You may or may not already know that the sending of flowers used to be an art form. In the world of Victorian England, almost any flower you could grow or buy had a very specific meaning, and when people sent flowers, they carefully made their choices based on the message they wanted to send.
Now the idea of the meanings behind most flowers has fallen out of vogue, partially because it’s simply too complicated. Some of the meanings behind larger flowers, such as roses and carnations, have held true over time, and you can incorporate them into your flower arrangements to add even more meaning to a special gift.
The most common roses are red, yellow, and white, although you can often get plenty of other colors, including several shades of pink, purple, burgundy, and even orange. Red roses, you may already know, signify passion, while a deeper burgundy color symbolizes beauty. Yellow roses mean friendship, but they can also mean jealousy or remembrance. White roses predictably signify purity, but they can also mean love.
For the more unusual rose colors there are many interpretations, including desire for orange, appreciation for peach, and enchantment for lavender. You can also make up your own meanings for the rose colors, and, while you won’t have tradition behind you, you could start your own trend in a relationship or family.
One thing to note when you’re sending roses with this idea in mind is that many people won’t understand the meaning unless you tell them. In Victorian England, a bouquet of flowers was a message in its own right, but you will want to send a message along with your bouquet that tells why you have chosen each of the colors. Then, your message in flowers will be a reminder of your sentiments for days to come.