Flower Meanings: The Language of Flowers17 July 2025Flowers are more than just a pretty gift. They hold meaning that can speak a thousand words! For generations, people have used flowers to communicate emotions, intentions and messages that words sometimes can’t capture. Whether you’re apologising after an argument, celebrating a milestone or simply wanting to brighten someone’s day, understanding the language of flowers can transform a simple bouquet into a meaningful conversation. Let’s dive into this beautiful tradition and discover how you can speak volumes without uttering a single word. The Origin of Flower Language The Language of Flowers: Popular Flowers and Their Messages The Colour Code: How Hue Can Change Meaning Creating Your Own Colourful Floral Displays Based on Flower Language Fluently Speak in the Language of Flowers The Origin of Flower Language The formal “language of flowers”, or floriography as it’s known, really hit its stride during the Victorian era. Back then, society had pretty strict rules about expressing emotions openly, especially romantic ones. This led to the creative birth of the language of flowers where flowers were transformed into secret messengers. Books like Kate Greenaway’s “The Language of Flowers” became bestsellers, giving people detailed dictionaries of floral meanings. A red rose meant passionate love, while a yellow one suggested friendship. But, the Victorians weren’t actually the first to come up with this concept. Ancient civilisations had been using flowers symbolically for thousands of years. The Greeks associated different blooms with their gods and goddesses, while Egyptian tomb paintings often featured flowers representing eternal life. In China, the “Four Gentlemen” flowers (plum blossom, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum) represented noble character traits, and Japanese hanakotoba developed its own intricate system of flower meanings. So, what does the language of flowers look like in the modern world? Well, not a whole lot has changed! We still give red roses on romantic occasions, white lilies for sympathy and bright sunflowers to cheer someone up. The Language of Flowers: Popular Flowers and Their Messages There are many flowers that come to mind when we think of flower meanings. For example, roses, lilies and sunflowers are some of the favourites. Let’s take a look at some of the flowers you’ll encounter most often and the messages they carry. The Rose Family When it comes to the language of flowers, roses are the most frequently used. We all know red roses mean passionate love, but what about the other colours? Here is a quick overview of what your next bunch of roses could mean: Red Roses: Passionate love, desire, courage Pink Roses: Gratitude, admiration, perfect for thanking someone special White Roses: Purity, new beginnings, wedding favourites Yellow Roses: Friendship, joy, perfect for celebrating achievements The Romantic Language of Flowers The most prominent romantic blooms, other than roses, are tulips and peonies. These flowers have symbolised love in some way for centuries. The tulip symbolises perfect love and elegance, ideal for new relationships or telling someone they’re wonderful. These spring beauties represent deep, abiding love that’s comfortable and confident rather than passionate and overwhelming. Peonies, on the other hand, represent honour, wealth and good fortune making them a popular choice for graduations and promotions. These lush, full blooms are considered lucky flowers in many cultures and also represent a happy life and successful marriage. Friendship and Joy Flowers Sunflowers are often associated with loyalty, adoration and long-lasting bonds. These cheerful giants always turn their faces toward the sun, symbolising unwavering devotion and the ability to find brightness even in difficult times. Daisies represent innocence, new beginnings and loyal love, making them a simple yet charming choice. With links to purity of the heart and the ability to see good in everyone and everything, daisies are often associated with children and new mothers with messaging such as fresh starts, new life and innocent joy. Chrysanthemums symbolise friendship and joy in most cases, although it is also good to note they are also associated with death in some cultures so it is important to know the context of the situation. In many Asian cultures, chrysanthemums represent longevity and happiness, making them popular for celebrations and festivals. Sympathy and Remembrance Lilies are known as the sympathy flower with their meaning of rebirth and renewal of life. These flowers are commonly found in funeral arrangements as they represent the restored innocence of the soul after death. White lilies in particular symbolise the pure soul of the departed while other lily colours can represent different aspects of remembrance and hope. Forget-me-nots are often associated with true love and remembrance. These tiny blue flowers carry one of the most touching messages in the floral world: “please don’t forget me”. The name of this flower originates from a story about God naming all the flowers when a little bloom called out “forget-me-not”, giving it its name and eternal meaning. Carnations have multiple meanings including fascination, distinction and love. These long-lasting flowers represent deep affection and are often used in both celebratory and memorial arrangements. Pink carnations traditionally honour a mother’s undying love, while white carnations represent pure love and good luck, making them versatile for many meaningful occasions. Celebration Flowers Orchids are typically associated with luxury, strength and beauty for any arrangement. These exotic blooms represent refined beauty and strength of character, making them perfect for honouring someone’s achievements or celebrating milestone moments. Iris blooms represent wisdom, valour and faith, another flower perfect for honouring achievements. Named after the Greek goddess of the rainbow, iris flowers represent messages of hope and courage travelling between Earth and heaven. The three petals traditionally symbolise faith, wisdom and chivalry, making them ideal for graduation bouquets or honouring someone’s brave accomplishments. Gladiolus symbolises strength of character and integrity. These tall, striking blooms get their name from the Latin word for sword, representing strength to pierce through challenges with honour intact. They’re perfect for congratulating someone who has overcome difficulties or achieved something through perseverance and moral courage. The Colour Code: How Hue Can Change Meaning It’s not just about the type of flower you give someone, it’s also about the colour. As we all know, colours have their own associations and this is no different in the flower world. Here are a few examples of what certain colours in your flower bouquet could represent: Primary Colour Meanings: Red: Passion, love, desire and courage Pink: Gentleness, admiration and nurturing care White: Purity, innocence, new beginnings and sympathy Yellow: Friendship, joy, warmth (but this can also symbolise jealousy in some cases!) Secondary Colour Meanings: Orange: Enthusiasm, fascination and energy Purple: Royalty, dignity, admiration and success Blue: Tranquility, peace and trust The great thing about combining colours and flowers is the range of stories you can tell with the simple tweak of colour or bloom. A red carnation can express feelings of “my heart aches for you” whereas a pink one simply says “I’ll never forget you”. This is why understanding colour psychology as well as the meaning of flowers is so important when creating a meaningful bouquet for your loved one. Creating Your Own Colourful Floral Displays Based on Flower Language Now that you know what the most popular colour and flower combinations mean, it’s time to put your knowledge to work by creating a flower bouquet of your own. Remember, it’s all about context! Here are some ideas for the types of bouquets you can create depending on the occasion: For Apologies: White roses - new beginnings Pink tulips - care and affection Purple hyacinths - asking for forgiveness For Celebrating Success: Bright orange roses - enthusiasm Yellow sunflowers - admiration Purple irises - wisdom and valour If crafting your own bouquet is out of your element, you can also choose from a range of handcrafted flower bouquets made by your local florist (like us!). Expert florists have extensive knowledge of flower language to create bouquets that put your thoughts and feelings into a heartwarming gift, ready for you to give to your loved one. Why not take a look at our range of bouquets today to find the bouquet you’ve been dreaming of? Fluently Speak in the Language of Flowers The language of flowers reminds us that sometimes the most powerful messages are the ones we don’t speak out loud. Whether you’re following centuries-old traditions or creating your own meaningful combinations, flowers offer a beautiful way to connect with others on a deeper level. Looking for a bouquet that is the perfect fit for your occasion? Why not choose Julie’s Flowers? We have an extensive selection of bespoke bouquets that have been crafted with the language of flowers in mind. From our range of Congratulations to Get Well Soon and With Love flowers, you can find the blooms perfect for your loved one. Explore our range today! FAQs What is the code language of flowers? The language of flowers, also known as floriography, is a symbolic communication system using flower arrangements and types to express feelings and messages that couldn’t be spoken aloud. This coded system became especially popular during the Victorian era when strict social conventions made direct emotional expression difficult. Which flower says “I love you”? Red roses are the classic flower for saying “I love you,” representing passionate, romantic love and deep emotional connection. The tradition is so strong that red roses have become universally recognised as the ultimate declaration of love across cultures. Which flower symbolises “sorry?” White roses are traditionally used to say “sorry” as they represent new beginnings and sincere intentions, making them perfect for apologies. Purple hyacinths are another excellent choice for apologies, as they specifically symbolise asking for forgiveness and expressing regret. Related Articles Anniversary Flowers By Year Birth Month Flowers: What Do They Mean? The History of Giving Flowers on Valentine's Day