Flowers are more than just fresh, fragrant, and vibrant plants that make the world a better place – they are great presents too for expressing your feelings of appreciation, gratitude, and adoration for a special someone. Traditionally, flowers are given to women. Every woman, whether it’s a mother, a lover, a friend, or a sister, takes delight in receiving a well-arranged bundle of blooms.
But aside from occasions like Valentine’s Day and birthdays, there are certain occasions when flowers sell like pancakes. With countless flower varieties available and different occasions to consider, you might get confused if you’re someone who is not used to giving fresh blooms.
Choosing your recipient’s favorite blooms is the best way to go. But if you’re unsure what to get, having an idea about the symbolism and connotation of different flower types and colors can help you choose the perfect arrangement.
Here’s a guide to picking florals depending on who’ll receive and what occasion to celebrate.
1. Date
Gone are the days when it’s customary to bring flowers on your first date, but that doesn’t mean it’s no longer appreciated. It’s also a sweet gesture to give flowers to someone you’ve gone out with a few times.
Aside from the classic rose bouquet, orchids, tulips, and dandelions make great date flowers. They look pleasant and not overwhelming – which is perfect if you’re still dating and getting to know each other.
2. Anniversary
When you think of flowers to give for your partner, red or pink roses are no-brainers as the flower type and colors symbolize love and passion. But if you’re looking for something out of the ordinary, you may opt for carnations, daisies, lilies, daffodils, sunflowers, and asters.
Florists around the globe even suggest specific flowers for each year, which have symbolism on your relationship as a couple.
- 1st year: Carnation
- 5th year: Daisy
- 10th year: Daffodil
- 15th year: Rose
- 20th year: Aster
- 25th year: Iris
- 30th year: Lily
- 50th year: Yellow Roses and Violets
But if you’re sure about your spouse’s favorite flower, don’t mind this list – it’s best to showcase your partner’s favorite flower in a bouquet.
3. Mother’s Day
There’s no right or wrong choice here, as flowers for mom never fails to warm her soft, pure heart. If you are unsure of her favorite color, you may go for traditional pink carnations, which symbolize gratitude and love, red carnations, which represent admiration, and gerbera daisies, which signify cheerfulness. You may even put yellow tulips or lilies into the mix which represent joy and affection.
4. Funeral
Flowers aren’t only used to express your love for a living person; they can also be a good tribute to the deceased.
Blooms sent to a memorial or funeral service usually have larger flowers might include lilies, standard chrysanthemums, snapdragons, gladioli, carnations, and roses.
Colors matter too. Stay away from colors that invoke energy and passion such as red and orange when you’re mourning the departed, Instead go for colors of peace and calmness like white, green, and blue, and flowers in soft, pale tones.
5. Sympathy
Funeral flowers and sympathy flowers aren’t the same; the former is given as a gift to the deceased while the latter is given to the home of those grieving. The arrangements are smaller than those of funeral flowers. You may have smaller daisies, roses, and lilies. It’s also acceptable to give bright and colorful flower arrangements, like orange, blue, yellow, and purple, which can invoke feelings of hope and rebirth.
6. Get Well
Next, to fresh fruits and a warm bowl of soup, sick folks also love receiving flowers.
The first thing to consider is the well-being of the patient. You should know first if he/she is allergic to flowers. If the patient is still admitted in the hospital, it’s suggested to give flowers that are not highly fragrant. Opt for flowers like tulips and irises, which you can have delivered or given personally.
If the patient is at home, bright houseplants can help lift their spirits up. Marigolds, daffodils, and other bright and cheery flowers are your best bet.
7. Gratitude
Flowers make every occasion more special, you don’t have to find the right occasion to express your feelings of love, appreciation, and gratitude to someone.
Want to extend feelings of gratefulness to a colleague or a friend in the most sophisticated way? Choose the recipient’s favorite type of flower in her favorite color. If you’re unsure, you may go for pale flowers like whites and blush pinks.
If it’s for a friend, not a romantic significant other, you may go for yellow blooms to show your appreciation. Yellow flowers symbolize friendship, optimism, and joy. Avoid sending the wrong message by opting out of red roses which imply love and passion.
Author Bio: Carmina Natividad is one of the daytime writers for Roses Only, a luxury brand that prides itself in supplying and arranging the world’s finest long-stemmed roses for various occasions. She writes about basic gardening and creative flower arrangement ideas.