The true meanings behind popular Valentine's Day flowers
Flowers are blooming all around, and it’s not because spring has sprung (sadly, there is still about a month to go before winter is officially over) - it’s because Valentine’s Day is here.
The big day of love is one of the biggest for the global flower industry, with an estimated 250 million stems of flowers sold at Valentine’s all over the world.
According to the British Florist Association, a third of these flowers consist of roses, while another third of tulips and the final third of an assortment of blooms. In the UK, the most popular flowers to give on Valentine’s Day are red roses, followed by tulips, lilies and carnations.
But while Valentine’s Day and the lead-up to it is an extra busy time for florists, flowers are given all year round for any number of occasions - birthdays, anniversaries, Mother’s Day, funerals, and more.
Certain flowers carry certain meanings, a type of communication through blooms called floriography. What each flower means depends on colour, your relationship with who you’re giving it to, and the occasion.
This means that, on Valentine’s Day, you could convey an unspoken message to your loved one just by sending them a specific type of flower.
Watch: Heartbroken On Valentine's Day? You Can See A Rat Or Roach Named After Your Ex Be Gobbled Up
Language learning platform Preply has put together a guide to help you decipher the language of flowers, so that you choose the right bouquet for your loved one.
Roses
Roses are a classic choice and are usually associated with love and romance.
Different coloured roses carry different meanings. Red roses signify enduring passion; pink roses represent perfect love; and white roses symbolise never-ending devotion.
Orchids
Orchids, one of the most popular cut flowers on the market, symbolise love, beauty and fertility.
The orchid plant can last for years if taken care of properly and have the potential to bloom every year, which means they can commemorate your relationship as the years go by.
Carnations
Like roses, carnations come in different colours that carry different meanings. In general, carnations symbolise fascination, distinction, devotion and love.
Pink carnations show gratitude; red carnations signify love and affection; orange carnations can allude to desire.
Tulips
One of the biggest markers of springtime, tulips are hugely popular in the UK and grow in abundance. Their most common meaning is a perfect and deep love.
Lilies
These large, elegant blooms come in a variety of colours and can be associated with purity and renewal. Lilies can also represent femininity and fertility.
Which flower is most popular across Europe for Valentine’s Day?
According to Preply, these countries in Europe favour certain flowers, such as:
Italy: Mimosa flowers are popular here, symbolising sensitivity, sensibility, love and celebration.
France: Orchids are preferred on Valentine’s Day in France, representing love, beauty and strength.
Spain: Lilies are a popular choice here, showing devotion and purity.
Germany: On Valentine’s Day in Germany, tulips are the go-to flower, standing for perfect love.
Why do we communicate through flowers?
Besides being a truly romantic and lovely gesture, communicating through flowers - or through any non-verbal method - can help you add even more meaning to your sentiments if you can’t find the words.
Language expert Sylvia Johnson from Preply says: “Non-verbal communication plays a pivotal role in establishing and fostering relationships because it adds depth to interactions and reflects what's beyond spoken words.
“All of your non-verbal behaviours—the gestures you make, your posture, your tone of voice, how much eye contact you make—send strong messages. Non-verbal communication may put people at ease, build trust, and draw others towards you, or it may offend, confuse, and undermine what you’re trying to convey.
“When faced with mixed signals, the listener has to choose whether to believe your verbal or non-verbal message and they’ll likely choose the non-verbal message.”
She adds that people can build meaningful relationships with others who speak a different language through non-verbal communication - making international relationships more accessible.
“t's all about embracing empathetic listening, presence, and universal gestures of kindness.
“Understanding and respecting the love language of others is paramount for a deeper connection; for some, gestures like giving flowers could speak volumes more than words ever will. This is a reflection of the diverse ways humans express and perceive affection!”
Read more about sex and relationships:
British women more likely to prioritise friendships this Valentine's Day (Yahoo Life UK, 3-min read)
Poll reveals the biggest Valentine’s Day dinner mistakes (Yahoo Life UK, 4-min read)
These are the best UK cities to date if you're single (Yahoo Life UK, 3-min read)
