known to be the rarest flower to be found. The flower smells like rotten meat discovered in 1973. This is considered to be found only in New Zealand and London. Meanwhile, they are considered to be a floral symbol of telling someone that they are like a 'burning flame in their heart'!

Tying The Knot On Flower Talk!

Now that the room is filled with different colours and fragrances, No matter what the flower message is, they let you communicate without using any words and let you beautifully present your message.

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