Types of Flowers and Their Meanings

It is said that flowers have their own language and sending or receiving flowers does send a certain message. We send flowers when someone dies or when a new baby is born. We send flowers when someone celebrates a birthday or when someone is sick. We send flowers to say "I'm sorry" or sometimes just because. Most all of us enjoy flowers for their beauty, their fragrance and their stylistic presentation, but do you know what the flowers you've sent or received are really saying? Different types of flowers have different types of meanings and it may surprise you to find out exactly what the flowers in that special bouquet really mean.

Flower symbolism dates back to Victorian times when there was a limited selection of flowers that people could give to each other. Since communication tended to be made more with gestures and symbols rather than words, the language of flowers was born.

It's interesting to discover the various meanings of the flower types that we enjoy so much. Would you ever have thought that a rhododendron means "beware" or that a marigold means a "desire for riches?" Just think of the possibilities. Want to tell someone you distrust them? Send them lavender. Are you a secret admirer? Send a bouquet of yellow chrysanthemums. While red roses symbolize passionate love, yellow tulips mean that you're hopelessly in love.

Some flower meanings really match the flower type they represent. Queen Anne's lace symbolizes delicate femininity; an orchid means delicate beauty; daisies mean innocence and a sunflower means adoration. Other flowers are just plain fun in their meanings like statice which means success (notice the play on words) or tuberose which means pleasure (notice the symbolism?) Even the simplest of flowers have symbolic meanings like the "promise" of the apple blossom and the "festivity" of baby's breath.

Who would have thought that flowers had such an extensive and elaborate language? So, next time you send a bouquet of flowers, spend a little time and make sure the flowers in that bouquet are saying what you really want express.