The Meaning of Flowers: What Are You Saying When You Stay Silent?
Receiving a gorgeous bouquet is always a wonderful feeling. But did you know that every flower, every color, and even the way it's tied can carry a hidden message? The language of flowers, also known as floriography, became a phenomenon in Victorian England. Back then, people weren't allowed to court each other freely in public, so they sent secret messages through flowers instead.
Even though we don't need secret messages today, knowing the symbolism adds incredible depth and personal magic to your gift. Here's an overview of the most popular varieties and their meanings, from the perspective of our florists at KvětinyExpres.cz.
A Quick Guide to Colors
Before we look at specific flowers, it's good to know the basic alphabet of color. (You'll find a detailed breakdown of every shade in our dedicated Flower Colors category).
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White: Purity, innocence and new beginnings.
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Yellow: Once the color of jealousy, today the absolute symbol of joy, sunshine and friendship.
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Pink: Tenderness and romance.
Tip from florist Bára: "Customers are often afraid of picking the wrong meaning. My advice is always the same: if you're not 100% sure what a particular flower means, go with a colorful mixed bouquet. In the language of flowers, it expresses 'Joy of life and sincere friendship' – so you can never go wrong with it."
1. Lily (Lilium): Nobility and Purity
Lilies are majestic flowers that command respect. They're very often used in luxury arrangements and formal displays.
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White lily: Symbolizes innocence and purity of intent.
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Pink lily: Expresses wealth and prosperity. A great gift for a promotion.
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Practical tip: Lilies have an extremely strong scent and prominent pollen, which can stain clothing. When we deliver a bouquet to an office, our florists always professionally and carefully remove the pollen-bearing stamens from the lilies beforehand, so the bouquet is completely safe for the recipient.
2. Sunflower (Helianthus): Joy and Loyalty
A flower that radiates positive energy at first glance. According to legend, the sunflower constantly turns to follow the sun, just as a person in love turns to follow their partner.
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Meaning: Adoration, loyalty and longevity.
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When to give it: Ideal for a friend, to cheer someone up, or as a symbol of a strong bond, whether friendship or romance.
3. Peony (Paeonia): Romance and Wealth
The unofficial queens of the summer months and the absolute favorite of most women. A tiny bud unfurls into a huge, fluffy bloom.
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Meaning: Symbolizes a happy life, prosperity and romance.
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Our logistics lifesaver: Peonies are delicate and can drop their petals very quickly in the heat. To make sure you deliver the right message – not a wilted bouquet – we transport them exclusively in our air-conditioned Airway vehicles. That way, peonies reach you in a perfectly fresh stage of bloom.
Bouquets for Joy
4. Tulip (Tulipa): Perfect Love
While other flowers symbolize wild passion, the tulip represents comfortable, genuine, deep love. An interesting fact: tulips keep growing in the vase even after being cut.
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Red tulip: "Believe me, I love you."
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Yellow tulip: Joy, and "you have a beautiful smile."
5. Carnation (Dianthus): Fascination and Gratitude
Thanks to its extreme longevity and modern, specially bred colors, this flower is making a huge comeback.
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Meaning: Love, fascination and admiration.
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Pink carnation: A globally recognized symbol of motherly love. Simply put, there's no better choice for Mother's Day.
Bouquets to Say Thank You
What About Roses? (A League of Their Own)
You might be wondering why we left the most famous flower out of our guide. In the language of flowers, roses are so complex that they form an entire world of their own.
If you want to give the absolute symbol of passion and everlasting love, browse our Red Roses category.
Just remember that with roses, it's not only the color that matters, but above all how many you give. Curious what the difference is between a bouquet of 9, 12, or 100 roses, and when to give an even or odd number? You'll uncover all these secrets in our dedicated Cut Flowers by Number section.
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