The symbolism of flowers:

What do they express with their colors and shapes?

Flowers are one of the most beautiful and delicate elements of nature, which have inspired poets, artists and lovers throughout history. But flowers are not only a source of beauty and scent, but also of meaning and communication. Each flower has its own symbolism, which depends on its type, color, shape and origin. Knowing the symbolism of flowers can help us to choose the best gift for each occasion, or to interpret the message they want to convey.

The origin of the symbolism of flowers dates back to ancient times, when they were used as offerings to the gods, as ornaments in ceremonies, as medicines or as symbols of power. In some cultures, such as Egyptian, Greek or Roman, flowers had a sacred value and were associated with different divinities. For example, the rose was the symbol of Aphrodite, the goddess of love, and the lotus was the symbol of Isis, the goddess of life.

In the Middle Ages, flowers were used as a secret language between lovers, who sent each other coded messages with their petals and scents. In the Renaissance, flowers became an artistic element, depicted with great realism and detail in paintings and tapestries. In the Victorian era, the symbolism of flowers reached its peak, and a complex system of floriography was created, which assigned a specific meaning to each flower, according to its variety, its color and its arrangement in the bouquet.

Today, the symbolism of flowers is still valid, and is used to express feelings, wishes, tributes or condolences. Although the meaning of flowers may vary according to culture and context, there are some that are more or less universal.

Types of flowers

Roses

The rose is the flower of love par excellence, but its color determines the type of love to be expressed. The red rose symbolizes passionate love, the white rose symbolizes pure love, the yellow rose symbolizes platonic love or friendship, the pink rose symbolizes tender love or gratitude, and the black rose symbolizes tragic love or mourning.

Sunflower

The sunflower is the flower of joy, good luck and admiration, which faces the sun and represents energy and optimism. Giving a sunflower as a gift is a way of telling someone that you light up their life, that you respect them and wish them well.

Margarita

Daisy comes from Greek and means “pearl” or “beautiful pearl”. It is the flower of simplicity and happiness, which is related to childhood and play. Giving a daisy as a gift is a way of showing affection, sympathy or innocence for someone.

Mimosas

The mimosa is the flower that symbolizes women, in places like Italy it is a tradition to give mimosas to celebrate March 8. The history of this custom is very nice, more than 100 years ago two Italian women, Teresa Mattei and Rita montagna, two activists, gave bouquets of mimosas to other women who were fighting for women’s rights and equality. For Teresa Mattei she said she chose this flower because it is a symbol of strength, sensitivity and good sense, because despite its fragile appearance it can grow in various environments, it is very resistant and able to survive the most adverse conditions, thus representing a strong and independent woman. It is also associated with friendship, tenderness, magnificence and elegance. If you want to convey admiration to a woman, choose this flower.

Immortelle

Its technical name is Limonium sinuatum or ‘statice’. This flower is a symbol of joy and success, because it represents durability and persistence, either to wish triumph or to keep the memory of people who are no longer with us. The always alive one transmits solidity and is ideal to wish luck and confidence to the person who is undertaking or has a company or project.

Wild Flowers

The wildflowers symbolize a free spiritrepresents a person who is unpredictable because of his adventurous attitude, who takes risks to make decisions and does not like impositions or feeling tied down, that is, a person who loves freedom and is not afraid to leave his comfort zone.

Ferns

Ferns symbolize good luck being able to achieve an environment with good energy. It is considered a protective plant and is associated with harmony and love, so it is a plant with a very nice message and full of good wishes because you want the person receiving the gift to have prosperity and luck.

Hortensia

This flower is the symbol of abundance. It is a flower with a lot of elegance and for that reason, it is associated with beauty. It conveys a sweet vulnerability and temperance. In Asia the hydrangea has a great resemblance to the symbolism of roses. It is a flower with a special meaning to give as a gift, as you want to show your appreciation.

Broom bloom

It is a flower with a great similarity to the symbolism of the paniculata, its flowers are of a smaller size and its stems a little thicker. They differ because their meaning is associated with renewal and prioritization. It could be related to self-love and self-knowledge.

Meaning according to the color of the flowers

Blue

Blue flowers represent harmony, trust and affection. They symbolize the color of the sky and convey feelings of calm, creativity and balance.

White

White flowers symbolize purity, innocence and peace. They are the most chosen by brides for their bouquets, as they express lasting and sincere love. They are also used to wish a speedy recovery to someone who is ill.

Red

Red flowers represent love, passion and desire. They are the symbol par excellence of lovers and are given as a gift to express intense and deep feelings.

Rosa

Pink flowers express appreciation, gratitude, sweetness and affection. They are a romantic and delicate gift, which can also serve to show friendship and happiness.

Lila

Lilac flowers represent sensitivity, respect and admiration. They make a great gift for those we value and appreciate, or to celebrate someone’s success or achievement.

Yellow

Yellow flowers represent joy, friendship and youth. They are the perfect flower to celebrate holidays and birthdays, or to cheer up someone who is sad or down.

Orange

Orange flowers represent enthusiasm, optimism and challenge. They are the ideal flower to send messages of support, gratitude or motivation.

These are just a few examples of the symbolism of flowers, but there are many more. The important thing is to know that flowers are a gift that speaks for itself, and that can transmit much more than words. So the next time you want to give flowers, think carefully about what you want to say, and choose the right flower for each occasion.

Sources

[The Language of Flowers: Symbolism and Meaning of Flowers](https://portaljardin.com/el-lenguaje-de-las-flores/)

[Symbolism of flowers – Verdissimo](https://www.verdissimo.com/es/noticias/simbolismo-flores)

[Symbolism of… the flower – New Acropolis Library](https://biblioteca.acropolis.org/simbolismo-de-la-flor/)

[The Symbolism of Flowers ⊛ Simbolosceltas.top](https://simbolosceltas.top/el-simbolismo-de-las-flores/)

[The language of flowers: the meaning of plants and what ...](https://lotusmagus.com/es/lenguaje-de-las-flores-significado-simboliza/)