Flowers are often used to express our feelings and emotions.
Whether it’s a bunch of roses for your significant other, or a bouquet of daisies for a friend, we’re all familiar with the power of flower symbolism.
But did you know that there are some flowers that can symbolize a fulfilling and long life?
In this blog post, we’ll take a look at some of the most popular cut flowers associated with life and its meaning.
Read on to discover which blooms could make the perfect gift for someone special in your life!
Flowers That Represent Life in the Language of Flowers
Whether you want to symbolize life in terms of physical growth or perhaps you want to symbolize life that has since passed, here are some of the best flowers you can give to symbolize life in all its forms.
Create a beautiful bouquet today!
Calla Lily
This resilient flower is known for its ability to symbolize life and withstand harsh conditions – that’s both eternal life and rebirth.
Destined for long-term beauty, the white-petaled calla has long been used as a symbol of everlasting life and revival.
Holding special significance by many cultures throughout history, the calla lily remains renowned as an emblem of hope, purity, and innocence.
Its delicate yet vibrant presence makes it the perfect choice for expressing love that stands through time and spirit that never dies.
Consider giving this gift at any occasion, from the birth of a new baby to a wedding bouquet of flowers.
Peony Flower
A peony flower is the perfect symbol for a long, happy life.
It’s no surprise that this beautiful bloom was named after Paeon, the Greek God of healing, because looking at its vibrant petals immediately brings a sense of joy.
Of course, its meaning go beyond Greek mythology. This flower’s delicate blooms symbolize new life, loyal love, and the tenacity of the human spirit. These are great flowers to give to someone starting a new chapter of life.
Iris
The iris is an incredibly beautiful flower that symbolizes faith, hope, and courage. It is also associated with life as well as passion and strength.
The Greek mythological goddess Iris was said to have used the rainbow as her path between heaven and earth.
It only makes sense that these stunning flowers represent a new beginning and fresh starts in life.
Daffodils
Daffodils are a perfect flower to represent eternal life – they bloom after a long, difficult winter, arrive in bright and abundant colors, and have a sweet scent that has been enjoyed for hundreds of years.
In Greek mythology, the daffodil is even associated with long life and eternal youth – making it a perfect symbol of life.
Tulips
Tulips are found in a variety of colors, prized by many colors and known for their delicate petals.
All types of tulips with vibrant colors are believed to symbolize love, passion, understanding, and appreciation. They are also flowers of hope. The red tulip, in particular, has an unique and striking appearance that makes it a great choice for symbolizing eternal life in various cultures.
These tulip flowers also represent new beginnings – just like irises – making them an ideal choice for anniversaries or events such as birthdays or graduations.
Yellow Lilies
These lilies represent friendship and happiness, as well as being a symbol of a fresh start.
They are often associated with Easter celebrations, when their bright yellow petals can be seen blooming in gardens all over the world.
The flower’s symbolism of new beginnings makes it a great choice for those celebrating special occasions or just looking for something cheerful to add to their garden.
Lily of the Valley
This beautiful little flower has been around since ancient times, when it was thought to bring luck to those who found them growing wild in forests or fields.
Today, Lily of the Valley still holds the same meaning – luck – but they also represent innocence, purity and gracefulness.
They can be given as gifts on any occasion – from weddings to birthdays – as a sign of good luck and lifelong happiness.
Wisteria Flower
Wisteria is an unforgettable backyard garden attraction and many gardens feature these beautiful vines.
Wisteria’s cascading blooms in several shades of purple, blue, white and red are often used to represent eternal life art and literature.
The delicate yet expressive flowers have been celebrated by composers such as Mendelssohn and even seen in ancient Chinese paintings.
The flower has the ability to adapt, making it the perfect symbol for life’s unpredictable journey.
Rose
Roses are known for being a symbol of love at first sight – especially the red rose.
However, outside of their striking appearance, their symbolic meaning can also be interpreted to mean eternal life, too.
That’s especially true when it comes to other colors, like the lavender rose or the white rose. The white rose, in particular, is a popular choice to represent purity, innocence, and long life, particularly when used in floral arrangements for events like baptisms and other special occasions.
Sometimes used in religious ceremonies, the white rose, with its magnificent beauty, can convey messages like deep love (as is the case with red roses) and bring good luck to those who behold it.
Yellow roses, too, have a delicate beauty that can symbolize everlasting love and be used in bouquets representing hope.
Flowers That Symbolize Life Growth and Development
There is no better representation of the powerful power of new growth than flowers. Certain flowers come to symbolize that growth, be it physical or emotional. Here are some of the best.
Dahlia Flowers
Dahlias are beautiful flowers that symbolize new beginnings and growth. A close relative of the daisy, this elegant flower is a bold flowering plant with brightly colored petals in an array of colors such as pink, red, yellow, white and orange.
Many gardeners favor this flower due to its plentiful blooms over a long season; dahlia plants bloom from spring until fall, creating a bright patch of color in any outdoor space. The petals can be single or double-layered; they are often layered with colors or striped patterns.
The meaning behind these blossoms speaks to the potential for renewal and continued growth throughout life.
By giving or receiving the dahlia flower, you not only get a stunning sight but also an uplifting reminder to stay focused on personal progress and development.
White Lilies
These lilies are recognized as flowers of growth. Symbolically these white flowers represent different meanings – purity and strength, yet also vigilance – all aspects of development in life.
These flowers bless those who receive them with a subtle assurance that this journey – no matter how long – will be navigated with safety and protection.
Whether given as a thoughtful gesture to show support for someone’s development or kept as an own personal reminder – these flowers provide a beautiful prompt to appreciate the process of transformation – that growth ultimately propels us to acquire more knowledge, understanding, and acceptance.
Bamboo
Though technically not a flower, bamboo is an iconic symbol of growth, eternal life, and resilience. Just like one cutting can generate a full tree, bamboo’s long stalks signify the eternal life and perpetual strength of the growth process itself.
When we give a gift of bamboo, either as living plants or even artwork, we appreciate not only its beauty but also the long-term nature that it stands for and celebrates.
Whether it’s home decor or entire wall installations, bamboo adds a touch of hopefulness to any space and can be used to celebrate new beginnings, vow renewal ceremonies and any special occasion.
To receive a gift of bamboo is to be offered long-lasting strength to weather whatever life holds.
Marigold Flower
Used in traditional Chinese medicine and serving as a strong symbol of wisdom in the Victorian Era, the marigold flower is another one that can symbolize good fortune, eternal love, and many other symbolic meanings – including a long life.
When planted alongside other plants in the garden in the early spring, the humble marigold can repel all kinds of pests, meaning it’s a plant that can really bring joy to a gardener!
These beautiful blooms can be found in various colors, including red and orange.
Carnations
Both red and white carnations, with their lasting beauty and bright colors, can symbolize life as well. Even the pink carnation has some hidden flower meanings, representing lifelong friendship and joy.
A bouquet featuring carnations is a great way to give someone the gift of lasting beauty – and demonstrate your well wishes for a happy marriage.
Decoding the Language of Flowers to Give the Perfect Gift
When choosing the right flowers to symbolize eternal life and growth, consider going beyond the traditional roses and lilies.
Many flower arrangements will be a beautiful representation of growth and long-lasting fruition, but some other possibilities to represent eternal life are those listed above, like wisterias, lilies, and daffodils.
Whether you choose one of these symbols as part of your garden design or simply enjoy the beauty they bring into your home with fresh bouquets from your garden, these lovely blooms can help celebrate many special occasions or provide a reminder of what really matters in life – love!
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