Flowers That Symbolise Love, Friendship and Gratitude

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Sometimes a bouquet has to say what is hard to put into words: 'I love you', 'thank you', 'you're my best friend', 'I'm sorry'. In the language of flowers each feeling has its own symbols. Here are the flowers that mean love, friendship, gratitude, a mother's love, loyalty and apology, and how to make a bouquet that speaks without a card.

More on this topic: the language of flowers, rose colour meanings, how to confess love with flowers.

Flowers that mean love

The red rose has been the symbol of passionate love since antiquity, when it was sacred to Aphrodite and Venus. How many to give and what other colours mean: rose colour meanings.

Red tulip: a declaration of love; in Persia young men gave it as a sign of ardent feeling.

Peony: happy love and a good marriage; in China it is the 'queen of flowers' given to newlyweds.

Orchid: refined love and admiration. For ideas, see how to confess love with flowers. To say it in 40 languages, see I love you in different languages.For the card, see our love quotes.

Flowers for friendship

Yellow rose: friendship and joy today (in Victorian times it meant jealousy, long forgotten).

Alstroemeria, the 'friendship flower': its six petals stand for understanding, patience, respect, humour, care and commitment. See alstroemeria.

Sunflower and gerbera: warmth, support and good cheer; ideal for a friend who needs a lift.

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Flowers for gratitude

Pink rose: the most versatile 'thank you' for a doctor, teacher, colleague or mentor.

Hydrangea: heartfelt gratitude and 'thanks for understanding'; its full heads make a bouquet look generous with just 3–5 stems. See hydrangea.

Sweet pea: 'thank you for a lovely time'; calla: respect and admiration.

Flowers for a mother's love

Pink carnation: a mother's love; the US Mother's Day tradition began with carnations, and the white one became a flower of remembrance. See carnation colour meanings.

Chrysanthemum: Australia's Mother's Day flower, a symbol of long life and care; see chrysanthemum meaning.

Pink tulips and white lilies: tenderness and purity; a good pairing for a mother or grandmother.For warm words for the card, see quotes about mothers.

Loyalty and apology

Forget-me-not: loyalty and remembrance; violet: modest devotion; iris: trust and hope.

To apologise choose white roses or white tulips (sincerity) or a purple hyacinth, which in flower language means 'please forgive me'.

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Get-well flowers

A bouquet for someone who is unwell should cheer them up without being a burden. A few rules:

• No strong scent — lilies, tuberose and hyacinths can trigger headaches; gerberas, alstroemerias, tulips and chrysanthemums are better.
• Light, warm colours — yellow, orange and soft pink suggest energy and sunshine.
• A compact size — a small bouquet or boxed arrangement needs no large vase.
• Check hospital rules: some wards do not allow fresh flowers, so send the bouquet home for their return.

A potted plant is also a good choice for recovery at home, as it lasts and keeps reminding them you care.

How to build a bouquet with a message

• Pick one main symbol flower and 1–2 companions, e.g. red roses + gypsophila for love, yellow roses + alstroemeria for friendship.
• Colour matters more than species: warm shades for joy and passion, pastels for tenderness and gratitude, white for sincerity.
• Add a one-line card so you're understood even if the recipient doesn't know flower language.
• Every UFL bouquet comes with a sachet of flower food to keep it fresh longer.

A bouquet that says it for you

Choose flowers with a meaning: we will make the bouquet and deliver it in Kyiv with flower food for the vase.

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See flowers for a girlfriend and gifts.

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FAQ

Which flowers symbolise love?

Red roses, red tulips, peonies and orchids.

Which flowers suit a friend?

Yellow roses, alstroemeria, sunflowers and gerberas.

Which flowers say thank you?

Pink roses, hydrangeas, sweet peas and callas.

Which flowers say sorry?

White roses or tulips and the purple hyacinth.

Author: Maria Svitlovir

Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.

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