The Meaning Behind Popular Flower Types
As we mentioned in our previous post, The History of Giving Flowers, civilizations have placed meanings on flowers throughout history. Imagery from the Mayans and ancient Egyptians show some of the earliest examples of humans connecting flowers with certain emotions and characteristics. Today, that tradition continues with some flowers holding on to their interpretations from centuries past. We put together a list of a few common flower types, their modern connotations, and the famous stories that have had lasting impacts on our understanding of them today. We hope the next time you give, receive, or purchase flowers, these stories and connections add a meaningful layer to your experience.
Statue of Greek Renaissance era woman giving flower
Amaryllis: Pride, beauty, love, and determination. Much of the Amaryllis’ meaning comes from the Greek origins of its name. Not only does the name Amaryllis come from the Greek word amarysso, which means “to sparkle,” but the flower is also associated with Greek mythology. According to the story, the Amaryllis grew from the blood of a maiden who sacrificed herself to win a shepherd’s love.
Daisy: Innocence, goodness, and purity. The daisy has spiritual and mythological ties associated with the Norse goddess Freyja (goddess of love, fertility, and war), as well as the Virgin Mary. In Roman mythology, a nymph named Belides turned herself into a daisy to escape a god’s attention.
Daffodil: Unrequited love and respect. The Latin name for daffodil is Narcissus. Supposedly, the flower derives its name from Greek mythology’s Narcissus, the son of the river god Cephissus. According to the legend, Narcissus fell in love with his reflection in a body of water and eventually died because he could not look away.
Daylily: Motherhood. This specific association can be dated back to the Tang dynasty (618-907), where poets began to use the daylily as an emblem of motherhood.
Hyacinth: Sport and play. While each color hyacinth carries its meaning, overall, the flower type carries an association with playfulness. This flower bears the name of a boy called Hyakinthos. Greek mythology tells the story of a boy killed while learning to throw a discus with the god Apollo; a flower arose from his blood and subsequently named in his honor.
Lily: Fertility and love. The goddess of Ishtar from the Mesopotamian religion (goddess of love and war) was associated with lilies. The lily is also linked to the Virgin Mary, as seen in illustrations of the Archangel Gabriel handing her lilies.
Muscari: Commemoration and sympathies. Since it is a form of Hyacinth, the Muscari carries meaning from the same story about Hyakinthos.
Rose: Love and beauty. Similarly to the Hyacinth, roses are associated with different meanings based on their colors. The ancient Greeks credited the creation of the red rose to their goddess of love, Aphrodite and the ancient Romans linked its inception to an accident involving Venus and her son, Cupid.
Tulips: Perfect love and perfection. The meaning behind tulips can be traced back to Persian mythology and the legend of Farhad and Shirin. A young prince (Farhad) sacrificed himself after being told the maiden he loved (Shirin) had died. From the blood of his sacrifice, the tulip rose.
