46 SYMBOLIC FLOWERS FOR BOUQUETS
Hello and welcome! This post looks at the
language of flowers or hanakotoba in Japan. I always enjoy their beauty but can
never tell why. I consider myself a rational person and flowers have no value
so are ultimately pointless but therein lies their charm. Things we find
beautiful, but don’t understand why, must be cherished at all costs. We need to
find joy in simplicity in an increasingly hectic world.
I also adore the symbolic soil beneath flowers
as many legends are attributed to them. As writers can draw inspiration from
all manner of places and symbology is just one. If you can give characters monkshood
to make them wary then your work will benefit by becoming more literary.
Many countries adopt national flowers and though
symbolism varies by culture there are major similarities. I studied colour
symbolism and synaesthesia before, which you can find clicking here, and found correlations
between music and colour. Colour is the main focus when deciding on flower
arrangements but the primary consideration is what in season.
Three
Typical Arrangements
There are different ways of arranging flowers.
This is dependent on culture but you can mix between to find your preference.
1. Japan (Ikebana) - An artistic and simplistic meaningful selection.
2. English - A classic and compact seasonal selection.
3. Euro - A modern and sparse rare selection.
Three
Typical Styles
You can blend styles as it always depends on
your preference but these are some common themes in bouquets.
1. Bold - If you want bouquet to
stand out or want to feature one of two flower types as an eye-catching
centrepiece then this style is for you.
2. Sweet - These have the classic flower smell and are a popular choice for many
occasions.
3. Hot - These are spicy smelling, not hot meaning attractive, but still they
are super sexy!
Other occasional styles are:-
·
Cool - Light fruity smells for everyday use.
·
Aromatic - Perfumed fragrances designed to aid
relaxation.
·
Strong - Heavy exotic smells to cover other smells.
The
12 Main Flower Meanings
Some flowers have negative meanings. I try to
avoid those to be positive but felt the need to make some known so you don’t
offend. You don’t want to call a lover an idiot. Again. You may need another
bouquet.
However most plants have pleasant qualities
attributed to them and often have more than one quality. As language can be so subjective
it’s hard deciphering differences between meanings. For example; love is
similar to affection and desire, grace is similar to purity, hope is similar to
thanks and endurance, and pride is similar to honour.
·
Love - The most romantic choice for lovers, close
acquaintances and family.
·
Desire - If there is somebody you like but are
not in love then these are a passionate choice.
·
Affection - These flowers show appreciation
for someone you care for.
·
Grace - These are elegant, stylish and are associated
with femininity.
·
Pure - These show honesty, trust and
devotion.
·
Hope - These can bestow future luck on people
and offer best wishes.
·
Endurance - When giving these flowers you make a statement that a relationship
will stand the test of time, and wish for a long life, success and a prosperous
future.
·
Thanks - If you need to offer gratitude in a
formal way these should be your choice.
·
Pride - These show satisfaction after success
in a compassionate congratulatory manner.
·
Honour - These show respect to those with integrity
and kindness.
·
Joy - Flowers of happiness go well with festive
occasions.
·
Avoid - You don’t need to avoid these but
consider them carefully before giving them as gifts as they have negative
connotations. This doesn’t mean they aren’t still beautiful.
Thanks for reading! To end this article I wrote
a haiku inspired by flower arrangement amongst other things. Please enjoy and
see the chart below for a list of plants to make your own bouquets.
Spring
blossom notes soar. Key change || Budding flowers fall. Nature needs nurture.
Happy Creations!
46 Common Flowers for Bouquets
No.
|
NAME
|
SEASON
|
COLOUR
|
MEANING
|
STYLE
|
1
|
Amaryllis
|
Winter
|
4-Red
|
Pride
|
Bold
|
2
|
Anemone
|
Spring
|
Many
|
Hope
|
X
|
3
|
Aster
|
Summer
|
Many
|
Pure
|
X
|
4
|
Azalea
|
Many
|
Many
|
Grace
|
X
|
5
|
Bachelor Button
|
Summer
|
1-Blue
|
Pure
|
X
|
6
|
Begonia
|
Many
|
Many
|
Desire
|
Bold
|
7
|
Bells of Ireland
|
Spring
|
Green
|
Hope
|
X
|
8
|
Cacti
|
Many
|
Many
|
Endurance
|
X
|
9
|
Carnation
|
Many
|
Many
|
Love
|
Sweet
|
10
|
Chrysanthemum
|
Many
|
Many
|
Love
|
Hot
|
11
|
Crocus
|
Spring
|
Many
|
Joy
|
X
|
12
|
Cyclamen
|
Winter
|
3-Pink
|
Thanks
|
X
|
13
|
Daffodil
|
Spring
|
6-Yellow
|
Affection
|
X
|
14
|
Daisy
|
Many
|
Many
|
Pure
|
Bold
|
15
|
Delphinium
|
Summer
|
Many
|
Joy
|
X
|
16
|
Fern
|
Many
|
Green
|
Affection
|
X
|
17
|
Forsythia
|
Spring
|
6-Yellow
|
Hope
|
X
|
18
|
Gardenia
|
Many
|
Many
|
Desire
|
Hot
|
19
|
Geranium
|
Spring
|
Many
|
Grace
|
Sweet
|
20
|
Gladioli
|
Many
|
Many
|
Honour
|
Bold
|
21
|
Gloxinia
|
Summer
|
3-Pink
|
Desire
|
X
|
22
|
Heather
|
Spring
|
2-Purple
|
Grace
|
X
|
23
|
Holly
|
Winter
|
Green
|
Joy
|
X
|
24
|
Hyacinth
|
Spring
|
Many
|
Joy
|
Sweet
|
25
|
Hydrangea
|
Spring
|
Many
|
Thanks
|
X
|
26
|
Iris
|
Many
|
Many
|
Thanks
|
X
|
27
|
Ivy
|
Many
|
Green
|
Endurance
|
X
|
28
|
Jonquil
|
Spring
|
6-Yellow
|
Desire
|
X
|
29
|
Lily
|
Many
|
Many
|
Desire
|
Hot
|
30
|
Marigold
|
Summer
|
5-Orange
|
Avoid
|
X
|
31
|
Mistletoe
|
Winter
|
Green
|
Affection
|
X
|
32
|
Monkshood
|
Summer
|
1-Blue
|
Avoid
|
X
|
33
|
Myrtle
|
Many
|
2-Purple
|
Love
|
X
|
34
|
Narcissus
|
Spring
|
Many
|
Desire
|
Hot
|
35
|
Orchid
|
Many
|
Many
|
Love
|
Sweet
|
36
|
Palm
|
Many
|
Green
|
Pride
|
X
|
37
|
Pine
|
Winter
|
Many
|
Affection
|
X
|
38
|
Rose
|
Many
|
Many
|
Love
|
Sweet
|
39
|
Snapdragon
|
Many
|
Many
|
Grace
|
X
|
40
|
Spider
|
Many
|
Many
|
Endurance
|
X
|
41
|
Stephanotis
|
Many
|
Many
|
Endurance
|
Sweet
|
42
|
Stock
|
Spring
|
Many
|
Hope
|
Hot
|
43
|
Sunflower
|
Summer
|
6-Yellow
|
Pure
|
Bold
|
44
|
Sweet Pea
|
Summer
|
Many
|
Thanks
|
Bold
|
45
|
Tulip
|
Spring
|
Many
|
Love
|
Hot
|
46
|
Violet
|
Many
|
2-Purple
|
Honour
|
X
|
