Hampton Court Palace Flower Show 2008

The Meaning of Flowers

The wise 'Tree of Knowledge' knew all the manings of flowers form around the world, from old wives' tales, or from tradition. We've got some of them listed below. We also invited visitors to add their own meaning to the tree, so you can see our favourites at the bottom of the page...

In Feng Shui, removing the thorns from a rose takes away negative energy from an arrangement. It also means you can hold a rose between the teeth - if the romantic mood takes you - more easily!

The bride and groom of Hawaiian weddings traditionally have flower garlands called leis placed around their necks, to symbolise love and respect. Ahhhhh! The leis are made from the islands' most beautiful and fragrant flowers, frangipani.

Orange is a colour that stimulates the sex drive … anyone for a bunch of orange flowers next Valentine's Day? It's also the national colour of Holland, does that mean that the Dutch are the sexiest race?

Barcelona celebrates 'The Day of the Rose' every 23rd April. Men buy their wives or girlfriends a red rose, and the women buy the men a book.

Flowers have been the inspiration of famous artists, writers and designers for centuries. As Robert Burns (1759-1796) wrote: "O my love's like a red, red rose".

In Yugoslavia, children creep in and tie their mother's feet to a chair, shouting 'Mother's Day, Mother's Day, what will you pay to get away?' Yes you guessed it…. if she gives them presents, she is freed!

It has been proven that prison cells painted pink alleviate aggressive situations with violent prisoners. Choose pink flowers for harmony and peace.

In Morocco, wild roses grow in abundance. Their petals are pressed for oil and perfume, used in cosmetics.

Eucalyptus is native to Australia and used in medicines and cosmetics. The trees grow quickly and dry out swamps, so are used as a part of malaria control in affected countries.

Giving men flowers improves their social interaction and happiness levels. Improve your love life – send him flowers!

Get the winter blues? Get some yellow blooms! Yellow helps counteract the effects of SAD.

Marigolds are a sacred flower in India, and are essential as part of the wedding flower decorations.

Adding flowers or plants to your workspace improves productivity, boosts creativity and assists with problem solving.

To the Victorians, tulips represented fame.

In the South Pacific, a red hibiscus behind a girl's right ear meant 'I have a lover'. Behind her left ear, 'I seek a lover'. Sometimes she wore a flower behind both ears…

The Stelitzia, or Bird-of –Paradise, comes form South Africa, where a particular species of bird with the same colouring pollinates it.

Anemones were believed by the Greeks to have sprung from the blood of the boy Adonis as he lay dying.

Lily-of-the-Valley symbolises a return to happiness – no wonder it is a favourite in celebrity weddings!

In the southern states of America, the gardenia stands for hospitality, and grows along the streets of the French quarter of New Orleans.

There are more than 250 species in the ranunculus family, including the delphinium and the buttercup.

Every part of the sunflower is useful – the seeds for eating, the stalks for fodder, the leaves for cloth, the oil for cooking and cosmetics.

Pointing a finger at a daffodil was said to prevent it from blooming.

Roses contain a chemical, PEA, which prolongs "happy hormones " in our body , which give us a high and the euphoria of being in love. 

Foxgloves symbolise occupation – so if you're looking for anew job, wish upon a foxglove!

Some of our favourite meanings from the visitors were...

"Flowers to me mean the true happiness of life."

"Any flower just opening makes a new beginning."

"In South India, white flowers, especially jasmine, are very auspicious at weddings. The fragrance is part of the bride's allure."

"Flowers make me happy!"

"A Saxon Princess and Norman Prince were about to be married. Unfortunately the bouquet which contained lilac was cursed by a witch who was jealous of its beauty. Ever since then it is supposed to be unlucky to bring lilac into the house."

"My dream wedding bouquet - hot pink, orange, deep magenta: bird of paradise, red peony, sweet william, gladioli, leucospermum."

To see the whole Talking Flowers trend click here

Hampton Court Palace Flower Show 2007