A Guys Guide To Buying Flowers For Any Occasion – If you’re a guy, you’ve probably Googled this. At least, I hope you have. The thing is, guys just aren’t good at picking flowers. Hold up, it’s not a judgment on you fellas. You try your best, and as they say, it’s the thought that counts. But let me break it down for you, there are more flowers out there than red roses. It’s true. And they all mean something different.
It’s also not just about getting the flowers. It’s about getting flowers that won’t be dead in a day or look like they called Mike Tyson a sissy before you got to them. There’s an art to picking flowers, and it’s just not the forte of a lot of guys. That’s cool, though. I’m here to help you all out. Today, I’m going to talk about picking flowers, what they mean, what holidays they’re great for, and where to get them. By the time you’re finished reading this, you’ll be a flower whiz. Or, you know, you can bookmark this as a cheat sheet.
History of Flower Meanings
Flowers have been used as their own language for hundreds of years all through Europe and Asia. Flowers became the physical embodiment of various sentiments over the centuries, and they all have their own meaning. Mythology, folklore, sonnets, and plays all contain plant symbolism throughout the ancient world in Greece, Rome, Egypt, China, and more. Over the years, plants came to symbolize everything from chastity to passion, so there is definitely a language to flowers.
How to Pick Flowers 101
Okay, so here’s where I start breaking it down. The first thing we need to do is figure out what flowers mean. I’m going to be honest, even I don’t know what all of them mean off the top of my head. That’s why you need a resource like this. Don’t worry. I know there are thousands of plants out there, but we’re not covering wildflowers – some of them have their own meanings, too. No, we’re just covering flowers that you’d buy as a gift. So let’s get to it. I hope you like lists because a big one is coming.
What Flowers Mean
This list focuses on the most common flowers that are given as gifts. These are readily available at almost any florist, so they’re the ones you’ll most likely come across. It’s an extensive list, but after you’re finished, you’ll be armed with all kinds of flower options for your lady, your daughter, your mother, or any other special woman in your life. It’s the first step in knowing how to pick flowers.
- Bluebells – Kindness and gratitude
- Aster – Daintiness and charm
- Coral Roses – Friendship, modestly, and sympathy
- Cosmos – Order and harmony
- Yellow Roses – warmth and affection
- Delphiniums (General) – Encouragement and joy
- Blue Delphiniums – Dignity
- White, Pink, and Blue Delphiniums – Youth and renewal
- Freesia – Friendship, purity, and trust
- Calla Lily – Physical and emotional attraction
- Hyacinth – Games, sports, and play
- Gardenia – Secret love
- Pink Roses – Grace, happiness, and gentleness
- Gladiolus – Integrity, strength, and victory
- Marigold – Mourning or jealousy
- Tansy – Protection and good health
- White Roses – New beginnings, purity, or innocence
- Lotus – Rebirth, self-regeneration, purity, and enlightenment
- White Lily – Purity
- Pink Lily – Prosperity
- Red Lily – Passion
- Orange Lily – Pride
- Yellow Lily – Gratitude
- White Carnation – Sweet and lovely
- Pink Carnation – Unforgettable
- Dahlia – Dignity and pomp
- Iris – Royalty, wisdom, and respect
- Red Roses – Love and desire
- Daisy – Innocence
- Red Tulips – Love
- Blue Salvia – Thinking of you
- Red Salvia – Forever mine
- Edelweiss – Courage and devotion
- Amaryllis – Pride
- Myrtle – Good luck for a marriage
- Hibiscus – Delicate beauty
- Pansy – Thoughtfulness and remembrance
- Lavender – Devotion
- Chrysanthemum – Honesty
- Black-Eyed Susan – Justice
- Daffodil – New beginnings
- Zinnia – Remembering absent friends
- Purple Lilac – First love
- Magenta Lilac – Love and passion
- Lily of the Valley – Purity, happiness, luck, and humility
- Peony – Romance, marriage, or bashfulness
- Purple Crocus – Youthful happiness
- Chamomile – Rest and relaxation
- Red Poppy – Remembrance
- Purple Hyacinth – I’m sorry
- Yarrow – Love
- Forget Me Not – Remembrance
- Verbena – Protection from evil
- Violet – Love, devotion, and faithfulness
- White Camellia – Affection
- Pink Camellia – Missing a loved one
- Red Camellia – Romantic love
- Hyssop – Cleanliness and sacrifice
- White Jasmine – Sweet love
- Cornflower – Good luck and wealth
- Sweetpea – Thank you
- Ivory Roses – Charm and platonic love
- Peach Roses – Gratitude and loyalty
- Orange Roses – Strong feelings of passion, gratitude, or enthusiasm
- Lavender Roses – Love at first sight
- Green Roses – Best wishes
- Blue Roses – Desire and lust
- Rainbow Roses – Happiness
- Ranunculus – Charm and affection
- Snapdragon – Strenght and grace
- Peonies – Goodwill, best wishes, joy, love, and honor
- Lisianthus – Friendship and admiration
- Poinsettia – Good will, community spirit, the blood of Christ
- Hydrangeas – Gratitude, grace, and beauty
- Carnations – Love, fascination, distinction, protection, healing, and strength
- Baby’s Breath – Love and innocence
- Alstroemeria – Devoriotn, friendship, or achievement
Holiday Bouquet Ideas
So we know what flowers mean, but which ones should go together? Some of these have different meanings, and some might not look as good with one another as other combinations. Again, I’m here to help, guys. I have flower ideas for every occasion listed below. Your florist can help you choose which ones will look best together if you’re on the fence.
Easter
Easter is a great opportunity to give that special lady in your life beautiful flowers. These flowers represent a variety of spring themes like renewal and new beginnings along with love.
Romantic Valentine’s Day
For the lady you love, these flowers all hit the mark. Have the florist help you mix and match based on exactly what you want to say.
Platonic Valentine’s Day
These flowers are perfect for moms, grandmothers, sisters, and other female family members. I’d say female friends, as well, but that’s just asking for trouble, isn’t it?
Mother’s Day
For the special mom or grandmother in your life, you can’t go wrong with these flowers.
Father’s Day
Although white and red roses are the classic Father’s Day gift, I’m willing to bet he’d appreciate the beef jerky bouquet more. And yes, that really IS a thing.
Thanksgiving
Believe it or not, Thanksgiving has some great flowers associated with it. Remember, guys, never miss a chance to give us flowers!
Christmas
Never arrive at your mom, grandmother, or girlfriend’s house without a great “just because” gift again with these flower ideas.
Graduation
Graduation is a huge milestone in anyone’s life, and the flowers below help you show how proud you are of the graduates in your life.
Pregnancy
Pregnancy is another absolutely enormous milestone in a woman’s life. Show your love and support for your family member or your significant other with these flowers.
Apology
Pay. Special. Attention. To. This. Section. You will need these at some point, and when you do, you better make sure the florist does their best to help you make the best bouquet possible.
Where to Buy Flowers
Now that you know how to pick flowers, it’s time to talk about where to get them. There’s almost no end to the places you can go to buy flowers. Almost every grocery store has a flower section, but I don’t recommend going to them. They’re not exactly top-shelf. The best place to buy flowers is from a florist. They have access to the freshest flowers possible, and they know how to take care of them until they reach you. After all, that’s all they do.
You can also buy flowers online, but again, I don’t recommend it. Those flowers have to make a long, arduous trip from the warehouse to either your home or your loved one’s home, and the process can take a huge toll on the flowers. Your beautiful thought-out bouquet could arrive a janky mess that you’d almost be crazy to give to anyone.
Your best bet is to Google local florists and check out their reviews. Choose the one with the most positive ratings, and you should be fine.
Now You Know How to Pick Flowers
So now you know how to pick flowers and where to get them. You also have some great ideas for flowers for holidays and special occasions, as well. At this point, if she’s not getting flowers, it’s either because she doesn’t like them or you have a death wish! LOL. But seriously, use this guide, boys. I can guarantee you that she’ll appreciate them more than you think.
