How to Choose Flowers Based on Their Symbolism and Message

If you want to choose flowers based on their symbolism and message, you need to know three things: what the flower traditionally means, what its colour adds, and how the person receiving it is likely to read it. People send flowers to say I love you, I'm sorry, thank you and I'm thinking of you, and the right choice makes that message clearer.

At Laris Florist we design every order by hand in our studio in Oak Ridges, at the north end of Richmond Hill, and deliver across York Region and Toronto. You can browse our floral arrangements with the guide below in mind.

What flower symbolism adds to a gift

Flowers often go out when words are hard to find: after a death, after an argument, on a big anniversary.

Choosing with symbolism in mind does a few useful things. It keeps you from sending something that reads wrong, like yellow roses to someone you're hoping to date. It tells the person you put some thought into it. And at sympathy occasions in particular, it keeps the flowers in line with what the family expects.

Understanding flower symbolism basics

Three things decide what a bouquet says.

1. Flower type

Each flower has its own traditional meaning. Roses mean love, lilies mean purity, sunflowers mean loyalty.

2. Colour meaning

Colour changes or deepens the message. A red rose and a white rose are saying different things.

3. Cultural interpretation

Meanings shift from one culture to the next. A flower that's cheerful in one country can be a funeral flower in another.

Popular flowers and their meanings

Roses: love and passion

Roses are the best-known symbolic flower.

• Red roses: romantic love and passion
• White roses: purity and remembrance
• Pink roses: admiration and gratitude
• Yellow roses: friendship and joy

Good for anniversaries, romance or a serious thank-you. See our roses.

Lilies: purity and renewal

Lilies tend to show up at the bigger moments.

• White lilies: sympathy and peace
• Orange lilies: confidence and pride
• Pink lilies: prosperity and admiration

They're used at celebrations and memorials alike. Lilies are toxic to cats, so if the recipient has one, mention it in the order notes and we'll design around it.

Tulips: comfort and simple love

Tulips stand for comfort and an uncomplicated kind of love.

• Red tulips: true love
• Yellow tulips: cheerfulness
• Purple tulips: royalty and admiration

A spring flower, and a softer romantic choice than red roses. See our tulips.

Orchids: luxury and strength

Orchids stand for refinement and resilience: strength, grace and rare beauty. A potted orchid is a common office or milestone gift because it keeps flowering for weeks.

Carnations: love and devotion

Carnations are hardy and long-lasting, often two weeks or more in a vase.

• Red carnations: deep love
• White carnations: pure love and remembrance
• Pink carnations: gratitude and admiration

A Mother's Day classic, and good for any thank-you.

Sunflowers: happiness and positivity

Sunflowers stand for joy, loyalty and optimism. They're the flower we'd send to cheer someone up or to congratulate them on a win. See our sunflowers.

How to choose flowers for different occasions

Romantic occasions

Best choices:

• Red roses
• Red tulips
• Pink peonies, in season

Message: love and passion. Start with love and romance.

Sympathy and funeral arrangements

Best choices:

• White lilies
• White roses
• Chrysanthemums

Message: peace, remembrance and respect. Keep the colours quiet. See sympathy flowers.

Friendship and appreciation

Best choices:

• Yellow roses
• Sunflowers
• Mixed seasonal bouquets

Message: thanks and friendship.

Birthdays and celebrations

Best choices:

• Bright mixed flowers
• Daisies
• Tulips

Message: joy and celebration. See birthday flowers.

Apology flowers

Best choices:

• White tulips
• Blue hydrangeas
• Soft pink roses

Message: sincerity and wanting to make things right. Skip the giant red bouquet here; it can look like you're trying to buy your way out.

Colour symbolism in flowers

Colour sets the tone of a bouquet before anyone reads the card.

Red

Love, passion and intensity

White

Purity, peace and remembrance

Yellow

Friendship, joy and energy

Pink

Admiration, gratitude and sweetness

Purple

Dignity and admiration

Orange

Enthusiasm and excitement

Our rose colour guide has more on this.

Flower gifting etiquette in the GTA

Toronto and York Region are home to families from all over the world, so it's worth a moment's thought before you send:

• Culture: in much of East Asia and parts of Europe, white chrysanthemums are funeral flowers. In Russia and parts of Eastern Europe, even-numbered bouquets are for funerals, so give odd numbers for happy occasions.
• Occasion: keep sympathy flowers soft and neutral; save the bright mixes for birthdays.
• Timing: order by 1 pm for same-day delivery to most postal codes, or book a future date and choose a morning or afternoon window at checkout. Some hospital wards don't accept flowers, so check first.
• Message: add a gift message at checkout and we tuck it in with the flowers. Prices are never included.

What a symbolic bouquet does that other gifts don't

Plenty of gifts are chosen in a hurry, and people can tell. Flowers picked for what they mean show you paid attention, and they sit on the table for a week as a reminder.

How we help you send the right message

At Laris Florist we deliver across York Region and Toronto seven days a week. What we offer:

• Every order designed by hand from that day's flowers
• Bouquets grouped by occasion, from anniversary flowers to get well flowers
• Same-day delivery to most postal codes when you order by 1 pm
• Weak stems swapped for one of equal or higher value in the same colours

If you're not sure which bouquet says what you mean, call us at (437) 291-5605.

Frequently asked questions

What flower means true love?

Red roses and red tulips are the flowers most often linked with true love.

What flowers are best for sympathy?

White lilies, white roses and chrysanthemums are the traditional sympathy flowers.

Can I customize flower arrangements based on meaning?

You can choose a bouquet whose flowers and colours carry the meaning you're after, and add a gift message to spell it out. If you need help picking one, call us at (437) 291-5605.

What flower symbolizes friendship?

Yellow roses and sunflowers are the usual friendship flowers.