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Flowers are a no-brainer gift, right? Well, like most gifts, they can get a little complicated. In Europe, it is considered bad luck to get an even number of flowers as a gift. White flowers symbolize death in Japan, and white chrysanthemums are mainly used for funerals in Belgium, Spain, China and France. In the states, we think of yellow as the color of friendship. However, yellow flowers symbolize death in Mexico and infidelity in France. Flowers have traditional meanings associated with them in U.S. culture as well. Each flower has a meaning. Most of them are positive, but there are some surprise negative meanings. Marigolds symbolize cruelty and jealousy. Snapdragons symbolize deceit. Hydrangeas are “heartless,” and foxglove is “insincere.”  Of course, not all flower meanings are negative. For instance, the gardenia means “secret love.” Probably not the message you want to send to your boss, mother-in-law or accountant.

One Response to “Flowers: The surprisingly complicated gift”

1. R. Crosney Says:
   December 19th, 2008 at 12:55 am

   informative, never knew flower-gifting was so complicated.

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