Flower Meanings: A Guide to What Each Flower and Color Symbolizes

Quick answer: Traditional flower meanings come from the Victorian "language of flowers." The most common today are: red roses for romantic love, pink roses for gratitude and admiration, white flowers for sympathy and new beginnings, yellow flowers for friendship and joy, peonies for prosperity and a happy marriage, orchids for elegance and strength, and lilies for remembrance and renewal. Meanings vary by culture, so treat them as a guide, not a rule.

Choosing flowers by meaning adds a quiet layer of thoughtfulness to a gift. Here is a practical guide to what popular flowers and colors traditionally symbolize, and how to use that when ordering.

Where Flower Meanings Come From

Many of the meanings we use today were popularized in the 19th century, when "floriography" became fashionable in Europe and America. Books listed hundreds of flowers with symbolic messages. Over time, many of those meanings faded, but a core set remains widely recognized. Cultural traditions also play a role, so the same flower can carry different associations in different families and countries.

Flower Meanings by Color

Color is often the easiest way to set the tone of an arrangement.

• Red: Passion, romantic love, courage. The classic choice for anniversaries and Valentine's Day.
• Pink: Gratitude, admiration, gentleness, joy. Light pink feels sweet; deep pink feels celebratory.
• White: Purity, sympathy, peace, new beginnings. Used for weddings and for remembrance.
• Yellow: Friendship, happiness, warmth. Ideal for birthdays, get well wishes and thank-yous.
• Orange: Energy, enthusiasm, celebration.
• Purple and lavender: Admiration, enchantment, dignity.
• Blue: Calm, serenity, trust.
• Green: Renewal, growth, good health.

Meanings of Popular Flowers

Roses

Roses are the most symbolic flower of all, and color changes the message:

• Red roses: Deep romantic love
• Pink roses: Gratitude, admiration, appreciation
• White roses: Purity, new beginnings, remembrance
• Yellow roses: Friendship and joy
• Coral and peach roses: Desire, enthusiasm, warmth
• Lavender roses: Enchantment and love at first sight

Explore our rose collection or love and romance designs.

Peonies

Peonies symbolize prosperity, honor, romance and a happy marriage, which is why they are a favorite for weddings and anniversaries. See our peonies.

Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas often represent heartfelt emotion and gratitude. Blue hydrangeas are associated with understanding, pink with sincere feeling, and white with grace. Browse our hydrangeas.

Lilies

Lilies carry associations of renewal and remembrance. White lilies are one of the most traditional sympathy flowers, while stargazer lilies feel bold and celebratory.

Orchids

Orchids symbolize elegance, refinement, strength and luxury. A potted orchid is a long-lasting gift for a new home, a promotion or a thank-you.

Tulips

Tulips are linked to perfect love and cheerful beginnings. Red tulips are romantic; yellow tulips are sunny and friendly.

Sunflowers

Sunflowers represent loyalty, adoration and happiness. They are a natural choice for birthdays and get well wishes.

Carnations

Carnations are associated with fascination and devotion. Pink carnations are traditionally linked to a mother's love.

Chrysanthemums

In the United States, chrysanthemums often mean joy and friendship. In parts of Europe and Asia they are closely tied to funerals and remembrance, so consider the recipient's background.

Ranunculus

Ranunculus is said to mean "I am dazzled by your charms," a lovely message for romance.

Gardenias

Gardenias represent secret love and refinement, with a famously rich scent.

Lisianthus

Lisianthus is associated with appreciation and gratitude.

Baby's breath

Baby's breath symbolizes everlasting love and innocence, often used in wedding and new baby designs.

Choosing Flowers by Occasion

• Romance and anniversaries: Red or pink roses, peonies, ranunculus. See anniversary flowers.
• Birthdays: Bright mixes with yellow, orange and pink. See birthday flowers.
• Sympathy: White lilies, roses, orchids and soft greens. See custom sympathy flowers.
• Get well: Sunflowers, yellow roses and cheerful, low-fragrance blooms. See get well flowers.
• New baby: Soft pinks, blues, whites and baby's breath. See new baby flowers.
• Thank you: Pink roses, hydrangeas and lisianthus. See thank you flowers.

A Few Cautions

Meanings are not universal. A few things to keep in mind:

• Yellow roses once carried associations of jealousy in older floriography. Today they almost always read as friendship.
• Chrysanthemums and white flowers may be associated with funerals in some cultures.
• Number of stems can matter too. In some cultures, including Ukraine, even numbers are reserved for funerals, so gift bouquets traditionally use an odd number of stems.
• Red roses to a coworker may send a message you did not intend.

When in doubt, choose by color and mood, and let a personal card message say the rest.

Let a Florist Help

Florist tip from Anastasiia: "Meanings are lovely, but the strongest message is personal. If she has a favorite color or a flower from her childhood garden, tell me — that will always speak louder than any book of floriography."

If you have a specific message in mind, tell us. Through a custom order, we can design around a meaning, a favorite flower or a color that matters to the recipient — airy and delicate, with a hint of the unexpected.