Flowers given in any circumstance can lift anyone’s mood, but according to florists, giving someone flowers is quite the art form. It must be well thought out in order to perfectly mesh with the occasion in question. Up until researching the art of flower giving, I saw flowers as a simple way to express endearment to someone near. However, the professionals are able to categorise flowers according to birthday, event, and even colour. Each of these represents a different emotion and depends on the relationship you have with the recipient. The information out there is thorough and intense, so let’s break it down bit by bit to ensure you get it right at your next event.
Colour
When it comes to flower giving, colour is one of the most important factors to consider as the selection can have very different meanings.
Red – represents passion and energy, which is why red roses are typically given to partners on Valentine’s Day.
Orange – similar to red, orange represents a loving admiration, along with warmth, a sense of adventure and joy.
Pink – symbolises all things feminine and can indicate a deep love, combined with innocence and flush. The same kind of blush you get when you’re around someone you find yourself attracted to.
Yellow – represents friendship, trust and compassion, which is why they say to give yellow roses to close friends.
Green – typically means a strong relationship with nature and indicates maintaining a sense of balance, good health and resilience.
Blue – this colour in a flower denotes calmness and is used to settle anxiety and promote openness.
Purple – in the past, purple was the colour used to represent royalty, now it is known to best symbolise grace and refinement as well as dignity and charm.
White – is universally known to represent a sense of innocence and purity. In floral arrangements, white is used to bring about feelings on true love and elegance.
Occasion
Flowers can be given at almost every occasion, however, the type of event determines the type of flower you give.
Anniversaries – just like the type of gift, anniversary milestones bring on different flowers.
Five years – Daisies
Ten years – Daffodils
Fifteen years – Roses
Twenty years – Aster
Twenty-five years – Irises
Thirty years – Lilies
Dates – although giving flowers to someone on the first date may seem a tad overbearing, it’s always nice to bring along a small bouquet for someone you’ve gone out with more than once. Orchids, tulips and dandelions are the best type of flower to give a date.
Funerals – during these times, it’s normally expected that guests provide large arrangements of flowers. In terms of colour, bringing along red or orange is recommended, as mentioned previously, they represent energy and passion. Here, it can mean celebrating a life, rather than mourning one. Blue or green are also an option as they mean all things calm and can bring comfort to those who need it most.
Get well soon – if the recipient is in hospital, it’s best to consider other hospital patients and not bring fragrant flowers; tulips, irises and gladioli make excellent choices here. If the person is home, bright house plants are fantastic as they are known to be able to lift a person’s spirits, especially if they are green.
Christmas/Holidays – paperwhites, amaryllis’ and the red poinsettia are typically given during the holidays as they symbolise cheer, success and promote festivity.
Sympathy – these flowers differ from funeral flowers as flowers sent out sympathy are normally sent to someone’s home. Plus, small arrangements are the best way to go about presenting someone with flowers in times of sympathy. Lean on lilies, roses and daises during times like these. Highly colourful arrangements are not recommended here as the aim is not to cheer someone up, but rather to show your support to those who are in mourning.
Thank you – when it comes to thank you flowers, this is an opportunity to choose an arrangement that best suits the recipient’s personality. If you’re unsure of this or you don’t happen to know the person’s favourite type of flower, carnations are your best bet.
Valentine’s Day – although red roses are high likely to be given on Valentine’s Day, it is not always a must, especially when it comes to the relationship you have with your partner. If your relationship has just begun, it’s best to give your partner lavender roses to signify your enchantment towards them. If you’ve been in a relationship for a while, red roses of course are most likely going to make an appearance. However, if you find yourself in a circumstance where your partner isn’t fond of roses, tulips come in second as an option as they express and communicate love.
Birthday – similar to birth stones, each birth month has their own designated flower.
January – Carnation
February – Violet
March – Daffodil
April – Daisy
May – Lily
June – Rose
July – Larkspur
August – Gladiolus
September – Aster
October – Marigold
November – Chrysanthemum
December – Poinsettia
