Flowers: Their Origins and Meanings

Each flower has a special meaning. Every flower represents a feeling or a special event. People use flowers to communicate feelings and messages to their loved ones. Not sure which flower to give to your loved one this Christmas, Thanksgiving, birthday or anniversary? Well, to make it easy, we have listed some of the famous flowers, their meanings, and origins, so that you can pick the right flower for any special event.

Aster

This one-of-a-kind daisy-like flower signifies love, wisdom, and faith. Its meaning and name originate from Greek mythology. It is said that the flower aster was created by the tears of the Greek goddess, Astraea. The goddess was upset by the few stars in the sky, and as she cried, her tears turned into star-shaped aster flowers.

The meaning of the aster flower changes based on color. A purple aster represents wisdom and loyalty; a white aster symbolizes purity and innocence; a red aster signifies undying devotion; a pink aster represents sensitivity and love.

Bird of Paradise

The bird of paradise flower signifies joy and paradise. It also means faithfulness, love, and thoughtfulness. This is why the bird of paradise is considered to be the best ninth wedding anniversary gift. This flower originated in South Africa and is also called the crane flower.

The bird of paradise flower is commonly found in bright orange and blue colors. However, their flowers can also be white.

Chrysanthemum

These flowers originated in China and were used by the Chinese as a herbal remedy. The roots of the flower relived headache pains, and the petals were eaten as salads. The flower spread through different countries and was so beautiful that the Japanese emperor made it his seal. In Japan, every year there is a National Chrysanthemum Day, which is also called the Festival of Happiness.
The flower blooms in fall and signifies joy and beauty, but the flower’s meaning has varied over time and place:

• Victorians used the flower to signify friendship and well-wishing.
• In China, the flower represented a long life and was a symbol of luck.
• In Australia, they are the flowers to gift on Mother’s Day because of their nickname ‘mums’.
• In Belgium and Austria, people used it as a memorial flower to honor their loved one.

The different colors of the flower also represent different meanings:

• Red—love and deep passion
• Yellow— love and sorrow
• White—loyalty and honesty
• Violet—a wish to get well

Daisy

Daisies represent innocence and purity. Their meaning stems from an old Celtic legend. Based on this legend, when an infant died, God sprinkled daises on the infant’s parents to cheer them up.

Daisies are a combination of two flowers. The inner—yellow part—of the daisy is called a disc floret, and the outer petals are called ray floret. Because of the synthesis of two flowers, daisies symbolize true love.

Now that you know what some flowers signify, contact My Flower Service at 513-617-9305 to arrange the perfect flower garden for your loved one.