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How about this flower?Lavender · “Quiet waiting”

Choosing Gift Flowers by Their Meanings

The same bouquet carries a different weight when you choose it knowing the meanings. Flower language is an old tongue that says what words cannot. This guide tells the story of how flower meanings came to be, and how to choose flowers for the feeling you want to send.

Where flower meanings came from

Cultures all over the world have long exchanged flowers laden with meaning, but today's system of flower meanings took shape in 19th-century Europe — above all in Victorian England, where flower dictionaries became a craze. In an age when feelings were hard to show openly, a bouquet served as a cipher, carrying the heart in place of a letter.

Flower meanings vary a little by country and culture. The same flower can mean celebration in one place and mourning in another. Flowyric takes the meanings widely used in Korea as its standard, and carries those same meanings across eight languages.

Choosing flowers by the feeling

To confess your love, the Red Rose (Passionate love) and Orange Tulip (A confession of love) lead the field. If the feeling is only shyly beginning, the Pink Ranunculus (A shy confession) or Pink Tulip (The beginning of love) takes some of the pressure off.

For gratitude, the Pink Gerbera (A grateful heart) and Blue Hydrangea (Heartfelt sincerity) fit well. For friendship, reach for the Yellow Rose (Unchanging friendship) and Ivy (Steadfast friendship); for encouragement, the Yellow Freesia (Innocent cheer) and Sunflower (I look only to you).

Where comfort is needed, set the loud primaries aside for a moment and let calm flowers speak in a lower voice — the White Lily (A pure heart), Lavender (Quiet waiting), Chamomile (Strength in adversity).

How color changes the meaning

The same flower changes its meaning when its color changes. The rose is the classic case — the Red Rose means Passionate love, the Pink Rose Happy love, the Yellow Rose Unchanging friendship, and the White Rose Pure respect. One species alone offers four different hearts to choose from.

That is why, when choosing flowers, "which color" matters as much as "which flower". Browse every color variant's meaning in the at-a-glance list below.

Flowers to mind across cultures

Depending on the recipient's culture, some flowers are best avoided. In France, Germany, and Italy the chrysanthemum is a flower of mourning and is not given in celebration, while in East Asia a bouquet of nothing but white flowers can call a funeral to mind. Japan also has a custom of avoiding stem counts that read as unlucky, like 4 and 9. The guide to flower culture by country tells the full story.

All flower meanings at a glance

Make your own bouquet