7 Flower Colour Meanings: What They Say About Love & Life
The Real Reason Your Last Gift Failed to Impress? It Might be the Wrong Flower Colour.
Yes, that flower bouquet may have sent the wrong message entirely.
Most people don’t realize that flowers can convey feelings, and the colour is their voice. Sending a yellow rose bouquet to someone in mourning is like wearing neon to a funeral. Giving a box of red roses to a platonic friend can lead to emotional miscommunication.
Flowers are the best way to communicate, if you are falling out of words, through their colours and types. They carry a language that speaks directly to the heart. Each bloom carries a unique symbolic meaning, allowing you to express your feelings and sentiments beautifully. In this post, we tell you all about different types of flowers and their meanings.
Every floral bloom has a symbolic meaning. Using these meanings, you can easily communicate your emotions, thoughts, and sentiments beautifully and appreciatively. So, you need to choose the colour and type of flower depending on whom and why you want to give it. This isn’t just a guide; it’s your secret decoder ring to emotional intelligence through flowers.
Why Flower Colours Matter More Than You Think?
Flower colours do more than just beautify your space or Instagram feed. They convey intent. Understanding their meanings can transform
- How you express emotions
- Avoid awkward gifting moments
- create lasting impressions.
Whether you’re celebrating love, mourning a loss, or simply want to uplift someone, each colour carries deep emotional and sometimes spiritual meanings that date back centuries.
1. Red Flowers – Love, Passion & Sometimes… War
The Symbolism:
Red is universally known as the color of love and desire, but in some cultures, it’s also the color of danger or rebellion.
- In Love: A bouquet of Red roses is a common symbol of romance and deep affection.
- In Funerals: In some Eastern cultures, using red at memorials is avoided as it symbolizes vitality, unsuitable for mourning.
Red roses at a funeral can be emotionally jarring—always match flower colours to the context.
In China, red is often associated with luck and prosperity. So, while inappropriate for funerals, it’s considered a must-have in weddings and New Year celebrations.
2. Yellow Flowers – Friendship or Betrayal?
The Symbolism:
Yellow flowers, like sunflowers and yellow tulips, usually symbolize joy, energy, and friendship. However, they can also have different meanings.
- In relationships, yellow might signal jealousy or a love that is fading.
- In funerals, yellow flowers are generally not suitable unless asked for, as they suggest cheerfulness rather than sympathy.
Yellow symbolises hope and enlightenment, just like a warm hug from the sun, bringing joy and optimism. In many cultures, especially Buddhism, it beautifully represents wisdom and compassion related to Buddha.
3. White Flowers – Purity, Peace & Goodbyes
The Symbolism:
White is powerful. It signifies purity, peace, and reverence.
- In Love: Symbolizes new beginnings – ideal for weddings.
- In Funerals: The most common funeral flower colour represents serenity and remembrance.
In many Asian countries, white flowers is the colour of mourning. So, sending white flowers to a joyful celebration can be seen as bad luck.
Must Know:
White lilies and orchids are widely used for weddings and funerals. It all comes down to the message and pairing. It’s difficult to keep white flowers beautiful. Check our fresh flower sending guide for tips on flower etiquette.
4. Pink Flowers – Admiration or Just Affection?
The Symbolism:
Pink is a colour that combines the feelings of romantic red and the neutrality of white.
- In Relationships: Pink roses symbolize gentle admiration, grace, and young love.
- In Friendships: Safe to gift in early stages of love or close friendships.
Sending pink flowers like pink carnations and roses is a favourite for anniversaries and casual gifting.
5. Purple Flowers – Royalty, Mystery, & Spiritual Wisdom
The Symbolism:
Purple orchids, lilies, and irises represent luxury and success, which is why people often consider sending them as gifts for achievements. Purple also has a royal and spiritual feel.
- In Love: Symbol of enchantment or unique admiration.
- In Spirituality: Represents higher consciousness and calm.
Many luxury brands use purple flower installations to evoke exclusivity and elegance at events.
Bonus Tip:
The meaning of purple flowers can differ based on the type of flowers you choose and the situation in which they are given. For instance, Lavender roses represent Love at first sight, whereas lilacs symbolize Love and Innocence.
6. Orange Flowers – Energy or Aggression?
The Symbolism:
Bright and bold, orange flowers express enthusiasm, energy, and excitement, representing success and warmth. They are mostly used for new beginnings and gratitude.
- In Relationships: Ideal for celebrating milestones or spontaneous moments.
- In Other Contexts: Avoid in sympathy bouquets; can seem overpowering.
Pro Insight:
Orange flowers are increasingly used in corporate gifting to symbolize innovation and forward-thinking.
Mix orange lilies with whites or purples to tone down and balance the bouquet.
7. Blue Flowers – Trust, Loyalty & Cold Distance
The Symbolism:
Blue flowers symbolize peace, calmness, and tranquillity. However, they can also suggest emotional distance.
- In love: Trust and a commitment focused on long-term stability.
Blue hydrangeas serve as considerate gifts during challenging times, embodying themes of healing and hope.
In Japan, blue flowers are often associated with forgiveness and apology, great for mending emotional gaps.
What Flowers Are Trending in 2025?
If you’ve been gifting flowers based solely on aesthetics, now’s the time to change that. Knowing the meaning of flower colours empowers you to connect better, celebrate deeper, and comfort with sincerity.
According to The Floral Trends Forecast 2025—Flower Council, people are now prioritizing the emotional messages conveyed by flowers. Popular choices for weddings include purple, blue, and pastel mixed bouquets, while minimalist white arrangements are favoured for modern funerals. Bouquets with a mix of 2 to 3 colours that hold special meaning for the person receiving them are a popular choice for gifts.
Use Flowers Like Emotional Text Messages
Consider flower colours as ways to express feelings just like how emojis or the tone of a text can convey emotions, the colors of flowers can communicate messages that words sometimes fail to capture. Picking the right color isn’t just a nice touch; it can have a significant impact.
Quick Reference Table: Flower Colours, Symbolism & Occasion Ideas
Flower Colour | Flower Symbolism | Popular Flower Choices | Best For What Occasion? |
Red | Love, passion, desire | Roses, tulips, and carnations | Romantic occasions, anniversaries |
Yellow | Friendship, cheer, jealousy | Sunflowers, tulips, lilies | Friendship, get well soon |
White | Purity, peace, remembrance | Lilies, orchids, roses | Weddings, funerals |
Pink | Admiration, grace, young love | Carnations, roses, peonies | First dates, baby showers |
Purple | Royalty, enchantment, spirituality | Lavender, orchids, and lisianthus | Spiritual events, unique romance |
Orange | Enthusiasm, success, energy | Gerberas, lilies, marigolds | Celebrations, promotions |
Blue | Trust, peace, healing | Hydrangeas, irises, delphinium | Sympathy, long-term bonds |
Meaning of Flower Colour FAQs
Each colour symbolizes a unique emotion or message: red symbolizes love, white symbolizes peace, yellow symbolizes friendship, pink symbolizes admiration, purple symbolizes spirituality, blue symbolizes trust, and orange symbolizes energy.
White lilies, chrysanthemums, and blue or soft purple hues are ideal for conveying peace and sympathy.
Red and pink are top picks. Red for deep passion, pink for sweet affection
White and purple are most associated with spiritual purity and wisdom. Blue can symbolize inner peace and intuition.
Yes. Colour miscommunication is real. Yellow roses to a romantic partner, for example, may signal friendship, not love.
The Violet flower is a classic example.
