The Meaning Of Colors: Flowers Some of the most symbolic and sense stimulating elements of nature are flowers.  Flowers come in all shapes, sizes, varieties, and colors.

	Some of the most symbolic and sense stimulating elements of nature are flowers.  Flowers come in all shapes, sizes, varieties, and colors.  The meaning of the color of flowers is often unexpected and can add new levels of depth to buying and growing your own flowers, or even giving flowers as gifts and gestures.  Knowing the meaning of the color of flowers also adds a deeper significance to the giver and receiver of the flower. A Rose By Any Other Name Is Still A Rose Roses are the most popular flower in the world.  The meanings of rose colors are many since there are an abundance of different color roses.  Of course, the most well known rose color is red.  With the depth and intensity of this color, the meaning of rose colors with different shades of red fundamentally has a meaning of love and passion.  Deep fiery red roses tend to signify passionate feelings, while lighter hues of red can mean love, respect, and courage.  The red rose is respected as the universal valentine rose. Orange roses are not too far behind the red rose in the sense that they retain the vigor and passion that the meaning of the red rose colors do, but that passion is directed at an enthusiasm for life.  It also signifies pride in accomplishments during one’s life, such as graduations and work promotions.  Peach roses take a little from their orange association, as well as the red, in that they can mean a deep sense of appreciation or an unending desire. Although not too far from orange in the color spectrum, yellow tends to have a different status when it comes to the color meaning of roses.  A yellow rose used to signify jealousy in Victorian times, but since then the meaning has evolved.  Nowadays, yellow roses typically are meant to evoke feelings of friendship, companionship, and familiar relationships, and can be used to express a level of sympathy.  However, staying close to its orange relative, yellow roses also signify gladness, joy, and freedom in life. Pink, red’s cousin, does maintain the seriousness of red in the meaning of rose colors, but it tends to evoke a more lighthearted sense of love with its own elegance.  It symbolizes chivalry and refinement as well as romance in the most poetic and chivalrous sense.  Light shades of pink in meanings of rose colors can be used for sympathy and friendship like yellow roses.  Darker shades of pink tend to symbolize a sense of thankful appreciation. The color black is often misunderstood and has generally received negative connotations such as depression and death; however, black roses can actually symbolize reinvigoration and a spirit of rejuvenation once the old has died.  It signifies a rebirth, a significant change, or revolution.  Its polar opposite, white roses, have had a much more welcome reception.  The meaning of rose colors in white generally tend to signify innocence, purity, secrecy, eternal love, and unity.  For these reasons, the white rose is often viewed as the bridal rose.  White roses can be mixed with other roses to show the meaning of different colors of roses.  For example, white roses mixed with red roses are arranged to symbolize a fullness of love, including loyalty, innocence, unity, and depth of unending love and passion.  The loyalty signified by the white rose can also be demonstrated by a gift of purple roses. Floral Colors With Symbolic Meanings Many other flowers besides roses do have symbolism.  Staying true to the color meaning of roses when it comes to orange arrangements of flowers such as Asiatic lilies, they not only signify enthusiasm, but also warmth and a satisfaction in life.  Other orange arrangements such as Gerbera daises, discovered in South Africa, often appear in deep rich orange hues and can mean a cheerful attitude towards life. Pale blue flowers such as the hydrangea, or the iris that has a deeper hue of blue, are meant to be calming flowers.  The blue in the meaning of flower colors symbolizes tranquility, peace, a serene mental state, and a level of consciousness and openness to the world.  Such flowers are intended to be gifts that calm worries, frustrations, and anxieties. Purple, a close relative of blue, indeed stands on its own and has established its own significance in the meaning of colors of flowers.  Purple flowers symbolize majesty and glory, as well as loyalty and faithfulness.  Lighter purples, such as lavender and lilac flowers, invoke a naivety and the meaning of first loves; whereas, darker purples are reserved for quiet intimacy.  Purple flowers generally stand for royalty, pride, honor, and respect. White flowers have a similar meaning to white roses in that they signify modesty and elegance.  Prime examples are the white lily or a white gardenia.  While orange and red roses may be the kings of desire in the world of roses, coral colored flowers of various genres are also symbolic of desire.  Therefore, meanings of the colors of flowers are not universal or homogenous across floral varieties. Yellow flowers such as chrysanthemums and daffodils have a similar meaning to yellow roses.  They are generally not used as sympathy gestures.  Yellow flowers outside of roses tend to sway towards meanings of a cheery disposition, light heartedness, joy, and happiness.  There are flowers that come in shades of green that also carry a meaning of happiness.  Pale green shades, for example the pale green orchid, are a symbol of understanding, optimism, replenishment, rejuvenation, and renewal. Floral Culture And Meaning There are flowers aside from roses that are well known across cultures and come in a variety of colors.  Cultural meanings of colors of flowers have been evident since biblical periods and before.  Tulips, for example, originated in Persia, and were significant in that culture within artistic and fashion life because of their varieties of color.  Orchids, also come in several colors, and the Greeks believed orchids to have a meaning of virility, while in Victorian times, orchids signified a luxurious lifestyle to the English.  Ancient civilizations, such as the Aztecs, believed in a meaning of orchids closer to that of the Greeks, in that they used them medicinally for strength and power. When In Doubt, Ask An Expert In light of all the meanings of different color roses, and the meaning of colors of flowers, it is best to seek expert assistance when giving the gift of flowers or creating floral arrangements that convey your intended meanings to others or yourself.  For example, a Feng Shui expert would suggest balancing the chi of your own home by using particular floral colors.  There are websites that can assist.  Sites such as Rose By Design, Teleflora ®, Proflowers.com, or the Flower Parade all have useful ideas for flower arrangements and gifts according to the colors and meanings of different color roses, or the meanings of colors of flowers on the whole.

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