ANEMONE
Meaning:
Expectation
Best For:
Bouquets and
arrangements
BABY'S BREATH
Meaning:
Innocence
Best For:
Filler in
bouquets, corsages, and boutonnieres
CALLA LILY
Meaning:
Magnificent
beauty
Best For:
Bouquets and
arrangements
CARNATION
Meaning:
Pink
represents boldness, red symbolizes love, and white indicates talent. Some
other colors have negative connotations (see below).
Best For:
Bouquets,
boutonnieres, and arrangements
CHRYSANTHEMUM (OR MUM)
Meaning:
Wealth,
abundance, truth
Best For:
Bouquets and
arrangements
Floral Fact:
Mums come in
several varieties, which determine their size and color. The name literally
means "golden flower."
DAFFODIL
Meaning:
Regard
Best For:
Garden
settings, in pots
DAISY
Meaning:
Share your
feelings
Best For:
Bouquets
DELPHINIUM
Meaning:
Swiftness,
lightness
Best For:
Arrangements
FREESIA
Meaning:
Innocence
Best For:
Bouquets
GARDENIA
Meaning:
Purity, joy
Best For:
Bouquets and
boutonnieres
HYDRANGEA
Meaning:
Understanding
Best For:
Bouquets and
arrangements
IRIS
Meaning:
A message of
faith, wisdom
Best For:
In
arrangements or potted
Floral Fact:
Irises come
in several sizes; they are usually blue or white, but you may find exotic
varieties (including purple ones).
LILAC
Meaning:
Love's first
emotions
Best For:
Filler in
arrangements or as part of bouquets, depending on variety
Floral Fact:
The local
lilac is grown like a bush, and is used as filler because of its greenery. The
French lilac is more flower-like and can be used as such in bouquets and
arrangements.
LILY
Meaning:
Majesty,
truth, honor
Best For:
Bouquets and
arrangements
LILY OF THE VALLEY
Meaning:
Happiness
Best For:
Bouquets, in
combination with other flowers
Floral Fact:
These small,
fragile, bell-shaped flowers are considered traditional marriage flowers.
MAGNOLIA
Meaning:
Love of
nature
Best For:
Arrangements
ORCHID
Meaning:
Love, beauty
Best For:
Bouquets,
corsages, and boutonnieres
PEONY
Meaning:
Bashfulness,
the American spirit of ambition and determination
Best For:
Arrangements
ROSE
Meaning:
Love, joy,
beauty
Best For:
Bouquets,
corsages, boutonnieres, and arrangements
STEPHANOTIS
Meaning:
Marital
happiness
Best For:
Bouquets and
arrangements
Floral Fact:
These
trumpet-shape blossoms are traditional bridal flowers, no doubt due to their
meaning.
STOCK
Meaning:
Lasting
beauty
Best For:
Filler in
arrangements
Floral Fact:
Stock can be
found in many colors to complement and fill out arrangements.
SUNFLOWER
Meaning:
Short-stemmed
sunflowers mean adoration; long-stemmed sunflowers symbolize haughtiness
Best For:
Carrying a
single stem down the aisle; potted arrangements, Clustered like a ball.
SWEET PEA
Meaning:
Pleasure
Best For:
Garden
setting, in vases
TULIP
Meaning:
Love, passion
Best For:
Arrangements
and bouquets
Floral Fact:
These sweet
and stately flowers can be found in a myriad of colors, but they are very
fragile.
UNFAVORABLE FLOWERS
It's sad but
true: You might want to avoid certain flowers (if you're superstitious, that
is). On the other hand, you can always thumb your nose at history and ascribe
your own meaning to these "questionable" blooms. Here are the
so-called negative indicators:
·
Christmas Rose: Scandal
·
Fig: Idleness
·
Foxglove: Insincerity
·
Larkspur: Infidelity
·
Lavender: Distrust
·
Marigold: Grief
·
Mulberry: I shall not survive you
·
Raspberry: Remorse
·
Red Carnation: Alas for my poor heart
·
Red Poppy: Consolation
·
Rhododendron: Danger
·
Striped Carnation: Refusal
·
White Poppy: Sleep
·
Yellow Carnation: Disdain
·
Yellow Chrysanthemum: Slighted Love
