Floriography: The language of flowers

DAISY STEWART

There are few people who will turn up their nose at a bouquet of flowers. It’s the sort of gift that works for all occasions and situations. Is your friend graduating? Flowers. Grandma’s birthday? Flowers. Need to apologize for breaking your roommate’s favourite cup? Flowers.

You may have noticed that different flowers seem to speak to different occasions. Maybe you wouldn’t buy your BFF a dozen long-stem roses for their graduation, but you’d give them to a lover on their birthday. A striking bouquet of bright orange flowers accented by Birds of Paradise might not scream ‘Merry Christmas,’ but a festive basket of poinsettias brings a warm holiday welcome.

In fact, there is even a ‘language’ of flowers called floriography. With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, read on to learn about flower symbolism that may help you find the perfect bouquet for your loved one.

ROSES

Let’s start with a classic — roses! Roses symbolize love and passion, but pay attention to the colour you choose. Classic red is a safe bet to tell your valentine that you’re crazy about them. That’s why the red rose is a staple in V-day symbolism and continues to reign supreme. If you’re looking to tell your partner that you’re all in — buy orange roses to show your enthusiastic desire, and purple to tell them it was love at first sight. Don’t want to come on too strong? A white rose means innocence and humility.

Get a pal yellow roses for friendship and joy, or pink roses to tell them you admire them and appreciate the things they do for you.

TULIPS

purple means royalty, and white means forgiveness. Like roses, red tulips carry strong feelings of love. In fact, red tulips symbolize perfect love. A Turkish legend may be the origin for this symbolism. In the legend, Prince Farhad, devastated by the news that his lover Shirin has passed away, rode his horse off a cliff and fell to his death. It was said that red tulips grew from each drop of his blood.

ORCHIDS

Looking for a spicier sentiment? Orchids symbolize sexuality, fertility, love, beauty, and strength. Orchids are a great gift for a person who has trouble saying goodbye to cut flowers. They make fantastic houseplants and they’re widely available.

That being said, I would recommend purchasing an orchid for your valentine at a nursery as opposed to a flower shop or grocery store. Many commercially available orchids are packaged in floral foam, which ends up killing your beautiful gift. Take a look to make sure the orchid is packaged in bark or moss, and you’ll be off to the races. Oh and one more thing — NEVER WATER AN ORCHID WITH ICE CUBES!

CARNATIONS

Carnations have a lot to say for themselves. Back in the day, giving a potential lover a striped carnation meant “thanks, but no thanks,” while a solid one was an enthusiastic “yes.” Red carnations were given to say “my heart aches for you,” while pink ones told the recipient they were unforgettable. Stay away from the yellow ones, though: giving someone a yellow carnation is a rejection or a way to say “you disappoint me.” messages of beauty (calla), purity (white lilies), and joy (yellow lilies). Look out for the orange ones! Tiger lilies are a symbol of wealth and pride, but orange lilies convey hatred.

Different flowers hold different meanings. Consider the message you want to send your loved one before scooping up your next bouquet. CREDIT: UNSPLASH

SNAPDRAGON

The stunning snapdragon is a sight to behold, but you may want to think twice about sending these to your partner. Snapdragons symbolize deviousness. Where were you last night? Who are you texting? If you do have something to apologize for, make sure you also include a hyacinth (symbolizes sincerity) with your snapdragons to communicate that you regret your misstep.

DAFFODILS ANTHURIUM PLANTS

Anthurium plants are a great alternative to cut flowers. These plants have heart-shaped blooms and stand for long-lasting love and friendship. Not only are they on-brand for the holiday, they’re great for purifying the air and very easy to care for. Some humidity, some indirect sunlight, and allowing the anthurium plant to dry slightly between waterings will keep your adorable plant blooming all year.

While flowers are expressive and convey many different meanings, most Valentine’s Day bouquets are a safe bet and won’t unintentionally tell your lover that you think they stink. Red, white, and pink flowers are typically expressions of love. Floriography is inconsistent at times, showing flowers with multiple different meanings which can be contradictory.

Take lavender, for example. This sweet smelling herb invokes calm and peace for a lot of people, but giving someone lavender symbolizes distrust. For me, it means a good sleep.

Guelph is home to many talented small flower shops. Don’t forget to place your orders with plenty of time to spare to ensure you can get your bouquets by Valentine’s Day. If your friends, partners, or family members hate saying goodbye to beautiful flowers, consider a houseplant instead!

Make your cut flower bouquets last longer by cutting the stems (on an angle is best), removing any petals below the waterline, putting them in fresh water with the provided plant food mixed in, and keeping them away from heat, drafts, direct sunlight, and fruit. Ripening fruit releases a bit of ethylene gas which can interfere with your bouquet’s longevity!