Language of Flowers Archives

How to Pick the Perfect Flowers for a Prom Corsage or Boutonniere

The month of May brings that cherished end-of-the-school-year tradition — prom! From the “promposal” to the exchange of the corsage and boutonniere, each couple takes a personal journey, one that culminates in an evening that they will remember for the rest of their lives.

Proms have been around since around the turn of the 20th century, but the tradition of wearing flowers goes back thousands of years. Read on to learn more about the history of exchanging flowers during prom, as well as how to choose the best floral look for the night.

History of corsages and boutonnieres

Flowers have been worn since the time of the Greeks. “They thought the fragrance from the flowers would ward off evil spirits or disease,” says Jackie Lacey, a member of the Professional Floral Commentators International and the 2019-21 National President of the American Institute of Floral Designers. Ancient Greek floral arrangements included herbs and flowers.

The prom corsages we know today became popular over 100 years ago, when young men would present a bouquet to a woman’s family as a way of saying thanks for the date. The man would break off one of the blooms and pin it to his date’s dress. “Now it’s turned into the date’s corsage instead of buying flowers for the mom,” Lacey says. “But I still suggest it — it’s a great way to get on the good side of the parents,” he says with a laugh.

prom corsage with date pinning boutonniere on lapel

The tradition of exchanging flowers at the beginning of a date led to today’s gifts of corsages and boutonnieres at proms. While boutonnieres continue to adorn a guy’s left shoulder or lapel, corsages may be pinned to the belt or top of a dress. Especially popular are wrist corsages, as many dresses are made of delicate beading or strapless and, thus, have no place for a pin, Lacey notes. There are even keepsake corsages made of silk roses that allow you to keep the memory of the night.

Tips for picking the prom corsage and boutonniere

Typically, the person buying the corsage asks the wearer about outfit colors so the flowers match or are complementary to the dress or suit. It’s best to have a discussion with your date before the event about what you’re wearing, which colors you like — and which ones you don’t — and whether you’d prefer a wrist corsage or a corsage on your dress. Maybe you’re planning a head wreath and you’d rather not have a corsage at all. Prepping will add anticipation to the special night.

prom corsage with man tying a wrist corsage

One idea for the guys: Take a cue from past generations and buy a bouquet of roses that complement your date’s dress, and then pull one out for her to carry. A single red rose is a statement: It’s classic, elegant, and beautiful.

Lacey advises ordering your prom corsage or boutonniere early — one to two weeks in advance. That’s to allow time for the May rush of Kentucky Derby parties, Mother’s Day, showers, and both senior and junior proms. Ordering early will increase the chances of getting the type of flowers you prefer.

Lacey also recommends picking up your arrangements the day before prom since prom day can be hectic for both you and your florist. “Keep the flowers sealed in the container and store them in the refrigerator away from the freezer,” he says. “As long as they are kept cool and not frozen, your flowers should be fine for a day in the fridge.”

If your date wants flowers in her hair — even one or two of the corsage blooms — make sure you get those to her early in the day.

Finally, make sure to take pictures of the exchange, the couple, and friends. You’ll want to remember this night!

Adornment for the hair

Wearing flowers in the hair has become popular with promgoers over the past few years, according to Lacey. “They call it a halo, head wreath, or head ring, or attach flowers to a comb or barrette,” he says. Bands were really popular when fascinators became in fashion a few years ago. A florist might add ribbons, beads, and rhinestones as accessories to the flowers for the head wreath or crown.

Flowers that last

It’s important to use flowers that will look fresh without water for corsages, boutonnieres, and hair adornments. “Most of the flowers today are glued in with adhesive rather than tape and wire, which cuts down on the weight,” Lacey says. “This allows you to get creative with what you’re providing, but it limits what you can use without water and with greater expense.”

prom corsage with a promgoer wearing a wrist corsage

Here are Lacey’s picks for popular flowers to use for prom creations:

Traditional choices for prom corsages

Spray roses
Dendrobium orchids
Mini Cymbidium orchids
Alstroemeria (Peruvian lilies)
Standard and mini carnations
Chrysanthemum

Modern choices for prom corsages

Hypericum berries
Herbs (mint, lavender, sage)
Eucalyptus
Crespedia
Foliage (for a more natural, organic look)

A Winning Combination: The Connection Between Horse Racing and Flowers

From tulips to chrysanthemums, our series “The Language of Flowers” explores everything from fresh flower care tips to flower symbolism and meaning. The history of horse racing and flowers is centuries old. Learn more about the connection between the flowers and the sport of kings.

With its garlands of victory, colorfully landscaped racetracks, and bloom-bedecked patrons, the “sport of kings” might just as aptly be called the “sport of flowers.”

Horse racing dates to around 700 BC and the Olympic Games in ancient Greece, which included four-horse and two-horse chariot races as well as horse-and-rider contests. And, since the Greeks awarded laurel wreaths to winners, flowers played a role in the sport.

The connection blossomed at England’s Ascot Racecourse, founded by Queen Anne in 1711. The glamorous, star-studded venue is as famous for its floral decorations, huge displays, and flowered hats as it is for its steeplechase.

The first races in the new world were often rough-and-tumble affairs, with riders grappling to unseat one another as their horses galloped over rugged terrain. By the 1730s, though, the sport began to take on a more respectable nature with the establishment of the first jockey club in America, in Charleston, South Carolina. Soon, members of the wealthy class were bringing thoroughbreds over from England to run and breed them, and American horse racing as we know it was born.

The Run for the Roses

Louisville, Kentucky’s Churchill Downs opened for business in 1875 with three stakes races: the Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Oaks, and Clark Handicap, all of which are still held today. In 1884, track founder Meriwether Lewis Clark began presenting winning jockeys with rose bouquets; by 1904, red roses were the official flowers of the Kentucky Derby. Over the years, sportswriters dubbed the race “The Run for the Roses.”

The tradition of draping a lush blanket of red roses across the withers of the winning horse began in 1932, when Burgoo King received the honor. Today, designers sew the blanket the day before the event, using more than 400 roses as well as rich, green ivy for the border. The finished product, which takes 10 to 12 hours to create, measures 22-by-122 inches and weighs about 40 pounds.

Crowning glories

The garland of roses is far from the only flower tradition at Churchill Downs. Since 1991, winners of the Kentucky Oaks, the Derby’s sister race for fillies, are bestowed a blanket of stargazer lilies, leading to the nickname “Lilies for the Fillies.”

The track maintains a greenhouse, where horticulturists grow dozens of varieties of annuals — from gold Miss Huff Lantana to pink petunias and angelonia — for ornamental boxes and plantings across the track’s 164-acre grounds. Red geraniums decorate the winner’s circle, forming a horseshoe around the presentation stand.

a photo of horse racing flowers: woman wearing a fascinator at the kentucky derby

Starting in the 1960s, the up to 60,000 reserved seats for Derby weekend became a sea of hats and fascinators, many trimmed with elaborate floral displays and costing hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars. But with a little ingenuity, a basic wide-brimmed straw model, and your favorite flowers and some fabric (tulle works well), you can DIY. Mix the mint juleps, place your bets, and you have yourself a party.

Mum’s the word at Pimlico

Two weeks after the Derby, the racing world moves to Pimlico in Baltimore, Maryland, for the Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the Triple Crown. Black-Eyed Susans have reigned as the state’s official flower since 1918, but because they bloom from June to August, Viking mums — a variety of chrysanthemums that resemble the summer perennials — comprise the winners’ blankets for both the Preakness and Black-Eyed Susan Stakes, a race for the nation’s top fillies.

A variety of mums also bloom throughout the grounds, even spelling out “Pimlico” in red and yellow alongside the track’s middle section.

Love and luck at Belmont

Not to be outdone is the Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the Triple Crown held at Belmont Park in Long Island, New York. The winner of that race receives a blanket of 400 to 700 white carnations, shipped in from either California or Colombia. Like the rose blanket, it takes about 10 hours to create and weighs in at 40 pounds.

Carnations have no special identification with New York, where the state flower is the rose. But they do signify love and luck, something colts need over the mile-and-a-half Belmont, the longest of the Triple Crown races.

Each year, to coincide with the running of the Belmont, florists for the New York Racing Association create a second blanket of carnations to drape over a statue of the great Secretariat, the 1973 Triple Crown winner and owner of the track and world record for 1 1/2 miles on turf.

Win, place, or show

The connection between flowers and horse racing extends far beyond the three Triple Crown racetracks. Varieties lend their names to races like the Orchid Stakes, held annually for fillies and mares at Gulfstream Park in Florida, and the Apple Blossom Handicap in Hot Springs, Arkansas. And racehorses, particularly fillies, are sometimes named for flowers, with Dahlia, Bed O’ Roses, and Lady Aurelia being among the most prominent (to say nothing of Bowl of Flowers).

a photo of horse racing flowers: roses at flemington racecourse

When it comes to blooms, no track outdoes Saratoga Race Course, founded in 1863 in Saratoga Springs, New York. Winners of its most prestigious race, the Travers Stakes, receive blankets of carnations in the track’s colors: red, with white for the border. An expansive bed of red and white carnations surrounds the fountain at the track’s entrance.

Beginning in 2013, the Whitney Stakes, held at Saratoga each August, presents a blanket of pink roses to its winners. Flowering annuals — geraniums, impatiens, petunias, begonias — adorn the paddock area and hanging baskets in the horse barns. Opening day at Saratoga features flower-festooned headdresses that would give those at the Derby a run for their money.

Beyond just the four covered here, many other venues in the U.S., and around the world, prominently feature flowers. In fact, from the daffodils blooming at the jockey park at New Jersey’s Monmouth Park Racetrack to the array of colorful perennials adorning the entrance of California’s Del Mar Racetrack to the massive rose garden at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne — the largest public rose garden in the Southern Hemisphere — it’s a good bet that nearly any racetrack you visit has its own connection, large or small, to flowers.

A History of Tulips in Holland and the Dutch Trade

You’ll be hard-pressed to find someone from anywhere in the world who takes one look at a tulip and doesn’t instantly fall in love with it. But the country of Holland may just take the cake when it comes to crowning the country that’s most in love with tulips. Let us explain…

History of tulips in Holland

Tulips may not have originated in Holland, but that hasn’t stopped them from becoming one of Holland’s main exports and one of the things it’s most well-known for.

It was in the 16th century that tulips were imported to Holland from the Ottoman Empire (present-day Turkey). Just a few years after arriving in Holland, tulips became the most sought-after commodity in the entire Netherlands, after Carolus Clusius wrote what’s considered the first major book about the flower. At the time, tulip bulbs were worth more than gold and were sold for 10 times what a commoner made in a year. Needless to say, the time period was appropriately named “tulip mania.”

Though they certainly don’t outweigh gold anymore, the Netherlands is still one of the largest exporters of tulips in the world. Today, roughly 60% of the country’s land is used for agriculture or horticulture, with much of that land dedicated to growing bulbs. And it’s a good thing because in 2014 the Netherlands exported more than 2 billion tulips worldwide.

Holland, the “Flower Shop of the World”

With stats like these under their belt, it’s no wonder the Netherlands has been named the “Flower Shop of the World.”

Holland maintains 44% of the worldwide trade in floricultural products.
77% of all flower bulbs come out of the Netherlands, most of which are tulips.
Nearly 50% of their trade in 2015 was exclusively cut flowers and flower buds.
Of the roughly 1,800 new plant varieties that make their way into the European market every year, 65% of them come from the Netherlands.
Though they’re known for their bulbs, the Netherlands also trades seeds. In 2014, the Dutch exported $3.8 billion worth of flower seeds.

Keukenhof in Holland

While the Dutch certainly enjoy sharing Holland tulips with the rest of the world, they also make sure to keep enough for themselves. Each year, usually at the end of March, Keukenhof holds more than 800 different varieties of tulips and a total of 7 million bulbs. Needless to say, it has been called the most beautiful spring garden in the world. And if the thousands of rows of flowers weren’t good enough, there’s usually also a petting zoo, playground, and maze to keep children and families entertained for hours.

Can’t make your way to Holland? There are plenty of incredible tulip festivals across the world to experience as we grow closer to spring.

How to Grow, Care for, and Handle Your Tulips

Spring is in the air and that means an abundance of blossoms everywhere from the neighborhood park to your own backyard. One iconic springtime flower that’ll add color to your home is the tulip. Get ready to take advantage of peak tulip season with our top tulip care tips, from selecting the perfect bulb to caring for cut flowers.

Selecting the perfect bulb

When you’re buying tulip bulbs, be sure that they are healthy. They should be firm, not mushy, and they should be a good size. Some surface mold on the bulb is not a problem. Different cultivars will produce different-sized bulbs, so choose the largest of the kind you are buying. Bulbs are the plants’ winter storage units, supplying nutrition during dormancy. A larger bulb will mean a larger tulip plant in the spring.

How to choose the right spot in the garden

Tulips are winter-hardy bulbs that grow in USDA hardiness zones 3 to 8. They grow best in a spot with sun to light shade, and in fertile soil with plenty of organic matter like peat moss or compost. It’s important for the soil to drain well so the bulbs won’t rot. Tulips won’t produce many flowers in full shade, and they won’t thrive in soggy, poorly drained soil. If your garden is too wet year-round, you might think about using a raised bed or a container for your tulips.

Tips for planting tulip bulbs

In the garden

Plant your tulip bulbs in the fall outside in the garden any time after the first frost and before the ground freezes and gets hard. Dig a hole that is about three times the depth as the size of the bulb or clear a flat area the right depth for several bulbs. Tulips usually need to be planted 6” to 8” down in the soil because of their large size. Smaller tulip bulb can be planted at a shallower depth of 4” to 5”. Plant the bulb with the pointed tip up and the flat part down. Backfill the hole, pat it down, and water thoroughly. When planting more than one bulb, tulips should be spaced 4” to 5” apart from their centers. Fertilize at planting and again when the shoots emerge in the spring. If squirrels or chipmunks threaten to dig up your bulbs, cover the soil with a wire mesh in the fall to keep them safe.

In a container

Tulips blooming in a container are a beautiful way to brighten up a porch or patio. Choose an appropriately sized pot for the number of tulips you want to grow and make sure it has a bottom hole for drainage so that the mix won’t be soggy. Use a good potting mix, not garden soil, so that it drains well. When you’re ready to plant the bulbs in the fall, it’s easier to moisten the mix first so that you can make individual planting holes. Set the bulbs in at about the same depth as they would be in the garden — 6” to 8” for big bulbs and 4” to 5” for small tulip bulbs, allowing at least 2”-3” at the bottom of the pot for root growth. Bulbs can be planted 1” to 2” apart at their centers.

Tulips need eight to 12 weeks of cold (35⁰ F to 45⁰ F) before they will bloom in the spring. If you live in a cold climate that will freeze the potting mix if left outside (USDA hardiness zones 3 to 6), bring the pot into a cool, protected area such as a garage, basement, or shed until spring. In zones 7 or 8, you will be able to leave the containers outside during the winter without harm.

For containers in all USDA zones, the potting mix should be kept moist but not wet. Do not water unless it begins to dry out. When the green shoots push up in the spring, bring the container out in the sunshine so they will grow and bloom. It will be about four to five weeks from the time the first shoots appear to when the tulips flower.

Tulip care after they’ve bloomed

With the right growing conditions, tulips will rebloom up to three years from the time of first planting. Cut the flowers off when they wilt but allow the leaves to keep growing to make more food for the bulbs. Then cut the leaves off once they start to yellow. Not all tulips will bloom again, so you’ll have another chance to plant different beautiful varieties.

When to buy tulips

Not ready to grow your own tulips? Good news: They’re readily available from 1-800-Flowers.com. Buy full bloom tulips ONLY if you’re planning to use them immediately; otherwise, buy or cut your own tulips when they are showing just a little bit of color. This will give your flowers more longevity.

How to arrange tulips

Tulips are sturdy flowers that can last up to 10 days if you know how to care for them correctly. Being one of the few flowers that continue to grow and mature after being cut, tulips can grow as much as a half-inch a day and are often best bought in bud form for ultimate longevity.

Tulip Tip: Arranging Tulips in a Tall Vase

Trim your tulips. When arranging, start by removing the lower foliage that may sit in the water. Removing these leaves will discourage bacteria grown which, in turn, may make the flowers wilt sooner. Then, cut off at least a half inch from the bottom of the stem.
Choose a suitable container: Choose a tall container if you want your tulips to stay straight and long. Choose a shorter and wider container if you want to give your tulips more room to move gracefully. Fill the vase a third of the way with water, and add some floral preservative (a.k.a. flower food). If floral food is not available, a half capful of bleach may help prevent bacterial growth. Don’t keep tulips and daffodils in the same vase because the sap from daffodils tend to clog the stems of other flowers which deteriorates vase life.
Soak up the sun. Tulips are phototropic, bending toward the light, so rotate container daily to help keep the stems upright. Re-cutting tulips every two days may help them last longer. Keep the vase away from the sun or other heat sources.
Snip selectively. If you cut tulips from a plant or a garden, cut them in bud form, but leave the foliage on the plant until it gets to be yellow and dry. The drying of foliage is what nourishes the bulb for the following year.

How to Arrange Tulips in a Vase Using a Grid

Clean vase = healthy flowers

Did you know that bacteria can collect and remain in a vase for years? Use a clean vase that has been washed with bleach to kill the bacteria and keep your flowers healthy and happy. As with all flowers, keep your tulips away from bright, sunny windows or other sources of extreme heat. Bending heads or “floppy” tulips can be corrected by wrapping the stems in plastic wrap or tissue paper, keeping all the flowers at the same height. After wrapping, trim the stems once more and place them back in fresh water. After a few hours, remove the wrapping and your flowers should be straight. This trick will only work if the flowers are fairly fresh.

Final tulip care tip: How to straighten bent stems

Watch floral expert Julie Mulligan’s tips for removing the bend from your tulips stems.

Tulip Care Tip: How to Straighten Bent Tulips

10 Fun Facts About Tulips

From tulips to chrysanthemums, our series “The Language of Flowers” explores everything from flower care tips to flower symbolism and meaning. Keep reading for some fascinating tulip facts!

The name “tulip” is derived from the Persian word delband, meaning “turban.” There are two possible stories as to the origin. The first asserts that the word comes from the actual shape of the tulip flower, which is reminiscent of a turban. The second story speculates that it was popular to wear this flower in one’s turban, which led to a translation error by historians.

Here are 10 more fascinating tulip facts.

1. Tulips are native to Central Asia

Tulips are wildflowers native to central Asia in the Tien Shan Mountains near the Russian-Chinese border. They spread west and were cultivated in the Ottoman Empire (modern-day Turkey) by 1000 A.D., when the sultans introduced huge beds of tulips to parks and palace gardens.

2. The tulip industry got its start in Holland

In the 1500s, Carolus Clusius, a botanist at the University of Leiden in the Netherlands, received some tulip bulbs from the ambassador to the sultan. Clusius grew the plants in his private collection, but he would not share his bulbs or sell them. As a result, the gardens were repeatedly raided and the bulbs sold. Holland’s tulip industry was born.

3. Tulip Mania is one of the most famous market crashes of all time

As the popularity of tulips in Holland grew, the bulbs’ value increased. They were considered a rarity and commanded an enormous price that only the wealthy could afford. There was a rush on tulip bulbs from 1634 to 1637 as speculators bought them hoping to sell at a high price. Many did during Tulip Mania, or the tulip craze, but in 1637 too many speculators sold at once and the tulip market crashed, ending this brief but memorable period.

4. Holland is still the largest producer of tulips

Tulip Mania ended in 1637, but the fascination with tulips was deeply rooted and grew into a huge commercial enterprise. Today, Holland is the largest producer of tulips worldwide, exporting about 3 billion bulbs per year.

5. Each color tulip carries its own significance

Generally, tulips symbolize love, but there is a different meaning based on the color of tulip in question. For love and romance, red tulips are the way to go. If you want to convey an apology, white tulips are the flowers that you seek. Purple tulips are associated with royalty, while yellow tulips are great for cheer and happiness.

6. Striped tulips were originally created from a virus

Tulips come in many solid colors, but there are striped ones, too. These unusual tulips were greatly prized and sold for a high price since the 1600s, but in 1931, scientists discovered that the coloring was caused by a virus spread by aphids (sap-sucking insects). Today, this coloring is reproduced artificially. The virus is still used to alter the DNA, but it’s done without aphids.

7. Tulips inspired many forms of art

Islamic art has featured tulips since the time of the sultans. Elsewhere, German painter Jacob Marrel created a book of paintings to market the different tulip varieties. His work inspired designs on textiles and furniture. The flowers were also seen in still-life paintings of the Dutch Old Masters during the 1600s. In the mid-1800s, tulips were a favorite subject in the Arts and Crafts movement, and Tiffany tulip lamps were produced in the late 1800s.

8. The word ‘tulip’ comes from a Persian word meaning ‘turban’

The word “tulip” comes from the graceful shape of the flower and the bulb that inspired the word “tülbend,” a Turkish pronunciation of the Persian word “dulband,” which means turban.

9. Keukenhof is the largest tulip garden in the world

Keukenhof in Holland is one of the largest gardens in the world. It’s home to the largest tulip garden, where over 7 million tulips bloom in April and May.

10. There are thousands of varieties of tulips

Over 3,500 named varieties of tulips exist today, and they are organized into 15 groups.

Single early: Short tulips with large, round flowers

Double early: Double-flowered and larger than the single early group

Triumph: Sturdy, mid-season tulips of varying shapes

Darwin hybrid: Large-flowered tulips on tall stems

Single late group: Small, rounded flowers on stiff stems

Lily-flowered: Mid-season, tall-stemmed, graceful flowers that flare outward

Fringed: petals with fringed edges that are mid- to late-flowering

Viridiflora: Late-blooming, green flowers

Rembrandt: “Broken” tulips that are striped due to the tulips breaking virus

Parrot: Late-flowering tulips with interesting, distorted petals

Double late: Tall, with rounded, late-blooming flowers

Kaufmanninana: Early flowering tulips that open flat

Fosteriana: Early flowering tulips with large flowers

Greigii: Early flowering tulips with large striped flowers on short stems

Miscellaneous: Varieties that don’t fit into the other groups

The History and Symbolism of the Timeless Rose

From tulips to chrysanthemums, our series “The Language of Flowers” explores everything from fresh flower care tips to flower symbolism and meaning. This article explores the symbolism of the timeless rose.

Of all the beautiful blooms in the world, the beloved rose has a more intimate relationship with the human race than any other. Archaeological finds confirm roses are among the earliest flowers to bloom on Earth, having first appeared in Asia before spreading wild across the entire Northern Hemisphere.

“According to fossil evidence, roses are 35 million years old,” says Sharon McGukin, former president of the American Institute of Floral Designers and a floral décor specialist. “About 5,000 years ago, roses began to be cultivated in gardens, probably in China.”

Red roses symbolize love and commitment.

By 500 B.C., hundreds of books about the flower were being kept in the emperor’s library, according to Chinese philosopher Confucius. Imperial love for the flower grew steadily and eventually reached near-dangerous levels. Due to the rose breeding habits of Han dynasty emperors, the blooms overtook so much of the nation’s arable land (as well as its water supply) that the country began to experience food shortages.

“Roses were also grown extensively in the Middle East during Roman times,” Sharon says. Egyptian queen Cleopatra was a known fancier of roses, using them in her attempt to romance (successfully, we might add) Roman general Mark Antony. Before visits from Antony, all fountains around Cleopatra’s palace were to be fully refreshed with rose water, and the queen’s personal chambers were to be filled ankle deep with rose petals.

Over a millennium later, a young playwright by the name of William Shakespeare penned the line “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Taken from his classic play “Romeo and Juliet,” the line is spoken by Juliet to remind Romeo that despite the two of them being members of opposing houses of rule, their love remains genuine and true. In 1485, Henry VII declared roses to be England’s national flower, and almost exactly 500 years later, President Ronald Reagan followed suit, naming the rose the national floral emblem of the U.S. during a press conference in — where else? — the White House Rose Garden.

The science behind rose symbolism

It’s no surprise, then, that the rose, with its widespread global history, exists in over 150 species, including climbers, groundcovers, shrubby plants, and thousands of hybrids that come in a wide variety of shades and shapes. “The rose family is an important plant family of around 3,000 members,” Sharon says. “You can see the resemblance when admiring the similar round, rose-shaped blooms of many fruit trees or berry vines.”

According to fossil evidence, roses are 35 million years old.

Sharon McGukin

Floral décor specialist

With so many roses to choose from, gifting of the flower has developed a “language” all its own, wherein specific messages are said to be communicated by the sender according to the color and number of blooms in the arrangement. Red roses express romantic love, yellow the care of friendship. White roses symbolize innocence and purity, orange blooms convey passion and enthusiasm, and pink means admiration, thanks, and joy.

Blue roses, pictured here, symbolize mystery and achieving the impossible.

One especially unique rose is the blue rose, which, Sharon says, “does not exist in nature due to genetic limitations. Requests for blue roses, however, prompted the development of a dyed and cultivated variety with a blue-to-violet pigmentation.” Appropriately, blue roses are said to embody mystery and achieve the impossible.

As for messages represented by the number of roses sent, one-bloom gifting is said to symbolize love at first sight, two mean a deep and personal love, and three roses mean “I love you.” Seven roses express infatuation or love in its earliest stages, nine roses declare eternal love, and a dozen roses — the lover’s special — are thought to mean everything at once.

Priceless roses around the world

Roses in the U.S. are generally a reasonably priced flowers suitable for crafting a heartfelt message for a loved one, but some are not meant to be purchased. One example of that is the Juliet rose, a pale, peach-colored garden rose first displayed at the 2006 Chelsea Flower Show and grown after a painstaking 15-year cultivation period. Destined to forever remain in its planter, this bloom holds an estimated worth of $15.8 million.

Our planet’s most priceless rose, however, may be the “Thousand-year Rose,” which Australian newspaper The Maitland Mercury reports to be the single oldest-living rose bush known to man. A Rosa canina variety, also known as a wild dog rose, the plant snakes nearly all the way up the 70-foot high and 30-foot wide outer wall of a cathedral in Hildesheim, Germany.

Throughout history, humans have appreciated the rose for much more than just sights and smells. In fact, the oldest variety of rose, the Rosa gallica officinalis, or “Apothecary’s Rose,” is, as its name suggests, used by herbalists in crafting elixirs. “Roses continue to be used today for oils, perfumes, and medicinal purposes,” Sharon says. “Rose water is often used in jellies or Asian foods (and to make ice cream!), and rose hips are also a great source of vitamin C and can be used in herbal teas.”

In some religious circles, roses are believed to represent spiritual wellness, the result of God’s work in people’s lives. Regardless of personal beliefs, Sharon reminds us that we should all follow the age-old suggestion this National Rose Month and “stop and smell the roses” — which is to say, slow down and enjoy the beauty of life.

A Valentine's Day ad for the Celebration's Passport membership program

How to Say ‘Flower’ in 50 Different Languages

how to say flower in different languages with Single Long-Stem Infinite Rose

Shakespeare was right: A flower called by any other name would still smell just as sweet…and it would look just as beautiful too! But that doesn’t mean we can’t have some fun learning all the different names that blooms are given around the world.

Here’s how to say “flower” in 50 different languages.

Afrikaans: “Blom”
Albanian: “Lule”
Azerbaijani: “Gül”
Bosnian: “Cvijet”
Catalan: “Flor”
Croatian: “Cvijet”
Czech: “Kvet”
Danish: “Blomst”
Dutch: “Bloem”
Esperanto: “Floro”
Estonian: “Lill”
Filipino: “Bulaklak”
Finnish: “Kukka”
French: “Fleur”
German: “Blume”
Greek: “Anthos” or “λουλούδι”

Guarani: “ફૂલ”
Haitian Creole: “Flè”
Hungarian: “Virág”
Icelandic: “Blóm”
Indonesian: “Bunga”
Irish: “Bláth” or “Planda”
Italian: “Fiore”
Kurdish: “Kûlîlk”
Latin: “Flos”
Latvian: “Zieds”
Lithuanian: “Gėlė”
Malay: “Bunga”
Maltese: “Fjura”
Norwegian: “Blomst” or “Blome”
Polish: “Kwiat”

Portuguese: “Flor”
Romanian: “Floare”
Scottish Gaelic: “Flùr”
Serbian: “цвет”
Slovak: “Kvetina”
Slovenian: “Cvet”
Somali: “Ubax”
Spanish: “Flor”
Sundanese: “Kembang”
Swahili: “Maua”
Swedish: “Blomma”
Thai: “ดอกไม้”
Turkish: “çiçek”
Ukrainian: “квітка”
Vietnamese: “Hoa”
Welsh: “Blodyn”

Now that you know how to say flower in different languages, tell us what other flower-related words you know how to say in your favorite language!

The Life Cycle of a Sunflower

From tulips to chrysanthemums, our series “The Language of Flowers” explores everything from fresh flower care tips to flower symbolism and meaning. In this article, we look at the life cycle of the sunflower.

Towering over the fields and adding a burst of happiness to the gardens, sunflowers are one of the most recognizable and beloved flowers in nature. In fact, painter Vincent Van Gogh painted an entire series of still life paintings around the flower titled “Sunflowers.” But just how does a tiny seedling turn into the awe-inspiring flowers of sunshine we know and love? Read on for the full sunflower life cycle – from seedling to petal.

A graphic detailing the life cycle of sunflowers, from seedling to full blossom.

Learn about the sunflower life cycle

Phase 1: Seedling

As with most flowers, the first phase of the sunflower’s life cycle is as a seedling. After about 3 days after the seed is planted into soil, it germinates and the case begins to split as the roots shoot out and push down further into the soil.

Phase 2: Shoot

After roughly about a week, a shoot will sprout out of the soil, reaching slowly for the sun. Shortly after the shoot appears, the leaves will begin slowly opening; the steam and leaves will continue to grow larger and wider as time continues.

Phase 3: Bud

Here are pictured sunflowers, one of the most recognizable and beloved flowers in nature. This image shows a sunflower toward the end of its life cycle.

As the seedling continues to grow, eventually, a bud will be noticeable. The bud will begin to slowly unfold as the flower head slowly opens.

Phase 4: Bloom

Finally, as the flower head opens fully, the hypnotizing beauty of the sunflower can be appreciated at its prime.

Phase 5: Wilt

After a long season of beauty and life, the flowers petals will start to wilt. Eventually the whole flower will shrivel, where the seeds will then be released and scatter into the depths of nature.

Phase 6: Regrowth

Once the sunflower seed settles in an ideal spot, the sunflower life cycle will start all over again.

Looking for more sunflower fun? First, read up on all about sunflowers, then keep the fun going by learning how to plant your own sunflower from sunflower seeds!

An ad for a fall flower-arranging workshop at Alice's Table

What’s the Meaning of Flower Colors?

From tulips to chrysanthemums, our series “The Language of Flowers” explores everything from fresh flower care tips to flower symbolism and meaning. This article examines the meaning behind flowers’ colors.

When you see a flower, what is the first thing you notice? Is it its size? Its shape? Its scent? Or, perhaps, it is its color.

A flower’s color is one of many factors that makes nature so beautiful, which brings us to our question of the day: Do you know what each color means? If not, we do!

Let’s take a look at flower color meaning.

Red flowers

flower color meaning with red rose bouquet

Although red flowers are most commonly associated with feelings of true love and passion, they can also be used to convey respect, desire, and courage. Our favorite flower species available in red are roses (these are, of course, a classic, but keep in mind that roses come in other colors, too!). Tulips, geraniums, and poppies also commonly come in red.

Yellow flowers

flower color meaning with yellow flower arrangement

The color yellow is primarily associated with spreading happiness and joy; however, it is also the ideal color for symbolizing friendship. With their bright hue and cheery personality, yellow flowers can be used to better someone’s day and increase the positive energy in a room. Some popular yellow flowers are sunflowers, daisies, tulips, roses, and lilies.

Pink flowers

Similar to red flowers, pink flowers have also grown to be a symbol of love, though they can also mean happiness, gentleness, and femininity (this last one may be why you see so many pink flowers in Mother’s Day bouquets). The color pink can be found in flowers such as roses, lilies, carnations, peonies, and azaleas.

Orange flowers

flower color meaning with orange chrysanthemums

Orange flowers are bright and bold, and, thus, they are known to symbolize feelings of excitement and enthusiasm. Some of the top flowers that are available in orange include lilies, tulips, marigolds, and zinnias.

White flowers

Traditionally used in bridal bouquets or during memorial services, white flowers range in meaning from purity and innocence to sympathy. To relay these messages, we recommend using orchids, daisies, carnations, or roses.

Blue flowers

The soothing blue hues that many flowers possess are said to symbolize tranquility and peace. Ultimately, this color is known to spread feelings of relaxation in order to help people release any negative feelings or feelings of stress! Some blue flowers that you may recognize are morning glories, hydrangeas, and cornflowers.

Purple flowers

Purple flowers are said to symbolize success and even royalty, although feelings of admiration and tradition may also come through in purple flowers. A few of our favorite purple flower types include clematis, iris, allium, and bellflower.

Lavender flowers

flower color meaning with lavender crocus flower

Although purple and lavender may look similar to the eye, their meanings differ: Lavender flowers typically symbolize grace, elegance, and youth. You can find this color in daisies, orchids, lilacs, and petunias.

Green flowers

The color green in nature, and green flowers, are associated with rebirth and renewal. Additionally, the color green can also symbolize good health, good fortune, and youthfulness. There are countless green plants you can use to surround yourself with these positive feelings. Examples of green flowers are bells of Ireland, button flowers, green cymbidium orchid, and anthurium.

Now, although some flowers come in very specific colors, you can always paint or dye your flowers to reflect the color you want, and some flower colors can even be changed. Take hydrangeas, for example. By changing the pH level of your soil, you can turn pink flowers to blue and vice versa!