Flower meanings and symbolisation were a key element to flower choice many years ago. NAIROBI FLORISTS have noticed this old school tradition is making a comeback. So to help you make the right decision we have provided the following information to assist you in your flower choice.
Obviously you do not have to send an arrangement that has a deep meaning behind the flower type, you can just choose an arrangement because you like the look of it. But having this information can assist you in your choice if you are finding it hard to decide on a design.
Flower Type Meanings
Birthday Flowers
Colours
Star Signs
Flower Type Meanings
The following is an extensive list of flower types and the meanings/ sentiment they portray. Included in the list are the meaning of Roses and more.
ACACIA
Concealed Love, Beauty in Retirement, Chaste Love
AGAPANTHIS
Secret Love
AMBROSIA
Your Love is Given Back/Returned
AMARYLLIS
Pride, Pastoral Poetry
ANEMONE
Forsaken, sincerity
ARBUTUS
Thee Only Do I Love
ASTER
Symbol of Love, Daintiness
AZALEA
Take Care of Yourself for Me, Temperance, Fragile Passion, Chinese Symbol of Womanhood
BACHELOR BUTTON
Single Blessedness
BEGONIA
Beware
BELLS OF IRELAND
Good Luck
BITTERSWEET
Truth
BLUEBELL
Humility
CACTUS
Endurance
CALADIUM
Great joy and delight
CAMELLIA
Good luck gift for a man
CAMELLIA (PINK)
Longing for you
CAMELLIA (RED)
You're a Flame in My Heart
CAMELLIA (WHITE)
You're Adorable
CARNATION (GENERAL)
Fascination, Woman Love
CARNATION (PINK)
I'll Never Forget You
CARNATION (RED)
My Heart Aches For You, Admiration
CARNATION (PURPLE)
Capriciousness, Whimsical
CARNATION (SOLID COLOR)
Yes
CARNATION (STRIPED)
No, Refusal, Sorry I Can't Be With You, Wish I Could Be With You
CARNATION (WHITE)
Sweet and Lovely, Innocence, Pure Love, Woman's Good Luck Gift
CARNATION (YELLOW)
You Have Disappointed Me, Rejection
CATTAIL
Peace, Prosperity
CHRYSANTHEMUM(GENERAL)
You're a Wonderful Friend, Cheerfulness and Rest.
CHRYSANTHEMUM(WHITE)
Truth
CHRYSANTHEMUM(YELLOW)
Slighted Love
CROCUS
Cheerfulness, gladness
CYCLAMEN
Resignation and Good-bye
DAFFODIL
Respect, Regard, Unrequited Love, You're the Only One, The Sun is Always Shining when I'm with You
DAISY
Innocence, Loyal Love, I'll Never Tell, Purity
DANDELION
Faithfulness, Happiness
FERN
Magic, Fascination, Confidence and Shelter
FIR
Time
FLAX
Domestic Symbol
FORGET-ME-NOT
True Love, Good Memories
FORSYTHIA
Anticipation
FREESIA
T rust
GARDENIA
You're Lovely, Secret Love
GERANIUM
Stupidity, Folly
GLADIOLI
Give Me a Break, I'm Really Sincere, Flower of the Gladiators
GLOXINIA
Love at First Sight
HEATHER (LAVENDER)
Admiration, Solitude
HEATHER (WHITE)
Protection, Wishes Will Come True
HOLLY
Defence, Domestic Happiness
HONEYSUCKLE
Happiness
HYACINTH (GENERAL)
Games and Sports, Rashness, Flower Dedicated to Apollo
HYACINTH (BLUE)
Constancy
HYACINTH (PURPLE)
I am Sorry, Please Forgive Me, Sorrow
HYACINTH (RED OR PINK)
Play
HYACINTH (WHITE)
Loveliness, I'll Pray for You
HYACINTH (YELLOW)
Jealousy
HYDRANGEA
Thank You for Understanding, Frigidity, Heartlessness
IRIS
Fleur-de-lis, Emblem of France, Your Friendship Means so Much to Me, Faith, Hope, Wisdom and Valour, My Compliments
IVY
Wedded Love, Fidelity, Friendship, Affection
JONQUIL
Love Me, Affection Returned, Desire, Sympathy, Desire for Affection Returned
LARKSPUR (PINK)
Fickleness
LILY (WHITE)
Virginity, Purity, Majesty, It's Heavenly to be with You
LILY (YELLOW)
I'm Walking on Air, False and Gay
LILY (CALLA)
Beauty
LILY (DAY)
Coquetry, Chinese Emblem for Mother
LILY (EUCHARIS)
Maiden Charms
LILY (TIGER)
Wealth, Pride
LILY OF THE VALLEY
Sweetness, Tears of the Virgin Mary, Return to Happiness, Humility, You've Made My Life Complete, beauty, gaiety
MAGNOLIA
Nobility
MARIGOLD
Cruelty, Grief, Jealousy
MISTLETOE
Kiss me, Affection, To Surmount Difficulties, Sacred Plant of India
MONKSHOOD
Beware, A Deadly Foe is Near
MOSS
Maternal Love, Charity
MYRTLE
Love, Hebrew Emblem of Marriage
NARCISSUS
Egotism, Formality, Stay as Sweet as You Are
NASTURTIUM
Conquest, Victory in Battle
OLEANDER
Caution
ORANGE BLOSSOM
Innocence, Eternal Love, Marriage and Fruitfulness
ORANGE MOCK
Deceit
ORCHID
Love, Beauty, Refinement, Beautiful Lady, Chinese Symbol for Many Children, Thoughtful, Maturity, Charm
ORCHID (CATTLEYA)
Mature Charm
PALM LEAVES
Victory and Success
PEONY
Shame, Happy Life, Happy Marriage
PETUNIA
Resentment, Anger, Your Presence Sooths Me
PINE
Hope, Pity
POPPY (GENERAL)
Eternal Sleep, Oblivion, Imagination
POPPY (RED)
Pleasure
POPPY (WHITE)
Consolation
POPPY (YELLOW)
Wealth, Success
PRIMROSE
I Can't Live Without You
PRIMROSE (EVENING)
Inconstancy
ROSE (BRIDAL)
Happy Love
ROSE (DARK CRIMSON)
Mourning
ROSE (HIBISCUS)
Delicate Beauty
ROSE (LEAF)
You May Hope
ROSE (PINK)
Perfect Happiness, Please Believe Me
ROSE (RED)
Love, I Love You
ROSE (TEA)
I'll Remember Always
ROSE (THORNLESS)
Love at First Sight
ROSE (WHITE)
Innocence and Purity, I am Worthy of You, You're Heavenly, Secrecy and Silence
ROSE (WHITE AND RED MIXED)
Unity, Flower Emblem of England
ROSE (WHITE-DRIED)
Death is Preferable to Loss of Virtue
ROSE (YELLOW)
Decrease of Love, Jealousy, Try to Care
ROSEBUD
Beauty and Youth, A Heart Innocent of Love
ROSEBUD (RED)
Pure and Lovely
ROSEBUD (WHITE)
Girlhood
ROSEBUD (MOSS)
Confessions of Love
ROSES (Bouquet of Mature Blooms)
Gratitude
ROSES (Single Full Bloom)
I Love You, I Still Love You
SMILAX
Loveliness
SNAPDRAGON
Deception, Gracious Lady
SPIDER FLOWER
Elope with Me
STEPHANOTIS
Happiness in Marriage, Desire to Travel
STOCK
Bonds of Affection, Promptness, You'll Always Be Beautiful to Me
SUNFLOWER
Pride, Sunshine
SWEETPEA
Good-bye, Departure, Blissful Pleasure, Thank You for a Lovely Time
TULIP (GENERAL)
Perfect Lover, Frame, Flower Emblem of Holland
TULIP (RED)
Believe Me, Declaration of Love
TULIP (VARIEGATED)
Beautiful Eyes
TULIP (YELLOW)
There's Sunshine in Your Smile
VIOLET
Modesty
VIOLET (BLUE)
Watchfulness, Faithfulness, I'll Always Be True
VIOLET (WHITE)
Let's Take a Chance
VISCARIA
Dance With Me
WISTERIA
Welcome
ZINNIA (MAGENTA)
Lasting Affection
ZINNIA (MIXED)
Thinking (or In Memory) of an Absent Friend
ZINNIA (SCARLET)
Constancy
ZINNIA (WHITE)
Goodness
ZINNIA (YELLOW)
Daily Remembrance
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Birthday Flower
Most people have heard of Birthstones, well the following list is of Birth-flowers.
JANUARY Flower: Carnation, Snowdrop
FEBRUARY Flower: Primrose, Violet
MARCH Flower: Jonquil, Violet
APRIL Flower: Daisy, Sweet Pea
MAY Flower: Hawthorn, Lily of the Valley
JUNE Flower: Honeysuckle, Rose
JULY Flower: Larkspur, Water Lily
AUGUST Flower: Gladiolus, Poppy
SEPTEMBER Flower: Aster, Morning Glory
OCTOBER Flower: Calendula, Cosmos
NOVEMBER Flower: Chrysanthemum
DECEMBER Flower: Holly, Narcissus, Poinsettia
Colours
There are many different colour traditions and these can be affected by culture, function, application etc. The following is a general rule of thumb in regard to choosing the right coloured flowers to portray the correct sentiment.
You can base your colour choice on traditional associations or scientific choices.
Traditional Colour Choice
These traditional colour choices mainly apply to roses but may also be applied to other flower types.
Redroses mean romantic love.
Purpleroses signify that the giver has fallen in love with the recipient at first sight.
Coral and orangeroses signal desire.
Yellowroses are joy and friendship.
Pinkroses express our gratitude and appreciation.
Light pinkroses show feelings of admiration and sympathy.
Peach is more indefinite, as it can signify either sympathy or gratitude.
Whiteroses show meaning of reverence and humility.
Scientific Colour Choice
People respond to different colours in different ways, and these responses take place on a subconscious, emotional level. Specific colours have different effects on the human brain:
Black : self-confidence, power, strength
Blue : calming, lowers blood pressure
Green : soothing, relaxing mentally as well as physically, helps those suffering from depression, anxiety, nervousness
Violet : provides a peaceful environment
Pink: relaxes, relieves tension, soothing
Yellow : energizes, relieves depression,
Orange : energizes, stimulates
Red : stimulates brain wave activity, increases heart rate, respirations and blood pressure
Star signs
Aries
Aries are a Fire Sign which means they are passionate, enthusiastic, adventurous
Flowers & Plants for an Aries: Opuntia cactus (prickly pear), celosia (cockscomb), thorn-bearing shrubs, red roses, tulips, red peppers, amaryllis
Taurus
Taurians are Earth Signs which means they are home-loving, conventional, gourmand
Flowers & Plants for a Taurus: sweet William (Dianthus barbatus), scented stock, fruit-bearing trees, lavender, lilac, aster, lily of the valley, sweet pea
Gemini
Gemini is an Air Sign and they are talkative, lively, intellectual
Pisceans are Water Signs, they are intuitive, humorous, compassionate
Flowers & Plants for the Pisces include: madonna lily (Lilium candidum), Euphorbia marginata, Cyperus (papyrus), stephanotis, jasmine, lilac, narcissus, gypsophila