The Language of Flowers: A Guide to Flower Meanings
What do flowers mean? A clear guide to the language of flowers, from roses and tulips to forget-me-nots, with a quick-reference table.
Long before text messages, people used flowers to say what they could not say out loud. The language of flowers, or Blumensprache in German, gave each bloom a meaning, so a bouquet could carry a secret message. Today the meanings are more of a playful extra than a code, but they can still help you choose a bouquet that says exactly what you mean.
- Love: red roses, red tulips.
- Friendship and joy: yellow roses, sunflowers, gerberas.
- Gratitude: pink roses, sweet peas, carnations.
- Remembrance: forget-me-nots, white lilies; in Germany also chrysanthemums.
A short history
Symbolic meanings for flowers appear in many cultures, but the language of flowers really took off in 19th-century Europe. Dictionaries of flower meanings were popular gifts, and a well-chosen posy could express admiration, a refusal or a quiet hope. Because there were many dictionaries, meanings were never completely consistent, and they still vary today.
Popular flowers and what they mean
| Flower | German name | Traditional meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Red rose | Rote Rose | Romantic love, passion |
| Pink rose | Rosa Rose | Gratitude, admiration |
| White rose | Weiße Rose | Respect, new beginnings |
| Yellow rose | Gelbe Rose | Friendship, joy |
| Tulip | Tulpe | Spring, cheerful love (red), new starts |
| Sunflower | Sonnenblume | Happiness, loyalty, warmth |
| Gerbera | Gerbera | Cheerfulness, innocence |
| Lily | Lilie | Purity, remembrance |
| Carnation | Nelke | Love, gratitude, admiration |
| Orchid | Orchidee | Elegance, refinement |
| Peony | Pfingstrose | Romance, prosperity, good fortune |
| Hydrangea | Hortensie | Gratitude, heartfelt emotion |
| Forget-me-not | Vergissmeinnicht | Remembrance, true love |
| Lavender | Lavendel | Calm, devotion |
| Daisy | Gänseblümchen | Innocence, simplicity |
For detail on roses, read rose colour meanings and how many roses to give.
Colour matters as much as the flower
Colour often changes the message more than the type of flower:
- Red: love and passion.
- Pink: affection, gratitude and gentleness.
- White: respect, purity and calm. Also common for sympathy.
- Yellow and orange: joy, friendship and energy.
- Purple: elegance and admiration.
When meanings differ by country
Some flowers mean very different things in different places. In Germany, chrysanthemums are closely linked with cemeteries, while in parts of Asia they stand for joy and long life. Read chrysanthemums in Germany for more. Similarly, white flowers are wedding flowers in one context and sympathy flowers in another.
Putting it into practice
- Romance: red roses or a romantic bouquet.
- Thanks: pink roses or thank-you flowers.
- Friendship: yellow roses or sunflowers.
- Sympathy: white flowers from our sympathy collection.
Want a personal twist? Choose the recipient's birth month flower.
Related reading
Frequently Asked Questions
It is the tradition of giving flowers specific meanings, also called floriography. It was especially popular in the 19th century.
No. Meanings vary between countries and sources. Chrysanthemums, for example, are linked with graves in Germany but with joy and long life elsewhere.
The red rose is the best-known symbol of romantic love. Red tulips are also traditionally linked with love.
Yellow roses are the classic friendship flower. Sunflowers and gerberas also carry a cheerful, friendly message.
Blumensprache.
No. They are a fun extra layer. Most people simply enjoy flowers they like, so choose what suits the recipient.
Shop related products
Flowers and gifts that go with this article. Delivery is a flat €7 anywhere in Germany.
Magnificent Elegance - Lovely Pink White BouquetEUR 220
Sunrise Song FAEUR 142
Summer FeelingEUR 79
Cheerful mixed flowers Best wishesEUR 83
