What Do Those Valentine Roses Really Mean?
Know The Meaning Of Flowers You're Buying
Heather Staible, Staff WriterRoses, carnations and tulips are usual Valentine's Day floral fare, but garlic and grass are two of the lesser-known offerings.
During the Victorian era, flowers were used as means to communicate with suitors. Love, kindness and interest were conveyed in a bouquet of flowers, pinned to a woman's clothing or held as she walked.
Although the red rose will always say 'I love you' to the person who receives it, 19 percent of modern-day women tend to buy flowers for themselves.
"Women are in touch with themselves and they will buy themselves flowers, or they will buy flowers for their mothers, sisters and friends," said Jenny Sparks, director of consumer marketing for the Society of American Florists.
Sparks said that the language of flowers is less important today than it used to be.
"The red rose still signifies love, but today people buy flowers based on a special event or moment. And besides, flowers make people happy."
| Acacia | Concealed Love, Beauty in Retirement, Chaste Love |
| Azalea | Take Care of Yourself for Me, Temperance, Fragile Passion, Chinese Symbol of Womanhood |
| Bouquet of Withered Flowers | Rejected Love |
| Carnation (General) | Fascination, Women Love |
| Carnation (Pink) | I'll Never Forget You |
| Carnation (Red) | My Heart Aches For You, Admiration |
| Carnation (Purple) | Capriciousness |
| Carnation (Solid Color) | Yes |
| Carnation (Striped) | No, Refusal, Sorry I Can't Be With You, Wish I Could Be With You |
| Carnation (White) | Sweet and Lovely, Innocence, Pure Love, Woman's Good Luck Gift |
| Daffodil | Faithfulness, Happiness |
| Dead Leaves | Sadness |
| Forget-Me-Not | True Love, Memories |
| Garlic | Courage, Strength |
| Geranium | Stupidity, Folly |
| Grass | Submission |
| Lily (Calla) | Beauty |
| Magnolia | Nobility |
| Orchid | Love, Beauty, Refinement, Beautiful Lady, Chinese Symbol for Many Children |
| Rose (Bridal) | Happy Love |
| Rose (Pink) | Perfect Happiness, Please Believe Me |
| Rose (Red) | Love, I Love You |
| Rose (Tea) | I'll Remember Always |
| Rose (Thornless) | Love at First Sight |
| Rose (White) | Innocence and Purity, I am Worthy of You, You're Heavenly, Secrecy and Silence |
| Rose (White and Red Mixed) | Unity, Flower Emblem of England |
| Rose (Yellow) | Decrease of Love, Jealousy, Try to Care |
| Roses (Bouquet of Mature Blooms) | Gratitude |
| Sweetpea | Good-bye, Departure, Blissful Pleasure, Thank You for a Lovely Time |
| Tulip (General) | Perfect Lover, Fame, Flower Emblem of Holland |
| Tulip (Red) | Believe Me, Declaration of Love |
| Violet | Modesty |
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