Spring is in the air. The birds are singing, the sun is shining, and the flowers are blooming. As we enter this spring, a season of prosperity and growth, we often admire the beautiful blooms that surround us both in our lawns and local supermarkets. However, there is more to these flowers than what meets the eye (or the nose!). Dating back thousands of years, flowers have developed their own unique language, known as floriography. Together, we will explore the secret meanings of some of the most popular spring flowers: tulips, daffodils, irises, and lilies of the valley.
Starting with tulips, these might be easily one of the most recognizable flowers. They can be seen in masses in the fields of the Netherlands, but also might be found dotting your parents’ flower bed or in bouquets at your local grocery store. While you may have seen tulips more times than you can count, it’s unlikely that you understand their meaning. In general, tulip flowers are symbols of unconditional love, spiritual rebirth or newcomers, and charity.
However, the meaning of tulips also varies depending on their color. White tulips symbolize purity, honor, and forgiveness, the perfect heartfelt addition to an apology. Yellow tulips symbolize cheerfulness and good nature, helpful when you’re trying to brighten someone’s day. Similar to yellow tulips, orange blossoms convey energy and excitement. Many might think red and pink tulips both symbolize love, and while that is slightly true, there is an important difference. Red tulips symbolize deep romantic love and attraction, perfect for Valentines Day or a first date, but pink tulips show care and compassion, helpful when showing love for a friend or family member. Interestingly, purple tulips have historically reserved for royals and the wealthy. Only thos of high class would purchase these violet buds, so purple tulips carry an air of luxury and lavishness. Lastly, blue tulips are seen as calming and relaxing, it’s best to give these to someone going through a hard time or who’s in need of some peace.
Next up are daffodils. As opposed to tulips, different colored daffodils don’t carry specific meanings. However, as a whole, daffodils represent new beginnings, rebirth, and hope. This meaning can be attributed to the fact that daffodils are often among the first flowers to bloom after winter. Their cheerful yellow blossoms often signify the arrival of spring and the warm weather that is to come. If you know someone who needs a little push to keep moving, daffodils are definitely the best choice to give them that extra dose of hope.
Iris comes from the Greek word “rainbow,” which is a nod to the variety of hues and shades that this flower produces. In floriography, this flower conveys faith, hope, and wisdom. A large portion of this flower’s meaning comes from Greek mythology, specifically the goddess Iris. In Greek mythology, Iris would travel between the human world and the divine world on a rainbow to deliver messages and news, so the iris flower adopted the meaning of hope and trust in the divine to guide the way. Additionally, as the messenger to the Gods, Iris held immense wisdom and insight, an association that then transferred to the flower, specifically purple ones, as they are associated with royalty and royal wisdom.
Differing from the other flowers, the lily of the valley holds some conflicting meanings. Known for its pure white beauty, this bloom can represent serenity and good fortune, with its flowers shaped like bells supposedly calling on good spirits. However, as some may know, lilies of the valley are poisonous and can cause vomiting and rashes if ingested. Because of this, the lily of the valley has also taken on a more sinister connotation with death and sadness. This melancholy meaning is why this bloom is often seen in funeral arrangements, so use caution when presenting someone with these flowers.
Now that you know the little-known meanings of some of your favorite spring blooms, you can curate your bouquets to convey the perfect message for the occasion. I encourage you to continue to explore the meanings of these beautiful blooms and pass them on so that the lost language of flowers can speak again. You can find more information in the fascinating book The Seceret Language of Flowers by Samantha Gray.