White Flowers Meaning & Symbolism
Purity & innocence Since white flowers have a clean, colorless look, free from any flaws or stains, they’re traditionally seen as symbols of purity. They’re often used in the decor at baptisms to represent the innocence of the newborn baby, or at weddings to represent the chastity and innocence of the bride and groom.
New beginnings Like a blank canvas or a fresh piece of paper, white flowers evoke a sense of inspiration and new beginnings. They’re associated with clarity, illumination, and openness, which makes them an excellent gift for someone who is entering a new stage of life or taking on a new project.
Faith & spirituality Many people believe that white flowers represent a connection to divinity. This is no surprise, considering that they’re often present at religious ceremonies like christenings and weddings, and their color is reminiscent of angels’ wings. If you’re more spiritual (rather than religious), the elegant, clean look of white flowers can also represent peace, tranquility, and enlightenment.
Sympathy & mourning White flowers are a common part of the decor at funerals and memorial services, and many people send bouquets of white flowers as a sign of sympathy when someone passes away. Because white flowers are also associated with faith and divinity, some see them as a representation of the soul moving on to heaven.
Weddings & anniversaries Since white is traditionally the color brides wear when they get married, white flowers are often associated with weddings. They’re also seen as symbols of the fidelity and faithfulness between a romantic couple in general, so they’re commonly given as anniversary gifts.
Popular Types of White Flowers
White roses White roses are a beautiful representation of innocence, purity, and reverence, and they’re commonly used at events like weddings, graduations, or funerals. They’re associated with romance, but they symbolize a more youthful type of love, rather than the deep, passionate energy of red roses. Because of this, they’re often given at the start of a relationship to symbolize an exciting new beginning. Both white and red roses have a connection with Aphrodite, Greek goddess of love. According to one myth, Aphrodite discovered a plot to kill her human lover Adonis, and she ran through a bush of white roses to warn him. When the thorns scratched her ankles, her blood turned the petals red, which created the first red roses.
White calla lilies With their simple, and elegant look, white calla lilies are common additions to minimalist flower arrangements, and they look lovely in homes. Calla lilies are also frequently displayed at Easter services, so they symbolize resurrection, rebirth, and faith as well. In the Victorian language of flowers, calla lilies represented overwhelming beauty, so they make a great gift if you want to tell someone how gorgeous you think they are.
White lily of the valley Because lilies of the valley bloom in May, they're associated with the fresh energy of springtime after the harsh coldness of winter. They're thought to symbolize a return to happiness after a difficult period, so they’re a beautiful gift to give someone who’s just made it through a tough time. Lilies of the valley also symbolize motherhood, purity, and virtue. This comes from their association with the Virgin Mary, whose tears were said to turn into lilies of the valley as they hit the ground during the crucifixion of Jesus. Unfortunately, lily of the valley is considered toxic to pets, so if you have a dog or a cat, you may want to steer clear of this flower.
White orchids White orchids carry many symbolic meanings, including elegance, beauty, reverence, innocence, purity, and humility. These striking, graceful flowers make the perfect gift for occasions like christenings or graduations, and they can also be a token of your admiration or appreciation for a loved one.
White tulips Traditionally, white tulips symbolize forgiveness or apologies. Because of this, many people give white tulips to others when they’re trying to say sorry after an argument. They can also be sent as a sign of sympathy or condolences when someone passes away.
White irises White irises represent purity, innocence, and hope. They express a sense of excitement about new beginnings, which makes them a great gift for new parents, newlyweds, or recent graduates. These flowers got their name from the Greek goddess Iris, who was a messenger to the gods. Iris was thought to have used rainbows as bridges to carry messages between the earthly realm and Mount Olympus. As a result, irises can also represent a connection to the divine or messages from the heavens.
White gerbera daisies White gerbera daisies are the epitome of innocence, and they’re thought to symbolize a youthful, childlike spirit. These cute, cheerful blooms are a great gift for any occasion, but they’re an especially good choice if you want to give someone flowers to cheer them up about something.
White hydrangeas White hydrangeas are associated with gratitude, heartfelt emotions, and abundance. Many people love these flowers and see them in a positive light, but they historically have a few negative interpretations too. In the Victorian era, white hydrangeas represented frigidity or heartlessness, and they were often sent as a way to say “no” to a potential suitor.
White gardenias In the Victorian language of flowers, white gardenias were a way to say “you’re lovely,” and they were often given as gifts to secret lovers. This makes the white gardenia the perfect flower to give someone if you’re their secret admirer! These beautiful flowers also represent trust, hope, and friendship, so they can be great gifts in a platonic context, too.
White peonies White peonies represent bashfulness, shyness, or even shame, so they're a good choice if you’re hoping to apologize to someone about something. They also symbolize honor and wealth, so they can be a nice way to congratulate someone on a new achievement, as well.
White carnations Seen as symbols of good luck and pure love, white carnations are the perfect flower to give to a loved one if you want to wish them good fortune with something. Events like graduations, starting a new job, or beginning a new creative project are all great times to send someone a bouquet of this beautiful flower.
White chrysanthemums White chrysanthemums are associated with grief and mourning, so they’re often used as decor at funeral services, and some people bring them when they visit graves. White chrysanthemums are a popular choice if you're offering your condolences to someone who's lost a loved one. White chrysanthemums are also associated with loyalty and honesty, so they’re not always sent in the context of mourning.
White freesias White freesias represent trust, innocence, purity, and thoughtfulness. They’re popular additions to bridal bouquets and they’re often included in wedding decor, but they can also be gifted between friends to symbolize platonic affection and loyalty.
Baby’s breath These delicate, whimsical flowers symbolize both innocence and everlasting love. Baby’s breath is incredibly popular at weddings, and you’ll often see them in the bride’s bouquet, or even weaved into her hair in an updo. Many wedding cakes also feature faux baby’s breath (since the actual flower itself is mildly toxic and not edible).
When should you send white flowers?
When a new baby is born Because many white flowers are associated with innocence, purity, youthfulness, and new beginnings, they make a wonderful gift to congratulate new parents. You can send a bouquet of white flowers right after the birth of a new baby, bring them as a gift to a baby shower, use them as decor at a christening—whatever you prefer!
To commemorate a new beginning A bouquet of white flowers makes a wonderful gift for friends or loved ones when they embark on a new journey, like moving into a new home, graduating from school, or starting a new job. The fresh, vibrant look of the flowers can uplift and inspire them as they navigate this exciting period.
To celebrate a wedding or anniversary White is the traditional color associated with weddings, so white flowers are definitely an appropriate gift to send a couple who is getting married or celebrating an anniversary. Specifically, white roses, baby’s breath, white freesias, and gardenias make excellent choices!
When someone passes away White flowers like chrysanthemums, tulips, and roses are commonly associated with sympathy and mourning, so these make good choices if you're hoping to express your condolences when someone passes away. However, it’s important to be conscious of the family’s culture if you're offering condolences, as white flowers have different meanings in different places, explains floral designer Pilar Zuniga. “If you're familiar with certain cultures, certain colors can represent negative emotion. White can represent death, so some cultures actually don't want white for a funeral service,” says Zuniga. Additionally, in many Asian cultures, white flowers are strongly associated with death and mourning, so it’s considered unlucky to give white flowers to someone for any occasion other than a funeral. In these cultures, it would be considered wrong to send white flowers for a wedding, new birth, or as a “get well soon” gift when someone’s sick, for example. EXPERT TIP Jeanne Walker Jeanne Walker Florist Jeanne Walker is a Florist and the Owner of Fringe Flower Company, a floral design shop that specializes in weddings, special events, and daily deliveries. Fringe Flower Company, based in Walnut Creek, California, provides customized hand-tied and vase bouquets along with potted plants, succulent gardens, tulip french buckets, and wreaths. Jeanne also conducts floral design workshops and parties throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Jeanne Walker Jeanne Walker Florist You don't have to stick to white flowers for condolences. The best flowers to buy for a funeral is what will make the family happy, or maybe flowers that the deceased had a liking for. A lot of people want to go traditional and choose white, but something customized is often more special to the family.
Other Flower Color Meanings
Try combining several flower colors to create a personalized bouquet. If you’re building someone a bouquet or making a floral arrangement, consider adding different colored flowers to create a deeper, more complex meaning. For example, if you’re sending white flowers to congratulate someone on a new beginning, you could add some yellow blooms (positivity and optimism) or green flowers (good fortune and rebirth). Here’s a breakdown of what each flower color means: Red: True love, desire, passion, courage, respect Pink: Love, friendship, gentleness, grace, playfulness Orange: Enthusiasm, energy, warmth, strength, joy Yellow: Happiness, optimism, cheerfulness, friendship Blue: Peace, tranquility, relaxation, wisdom, truth Green: Good fortune, health, wellness, growth Purple: Elegance, charm, royalty, success, admiration
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