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Learn the language of flowers before you send a bouquet, from red roses for love to Blue Stars for strength.
ByAmanda Garrity and Mariah Thomas
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Flowers are thoughtful gifts for everyone— family, friends, coworkers and your lover alike. So, it's never a bad idea to gift a bouquet of roses to showcase your passion, love or affection. But just like how different rose colors have different meanings, so do all the blooms, making it important to know the flower meanings so you pick the right one.
With our helpful roundup, we're sharing pictures of more than 70 flowers and what they represent, like pink lilies for prosperity and blue asters for strength. For a special family occasion, like Mother's Day or Father's Day, show your appreciation with pink tulips and begonias. You'll even find that some of the flowers specifically cater to Valentine's Day, like bleeding hearts, snapdragons and red camellias — which symbolize a deep love or desire for your partner (Try adding these perfectly arranged bouquets to your Valentine's Day list too!).
Now while you may find that most of these flowers have positive meanings, some have negative representations. Take yellow roses and marigolds for example, where both secretly symbolize jealousy. Even tansies, which are commonly included in bouquets, can stand as a secret declaration of war.
So before you go shopping at your local flower shop (or have blooms delivered to your giftee's home), give our guide a look through. We've included details from A Victorian Flower Dictionary, The Farmer's Almanac and more, so the arrangement shows exactly how you feel.
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Pink Delphiniums
Similar to their white and light blue counterparts, pink delphiniums represent youth and renewal. So don't forget to include them in your bouquet for a loved one renewing their vows or for those looking for a little bit of love on their life journey.
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Orange Tulips
Is there someone you feel you've connected with spiritually and physically? If so, orange tulips are a thoughtful gift, as they symbolize understanding and appreciation for the other.
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Red Camellias
Passion, love and romance are the meanings behind these gorgeous blooms. Personally hand your significant other a single red camellia or bouquet to tell them they are desired.
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Pink Tulips
Send good wishes to family and friends with pink tulips. While they're not as deep or passionate as red ones, they also symbolize love.
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White Camellia
Like other white flowers you might want to gift, white camellias stand for purity and innocence. Other meanings include admiration and respect, while also being tied to death in Japanese culture.
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Yellow Tulips
Bring cheer to anyone's day with yellow tulips. Victorians even gave them the literal meaning, “there's sunshine in your smile," making them the perfect flower to convey happiness.
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Two-Toned Carnations
Think twice before gifting anyone a two-toned carnation. They're a symbol of parting. AKA handing them to your lover means you can't be with them. And that's not really how you'd want your wedding anniversary or date to go.
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White Lily
Often chosen as sympathy flowers, you'll typically find white lilies at funerals. Don't worry, though, they're also seen at weddings to represent purity and rebirth.
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Red Lily
Red is a passionate color on its own, so it's no coincidence that red lilies have the same meaning. That's why these deep-colored blossoms make a romantic gift to your partner.
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Yellow Carnations
If you come across yellow carnations at the flower shop, don't be fooled by their beauty. They represent rejection and disappointment, making them far from ideal for a happy occasion or loving gesture.
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Blazing Star
Also commonly known as Liatris and Gayfeather, these blooms symbolize joy, happiness and blissfulness. Gift them during special occasions and celebratory moments.
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Blue Star
Add these florals to your bouquet to show a loved one that you recognize and admire their strength, determination and endurance.
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Blanket Flower
Also known as Gaillardia, these rich-colored blooms symbolize joy and modesty — perfect for the charming figure in your life.
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Scotch Brooms
These brilliant flowers were known for regulating the heart and circulatory system, leading them to represent strength and abundance.
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Begonias
Give these to a family member or friend for their anniversary or as a way to say "thank you." They symbolize gratitude, uniqueness, and at times, caution.
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Bee Balms
As members of the mint family, Bee Balms have been used to combat sore throats, bloating and nausea. So it's no wonder their meaning is protection and prosperity.
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Bleeding Hearts
These heart-shaped blooms have a strong meaning of passionate love and romance, which makes them gorgeous bouquet additions for Valentine's Day.
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Balloon Flowers
If there's someone you'll never stop loving, gift them these star-like flowers. They also represent the desire for a friend to re-enter your life.
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Pink Azalea
Along with a meaning of wealth, these striking blossoms represent family and familial duty.
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Alyssum
In the Victorian language of flowers, Alyssums are known to mean "worth beyond beauty." Many wear them to repel negative emotions such as anger.
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Bluebells
These bell-shaped blooms represent kindness. They're also the perfect gift to show someone how grateful you are for their friendship, love and support.
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Aster
Based on Victorian culture, Asters embody daintiness and charm. Greek mythology lovers will also be interested to know that they can be a symbol of love (known for being placed on the altars for the Greek gods).
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Coral Roses
Make sure you gift the right rose to the right person. Unlike red roses, coral roses represent friendship, modesty and sympathy.
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Cosmos
With its orderly arrangement of petals, it's only natural that cosmos be known for order and harmony. There are several colors to choose from, including different shades of pink, purple, red and orange.
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Yellow Roses
Based on its meaning, you might second-guess gifting this rose color to a loved one. Yellow roses have a hidden symbolism of jealousy and infidelity. However, gifting them to a friend can mean warmth and affection.
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Blue Delphiniums
Officially known as the birth flower for July, delphiniums are gifted for encouragement and joy. Different colors have different meanings, although the blue delphiniums symbolize dignity.
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Freesia
Freesias are popular for their citrus fragrance and long-lasting vase life. Gifting someone a bouquet of freesias may symbolize friendship, along with innocence, purity and trust.
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Calla Lily
Do you find someone beautiful (inside and out)? Give them a bouquet of calla lilies to represent your attraction. Unknown to some, the true flower is the spike on the inside, while the outer petal is a leaf.
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Hyacinth
This bloom is dedicated to the Greek sun god Apollo (also known for archery, truth and prophecy). They signify games, sports and play. You can give this flower to someone who loves to play sports as a way of encouragement for an upcoming game.
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Gardenia
Have a crush on someone, but they aren't aware of your feelings? Gardenias represent secret love or a way of saying "you're lovely." Gifting them is a sweet and romantic gesture, and a great way to tell someone how you truly feel.
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Amanda GarrityAmanda Garrity is a lifestyle writer and editor with over seven years of experience, including five years on staff at Good Housekeeping, where she covered all things home and holiday, including the latest interior design trends, inspiring DIY ideas and gift guides for any (and every) occasion.
Mariah ThomasAssistant EditorMariah Thomas (she/her) is an assistant editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers home and lifestyle content.
