Different types of flowers florists sell and what they mean

roses flowers

Everyone has an occasion when they need to purchase flowers online for someone, whether it is a birthday or flowers for your mother, friend, wife or girlfriend, grandmother, aunt, sister, brother, colleague, or an anniversary. Get well soon, or simply say thank you! Which Flowers should you purchase? Choosing the right flower for the right occasion can be difficult because flowers aren’t just about appearances; to different people, they mean different things, but in general, flowers do have individual meanings, and sending the wrong type to someone who understands their meanings can be disastrous…

To help you along here is a list of different flowers with photos and meanings so hopefully, you will be better equipped to make your decision.


Flower Selection


Flowers – Roses

Roses are a popular and important flower in floral arrangements. Although there are over 100 types, those traditionally used in arrangements typically open from a little pointed bud to a cupped form with many huge curving petals once in bloom, with small thorns on the stem.

roses flowers uk florists

Roses have been connected with love and beauty since ancient times, and the varied colours of roses offered have traditional, symbolic connotations. Red roses, for example, are said to symbolise pure passionate love, which explains their appeal around Valentine’s Day. White flowers represent pure love, and when coupled with red roses, they may also represent togetherness. Yellow roses are said to represent friendliness or joy when combined with red flowers. Lavender and blue roses indicate love at first sight, while pink flowers represent elegance and beauty.

Typical 12 Red Roses Arrangement you get from Online Florist Bunches

12 Red Roses

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Flowers – Lilies

Lilies are large, yet graceful flowers, usually featuring six elongated pointy petals spread around the pollen stems, which stick out in the center. Petals can be arranged to give the lily a funnel kind of shape, or completely open, so they almost seem to curve back around on themselves. There is a significant variety of different types of lilies although many are beautifully scented. Lilies are also available in a wide variety of colours and can have little coloured spots and markings on them.

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These magnificent flowers have been grown for hundreds of years and are rich in symbolism and varied meanings. Casablanca lilies are completely white and, as a result, are popular in weddings; they represent festivity. An all-white lily is often associated with purity, sweetness, and modesty. This colour of lily is frequently delivered to express condolences or at funerals to represent regained innocence. Tiger lilies are completely orange with black dots and represent desire and passion. Stargazer lilies are distinguished by their dark pink or crimson centres and white outlines on their petals, which might represent passion and fortune. Scarlet blooms represent desire and pure, positive aspirations.

Lily Arrangement featuring citrus range Lilies from Florist Bunches

Orange Lilies

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Flowers – Carnations

Carnations are one of the most popular flowers in the UK, due to their incredible versatility and vitality in arrangements, capable of surviving for up to 3 weeks once cut . Typically featuring several blooms per stem, the flowers themselves have a medium size and are distinguished by their delicate petals with a serrated edge, which gives them a quite frilly, ruffled look. Many varieties also boast quite a sweet scent. Carnations come in a wide variety of different colours, and can feature a single all over colour or be striped or flecked.

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Carnations, in general, represent attraction, distinctiveness, and affection. Red carnations, in particular, are connected with this feeling, with lighter tones representing adoration and darker shades representing strong passionate love. As a result, they are popular for events such as anniversaries and Valentine’s Day. Pink carnations are commonly connected with a mother’s unending love because, according to Christian belief, they initially blossomed where Mary’s tears fell at Jesus’ crucifixion. White carnations can be presented to symbolise innocence, purity of love and fidelity, or to send well-wishes, making them a flower of remembering. Solid-colored carnations imply a positive confirmation of a feeling or mood.

Carnation Arrangement from Bunches featuring purple, white and purple-edged Spray Carnations

Carnations Arrangements

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Flowers – Freesia

Compared to many other flower types, freesias are relatively new to the western world, having only been imported since around the 1950s. Despite this they are incredibly sought after. Freesias feature an unusual shape, with a little row of up to 10 small six petaled flowers, typically funnel shaped, growing out of the one side of the stem. As buds, they will hang down below the stem, but once opened, they will face directly upwards instead. Their beautiful and citrus-like scent makes them very versatile and popular in arrangements.

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Their unique and delicate appearance means they are often associated with representing acting gracefully, especially in difficult circumstances or when under pressure, and some sources suggest the flowers symbolise being spirited. More specifically, yellow freesias are said to represent friendship. Whilst white freesias represent innocence. In more recent times, the freesia has come to be associated as the flower signifying the 7th wedding anniversary.

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Flowers – Tulips

Particularly popular around spring time, when they naturally bloom, they feature in lots of arrangements at this time. In nearly all varieties, tulips have one medium to large sized flower per stem with its six petals giving it a cupped or starred shape. They are available in a huge variety of colours and in some varieties this colour can grow darker closer to its centre, particularly on the inside. Some varieties of tulips can also have a striped or variegated look, with two different colours. Traditionally, tulips are believed to have derived their name from the Persian word for turban, due to perceived similarities in shape.

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Tulips, have a long history with many different meanings attached. Traditionally, in Persia, a red tulip was believed to be a declaration of love, whilst the black centre of the tulip was believed to show that the lover’s heart had been burnt to coal owing to the intensity of their passion. A yellow tulip was associated with loving hopelessly and completely. Later symbolism attached to tulips is that a red tulip symbolises undying true love, purple tulips are associated with royalty, pink tulips with being caring. White tulips are believed to represent forgiveness, but are also associated with purity, making them popular in wedding arrangements, funeral arrangements and when giving flowers to those with a newborn baby. Tulips where the petals feature different colours in a pattern, are representative of “beautiful eyes”.

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Flowers – Lisianthus

Lisianthus, also known as eustoma, feature four broad and delicately frilled petals, giving them a soft funnel or bell shape. However, they are also available in a double-petalled form, when they appear much fuller and can often be confused with roses. The flowers are a medium-large size, usually around two inches wide, and are available in white, cream, pinks, lilacs, purples and can also be bicoloured. They keep particularly well once cut and can last for around 3 weeks, in suitable conditions.

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The name eustoma, comes from the greek words “eu”, meaning beautiful, and “stoma” meaning mouth, therefore giving these flowers can symbolise a belief that the recipient is particularly beautiful. Traditionally, lisianthus are associated with deep heartfelt love, which, coupled with their soft romantic look, is perhaps why they are often popular in arrangements for events such as weddings and romantic occasions such as Valentine’s Day. More recently, lisianthus are viewed to mean appreciation or adoration of someone with a (potentially) outgoing personality.

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Flowers – Alstroemeria

Alstroemeria, also known as the peruvian lily, are a striking yet delicate flower, typically with multiple blooms per stem, with it completely possible for each one stem to have up to 10 flowers. Their six petals form a gently fluted funnel shape and can look opulent, with many varieties having two petals slightly enlarged and often “patterned” with small brush strokes, or dabs in a different colour. Flowers are available in a broad spectrum of different colours, and will naturally be either single or bi-coloured. In general, they have very little scent and as such work well in arrangements with the stronger scented roses, lilies or freesia.

Order alstroemeria flowers uk florists

Unusually, the leaves on alstroemeria will be upside down, as they twist around during growth. As such, they are often symbolically associated with friendship, commitment and devotion as this is believed to show an unbreakable bond, despite the trials and changes of life. As a result, alstroemeria are also representative of an undying love for the recipient. In addition, they are believed to signify good luck with new ventures, in both personal and business scenarios and prosperity and suggest that the person giving them believes in the long-lasting success of the venture, or new chapter the recipient is undertaking.

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