Purple flowers convey many meanings. The specific meaning depends on the type of purple flower and the cultural context. However, there are some common symbolic associations with the color purple and its use in flower meanings.
Symbolic Meanings of Purple
In many cultures, purple is associated with royalty, nobility, luxury, power, and ambition. It’s seen as a majestic and mystical color. Some of the symbolic meanings associated with the color purple include:
| Royalty | Purple has long been associated with royalty and conveys a regal quality. |
| Wisdom | As a mix of red passion and blue calm, purple resonates as a wise, intuitive color. |
| Mystery | The rarity of purple in nature adds to its mystical, intriguing appeal. |
| Creativity | Purple encourages creative and imaginative thinking. |
| Independence | Purple symbolizes free-thinking and individuality. |
| Spirituality | In some cultures, purple represents spiritual awakening and connection to a higher consciousness. |
So when purple flowers are given, these meanings are often implied. The giver may want to convey majesty, wisdom, mystery, creativity, individuality, or spirituality.
Meanings of Specific Purple Flowers
While purple has common symbolic associations, specific purple flowers also carry their own unique meanings:
Lavender
With its soothing fragrance and calming purple tones, lavender symbolizes:
| Serenity | Lavender evokes a peaceful, tranquil feeling. |
| Grace | The delicate color and form of lavender conveys an air of elegance. |
| Ccaution | Victorian followers of floriography used lavender to encourage prudence. |
| Loyalty | In the language of flowers, lavender asks for or represents fidelity. |
Lilac
The light purple shade of lilacs expresses:
| First love | Lilacs symbolize the sweetness and innocence of first love. |
| Renewal | As a spring flower, lilacs represent rebirth and new beginnings. |
| Calm | Lilacs have a gentle, soothing scent that evokes tranquility. |
Violet
Violets have been used to convey:
| Faithfulness | Giving violets conveys fidelity and loyalty in Victorian floriography. |
| Modesty | The shy violet flower is associated with modesty and humility. |
| Thoughtfulness | Sending someone violets demonstrates you are thinking of them. |
Orchid
Purple orchids signify:
| Admiration | Giving orchids shows deep respect and admiration for someone. |
| Rarity | As exotic, delicate blooms, orchids represent rarity. |
| Luxury | The majestic orchid conveys luxury. |
Iris
In Greek mythology, the goddess Iris would travel along the rainbow bringing messages to the gods, so irises represent:
| Communication | Irises symbolize eloquence and open communication. |
| Hope | The bloom’s 3 upright petals represent faith, valor, and wisdom – giving hope. |
| Passion | With bold purple hues, irises convey passion. |
Hyacinth
The purple hyacinth’s meanings include:
| Sorrow | Purple hyacinths express regret or ask for forgiveness. |
| Sincerity | Hyacinths convey deep sincerity. |
| Caution | Victorians used purple hyacinths to urge prudence. |
Allium
With round clusters of purple blooms, alliums represent:
| Unity | Alliums express the unity of faiths and undying love. |
| Prosperity | As a dome-shaped flower, alliums signify prosperity. |
| Patience | Since alliums grow from bulbs, they symbolize patience. |
Purple Roses
Purple roses hold special meaning as well. They signify:
| Enchantment | Purple roses convey a feeling of love at first sight and enchantment. |
| Mystery | The rare purple rose expresses mystery and fascination. |
| Majesty | Purple roses convey majestic, regal love. |
Deeper purple roses trending towards black can signify farewell or sorrow.
Cultural Variations
While purple flowers tend to share common symbolic meanings, these can vary across cultures:
| Mexico | Purple flowers like cempasúchil are used to celebrate Dia de Los Muertos. |
| Thailand | Purple orchids represent mourning and grief. |
| China | In Chinese culture, purple flowers signify spiritual awareness. |
| Western culture | Victorians used the meaning of purple flowers to convey coded romantic messages. |
So the culture should be considered when exploring what purple blooms symbolize.
Gifting Purple Flowers
Here are some key tips for gifting purple flowers:
| – Consider the occasion | Is it for a birthday, anniversary, funeral, or other event? Match the bloom to the occasion. |
| – Know the meanings | Research what different purple flowers symbolize before selecting. |
| – Pick the varieties | Choose blooms with appropriate meanings for your sentiment. |
| – Include other colors | Blending purple with white, green or other colors creates an appealing contrast. |
| – Add personal flair | Include a heartfelt note or charm to personalize the gift. |
Following these tips will ensure your purple flower gift has just the right sentiment.
Conclusion
While purple holds some consistent symbolic meanings like royalty and spirituality, different purple flower varieties each carry their own unique symbolism. Classic purple blooms like lavender and lilac convey peacefulness and love, while irises and orchids express passion and luxury. Cultural meanings of purple flowers also vary. But no matter your intended message, a purple flower gift is sure to delight and intrigue. Choose the perfect purple bloom to convey just what is in your heart.