The Meaning of Flowers & the Valentine’s Day Love Language
Have you heard that flowers have a special meaning to them with significance for certain occasions? Have you wondered what flowers to send to represent a feeling or for a special event? For generations flowers have been given as a symbol for many different reasons.
The Language of flowers was a Victorian-era means of communication in which various flowers and floral arrangements were used to send coded messages, allowing individuals to express feelings which otherwise could not be spoken. –Wikipedia
To this day we use flowers to communicate feelings and messages. In reality, there are no rules to what flower represents a purpose for giving; it’s the sentiment and thought that represents each occasion. Sometimes a specific flower or color will trigger a memory, special event or personal meaning. Others love to send flowers specifically for their language or meaning. Choosing flowers with intention, considering the recipient's personality and the message you want to convey, makes each bouquet more meaningful and personal.
Choosing Flowers With Meaning for Valentine’s Day & Life’s Special Moments
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, you might expect that red roses imply romance and love, pink roses as an expression of admiration, and yellow roses stand for friendship and devotion. But with the wide variety of flowers and colors available, different flowers represent different forms of affection and messages. Color symbolism and flower colors play a crucial role in expressing specific emotions, and bouquets can be tailored to create the perfect bouquet for the occasion, such as a thoughtful Valentine’s Day bouquet or Valentine’s Day flower arrangement.
Just a few of our favorite flowers listed below offer a floral language or meaning for all occasions including birthdays, weddings, funerals, graduation and just because. These flowers and their various meanings help in assembling a meaningful Valentine’s Day bouquet or choosing the right Valentine’s Day flower to symbolize love, mark new relationships, or celebrate the love bloom that comes with special moments.
History of the Language of Flowers (Floriography)
The language of flowers, or floriography, has roots that stretch back to ancient Greece, where blooms were used to express love, admiration, and even send secret messages. Over the centuries, this symbolic tradition blossomed, reaching its peak during the Victorian era. In a time when open displays of emotion were often discouraged, people turned to flowers as a discreet way to express deep affection, passionate love, and heartfelt sentiments. Each flower, and even its color, carried a unique meaning—allowing individuals to communicate everything from enduring love to friendship and joy without saying a word.
Red roses quickly became the classic symbol of passionate love and romance, making them the most popular Valentine’s Day flowers and a timeless symbol of deep love. Pink flowers, such as pink peonies, were chosen to express admiration and gentle affection, while yellow flowers—especially yellow roses—conveyed joy, friendship, and new beginnings. White flowers, like elegant white lilies and white carnations, came to symbolize purity, innocence, and unconditional love, making them a thoughtful gift for family members or to celebrate love in its purest form.
The Victorian era elevated the language of flowers to an art form. People carefully selected different flowers and crafted intricate floral arrangements to send messages that words could not capture. Purple tulips, for example, were used to express passion and romance, while blue hydrangeas conveyed regret or a heartfelt apology. Orange lilies added a burst of energy and enthusiasm, symbolizing passion and excitement. Each bouquet became a personalized message, with every bloom and color chosen for its symbolic meaning.
Today, the tradition of using flowers to express sentiments continues, especially on occasions like Valentine’s Day. Whether you’re choosing a classic bouquet of red roses to express deep affection, a mix of pink flowers for admiration, or a vibrant arrangement featuring blue hydrangeas and orange lilies, flowers convey emotions that transcend language.
The symbolic meaning behind each bloom adds an extra layer of thoughtfulness, turning a simple bouquet into the perfect gift for any occasion. As the language of flowers evolves, it remains a cherished way to express love, friendship, and appreciation. With so many different flowers and colors to choose from, you can create a unique story with every arrangement—celebrating romance, loyalty, and the strong bond you share with your loved ones. Whether you’re sending a Valentine’s Day bouquet or just a gift to brighten someone’s day, understanding the history and meaning behind each flower helps you express your feelings in the most beautiful and meaningful way.
How Flowers Convey Meaning Through Color & Variety
Popular Flowers and Their Meanings
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Flower is symbolic of wealth, prosperity and fortune. It is also the flower of friendship.
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Symbolizes pride and beauty. A red carnation symbolizes deep love, pride and admiration; a pink carnation symbolizes the love of a woman or a mother; a purple carnation symbolizes capriciousness; while a white carnation symbolizes innocence and pure love.
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Symbolizes innocence and purity. It conveys loyal love and is often chosen for new relationships, symbolizing purity and new beginnings.
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Gerbera Daisy specifically conveys cheerfulness.
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Symbolizes eloquence. Purple iris is symbolic of wisdom and compliments. Blue iris symbolizes faith and hope. Yellow iris symbolizes passion while white iris symbolizes purity.
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Symbolizes purity and refined beauty. White lily symbolizes modesty and virginity, orange lily symbolizes passion, yellow lily symbolizes gaiety.
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A symbol of exotic beauty. Orchid symbolizes refinement, thoughtfulness and mature charm. It also symbolizes proud and glorious femininity.
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PEONY
Symbolizes good fortune, prosperity, and happiness. Peonies are often given to wish for thriving relationships and positive outcomes.
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STOCK
Symbolizes lasting beauty and a happy life. It is indicative of bonds of affection and is symbolic of promptness.
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Signifies a declaration of love. As elegant flowers, tulips are suitable for expressing refined love and admiration. It also symbolizes fame and perfect love.
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Symbolizes purity and everlasting love, making it a meaningful choice for new relationships and new beginnings.
Certain flowers, such as roses and gardenias, symbolize love, eternal love, and everlasting love, making them timeless choices for expressing deep affection on Valentine’s Day.
The Meaning of Roses for Valentine’s Day
Color symbolism plays a crucial role in the language of flowers, especially on Valentine’s Day, as different flower colors convey various meanings and help personalize your floral gift.
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A red rose is an unmistakable expression of love. Red roses convey deep emotions—be it love, longing or desire. Red roses and red flowers in general are strongly associated with love, romance, and passion, making them a classic choice for expressing heartfelt feelings. Red roses can also be used to convey respect, admiration or devotion. A deep red rose can be used to convey heartfelt regret and sorrow. The number of red roses has special romantic meanings associated with them. Twelve red roses convey “Be mine” and “I love you.”
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White is the color of purity, chastity and innocence. White flowers are generally associated with new beginnings and make an ideal accompaniment to a first-time bride walking down the aisle. White roses also symbolize everlasting love.
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Yellow Roses
Yellow roses are an expression of exuberance. Yellow roses evoke sunny feelings of joy, warmth and welcome. They are symbols of friendship and caring and carry purely platonic meaning.
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Pink roses convey gentle emotions such as admiration, joy and gratitude. Light pink roses indicate sweetness and innocence, while deep pink roses express appreciation and gratitude. Pink roses also connote elegance and grace.
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Orange roses signify passion and energy. These fiery blooms express intense desire, pride and fascination and rival red roses as messengers of romantic passion.
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Lavender roses convey enchantment and love at first sight. Deeper shades express majesty, fascination and adoration.
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Mixing rose colors allows you to create a bouquet of emotions. A combination of red and white roses expresses deep love with honorable intentions, while mixed roses can convey evolving or complex feelings.
For more flower meanings, visit The Old Farmer’s Almanac.
Our florists will help you determine what flowers and colors go well together and represent exactly what you want to say. Have a favorite flower? Pair it with others to send a special message and create a one-of-a-kind design.
Valentine’s Day Flowers in Redwood Falls MN & Southwest Minnesota
Blossom Town Floral, Garden & Gifts proudly serves Redwood Falls MN 56283 and surrounding Southwest Minnesota communities within a 20-mile radius. Whether you live locally or are sending flowers from out of town, our designers create impressive, one-of-a-kind Valentine’s Day floral arrangements that help you make someone smile.
Roses remain the most popular Valentine’s Day flowers, symbolizing love, admiration and affection. Pink flowers express sweetness and gratitude, white flowers represent purity and new beginnings, and yellow flowers symbolize joy and friendship. Tulips, lilies, peonies, carnations, orchids and sunflowers all add meaningful layers to Valentine’s Day arrangements.
Mixing different flowers allows you to tell a unique story of love and emotion through color symbolism and floral artistry. Incorporating flowers with personal meaning makes each bouquet more thoughtful and memorable.
Frequently Asked Questions About Valentine’s Day Flowers
Red roses are the most popular Valentine’s Day flowers, symbolizing deep love and romance. Pink roses express admiration, white flowers represent purity and new beginnings, and tulips symbolize perfect love.