Flowers and Valentine’s Day go hand in hand, but did you know that those pretty posies, sweet smelling chrysanthemums and darling daffodils that we love to give and receive have meaning behind each and every colour? When giving flowers to a loved one you want to make sure you are sending them the right message. After all, it wouldn’t do to send your employee a beautiful bouquet of red roses to thank them for that overtime they keep putting in. Red is the colour of love, so maybe something purple to show your respect would work better.
Check out the list below complied by Dejan Kristan, Marketing Director at Flowers Canada (Ontario). It offers some insight into the meaning of flower colours as well as suggestions as to what flowers you can choose so that you make the right choice this Valentine’s.
Red: Undoubtedly the colour of passion. Giving out a red flower arrangement will communicate your strong and powerful love. With a colour the same as the heart, red means seduction, desire and passion. Try red roses, red gerbera daisies, or red tulips.
Pink: A colour of innocence and sensitivity, but also very romantic. Although red flowers mean love and passion, pink flowers can show your gentle, yet deep love for someone. Pink flowers can also indicate appreciation, joy and happiness. Try pink ranunculus, calla lilies, or potted azaleas.
Yellow: The colour of harmony, trust and kindness— a great middle ground between friendship and love. Yellow flowers have grown increasingly popular in the work place and at social and family gatherings. These convey meanings of sympathy, thoughtfulness and friend-like love. Try daffodils, yellow tulips, chrysanthemums, or potted begonias.
Orange: Symbolic for growth, enthusiasm and warmth—orange is the colour of friendship and community. Orange flowers send feelings of happiness and joy, with a hint of adventure and spontaneity. Just like a beautiful sunset, these flowers can also convey a message of fiery passion and intense desire. Try orange parrot tulips, gerberas, or Asiatic lilies.
Green: This colour will send wishes of good fortune and harmony. Green is the colour of health, youth and prosperity. By giving this flower, you are telling your friend or loved one that you’d like your relationship to grow and continue to do well. Try an arrangement with lots of green ball chrysanthemums, or give a lucky houseplant such as jade or pachira.
Purple: A royal colour which often means fascination and respect. Purple flowers show a very romantic gesture as they carry with them feelings of elegance and charm. These can express feelings of love at first sight and say ‘I admire and adore you’. Try purple iris, campanula, or an elegant potted orchid.
Blue: Blue means serenity, intimacy and deep trust. Blue flowers are often used by long-term couples to communicate their never-ending love, trust and loyalty in a relationship. Try soft blue hydrangeas, or a bouquet of delphinium and muscari.
White: The colour of purity, innocence, sympathy and humility. This flower will show your friend or loved one that you are thinking about them. While it does convey messages of purity and innocence, this colour also means new beginnings. If given to a long-term partner, they show you want to move forward and think about marriage. Try white daisies, roses or gardenias.
“Flowers are known for having their own language” added Dejan. “It is important to keep these meanings in mind so that your flowers communicate exactly what you intend. One bouquet will tell a passionate love story, while the other will be the tale of a never-ending friendship.”
For more information, please visit www.pickontario.ca. Follow @pickOntario on Twitter and Instagram.
What is your favourite flower and colour? Mine are yellow roses! 🙂
FT&PD
Suz
Lynda Cook says
My favourite is the pink carnation, but knowing my hubby he will bring me red roses, men, gotta love them for trying..lol
Laurie P says
I love a potted orchid 🙂 Any color!
Elizabeth Matthiesen says
So what do flowers with more than one colour say? At the moment I’m enjoying my orchid that I bought last year and have managed to bring into flower again this year, despite having a north facing flat – one small east facing window did the trick 🙂
kathy downey says
Flowers are pretty but not my thing for Valentines Day,i like when hubby things about the day and surprises me,dinner in/out and his awesome handmade cards that truely tell me how he feels….i love it
Janet SHARPE says
I Love red Roses or even Blue Roses knowing my husband he is not really the kind of guy who buys flowers he rather buy choclates or something that would not die off easy
Doris H says
I love Blue roses…they are so pretty!
sabina edwards says
PURPLE…if you look at the pics of what I planted last yr, most of the flowers I picked are one shade or another of purple …. I don’t mind a bright yellow flower, but everything else can be planted in someone elses yard lol
Stephanie says
I had no idea the different colours meant different things!
MapleMouseMama says
It’s pretty neat!
Gina A says
I love tulips – in many many colours! 🙂
Anne Dougherty says
I think orchids are incredibly beautiful!
Annette C. says
I love orchids, especially the miniature ones, and now I am trying to grow some dendrobiums & paphiopedilum orrchids, I love pink blooms!
kathy downey says
I love blue Hydrangeas they ue familyre my favorite in the blue famaily !
Lorna Webster says
Great list. In Japan they are big into flower meanings, so I know some from a manga I read!
DARLENE W says
a gathering of different types of flowers and contrasting colours is what I like to recieve
Elva Roberts says
I love all flowers but I really love mauve and pink. I guess those are good colors to love. I have nearly all colors growing in my flower beds.
Stephanie Z says
This is really interesting! I did not know the different meanings for all of the flowers.