Language of Flowers Archives

The History of Gifting Flowers

history of gifting flowers with older couple giving flowers

Of all nature’s splendor — from its fascinating animals and birds to its breathtaking sunset vistas and colorful life on the ocean floor — few elements are as immediate, personal, and accessible as flowers. From sight and smell to texture and, in some cases, even taste, flowers deliver an all-natural sensory experience like nothing else. And with more than 400,000 known species of flowering plants, it’s no surprise humans have been gathering, studying, and gifting flowers to one another for centuries.

The practice of giving flowers as a gift is a way “for us to speak when there are no words to convey an emotion,” says Jackie Lacey, a floral designer and director of education at the Floriology Institute in Jacksonville, Florida. The exact messages suggested by specific floral gifts can differ widely from one culture to the next, however, so to enhance your next flower giving experience — and to avoid any miscommunication — we asked Lacey to help explain the history of the silent power of gifting flowers.

Greece

Man’s fascination with flowers can be traced back to the spiritual traditions of the ancient Greeks, who Lacey says “used flowers as props for storytelling…[in a] mythology which is full of references to certain flowers being representative of certain gods and goddesses.” Despite this reverence for flowers as signs of the highest of deities, the greatest philosophers of the era also spoke of the blooming and wilting process of every flower as a direct and ever-present reminder from the gods about the briefness of all human lives.

Egypt

Ancient Egyptians also considered flowers holy, placing them in the tombs of the pharaohs as gifts thought to ward off evil spirits and using them in festivals like the extended 11-day “Beautiful Festival of Opet,” which honored the Nile River’s powers of fertility. This celebration saw intricate floral jewelry crafted for the ruling class and towering flower arrangements, featuring the nation’s treasured blue lotus, carried on ceremonial altars along a processional path that featured hanging rose, poppy, and lily garlands.

Japan

Further east, the tradition of constructing floral shrines was resurrected in Japan during the Asuka period, an era of great artistic, political, and social change. Here, however, it took the form of an anytime, any-class national art known as kado, or “way of the flowers.”

“As far back as the 7th century, when floral altars were created, the art [of kado] has been a way of life,” Lacey explains. “This was more of a male discipline historically, but all can practice it in today’s society.”

In modern-day Japan, kado pieces are especially popular housewarming gifts, as well as a commonly used means of raising the spirits of the sick (though never given potted, lest the recipient’s illness take deeper root). Even the simplest of events, such as coming home from vacation, are kado-worthy: The Japanese tradition of gifting souvenirs to friends and family, known as “omiyage,” often involves regional flowers in kado arrangements.

France

One of the earliest practices of assigning specific meanings to certain flowers started when French royal forces traveled through Turkey in the mid-1500s. Upon returning home from his trek, a high-ranking knight named Louis Girard presented a single lily of the valley to King Charles IX, who described the flower as a Turkish good-luck token and sign of spring’s return. King Charles took such a liking to the flower that he gifted a full bouquet to every lady in the royal court, launching a holiday that eventually became known as La Fête du Muguet (“celebration of lily of the valley”).

Over the following century, the tradition spread from the monarchy down to the peasantry, and to this day, every May 1 in France sees flower vendors traversing the streets selling lilies of the valley to passersby of all classes — at tax-free prices, as commanded by the government! Legend has it that any who purchase or receive a lily with 13 blossoms on this day are in for some serious prosperity during the coming season.

England

In Victorian-era England (1837-1901), a society that demanded its citizens maintain airs of constant calm and composure, flower gifting evolved into a means of expressing especially strong emotions that could be considered uncomfortable, or a breach of etiquette, to be spoken aloud. To further this purpose, its citizenry developed floriography, an art of speaking with flowers, including detailed dictionaries explaining specific meanings behind the species, colors, arrangements, and numbers of flowers given to a recipient.

Floriography became an especially useful means of communication between those of different social classes and personal identities. “Many flowers took on special meaning and transferred ‘unspoken’ messages during the time of Oscar Wilde, in 1890s London, [including] the earliest symbols of the LGBT community,” Lacey says. “One of the earliest is the green carnation, worn on the lapel by a man to signify to others they were ‘open to same-sex liaisons.'”

Russia

The language of floriography also exists in Russia, as adopted from western European nations. One uniquely Russian tradition sees flowers of brighter hues as representative of a feeling’s intensity; for example, in romantic circumstances, white roses would be given as a first-date gift, pink roses as appropriate for early-relationship stages, and deep red roses reserved for head-over-heels love. One exclusion is flowers of any yellow hue, as these have come to represent lies, sadness, and a hint that a break-up is approaching (as explained in the famous Russian pop song “Yellow Tulips”).

Beyond all the classic reasons and occasions for gifting (to mourners, the sick, as signs of romance, for birthdays and academic accomplishments), flower gifting in Russia absolutely must occur on specific national holidays, such as Teachers’ Day, Knowledge Day, and Women’s Day (red carnations, symbolic of official national holidays, are always to be reserved for days like these). Regardless of the occasion, plants rooted in pots, rather than cut flowers, are considered the proper gift for elderly women, as signs of extended life.

China

Nearly all the Chinese culture’s earliest poems, proverbs, and artworks utilize flowers known as “The Four Gentleman” — orchid, plum blossom, bamboo, and chrysanthemum — to represent the characteristics of uprightness, purity, humility, and perseverance. Though chrysanthemums are still highly revered, and have come to represent honorable life, Mandarin tradition dictates that gifting chrysanthemums to a tutor is an inappropriate, and even intentionally insulting, act. In such a situation, substituting “sunflowers and carnations, which can show love and respect to a teacher,” is the way to go, Lacey recommends.

Chinese tradition also considers flower gifting as a means to produce real-life results. The culture believes, according to Lacey, that “peonies or dahlias for elders can foster good fortune, and bamboo can send a friend financial success.” Tangible medical reasons for gifting exist as well: Flowers like the Japanese honeysuckle and pagoda flower are historically gifted by loved ones as herbal remedies for the flu and circulatory system ailments.

Spain

Gifting flowers in Spain is seen as a serious move, and, according to Lacey, presents with petals “should be sent specifically, and for special occasions only.” In addition to weddings, funerals, and major holidays, flowers can be sent as an appreciation of hospitality, he notes, adding “potted plants are often sent after dinner parties but never chrysanthemums, red roses, dahlias, and white lilies, as these flowers suggest death.” The safest bets include lilies and Spanish bluebells — both considered free of great emotional meaning — but remember to count your stems: Spanish tradition has it that flowers should be given only in odd numbers (except for the unlucky 13), as even-numbered bouquets are to be saved as funeral gifts.

Australia

While Father’s Day in the U.S. typically sees more tools gifted than blooms, Australian dads have been receiving flowers on their special day since the continent’s early Aboriginal era, when a father’s base responsibility was teaching survival skills to his children. In the wild Outback, this could become a fierce task, so, in recognition of their bravery, flowers were seen as a gentle gift of gratitude from children whose innocence a father sought to protect.

history of gifting flowers with melbourne flower show — A scene from the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show. (Photo by Chris Phutully, licensed by CC BY-ND 2.0)

Australia’s appreciation of flowers has continued to blossom throughout its colonial era, and is displayed in full during the annual Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show — the largest such festival in all the Southern Hemisphere — which last year drew more 100,000 visitors.

Germany

As in Spain, the number of flowers gifted to a German is just as important as the flowers’ freshness, and for the same reasons. (Beyond superstition, floral traditions in some central European areas, including Germany, insist that odd numbers of flowers are easier to arrange. This claim is based on the fact that many popular blooms grow only an uneven number of petals.)

Unlike Spaniards, however, Germans insist on a greater level of generosity: Simply being invited to a home merits both a bottle of wine for the host and flowers for his or her partner. In such a circumstance, tea roses and yellow roses are favorites (save the reds — they’re suggestive of deep romance, as in America), which, like all floral gifts in Germany, should be unwrapped from any bouquet housing before being handed to a recipient.

The Cultural Significance and Symbolism of Ukrainian Flowers

The sunflower, with its large, yellow heads that reach to the sky, is as recognizable as any flower in the world. Over the centuries, this striking bloom has captured the attention of artists like Vincent Van Gogh and Claude Monet.

But for Ukrainians, the sunflower is much more than just a pretty plant with a happy disposition — it’s a powerful symbol of national pride and resilience.

“I grew up around the sunflower in its many forms,” says Katya Malakhova, a Boston resident who grew up in Ukraine. “My dad was a farmer who grew fields of sunflowers and made sunflower oil. For me, the flower has always been special.”

Malakhova founded Sunflower of Peace, a nonprofit organization that benefits the Ukrainian people, in 2015. Since February 2022, the organization has raised about $8 million in donations to provide medical and humanitarian aid to areas devastated by the Russian invasion.

flowers of ukraine with ukrainian flag in field of sunflowers

She recalls a trip back home to southern Ukraine just a year ago. “There was just no end to the sunflower fields; they were just limitless,” she says. “It’s very magical to see the fields of sunflowers.”

Today, Malakhova’s hometown of Nova Kakhovka is occupied by the Russians, and its future is uncertain. After living in a bomb shelter for weeks, her mother and sister fled to safety in another part of the country. In addition to her concern for family and friends, Malakhova grieves for the fields her late father tended with care for so many years.

However, the flower that once grew there in such abundance gives Malakhova a sense of hope. “A week ago, a friend gave me some sunflowers,” she explains. “Instead of throwing them out when they started to fade, I placed them out in the sun.

“They blossomed again in the sun, and that gave me the feeling that we are going to win the war. … Just as the sun goes down, it comes up again.”

Ukraine’s national flower

After their explorations of the new world, Spaniards brought sunflowers to Europe in the early 17th century. Historians believe the plant made its way to Ukraine by the mid-18th century. The region’s dry, arid climate proved suitable for the plant, and Ukrainians soon began eating sunflower seeds and crushing them to make oil.

This flower has an international language. Everyone likes it, and it reminds me of my roots.

Olga Nikolaenko

Ukrainian native and owner of Livilove Flowers

Sunflower oil, a popular alternative to butter and lard, grew to become a significant part of the Ukrainian economy. Before the current crisis, Ukraine and Russia provided 75 percent of the global exports of sunflower seeds. In 2021, Ukraine was the world’s largest source of sunflower oil, providing one-third of the world’s supply.

Over the years, the bright flower also has played an increasingly important role in everyday Ukrainian life. Sunflowers are prominently displayed in festive celebrations, as decorations woven into clothing, wreaths, and headdresses.

Further, Ukrainians view the vibrant flower as a symbol of peace and resilience. After the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster in 1986, Ukrainians planted sunflowers in the devastated area. The flowers not only represented renewal and hope, but they helped extract toxins from the soil.

A decade later, Ukrainians planted a field of sunflowers to celebrate the dismantlement of a nuclear missile base in Pervomaysk, Ukraine.

The sunflower in today’s climate

As the conflict in Ukraine persists, the sunflower has once again taken its place as a symbol of Ukrainian strength and resolve.

Photo of a woman holding sunflowers next to her flower tattoo

A video clip that went viral in the early days of the Russian invasion shows a Ukrainian woman giving sunflower seeds to armed Russian soldiers. “Take these seeds, so sunflowers grow here when you die,” she told the soldiers.

Here in the U.S., interest in the sunflower also has been high, and displaying or wearing sunflowers has become a way to show solidarity with the Ukrainian people.

“Sometimes I make designs with sunflowers, as this flower has an international language,” says Olga Nikolaenko, a Ukrainian native who owns Livilove Flowers in Charlotte, North Carolina. “Everyone likes it, and it reminds me of my roots.

“When I was a little girl, I loved to travel with my parents out of town, across the country, and look at the whole fields of sunflowers from the car. … The sunflower is a symbol of the sun, love of life, optimism, faith in the future, good luck, and prosperity.”

Other flowers of significance to Ukraine

Although the sunflower is the flower most closely associated with Ukraine, the country also has strong ties to other plants.

Nikolaenko says that the lilac, mallow, peony, magnolia, and chamomile are also important to Ukrainian culture. Here’s a little more about those connections.

Lilac

The M. M. Hryshko National Botanical Garden in Kyiv features more than 20 different cultivars of lilac and more than 1,000 individual lilac bushes. Lilacs also grow wild in Ukraine’s woodlands and hills, filling the countryside with lush, sweet scents in the spring.

Mallow

Mallows have a special place in Ukrainian culture, serving as a symbol of love for the motherland. According to Ukrainian folklore, the good souls of ancestors settle on the mallow flowers and protect the inhabitants of a house. The colorful flowers have found their way into Ukrainian poetry and song lyrics, including the lovely “Ballad of the Mallows” by the composer Volodymyr Ivasyuk.

Peony

When woven into a Ukrainian headdress, a stunning peony bloom represents longevity and good health. Peonies only bloom from April to June in Ukraine, making them even more special.

Magnolia

Graceful, flowering magnolia trees grace many of the public parks and botanical gardens in Ukraine, including the National Botanical Garden and A.V. Fomin Botanical Garden. Along with cherry trees, the magnolia has come to symbolize the beauty and rebirth of spring for Ukrainians.

Chamomile

The chamomile, with its bright daisy-like flowers, grows wild in many parts of Ukraine. This flower symbolizes goodness and health, and chamomile teas and other concoctions are widely used in Ukrainian folk medicine.

Nikoleanko says, “I always like to use them (flowers with significance to Ukraine) in my arrangements or event decorations, as each has its own unique character, look, color, and charm.”

7 Secrets of the Money Tree

When it comes to plants that are said to bring good fortune, indoor gardeners have a lot of options. There’s the shamrock, which has its moment every year on St. Patrick’s Day, as well as the hardy succulent jade plant and water-dwelling bamboo. But by most accounts, the luckiest plant you can add to your houseplant menagerie — and the best for growers of any skill level — might just be the money tree. Want to know more? Here’s an assortment of seven lucky facts every plant lover should know about this charming houseplant essential.

Family matters

A member of the Malvaceae plant family — and cousin to plants as diverse as cacao, cotton, hibiscus, and okra — the Pachira aquatica (as it is known in Latin) has a variety of nicknames, including the Malabar chestnut, Guiana chestnut, French peanut, Saba nut, and Monguba. Whatever you call it, you’d be hard pressed to find a better or more forgiving type of greenery with which to share your home, says Claire Akin, creator of the Houseplant Resource Center.

Money trees are an ideal houseplant for many reasons, Akin says: They’re pet friendly, low maintenance, don’t require a ton of light, and somewhat forgiving if you’re the type who doesn’t always remember to water your plants as often as you should.

A photo of a money tree in a pot — Double the tree, double the luck?

Best of all, they’re incredibly striking, with thick, bark-like, generally braided stems and lush and vibrant glossy green leaves that have a distinct tropical vibe, similar to a palm tree.

Luck be a tree

Although money doesn’t grow on trees, money trees are treasured for their supposed ability to channel good luck into a home. They are thought to be a harbinger of good luck, positive energy, and financial success, says Nikole Washington Nelson, floral merchandiser for Harry & David.

A staple in feng shui, the money tree’s unique structure is believed by followers of the ancient Chinese traditional practice to perfectly encapsulate the five distinct elements that make up the universe: water, wood, fire, earth, and metal.

Placing a money tree plant in an area where you deal with money, such as a business or home office, is thought to summon that good luck and good fortune. And, to make the plant’s supposed powers even stronger, money trees are also often adorned with additional luck-bringing symbols, such as coins and red ribbons.

Keeping your money tree healthy

“The secret to a happy money tree is to give it the conditions it wants — or at least as close to them as you can provide,” according to Justin Hancock, a horticulturist with Miami-based plant nursery Costa Farms, which specializes in growing more than 1,500 different varieties of houseplants. Those conditions break down to as much indirect sunlight as you can provide; natural or artificial light are both fine.

“Ideally, keep your plant within three feet or so of an east- or west-facing window,” Hancock advises. He also recommends giving your plant slow release fertilizer a couple times a year and plenty of water: Let the top couple inches of your money tree’s soil dry out in between waterings — roughly once a week — and then add water to the soil until it starts to drain out the bottom of your pot. When done, empty the drainage tray immediately so the plant’s roots aren’t left standing in excess liquid.

“It is thought that good fortune can be trapped within the braided folds of those trunks.”
Andrew Bunting, vice president of horticulture, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society

Watch out, too, for anything that creates hot or cold drafts, such as old windows or heating, or air-conditioning vents, he adds. “Blasts of air that are noticeably hotter or colder than the ambient air temperature can cause the leaves to go yellow or brown and drop.”

In the wild, the money tree can grow up to 60 feet tall. However, indoor plants usually top out at three to six feet.

“With good care, you can enjoy a money tree in your home for years, or even decades,” Hancock adds.

A globe-traveling history

Although money trees are originally native to the swampy wetlands of Guyana and Central and South America, the tropical aquatic is also widely grown in Japan and East Asia. And that’s where its popularity truly exploded.

“As the story is commonly told, it was a Taiwanese truck driver who first cultivated the plant and helped it become so popular,” says Andrew Bunting, vice president of horticulture with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society.

Although the legend of the money tree may sound like something that dates back centuries, its cultivation really only goes back to the 1980s, Bunting adds.

As its popularity increased, he says, growers began braiding several individual seedlings together when the plants were very young. Then, as the plants grew, their stems would fuse together and become one.

“It is thought that good fortune can be trapped within the braided folds of those trunks,” he says.

Did somebody say bonsai?

Although the term “bonsai” generally conjures up images of tiny, immaculately trimmed evergreens, money trees are also an unusually popular plant choice for the practice of bonsai.

“Bonsai plants can vary greatly,” Bunting says. “Most of us are used to seeing more temperate plants used in the practice of maintaining these tiny trees in a small and artful manner. However, many tropical plants like the money tree work exceptionally well and offer a unique spin on this traditional art practice.”

Put your money tree where you mouth is

Although it’s rarely considered “food,” the money tree’s relationship to vegetables, such as okra, and fruits, such as cacao (which is where we ultimately get chocolate from), means that the plant can actually be eaten.

“Though you almost never see them indoors, the money tree can develop really beautiful and interesting flowers,” Hancock says. The large yellow-ish white blooms open at night, are incredibly fragrant, and sport hundreds of feathery red-tipped stamens.

“Surprisingly,” he adds, “they’re generally pollinated by bats.”

The pollinated fruit grows in a pod and bursts open when ripe, exposing dozens of large, reddish-brown seeds. The nutty-tasting seeds can be eaten raw or cooked and are also commonly ground into flour. Young leaves from the plant can also be eaten, as can the flowers themselves — although we’d recommend you spend your time admiring and caring for your money tree rather than sautéing it!

The History, Importance, and Meaning of Red Roses

More than 400,000 different species of flowers exist in the world, but when it comes to a favorite, one in particular stands out: the red rose. With over 150 different species and 3,000 members of the rose family in existence — the majority of them some shade of red — this flower is as culturally significant as it is ubiquitous in our lives. Nearly everyone has some type of treasured memory involving a red rose, whether it’s buying them for a first love, receiving them on an anniversary, gifting them to a friend or family member, or treating yourself to one to mark a special day.

But as much as we know about and love red roses, we’re betting a few of these fun facts and unexpected tidbits about the flower might just surprise you.

Mythic power

In ancient Greek mythology, the red rose was said to have been created when the goddess of flowers, Chloris, went walking in the woods and stumbled across the body of a lifeless nymph. Saddened by its death, she transformed the creature’s body into the most beautiful flower imaginable. When another of the gods, Aphrodite, saw her work, she was instantly smitten. The goddess of love is said to have named the flower “rose” in honor of her son Eros, also known as Cupid. Flash forward to today, and we still celebrate Cupid’s holiday — Valentine’s Day — with lush bouquets of vibrant red roses!

In Roman mythology, the origin of the red rose is slightly different but no less dramatic. In this tale, it’s Venus (also the goddess of love) who is rushing to warn her lover Adonis of a murder plot that is being carried out against him. As she runs, she accidentally cuts her ankle on a thorn bush. But, in a beautiful twist, everywhere her blood dripped on the plant a lush rose was said to bloom — creating the red rose bushes we know and love today.

In loving color

Each rose color has its own unique meaning. For example, white roses symbolize purity, and yellow roses equate to friendship. But the color red is a much more complex beast — and every shade of red roses has a slightly different meaning. (One easy rule of thumb: The deeper the color of red, the greater the level of passion the color is said to invoke in the giver.)

Traditionally speaking, light red and pink roses symbolize femininity, grace, and elegance. Go a shade darker to dark pink, and that rose evokes feelings of gratitude and appreciation. Salmon-colored roses, which fall somewhere between red and orange, represent excitement and enthusiasm, and are an ideal symbol for a budding new relationship.

Bright ruby red roses are the true sign of love and usually symbolize passion, desire, and romance. Deeper red roses that fall more into the burgundy color family connote commitment and devotion, while roses with a merlot-like red tint represent beauty. And, finally, deep dark red roses — which can sometimes be so rich in color as to appear black — symbolize rebirth and new beginnings.

a photo of meaning of red roses with a red rose in a vase on a wooden table

Two more color basics to know:

Multi-colored roses, such as yellow roses with red tips, symbolize transition or movement — in this case, the yellow of friendship turning into the red of love.
The combination of two different colors in one bouquet merges the best of what each color represents into one perfect union. So, for example, a bouquet of red and white roses combines the ideas of purity and passion into a type of even more harmonious everlasting love.

Numbers matter

While quality obviously matters when giving someone a red rose, so, too, does quantity. The meaning of red roses changes significantly with the number of blooms included in a gift bouquet. Here’s a quick rundown on what those numbers mean, and the symbolism behind the number:

1 Rose

The purest symbol of new love, love at first sight, or a “one and only love,” giving someone a single red rose symbolizes the giving of your heart.

2 Roses

A pair of red roses equals bonded or mutual love and affection — being two of a kind or two halves of the same bunch.

3 Roses

A traditional one-month anniversary gift, three red roses represent the three syllables in the phrase “I love you.”

6 Roses

A sign of wanting to take things to the next level, six red roses convey a meaning of “I want to be yours.”

10 Roses

In many sports or ratings systems, 10 is a perfect number — and it is with roses, too. Ten red roses is considered the way to tell someone you feel they are perfect and number one in your heart.

12 Roses

From a dozen donuts to a dozen eggs to 12 months on the calendar, the number “12” has a long history of representing “completion” or “wholeness” — and so it is with love, too. A dozen red roses means your love is complete or whole, and that you couldn’t ask any more from the person whom you are gifting your roses.

What’s in a scent?

Besides a rose’s beautiful appearance, one of its most appealing traits is its incredible scent. And while most people assume that all roses might smell the same, nothing could be further from the truth.

In general, scientists have found that the more scent-producing glands a rose has, the more fragrant it smells. That’s because more glands equates to more “essential oils” in the bloom — in other words, more natural rose smell! When shopping for roses, remember that darker-colored roses (such as the red rose) tend to be more fragrant than lighter-colored ones.

a photo of meaning of red roses with a child smelling a red rose

Size matters, too. The more petals a red rose has, the stronger its scent tends to be. And the thicker the petal, the deeper the scent.

As for color, most experts say red and pink roses almost always have the most traditional “rose” smell. In contrast, orange roses tend to smell more like fruit or clove, while yellow and white roses smell most like violets, nasturtiums, or lemon.

A tasty add-in

Hungry for one more rose-flavored tidbit? While all varieties of roses are safe to eat, the ones with the sweetest fragrance tend to have the most flavor. Meaning, if you want to use a few rose petals to add flavor to sugar or butter — or to make your own rose water to then use in rose water ice cream — red roses are the way to go.

Blending Roses with Rosé

You say rose, I say rosé. One’s a flower and the other’s a type of wine, and their connection goes beyond their color — all the way back to ancient times and the first bottlings of delicious rosé wine.

Rosé got its start in Rome

In the sixth century A.D., the Phoenicians planted red and white grapes in modern-day Marseilles, France. They crushed them together, producing a pink wine with a pleasant color and refreshing flavor that people enjoyed throughout the Mediterranean. In fact, the Romans loved it so much that they traded it across their empire. Along with their armies, they brought grapevines to the areas they conquered, including Provence, France, where they cultivated and began to export their pink wines. From there, the term rosé, meaning “pink” in French, was born, and Provence became and has remained the epicenter of the best rosés in the world (though some folks in Southern Oregon might say otherwise…).

Modern-day winemaking

While the ancients made rosé by blending red and white grapes, modern rosé is created exclusively from red grapes using two standard methods. The first is the “skin contact” method, and it happens during the wine’s maceration — the process during which the juice of grapes is left in contact with the skins and seeds so that a wine’s color, as well as its tannins and flavors, are reflected in the juice. Whereas a red wine takes weeks to macerate, the “skin contact” method of rosé winemaking requires the grapes to macerate for just 12-24 hours, yielding a paler wine with lighter flavors and less tannin.

The second method, called saignée (French for “bleeding”), involves a winemaker pouring off some of the red wine juices early in the maceration process. This lighter juice then becomes rosé. This method is frowned upon in the wine world, however, as it is a by-product of the red winemaking process.

Enjoying roses in rosé

Floral notes are among the wide-ranging aromatics you’ll discover in a glass of rosé. Provence’s rosé wines boast distinctive flavors ranging from citrus, white flower, and bright lime zest to the deep-colored and dark berry flavors of rosé wines from its southerly Bandol area.

Rosé made from the red grapes grown in hot and sunny southern Italian regions like Sicily and Puglia offers up aromas of dried thyme, black cherry, and violets.

Europeans aren’t the only ones who produce delicious rosé wine — we Americans make it, too! Harry & David’s version of this varietal boasts bright fruit flavors, with notes of melon and strawberry.

And if it’s roses you’re looking for, try sipping the rosé wines made from the Nebbiolo grapes in the cool climate of the northern Piedmont region of Italy. They feature gorgeous flavors of cherries, aromas of roses, and the tang of rosehips (the tart part of the rose flower). Their light scents announce that spring is in the air — and in your glass.

12 Best Smelling Flowers in the World

The sheer visual beauty of a flower can be enough to attract our attention, but it is a flower’s unique and charming smell that truly seduces us, and for good reason. Of the five senses, smell has been scientifically proven to be the most powerful, and the one most directly connected to our memories: Familiar scents can instantly conjure remembrances, along with the exact emotions attached to them. Even scents that we’ve never encountered can quickly and silently affect our feelings, due to natural chemical reactions within the human body that don’t occur when our other senses are engaged.

Ultimately, this phenomenon is what drives the perfume industry — especially the all-natural fragrance movement. One of the leading figures in that field is Anya McCoy, the founder and head instructor of the Natural Perfumery Institute who has spent decades studying botany and crafting perfumes made solely from natural essential oils drawn from flowers.

For those seeking to experience Earth’s finest fragrant florals, we tapped McCoy to assist us in creating this guide to the world’s best smelling flowers.

Gardenia

The basis for such perfume classics as Chanel’s Gardénia and Marc Jacobs’ Eau de Parfum, the gardenia emits an intoxicating, velvety scent, characterized by warm, honey-orange tones that match the aesthetic of its creamy, porcelain-white petals. Regarding the version of the flower so often found in American gardens (Gardenia jasminoides), McCoy says, “Like many white flowers, they are recognized as being seductive, their deeper notes rather musky and sensual to people.” Native varieties of gardenias — carrying scents often compared to those of a Jasmine but less overwhelming — are also beloved across India and South Asia, where the flower is traditionally called “gandharaj,” which in English means “king of fragrances.”

Rose

Classic, iconic, and enchanting, roses have bloomed in the wild for nearly 35 million years, and have been used for everything from medicine to food to bath herbs. Their aroma is just as diverse, McCoy says. “The variety of different scents that are in various roses is astounding: rosy [of course], musky, citrusy, myrrh, fruit, and more.” These scent variations are spread across a spectrum of more than 150 rose species, and thousands of hybrids, each falling within three classes: species roses (best known for color), modern roses (famous for their shapes), and old garden roses (the most fragrant class). For a long-lasting method of enjoying roses, McCoy says, “I often put dried rose buds in sachets and place them in my bureau drawers or by my pillow at night.”

Lily

Treasured by French fashion legend Christian Dior and his master perfumer Edmond Roudnitska (1956’s enigmatic Diorissimo scent was based on the flower), the tiny, bell-shaped blooms of the lily emit an unmistakable, sweet, and virtuous smell. “Stargazer lilies are my favorite,” McCoy says. “Their heady scent can fill a room with a sweet, spring-like perfume.” With its opulent, slightly spicy, and inherently sensual aroma, the lily is a true dream — though its pollen, not so much. “I always make sure to clip the pollen-laden stamens off before putting the flowers in a vase or extracting their scent,” McCoy says. The reason for that is twofold: Lily pollen can stain everything orange, and it is toxic to cats.

Magnolia

Native to the Himalayan mountain ranges of Southeast Asia, and named after the French botanist Pierre Magnol, the magnolia possesses a distinctive deep-grape and sweet, banana-like fragrance that suggests a first sip of Champagne. A top choice of global aromatherapy experts, and, given its area of origin, Chinese natural wellness practitioners, magnolias and their scent introduce feelings of tranquility and quietude in a gradual, enveloping manner known to harmonize the body’s other senses. Despite their Asian origins, magnolias are grown worldwide. In America, they are almost always found in gardens across Southern states, such as Mississippi and Louisiana, where they serve as official state flowers.

Jasmine

Existing across the world in over 200 varieties, the jasmine boasts a rich, charming scent actively extracted by florists and perfumers, particularly in France, India, Egypt, and America. While the standard white-flowered jasmine offers a breezy and enticing floral sweetness, McCoy notes this is only one of many. “Everyone calls me the ‘Jasmine Queen’ because I grow seven varieties in my garden. Each has a different fragrance: sweet, musky, fruity, spicy, or vanilla like, each intoxicating in its own way. A scientist from India, when smelling my jasmine oils many years ago, shared a common saying from that country: ‘When you wear jasmine, everyone comes running to you.'”

Freesia

The freesia, a bell-shaped flower that blooms in lined succession along one single stem, is a fresh and radiant, strawberry-esque treat that delivers the type of zest and tingle associated with the first sip of a strong tea. Offering perhaps the widest hue range of all the world’s best smelling flowers, freesia bloom in shades of white, golden yellow, red, orange, pink, and mauve, as well as multicolored varieties. Replicating the true scent of natural freesia has become an ultimate obstacle for even the top perfumers, and, as a result, it rarely stands on its own, instead appearing as a partner-in-perfection to lily of the valley or magnolia in lotions, perfumes, and shampoos.

Honeysuckle

Many perfumers align the scent of honeysuckle — a plant most always smelled before being seen — with the general aroma of a summertime garden at dusk: a nectarous, vanilla-honey blend, with hints of jasmine and lemon. Though over 100 species of the flower exist — the most fragrant wild varieties of which include the English honeysuckle (Lonicera caprifolium) and Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) — even the most simple strains found across America have flavor to savor. A timeless summer pastime of both children and the young at heart involves selecting the perfect honeysuckle blossom, pinching it from the branch, and sucking the honeyed nectar from the base of the bloom.

Lavender

Offering a mild yet distinct, sweet and soothing floral aroma, lavender is one of the most valued scents in all essential oil practices. “I adore all types of lavender, from the sweet angustifolia species that I use in perfume to the camphorous spike that is a great decongestant,” McCoy says. “Each of those can be used in aromatherapy — one to calm and soothe, the other to relieve nasal congestion.” Of the 39 lavender species, the Lavandin lavender, a deep purple and herbal natural hybrid, is perhaps the most powerfully aromatic, and certainly the most productive: It can yield up to 10 times more essential oil than any other member of its genus.

Orange blossom

Despite the simplicity its name suggests, the orange blossom offers a nuanced scent that combines bright citrus notes with soapy airs, along with the grassy smell of stems and greenery, for an uplifting floral result that some align with the scent of infancy (at least the times between diaper changes). McCoy, an alum of University of California, Riverside, one of the premier citrus research centers in the world, notes the school “has over 1,200 varieties of citrus trees growing and I don’t know of any other tree that, when blooming, envelops the entire area, immediately transforming the atmosphere into an aromatherapy healing cloud. Who can stay tense or angry when smelling orange blossoms?”

Hyacinth

In the Northern Hemisphere, the potent spicy scent and bright, architectural form of the hyacinth is a sure sign spring has sprung. Carrying energizing aromas that align perfectly with the season they embody, different hyacinth types run the gamut of the color spectrum, with each offering slightly unique takes on a central strawberry-honeysuckle scent tone. For those seeking to preserve and utilize the smell of the hyacinth, McCoy suggests the following: “Pick off the individual flowers and place them in high-proof alcohol. Let it steep for a day, strain, and repeat as many times as necessary with fresh flowers to reach a fragrance strength you desire. That liquid can then be used as a room or linen spray.”

Lilac

Soft and pastel in both sight and smell, the creamy almond aroma of the early-sprouting, big-bloomed lilac is one of the cosmetic world’s favorite product elements. A common symbol across cultures of youth, purity, and innocence, lilacs come in natural shades of cool purples and tender pinks that perfectly reflect their light, flirty scent tones. Lilacs themselves aren’t flowers, as some traditionally visualize, but are blooms of deciduous shrubs that are actually part of the olive family. They are often planted alongside each other in long stretches and pruned to mark property borders in well-cultivated, delightfully smelling yards.

Heliotrope

The heliotrope’s tiny, white, or purple-red blooms offer a distinct vanilla-cherry scent that has earned it the nickname the “cherry pie plant.” The flower offers well more complexity than a pastry with fruit filling, however. Soft, powdery hints of marzipan with a licorice kick emerge after the first few inhalations, an intriguing scent combo that can hypnotize butterflies and humans alike. The flower’s title is a Greek name given for its remarkable ability to turn and face the sun as it crosses the sky (hence, the Greek term “helios,” meaning sun).

52 Inspiring Quotes About Roses

a photo of rose quotes with roses in a vase

Ah, roses. The world’s most recognizable and romantic flower has grown to represent much more than vibrant shades and intricate blossoms. Thanks to literature and its many references to the rose, the beautiful bloom and its accompanying thorns have come to represent hope, life, and, of course, love.

To celebrate this gorgeous flower and all that it symbolizes, we’ve compiled some of the most memorable rose quotes from iconic literary works and inspirational figures. Read on to add a rosy touch to your day.

Beauty in the brevity and rarity of roses

“A single rose can be my garden; a single friend, my world.” – Leo Buscaglia
“If every tiny flower wanted to be a rose, spring would lose its loveliness.” – Therese of Lisieux
“One rose says more than the dozen.” – Wendy Craig
“Loveliest of lovely things are they on earth that soonest pass away. The rose that lives its little hour is prized beyond the sculpted flower.” – William Cullen Bryant
“It is the time you have wasted for your rose that makes your rose so important.” – Antoine de Saint–Exupéry, The Little Prince
“Gather the rose of love whilst yet is time.” – Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene
“God gave us our memories so that we might have roses in December.” – J.M. Barrie
“Of all flowers, methinks a rose is best.” – William Shakespeare, The Two Noble Kinsmen
“I suppose all great happiness is a little sad. Beauty means the scent of roses and then the death of roses.“ – F. Scott Fitzgerald, This Side of Paradise

a photo of rose quotes with a woman smelling roses

Every rose has its thorns

“Where you tend a rose, my lad, a thistle cannot grow.” – Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden
“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.” – Alphonse Karr, Lettres Écrites De Mon Jardin
“He that dares not grasp the thorn should never crave the rose.” – Anne Brontë, The Narrow Way
“Truths and roses have thorns about them.” – Henry David Thoreau
“The sharp thorn often produces delicate roses.” – Ovid
“She who loves roses must be patient and not cry out when she is pierced by thorns.” – Sappho
“It seems strange that my life should end in such a terrible place, but for three years I had roses.” – Alan Moore, V for Vendetta
“Life is uncertain. Today you get a rose. Tomorrow you feel the thorns.” – Shillpi S Banerrji
“If you don’t feel the pointed things in life, you’ll soon take the soft ones for granted.” – John Everson, Cage of Bones & Other Deadly Obsessions
“A rose does not answer its enemies with words, but with beauty.” – Matshona Dhliwayo

Love and roses

A photo of rose quotes with a man giving a woman a bouquet of roses

“The sweetest flower that blows, I give you as we part. For you it is a Rose, for me it is my heart.” – Frederick Peterson, The Sweetest Flower That Blows
“Love is like the wild rose.” – Emily Brontë, The Complete Poems
“Love planted a rose, and the world turned sweet.” – Katharine Lee Bates
“That which God said to the rose, and caused it to laugh in full-blown beauty, he said to my hear, and made it a hundred times more beautiful.” – Rumi
“Can anyone remember love? It’s like trying to summon up the smell of roses in a cellar. You might see a rose, but never the perfume.” – Arthur Miller
“Friendship is the breathing rose, with sweets in every fold.” – Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.
“I took a rose from a vase and fastened it in her sash. She sighed a sign of ineffable satisfaction, as if her cup of happiness were now full.” – Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre
“In a rose, all love stories fit.” – Efrat Cybulkiewicz
“Won’t you come into the garden? I would like my roses to see you.” – Richard Brinsley Sheridan
“Something with inner beauty will live forever, like the scent of a rose.” – Alex Flinn
“Love and a red rose can’t be hid.” – Thomas Holcroft
“Love thou the rose, yet leave it on its stem.” – Edward Bulwer-Lytton, A Night in Italy
“The rose is a rose, and was always a rose. But now the theory goes that the apple’s a rose, and the pear is, and so’s the plum, I suppose. The dear only knows what will next prove a rose. You, of course, are a rose but were always a rose.” – Robert Frost, The Rose Family

rose quotes with two dozen red roses — Two Dozen Red Roses

rose quotes Passion for Purple Roses — Passion for Purple Roses

rose quotes Kaleidoscope Roses — Kaleidoscope Roses

Hope and roses

“This rose is an extra. Its smell and its color are an embellishment of life, not a condition of it. It is only goodness which gives extras, and so I say again that we have much to hope from the flowers.” – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes
“Do thou smile like the rose at loss and gain; for the rose, though its petals be torn asunder, still smiles on, and it is never cast down.” – Rumi, The Masnavi
“Just remember, during the winter, far beneath the bitter snow, that there’s a seed that with the sun’s love in the spring becomes a rose.” – Bette Midler, The Rose
“The quiet, singing voice of the rose. The song that promised all might be well, all might be well, that all manner of things might be well.” – Stephen King, The Wolves of the Calla
“A profusion of pink roses bending ragged in the rain speaks to me of all gentleness and its enduring.” – William Carlos Williams, The Collected Later Poems of William Carlos Williams

a photo of rose quotes with a woman pruning roses

Stop and smell the roses

“We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon instead of enjoying the roses blooming outside our windows today.” – Dale Carnegie
“It was June, and the world smelled of roses. The sunshine was like powdered gold over the grassy hillside.” – Maud Hart Lovelace, Betsy-Tacy and Tib
“Come out here where the roses have opened. Let soul and world meet.” – Rumi
“Wild roses are fairest, and nature a better gardener than art.” – Louisa May Alcott

A rose is a rose

“Rose is a rose is a rose is a rose.” – Gertrude Stein, Sacred Emily
“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” – William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet
“What a lovely thing a rose is!” – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Naval Treaty
“There is nothing more difficult for a truly creative painter than to paint a rose, because before he can do so he has first to forget all the roses that were ever painted.” – Henri Matisse
“I feel as if I had opened a book and found roses of yesterday sweet and fragrant, between its leaves.” – L.M. Montgomery, Anne of the Island
“The rose looks fair, but fairer we it deem / For that sweet odour which doth in it live.” – William Shakespeare, Sonnet 54
“I’d love to have the whole place swimming in roses.” – James Joyce, Ulysses
“I’d rather have roses on my table than diamonds on my neck.” – Emma Goldman
“If the rose puzzled its mind over the question how it grew, it would not have been the miracle that it is.” – J.B. Yeats
“There is simply the rose; it is perfect every moment of its existence.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Wild roses,” I said to them one morning. “Do you have the answers? And if you do, would you tell me?” The roses laughed softly. “Forgive us,” they said. “But as you can see, we are just now entirely busy being roses.” – Mary Oliver, Felicity

Bloom Voyage! 8 Best Places in the World to See Flowers

From tulips to chrysanthemums, our series “The Language of Flowers” explores everything from flower care tips to flower symbolism and meaning. Flower tourism allows travelers to learn the stories behind the blooms. Visit one of these eight places to see flowers that will take your breath away.

From vibrant tulip beds to delicate cherry blossoms, sunshiny poppies to fragrant lavender, flowers are a big draw for many travelers.

Flower tourism, the phrase that describes travel to see flowers around the world, falls into three different categories, according to Linda de Sosa, a Houston-based leisure travel consultant who frequently plans flower-oriented trips for her clients. They are:

Blooming seasons (think Japan’s cherry blossoms or tulips in the Netherlands)
Events (like the Chelsea Flower Show or Hampton Court Flower Show, both in England)
Specific gardens (such as Butchart Gardens in British Columbia or Monet’s Garden in Giverny, France)

Although seeing some of the world’s most beautiful flowers is reason enough to plan a trip, learning their stories is what makes flower tourism even more desirable, de Sosa explains. “I love learning the history behind why the flowers are planted there and who planted them,” she says. She mentions, for example, how Jennie Butchart transformed a former quarry near Victoria, British Columbia, into one of the world’s most beautiful gardens over 100 years ago.

You can look at a field of flowers and say, ‘That’s pretty.’ But it’s the history, the backstories, that can make the trip worthwhile.

Linda de Sosa

Travel consultant

De Sosa acknowledges that advance planning is the key to successful garden tourism. Not only is there some pent-up demand due to COVID-19 closures and travel restrictions, but Mother Nature can greatly influence bloom times.

“The weather always determines how long the blooms will last,” de Sosa says. “I recommend that people plan to visit in the middle of the recommended season so they have the best chance.”

And sometimes, it does come down to chance. In Washington, D.C., for a wedding, de Sosa herself missed this spring’s cherry blossom display due to a rainstorm. Just the day before, the flowers had been in all their glory.

De Sosa, who recently booked a horticultural cruise for clients that included a tour of Holland’s tulips, recommends that flower tourists work with an experienced professional to get the most out of their trip. “A travel advisor can help with scheduling private tours and unique experiences you could not have on your own,” she says.

“The history of tulips is so interesting; they were once worth more than gold. You can look at a field of flowers and say, ‘That’s pretty.’ But it’s the history, the backstories, that can make the trip worthwhile.”

If the idea of flower tourism has your travel itch in full bloom, here is a list of the eight best places in the world to see flowers.

1. Tulips in the Netherlands

a photo of see flowers with tulips in the netherlands

The Netherlands grows 90% of the world’s tulips, and the bulbs burst into dazzling color each spring. Two of your best bets are the 25-mile Bollenstreek Route (aka the Flower Route) in North Holland and the Keukenhof Gardens in Lisse, a 79-acre expanse that features 7 million tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths. The best time to visit is from late March to early May.

2. Cherry blossoms in Japan

a photo of see flowers with cherry blossoms in Japan

In Japanese culture, cherry blossoms represent renewal and hope. Their fragile beauty also symbolizes the brevity of life. Displaying a range of pinks, cherry blossom season begins in southwestern Japan in late March and spreads northward into early May. One of the best places to see the trees is Mount Yoshino in the Nara prefecture, near Osaka. Or, plan to tour Shinjuku Gyoen, a city park in Tokyo that features more than 1,000 cherry trees, with a range of blooming times.

3. Sunflowers in Andalucía, Spain

a photo of see flowers withy sunflowers in andalucia, spain

The spring wildflowers are gorgeous in southern Spain, but when the summer heat sets in, fields and fields of spectacular sunflowers emerge. You’ll want to take the breathtaking two-hour drive from Ronda to Seville to see the hundreds of acres of sunflower fields (and hear the bees buzzing). The best time to visit is from late June to early August.

4. Poppies in California

a photo of ee flowers with poppies in california

Bold oranges, reds, and yellows as far as the eye can see — that’s what you’ll get when you visit the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve near Lancaster, California. The park features more than eight miles of walking trails that will give you a chance to take in the vibrant canopy. Typically in bloom from mid-February to mid-May, poppies are affected by the annual amount of wind and rainfall. Other California locations to enjoy poppies are Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Walker Canyon, Chino Hills State Park, and Point Mugu State Park.

5. Lavender in Provence, France

a photo of see flowers with lavender in provence, france

The delicate scent and glowing purple will fill your senses if you are fortunate enough to visit Provence during lavender season. Since Provence is a vast region, the bloom times can range from early June to late August. You can’t really go wrong with any lavender sightings throughout the area, but some of the best spots are along Route de Manosque, the Plateau de Valensole, and Sénanque Abbey. Be sure to enjoy the beauty but also mind the bees!

6. Bluebells in Devon, England

a photo of see flowers with bluebells in devon, england

There’s something magical, or even otherworldly, about the carpet of bluebells that emerges each spring in Devon, England. Buckland Abbey, a National Trust garden and estate, offers trails through meadows, orchards, and woodlands, and makes for a perfect spring outing. The best time to see bluebells is from late April and through May.

7. Hydrangeas in the Azores

a photo of see flowers with hydrangeas in the azores

If you’re ready for a real flower adventure, consider visiting Faial, one of the nine islands that comprise the Azores, a Portugal territory. Each summer, Faial, nicknamed “the Blue Island,” explodes with hydrangeas in all shades of blue. Peak bloom times are late July and early August. The Semana do Mar (August 5–14 this year) is a celebration of sailing that coincides with the annual blooms.

8. Lupines in New Zealand

a photo of see flowers with lupines in new zealand

Although lupines are not native to New Zealand (they are native to parts of the western United States and Canada) and are a pest in some places, their purple, pink, and blue flowers provide a beautiful sight. And, since New Zealand flip-flops the seasons of the Northern Hemisphere, you can see these summer flowers from late November to mid-January. Some of the best places to enjoy lupines include Mt. Cook National Park, Lake Tekapo, and the Ahuriri River near Omarama.

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The Corsage and Boutonniere: A Floral History

From tulips to chrysanthemums, our series “The Language of Flowers” explores everything from fresh flower care tips to flower symbolism and meaning. Learn all about the rich history of corsages and boutonnieres, including where they come from, what they mean, and why we wear them.

A photo of corsage and boutonniere with wrist corsages

Throughout history, whenever people dressed for a formal event, flowers were always an important part of the outfit. Formalwear demanded floral accessories. And the two most popular items adorning outfits were corsages and boutonnieres.

Today, flowers on dresses, lapels, wrists, and hair are popular, especially at high school proms and weddings, according to Jackie Lacey, a member of the Professional Floral Commentators International and the 2019-2021 National President of the American Institute of Floral Designers. Floral accouterments are fashion statements, Lacey says, just as much as wearing jewelry or accessorizing with scarves, gloves, and bags.

The practice of wearing flowers as decoration goes back thousands of years.

History of corsages

Traditionally, a corsage was a small bouquet pinned to a dress. Ancient Greeks believed fragrant flowers warded off evil spirits, which explains why brides carried bouquets down the aisle or pinned flowers to themselves.

Derived from the French words “bouquet de corsage,” which translates to “bouquet of the bodice,” corsages originally were worn by French women to weddings and funerals, and were most often pinned to the top of their dresses.

In the Victorian era, women started putting flowers in their décolletage, the low-cut neckline of their dress. “One of the reasons corsages were moved to the shoulder was because the suitor, if he brought her one, would never touch a woman in that area of her body,” Lacey says. “So they were moved to the shoulder, where he could pin it appropriately.”

a photo of corsage and boutonniere with a man placing a wrist corsage on his prom date

The 21st century ushered in sleeveless and spaghetti-strap dresses, and that led to corsages making their way from women’s chests to their wrists.

We typically think of corsages and boutonnieres as popping up around prom season. But corsages used to show up at church and brunch on holidays such as Easter and Mother’s Day. “Corsages were worn for Easter as part of new clothes. They became a fashion accessory that you would wear,” Lacey says.

While corsages used to be a symbol of romantic love, they’ve become more of a fashion statement in recent years. Today, it’s not uncommon for parents to buy a corsage for their daughter, friends to buy them for one another, and even people to buy them as gifts for themselves.

History of boutonnieres

The boutonniere dates back to the ancient Egyptians and Aztecs, who wore flowers to indicate which team or player they supported in sporting events, Lacey says.

In the 15^th century, a woman who was interested in a knight might give him flowers or a scarf in the color of the dress she was wearing on his foray into battle, Lacey says. The gesture meant good luck and bestowed her good graces on the knight.

Lacey points to the Wars of the Roses, when the Lancaster family wore red and the York family white as part of their coat of armor, as a key point in the history of boutonnieres.

a photo of corsage and boutonniere with a woman pinning a boutonniere on her prom date's lapel

“Flowers were worn to show support to one side of a battle over the other because the speech and clothing would have likely been the same,” he says. The English wars for power were the gateway to men wearing flowers or boutonnieres.

The rise of men wearing boutonnieres, or lapel adornments, grew in the early 19^th century, when the period dress began to include coats that folded over at the top and included a buttonhole, Lacey says. “Many men would wear flowers every day as part of their daily clothing since most men in business wore a suit to work,” he adds.

As recently as 20 years ago, boutonnieres could be observed on the suits — typically on the left side, where the lapel buttonhole is — of men on Mother’s Day, Lacey found. “There used to be a huge market of flowers in white or red to indicate whether or not your mother was alive,” he says. White meant she was living, and red meant she was not.

The boutonniere became a key element of a promgoers’ attire, although they did go out of style for a few years, starting around 2012. “Young people, for a little while, felt the flowers were passé, an extra expense, and a luxury they could do without,” Lacey says. Sales of prom flowers are back today, with young people choosing to express themselves with their flower choices, and that is partly because of creativity in the industry. “Some of the increase was due to flower shops rethinking the way they market to this generation and how to recapture declining sales,” he says.

Today, boutonnieres also are often seen on the lapel of a groom and other members of his bridal party at his wedding, with the women carrying corresponding bouquets of flowers. The sophisticate may occasionally wear a boutonniere at a special event such as an auction or a fundraising party. A flower on the lapel is also a mark of significance on special occasions. “Wearing a boutonniere might show you are being honored or of importance to the event,” Lacey says.

The history and tradition of corsages and boutonnieres is surprisingly rich and eclectic. If you’re a promgoer this year, or if someone close to you is, you’re now equipped with all you need to know to choose the perfect flowers for the big night.