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30 flowers and their surprising meanings

The power of petals. - by Rebecca Lowrey Boyd
  • 04 Feb 2019
30 flowers and their surprising meanings

Which is more romantic: a bunch of roses or a bouquet of ranunculus? 

Make sure you say what you really mean with flowers. 

Here, we unveil 30 popular blooms and their meanings. 

1. Amaryllis

Amaryllis
Getty

Say “congratulations” with this bright bloom.

2. Anemone

Anemone
Getty

Signifies “I can’t wait to see you”.

3. Bird of Paradise

Bird of paradise
Getty

Symbolises magnificence, royalty and excellence.

4. Calla Lilly

Calla lily
Getty

Denotes “magnificent beauty”.

5. Camellia

Camellia
Getty

Choose white if you want to tell someone they are “adorable” whereas red means “you are the flame in my heart”. Pink camellias symbolise “longing for you”.

6. Carnation

Carnation
Getty

White denotes “good luck” while pink means “unforgettable”. Yellow carnations signify “disappointment” and “rejection”.

7. Chrysanthemum

Chyrsanthemum
Getty

White means honesty and truth while red says “I love you”. Tell it how it is with yellow, which signifies refusal and means “no”.

8. Daffodil

Daffodil
Getty

Signifies “the sun shines when I’m with you”.

9. Dahlia

Dahlia
Getty

Encouragement, inner strength and creativity.

10. Daisy

Daisy
Getty

Denotes happiness and playfulness.

11. Forget-Me-Not

Forget-me-not
Getty

The name says it all: “I will not forget you”.

12. Freesia

Freesia
Getty

Says “I trust you” and denotes friendship.

13. Gardenia

Gardenia
Getty

Symbolic of “secret love”.

14. Gerbera

Gerbera
Getty

Red means “strength” while pink is symbolic of “protected heart”.

15. Hyacinth

Hyacinth
Getty

The purple flower means "please forgive me”.

16. Hydrangea

Hydrangea
Getty

Various meanings ranging from “you are unfeeling” to “perseverance and understanding”.

17. Iris

Iris
Getty

Denotes royalty, wisdom and respect.

18. Lavender

Lavender
Getty

Stands for protection, cleansing and trust. Says “I admire you”.

19. Lilac

Lilac
Getty

The purple bloom stands for moving on. 

20. Tiger lily

Tiger lily
Getty

Says “I am proud of you”.

21. Lily of the Valley

Lily of the Valley
Getty

Carries the message of sweetness.

22. Orchid

Orchid
Getty

Stands for sexy.

23. Pansy

Pansies
Getty

Denotes “I am thinking of our love”.

24. Peony

Peony
Getty

Symbolises a happy marriage, anniversary and romance.

25. Ranunculus

Ranunculus
Getty

Means everlasting love and romance.

26. Rose

Red rose
Getty

Say “I love you” with the iconic red rose, or “I’m falling in love” with a yellow rose. White means honesty while pale pink says “I am sorry”.

27. Snapdragon

Snapdragon
Getty

Expresses “I’m sorry for what I did”.

28. Sunflower

Sunflower
Getty

Says “get well” and symbolises “strength”.

29. Sweet pea

Sweet peas
Getty

Says “you are beautiful”.

30. Tulip

Tulip
Getty

Make declarations of love with red tulips, and beg for forgiveness with white.

You might also like:

The ultimate guide to Australian native flowers

5 fragrant rose varieties for a scent-sational garden

9 tips for buying fresh flowers

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Rebecca Lowrey Boyd
Rebecca is the Digital Managing Editor of Better Homes and Gardens.

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