While certain flowers are so popular that their meaning is familiar to almost anybody, others can surprise even the most passionate gardeners with their meaning and symbolism. Since flowers have such diverse meanings, it can be really entertaining for a child to hear more about the language of flowers and learn about his or her favorite flowers. If you want your children to become more interested in gardening, you should take some time and teach them about flowers and their meanings. We guarantee it’s going to be an interesting experience for both of you! Here are 9 examples of flowers and their meanings that you can start with.
Flowers and Their Meanings: 9 Great Examples for Children
1. Carnation
The carnation is one of the most popular flowers on the market, that’s for sure. This is understandable if we consider its beauty. But what about its meaning? Well, its meaning is also beauty, among other things. Carnations, in general, symbolize beauty and pride. Then, since there’s more than one type of carnations, each of them takes on a new meaning depending on its color.
For instance, a pink carnation means love, but not just any kind of love. The love of either a mother or a woman in general. Red carnations are also a symbol of love, as is the case with the red rose. Moreover, they’re a symbol of admiration and pride. If your child is a fan of white carnations, he or she will be happy to know that their meaning relates to pure love as well as innocence. Yellow carnations symbolize disappointment, rejection, and disdain, while purple ones mean capriciousness. Finally, striped carnations, which are an extremely beautiful addition to any garden, are said to symbolize refusal.
2. Daffodil
The meaning behind the daffodil is quite interesting. As in the case of carnations, daffodils also have more than one meaning. Still, most of them connect to each other and only differ according to circumstances. First of all, daffodils, in general, symbolize chivalry and regard. Second of all, they’re flowers that indicate eternal life, rebirth, and new beginnings. While this sounds like the daffodil has very positive meanings, you should also know that it can be a symbol of unrequited love.
The number of daffodils that you receive or find also influences the meaning behind them, according to the symbolism of the daffodil. For instance, if you only get one daffodil, this is a sign of misfortune. So you might want to avoid single daffodils if flower symbolism is something you’re really invested in. On the other hand, if someone gives you a bunch of daffodils, this symbolizes happiness and joy.
3. Hydrangea
As you’ve probably already been able to tell, when it comes to flowers and their meanings, most often than not, the same flower can have both positive and negative connotations. The hydrangea makes no exception. Starting with the positive connotations, you should know that offering someone hydrangeas means you’re trying to express heartfelt emotions. This is a lovely thought, made all the more impressive by the fact that hydrangeas also symbolize gratitude. So you could explain to your child that if they know someone who is familiar with flowers and their meanings, they could offer them some hydrangeas whenever they want to sincerely thank them for being understanding.
Curiously enough, hydrangeas can also symbolize negative emotions. Not any kind of emotions, but some that can be seen as the opposite of what we discussed above, namely heartlessness and frigidity.
4. Lilac
Lilac seems to be one of the few exceptions to the rule since its symbolism revolves only around positive things. Not only is lilac an extremely pretty flower, and one that comes with a strong and enchanting smell, but it also symbolizes confidence and a general state of youthful innocence. This might make it particularly appealing to children.
Then, lilac comes with even more connotations when it differs in color. For example, white lilac is the main symbol of innocence. However, this is usually the case with white flowers that tend to symbolize purity and an innocent way of being. White lilac can also symbolize humility, which is definitely another sought-after quality. The typical purple lilac is a sign of first love, while the field lilac, which is particularly beautiful, is a symbol of charity.
5. Tulip
Tulips have one of the most interesting and storytelling-worthy symbolisms. It is said that since tulips are so much in love with the sun, seeking it at all costs and swaying their heads in any way imaginable just to find some light, this means that they symbolize advancement and opportunity. They’re stubborn to advance and take every opportunity they can to get access to the sun. This means that they’re also a symbol of adjustment and aspiration.
Some people also believe that tulips are representative of spiritual awareness and its attainment, due to their relentless spirit. Tulips also bloom each year, which makes them a symbol of determination and resurrection as well. They are one of the greatest examples to tell your children about when discussing flowers and their meanings. That’s because they can serve as an inspiration not to give up and forge your own path in order to get what you want.
6. Sunflower
Speaking of relentless flowers and their meanings, the sunflower also chases the sun, which is quite obvious if we think about its name. As such, sunflowers also symbolize opportunity, spiritual attainment, and flexibility. They’re a symbol of ambition, wealth, and good luck. This is why many people choose to give them away to individuals who are focused on achieving something and need to forge their path to success.
You can also bring sunflowers with you whenever you visit a friend that has moved into a new house. They can help you wish that person a fresh start and a new set of opportunities in the new home. Remember to mention to your children that sunflowers are some of the most original and thoughtful presents that they can offer to someone.
7. Pansy
While not necessarily a type of flower associated with positive things, pansies do symbolize some positive emotions that your children should know about. Usually, people place pansies on top of memorial stones in order to remember and honor people who are no longer with us. As such, they’re considered flowers of remembrance. One of the other things that pansies are said to symbolize is union or togetherness. This makes them even more appropriate for such occasions.
Pansies are beautiful flowers, and they can also be a beautiful symbol of the union of two people, which won’t be forgotten simply because one of them has passed away. They symbolize beautiful memories and an overall tone of kindness and fondness that makes them an extremely thoughtful flower option.
8. Dahlia
Dahlias are as unpredictable as their meanings. It’s hard to put your finger on what exactly a dahlia symbolizes. It can be a symbol of travel and change, as much as it can be a symbol of warning and betrayal. These multiple symbolisms is what make the dahlia a wild card. So if you have someone in your life that has a rebel and wild spirit, some dahlias might be the perfect gift for them.
Being wild and swimming against the current is a unique quality, regardless of whether you perceive it as good or bad, and uniqueness should be celebrated. If the message you want to send across is that someone should balance their wild side with kindness and thoughtfulness, you can always combine dahlias with some tulips or irises and form a really lovely bouquet.
9. Geranium
Finally, the last flower that we would like to bring to your attention in today’s guide on flowers and their meanings is the geranium. The geranium symbolizes togetherness, but not any kind of togetherness, but one of body, mind, and spirit. This flower is a symbol of cooperation, coming together, and camaraderie.
Moreover, the geranium flower symbolizes an alignment for a greater purpose or focusing all of your energy on the greater good and the end goal. It can also mean the expansion of ideas, which ties in very nicely with the symbolistic mentioned above. Because of all of these reasons, the geranium is a great flower to have around the house to remind you of the importance of obtaining a balance between mind, body, and spirit. Even more so, it’s also a nice gift for someone in your life who needs an inspiration boost.
Summing It All Up
We definitely had fun discussing different types of flowers and their meanings, and we hope you’ve found the results interesting and informative. Teaching children about flowers symbolism can be a great way to make them love plants and become more interesting in growing them. Moreover, a lot of the flowers we mentioned today are appropriate for specific occasions and types of people and knowing which one to give away at what specific time is definitely something worth learning.
