Flower Encyclopedia

Discover Flower Meanings
& Symbolism

Explore the rich history, cultural significance, and hidden meanings behind nature's most beautiful creations. Your comprehensive guide to the language of flowers.

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Showing 21 of 21 flowers

Sunflower

Helianthus annuus

Sunflowers are large, vibrant flowers known for their distinctive yellow petals and dark centers. These cheerful blooms symbolize loyalty, adoration, and unwavering faith, making them perfect for expressing joy and positivity.

Type:

annual

Family:

Asteraceae (Daisy family)

Key Meanings:

LoyaltyAdorationFaithHappiness+4 more
Available Colors:
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Rose

Rosa spp.

Roses are the quintessential symbol of love and beauty, featuring layered petals and intoxicating fragrance. With over 300 species, roses represent the full spectrum of human emotions and have been cherished across cultures for millennia.

Type:

perennial

Family:

Rosaceae

Key Meanings:

LovePassionBeautyHonor+4 more
Available Colors:
+
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Tulip

Tulipa spp.

Tulips are elegant spring bulbs with cup-shaped flowers that herald the arrival of warmer weather. These graceful blooms symbolize perfect love and new beginnings, making them ideal for celebrating fresh starts and deep affection.

Type:

perennial

Family:

Liliaceae

Key Meanings:

Perfect LoveRebirthNew BeginningsForgiveness+2 more
Available Colors:
+
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Lavender

Lavandula angustifolia

Known for its fragrant purple flowers and silvery-green foliage, lavender is cherished for its calming properties and beauty. It symbolizes purity, silence, devotion, and serenity.

Type:

perennial

Family:

Lamiaceae (Mint family)

Key Meanings:

PuritySilenceDevotionSerenity+3 more
Available Colors:
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Peony

Paeonia lactiflora (representative)

Peonies are beloved for their large, fragrant, and often lushly petaled blossoms. They symbolize romance, prosperity, good fortune, a happy marriage, and honor.

Type:

perennial

Family:

Paeoniaceae

Key Meanings:

RomanceProsperityGood fortuneHappy marriage+3 more
Available Colors:
+
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Hydrangea

Hydrangea macrophylla (representative)

Hydrangeas are popular shrubs known for their large, showy flower heads, which can famously change color based on soil acidity. They symbolize gratitude, grace, beauty, and heartfelt emotions.

Type:

shrub

Family:

Hydrangeaceae

Key Meanings:

GratitudeGraceBeautyHeartfelt emotions+3 more
Available Colors:
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Dahlia

Dahlia (horticultural hybrids)

Dahlias are prized for their incredibly diverse flower forms, sizes, and vibrant colors. They symbolize elegance, dignity, creativity, inner strength, and commitment.

Type:

perennial

Family:

Asteraceae (Daisy family)

Key Meanings:

EleganceDignityCreativityInner strength+4 more
Available Colors:
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Sweet Pea

Lathyrus odoratus

Sweet peas are cherished for their delicate, fragrant blossoms and wide range of colors. They symbolize blissful pleasure, delicate beauty, departure, and gratitude.

Type:

annual

Family:

Fabaceae (Pea family)

Key Meanings:

Blissful pleasureDelicate beautyDepartureGoodbye+4 more
Available Colors:
+
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Poppy (Field/Corn Poppy)

Papaver rhoeas

The Corn Poppy is known for its vibrant red, delicate, papery petals, often with a dark spot at the base. It is a powerful symbol of remembrance, particularly for fallen soldiers, and also represents sleep and peace.

Type:

annual

Family:

Papaveraceae (Poppy family)

Key Meanings:

Remembrance (especially for WWI and fallen soldiers)SleepPeace (in some contexts)Consolation+3 more
Available Colors:
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Clematis

Clematis (horticultural hybrids and species)

Clematis are popular climbing plants prized for their spectacular flowers, which come in a vast array of shapes, sizes, and colors. They symbolize mental beauty, ingenuity, aspiration, and artifice.

Type:

perennial

Family:

Ranunculaceae (Buttercup family)

Key Meanings:

Mental beautyIngenuityArtificeAspiration+4 more
Available Colors:
+
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Aster

Symphyotrichum spp. / Aster spp.

Asters are daisy-like perennials with star-shaped flower heads. They bring delightful color to late summer and fall gardens, symbolizing love, wisdom, and faith.

Type:

perennial

Family:

Asteraceae (Daisy family)

Key Meanings:

LoveWisdomFaithValor+4 more
Available Colors:
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Geranium (Pelargonium)

Pelargonium spp.

Commonly known as geraniums, Pelargoniums are popular for their vibrant blooms and varied foliage. They symbolize comfort, friendship, and good wishes, brightening gardens and homes.

Type:

perennial

Family:

Geraniaceae

Key Meanings:

GentilityComfortEsteemFriendship+2 more
Available Colors:
+
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Daffodil

Narcissus spp.

Daffodils are cheerful spring-blooming bulbs known for their trumpet-shaped flowers. They symbolize rebirth, new beginnings, and unrequited love.

Type:

bulb

Family:

Amaryllidaceae

Key Meanings:

RebirthNew beginningsHopeRespect+4 more
Available Colors:
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Lily (True Lily)

Lilium spp.

True lilies (Lilium) are elegant, often fragrant flowers grown from bulbs, prized for their large, showy blooms. They symbolize purity, beauty, and refined love.

Type:

bulb

Family:

Liliaceae

Key Meanings:

PurityBeautyFertilityMajesty+4 more
Available Colors:
+
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Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemum × morifolium (and other spp.)

Chrysanthemums, or mums, are popular fall flowers with diverse forms and colors. They symbolize joy, optimism, longevity, and are culturally significant worldwide.

Type:

perennial

Family:

Asteraceae (Daisy family)

Key Meanings:

JoyOptimismLongevityLoyalty+3 more
Available Colors:
+
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Iris

Iris spp.

Irises are elegant flowers with distinctive three-petaled blooms, available in a rainbow of colors. They symbolize faith, hope, wisdom, and valor.

Type:

rhizome

Family:

Iridaceae

Key Meanings:

FaithHopeWisdomValor+3 more
Available Colors:
+
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Delphinium

Delphinium spp.

Delphiniums are majestic perennials known for their tall spikes of vibrant, spurred flowers, especially in shades of blue. They symbolize big-heartedness, fun, and ardent attachment.

Type:

perennial

Family:

Ranunculaceae (Buttercup family)

Key Meanings:

Big-heartednessFunLightnessLevity+4 more
Available Colors:
+
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Pansy

Viola × wittrockiana

Pansies are cheerful cool-weather flowers known for their "faces" and wide range of colors. They symbolize loving thoughts, remembrance, and free-thinking.

Type:

biennial

Family:

Violaceae (Violet family)

Key Meanings:

Thoughts (from French "pensée")RemembranceLoving thoughtsFree-thinking+2 more
Available Colors:
+
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Snapdragon

Antirrhinum majus

Snapdragons are charming flowers with unique, dragon-snout shaped blooms that "snap" open. They symbolize graciousness, strength, and sometimes deception.

Type:

perennial

Family:

Plantaginaceae (Plantain family) (formerly Scrophulariaceae)

Key Meanings:

GraciousnessStrengthDeception (due to the flower concealing its "mouth")Presumption+1 more
Available Colors:
+
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Zinnia

Zinnia elegans (and other Zinnia spp.)

Zinnias are vibrant, daisy-like annuals cherished for their profuse blooms in a wide array of colors. They symbolize thoughts of absent friends, endurance, and lasting affection.

Type:

annual

Family:

Asteraceae (Daisy family)

Key Meanings:

Thoughts of absent friendsEnduranceLasting affectionGoodness+2 more
Available Colors:
+
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Marigold (Tagetes)

Tagetes spp. (e.g., Tagetes erecta, Tagetes patula, Tagetes tenuifolia)

Marigolds (Tagetes) are hardy annuals known for their bright, cheerful blooms and distinct aroma. They symbolize passion, creativity, warmth, and are culturally significant in many traditions, especially Day of the Dead.

Type:

annual

Family:

Asteraceae (Daisy family)

Key Meanings:

CreativityPassionWarmthProsperity+4 more
Available Colors:
+
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