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Colours of Flowers

By Sereba Agiobu-Kemmer
13 March 2015   |   5:35 am
THE symbolism of flower colors is rooted in traditions, religions, mythologies and cultures. Infact, every flower color from a deep red rose to a bright sunflower offers a rich and meaningful story dating back thousands of years.
Colours Of Flower

Colours Of Flower

“The flower offered of itself and eloquently spoke of Gods in languages of rainbows perfumes and secret silence….”
-Philip Pulfrey, from Love, Abstraction and other Speculations
Symbolic Meaning Of Flowers, Colors of Flowers
THE symbolism of flower colors is rooted in traditions, religions, mythologies and cultures. Infact, every flower color from a deep red rose to a bright sunflower offers a rich and meaningful story dating back thousands of years. The flower colors you choose for a bouquet can be as important as the types of flowers used in an arrangement.

Orange dahlia for good taste, pomp, dignity. Copy
The meaning of flower colors is a unique aspect of flower language and symbolism you can use to send a special, maybe even a secret message to someone. Long before it became fashionable in the Victorian era, flowers and their coloration were used to enhance meanings, even interpreted as oracles. For example, the ancient Greek interpreted the meaning of flower colors as mood indicators of their gods (like mood rings). Similarly, ancient celts consulted flowers as portents of weather and predictions of gender in childbirth. These days our purpose of flowers may be a bit more practical (but they don’t have to be). Having knowledge about the meaning of flower colors gives you an opportunity to send an uncommon sentiment – like sending a secret code to someone you admire. You can be creative with your flower antics. Mix different color meanings in your bouquet. Flower colors are like a fistful of paintbrushes – color your world with their various meanings and be inspired. Incase you are sending a bouquet to someone, include the meanings in a card with the arrangement, so the message is clearly understood
In addition to general color symbolism, the individual type of flowers and colors express specific ‘‘Flower sentiments” and ‘‘Flower meanings.” From the origin of a flower’s name to its distinctive characteristics and rich mythology, flowers are infused with eloquence. We sense the personalities and hidden mysteries of different flowers and intuitively choose one over the other to fit our mood or the occasion. We do it all the time. That’s why we surprise someone with a bunch of yellow flowers to cheer them up or declare our fervent passion with two dozen velvety red roses. As every flower lover knows, flower language is composed from quite a number of symbolisms and meanings having consideration for both individual characteristics as well as general symbolism, such as colors.
Every sentiment is expressed in one form or another by these fragile blooms, and as a leading psychologist states… ‘‘Flowers are a perfect replica of human life… planting-growth-blooming-withering.”
So what is the symbolism and meaning of colors in reference to flowers. Let’s have a look as revealed below.
White is associated with innocence, humility reverence and simple beauty. Whether they take their shape as luxurious silky petals of fragrant gardenias, the small white bells of a lily of the valley, or the quiet drama of a dozen white roses, fresh floral arrangement dominated by white blossoms convey modesty and elegance.
Blue The pale blue hues of a hydrangea or the deep blue of an iris can calm worries and preoccupations representing peace, openness, and serenity. Fresh floral arrangements filled with blue flowers offers a calming antidote to anxiety, a cool atmosphere conducive to intellectual pursuits.
Pink Think pink and you think of grace, gentleness, and happiness. Regardless of their shape from the tight small buds of a pink garden rose to the delicate open petals of a pink Caellia in full bloom – pink blossoms convey youth, innocence and joy.
Purple With its origin tied to royalty, pump and pageantry, purple flowers represent dignity, pride and success. Whether grouped alone in a bold range of rich hues or mixed in with other colors to provide depth and contrast, an arrangement filled with purple blooms represents accomplishment and admiration.
Lavender While purple is the color of royalty, and pink the color of youth, lavender is femininity all grown up. Representing refinement, grace, and elegance, lavender holds an almost sacred place in nature – with violet flowers often considered the most delicate and precious. An arrangement filled with soft lavender blossoms sends a message of feminine beauty.
Yellow It’s almost impossible not to smile when one spots a bouquet of bright daffodils or a pot filled with sun-drenched chrysanthemums and sunflowers – the color yellow evokes feelings of joy and light heartedness. Also, yellow is a symbol of friendship, a bouquet of yellow blooms sends a message of new beginnings and happiness.
Orange The color orange is blatantly proud. There is nothing bashful about the color symbolizing energy, enthusiasm and warmth. The vibrant blooms in arrangements convey confidence, satisfaction and a joie-d-vivre – a passion for life comparable to the color red.
Red There is an indisputable energy to the color red – an energy that has the power to transform an otherwise unassuming flower into the essence of strength, desire and passionate love. The symbolism of beauty, courage, energy and enthusiasm, a bouquet filled with rich, red blooms knows no restraint.
Green is synonymous with nature. It makes a perfect complement to any other bloom. The color green represents health, resilience, good fortune and youth. Whether used to throw together a diverse mixture of shapes and lines or as a restful tone-on-tone bouquet, green flowers send a message of optimism and renewal, and prosperity.
Eloquence in floriography (flower language) includes not just knowledge in the symbolism of different attributes associated with each flower’s characteristics and their meanings.
It must also include knowledge of the significance in the colors of flowers, the symbolism and meanings they convey. With the knowledge of the meanings associated with colors of flowers you can Armed with your new found ‘‘flower power” confidently ‘‘say it with flowers!” It becomes so easy to convey true feelings – just pick the right flowers in the right colors. Speak with finesse and bring the language of flowers into your modern.

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