The Meanings Behind Valentine\'s Flowers (2024)

This entry was posted on January 13, 2024 by appleyard.

The Meanings Behind Valentine\'s Flowers (1)

Ever wondered what Valentine’s flowers mean? Find a beautiful bloom with the perfect meaning to symbolise your love this Valentine’s Day with this simple guide.

Flowers have long held rich symbolic significance; in the Victorian times, the language of flowers was used to send very specific messages through a bouquet. Choosing a flower with meaning adds an extra special touch to your Valentine’s gift. For example, we all love roses but why not choose a colour that symbolises the message you want to portray?

Keep reading to find out what message different flowers & their colours convey.

The Meaning of Red Roses

The traditional gift for Valentine’s Day, red roses symbolise love, romance, and devotion, and are the perfect bloom to simply say ‘I love you’. These flowers are our best sellers on Valentine’s Day and we can understand why - it’s a timeless, classic Valentine’s gift.

Red roses have been considered romantic since ancient times. In Roman mythology, the blooms were associated with the goddess of love, Venus.

The Meanings Behind Valentine\'s Flowers (2)

The Meaning of White Roses

The white rose represents unity, virtue, purity and the new beginnings of love. It’s now commonly used as a bridal flower, but it’s also a more understated way to express your love to someone special.

Their quiet beauty has also made them a gesture of remembrance, honor and reverence, which makes them a beautiful memorial for a departed loved one. Whether stately or somber, the white rose is a perfect way to say, “I’m thinking of you.

The Meaning of Purple Roses

Lilac roses have a particularly lovely meaning, typically signifying enchantment and love at first sight. These unusual blooms are a beautiful symbol of profound love and devotion.

The Meaning of Pink Roses

The pink hues communicate the meaning of elegance, grace, admiration and appreciation. The pink rose is a popular Valentine’s gift for those in the early stages of a relationship, as it’s not as overtly romantic as the red rose.

That said, it can still be sent to someone you’ve been with for a long time. For example, it can be used to express your gratitude for many years of love and support, or long lasting admiration.

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The Meaning of Lilies

The meaning of the lily varies by the type and colour. Calla lilies carry a range of meanings, but one of the most common ones is faithfulness, making them a great way to show devotion. They can also demonstrate appreciation, admiration, charm, and passion.

On the other hand, the beautiful oriental lily signifies purity and grace, with particular colours having different meanings. Orange lilies can be sent to send a message of confidence and passion, whilst pink lilies are symbolic of prosperity and wealth - a great way to express your best wishes for the year ahead.

The Meaning of Orchids

The elegant orchid makes a striking addition to any Valentine’s bouquet, giving them modern flair and style. During the Victorian age, orchids were only found in the tropics and were extremely rare. Therefore, Victorians would collect exotic orchids as a sign of luxury and refined taste. When given as a gift, the rarer the orchid, the deeper your love and passion was for the receiver.

Today, they are more typically regarded as emblems of integrity, elegance and friendship as well as portraying rare and delicate beauty.

The Meaning of Peonies

Peonies signify romance, elegance, honour, wealth and abundance. These beautiful blooms are incredibly popular, and an uncommon sight at Valentine’s Day. They’ll make for a lovely surprise, whilst conveying your hopes and best wishes for your partner.

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The Meaning of Carnations

Generally, this flower symbolises love, distinction and fascination. However, there are many different colours of carnation and each have their own individual meaning.

A dark red connotes deep love and affection, light red symbolises admiration, while white implies pure love and good luck. Purple carnations imply capriciousness and unpredictability - perfect for a more fiery relationship.

Pink carnations began with the belief that they first appeared on earth from the Virgin Mary’s tears and therefore they now symbolise a mother’s undying love. Although perhaps not the best Valentine’s colour, they are stunning - especially for fans of pink!

All of the above flowers are available in many of our Valentine's bouquets. Head to our shop to find the perfect blooms for your loved one this Valentine’s day. Whether it’s a Valentine’s gift for your girlfriend, fiancé, wife, boyfriend or husband we have the one to suit you.

The Meanings Behind Valentine\'s Flowers (2024)

FAQs

The Meanings Behind Valentine\'s Flowers? ›

While a red rose is known to symbolize true love, the bloom is available in other colors that convey various meanings. White roses convey purity and everlasting love, yellow symbolize friendship, pink symbolize elegance, and lavender symbolize love at first sight, says Tina Merola of Blooms by the Box.

Why are flowers important for Valentine's Day? ›

Flowers have long been used as a form of expression for the people we love. They have a rich history of expressing emotion and passion, and they are an especially thoughtful way to show someone you care on Valentine's Day.

What are the types of flowers and their meanings? ›

Flower Symbolism Chart
Meanings of Herbs, Flowers, and Other Plants
AbatinaFickleness
Lily-of-the-valleySweetness, Tears of the Virgin Mary, Humility
Lotus FlowerPurity, Enlightenment, Self-regeneration, and Rebirth
MagnoliaNobility, Love of nature
129 more rows
Jun 6, 2024

What does Valentine's symbolize? ›

It originated as a Christian feast day honoring a martyr named Valentine, and through later folk traditions it has also become a significant cultural, religious and commercial celebration of romance and love in many regions of the world.

What do the different colors of roses signify on Valentine's Day? ›

Red is the classic declaration of love, while white is a symbol of purity, innocence, youthfulness and everlasting love. Red and white together sends a message of unity. Careful though, if the delicate ivory rose catches your eye. It means thoughtfulness and caring, but without the romantic intentions.

What do each flower mean for Valentine? ›

While a red rose is known to symbolize true love, the bloom is available in other colors that convey various meanings. White roses convey purity and everlasting love, yellow symbolize friendship, pink symbolize elegance, and lavender symbolize love at first sight, says Tina Merola of Blooms by the Box.

What is the history of Valentine flowers? ›

It's believed that the rose is a favorite flower of Venus, the Goddess of Love, as it is symbolic for strong, intense, and loving feelings. As such, lovers began giving flowers to those they cared about to convey their deep affection for one another.

What is the real meaning behind valentines? ›

While the date is meant to honor Saint Valentine's death and burial, which supposedly occurred in mid-February around 270 AD, some historians believe the date could reflect the Catholic Church's attempt to replace the ancient Pagan celebration of Lupercalia — a fertility festival for the pagan agricultural god Faunus — ...

What does Valentine mean spiritually? ›

The word “valentine” comes from the Latin word “valens", which means “worthy, strong, or powerful". In the Bible, the word “valentine” is used about God's love for us. He is the ultimate Valentine who loved us so much that He gave His Son, Jesus, to die for our sins.

What does the Bible say about Valentine's day? ›

In I Corinthians 10:19-21, the apostle Paul compares mixing paganism with Christianity—syncretism—to worshipping demons. This principle includes giving one's time or interest to things of pagan origin. As an example, the Bible neither mentions nor espouses Valentine's Day or its practices.

What is the most romantic flower? ›

Rose. The red rose reigns as the most romantic flower. Like many of the flowers we've explored, red roses come in varying shades that carry different symbolic meanings. For example, a bright red rose represents romance, while burgundy symbolizes a love that has yet to be realized.

What are the 3 colors of Valentine's Day? ›

What are the Valentine's Day colors? Pop into any flower shop or even a festive hotel or restaurant and there's no arguing that red, white, and pink are the official colors of Valentine's Day.

What flower means first love? ›

For someone you just met, purple lilac blooms are appropriate. They signify the first emotions of love. White lilac blooms mean youthful innocence, so together, they make a good pair. You can also put them in a Valentine's Day bouquet with other flowers, such as the purple rose, to represent love at first sight.

What flower symbolizes love? ›

Rose. A rose simply represents love, so it's the most classic choice for Valentine's day.

What is the meaning of giving flowers? ›

By giving flowers to our loved ones, we're expressing emotions like gratitude, respect, appreciation, and love in tangible ways. Flowers not only bring beauty into our lives, but also provide comfort during difficult times and celebrate life's special moments.

Why are roses always associated with Valentine's Day? ›

Giving red roses on Valentine's Day dates back to the Victorian era. In those days, the frank expression of one's feelings was a taboo. Flowers were used to express feelings for a person and to pass on a message.

Why are there 12 roses on Valentine's Day? ›

12 roses: A bouquet of 12 roses is a romantic way to express your love. The number 12 is often associated with completeness and perfection, and is a way to show the person you care about that they are the one and only person in your life.

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