Top 9 Flowers That Symbolize Friendship

Giving the gift of flowers to a friend is a wonderful way to show them that you care and are thinking about them.

Whether they have recently landed a new job, a promotion at work, or have accomplished something that they are proud of, giving a flower that symbolizes friendship is the perfect gift in many scenarios.

Understanding which flowers symbolize friendship can help you to find the perfect flower or bouquet for just about any platonic relationship or situation.

Flowers that symbolize friendship are: Yellow Rose, Sunflowers, Irises, Peruvian Lilies, Chrysanthemums, Tulips, Daffodils, Zinnia and Gerbera Daisies.

1. Yellow Rose

When you think of a flower that represents friendship, one of the first flowers that comes to mind may be the yellow rose.

The yellow rose is one of the most common flowers given to others as a representation of their friendship and bond with one another.

Because of its bright appearance, yellow roses typically represent optimism, cheer, and joy, which can be used in both romantic and platonic relationships.

Throughout history, the yellow rose was not always known as a sign of loyalty and friendship. In fact, in the past, being given a gift of a yellow rose might have indicated malicious intent or jealousy from the gift-giver themselves.

Today, however, bright yellow roses are almost always associated with positive, bright, and joyous occasions.

Giving the gift of a yellow rose is great to show appreciation for the friendship and companionship you have with those who are closest to you in your everyday life.

2. Sunflowers

Sunflowers have a unique and mythologically-rich history, as they are known as the flower that was created by Greek Gods in order to help Clytie with her deep depression, sorrow, and sadness.

In Greek mythology, a water nymph named Clytie was in love with Helios, also known as the sun God.

Helios, however, was not interested in Clytie, as he was interested in another lover. Clytie became deeply saddened and depressed, avoiding food and drink whenever it was presented to her.

As Clytie’s sadness grew stronger and more intense, the Greek Gods knew they had to intervene to help her recover.

The Greek Gods chose to transform the water nymph into a flower herself, as they determined that the act was merciful compared to allowing Clytie to suffer and wallow in her own sadness.

As a result, the Sunflower was created and named. In Greek mythology, sunflowers are also known to “follow the sun”.

Because of Clytie’s loyalty, the sunflower is also known as a symbol of friendship, trust, and devotion.

Sunflowers have different meanings throughout many regions in the world and in different cultures. However, they are overwhelmingly associated with positive and optimistic meanings.

For instance, in China, sunflowers can represent good luck and vitality. For Native American cultures, sunflowers can represent a bountiful harvest.

When giving the gift of a sunflower, it can symbolize friendship, loyalty, and trust.

3. Irises

Similar to sunflowers, the iris flower also has a rich Greek mythos, as the word Iris is directly translated to “rainbow” in Greek.

In Ancient Greek history, the iris was often planted on the grave of a woman in order to potentially summon Iris, the Greek goddess, in order to help the individuals to get to paradise themselves.

Because irises are typically known to represent hope, trust, loyalty, and integrity, they are also suitable flowers to symbolize friendship.

The iris also represents wisdom and strength in life, making them great gifts for friends to demonstrate your commitment to the relationship and to a lifelong friendship.

4. Peruvian Lilies

The Peruvian lily, also commonly referred to as an alstroemeria, is extremely symbolic in terms of loyalty, companionship, and friendship.

The flower itself has six petals that each have individual meanings in various cultures. The petals of a Peruvian Lily flower represent respect, commitment, patience, understanding, and empathy, making them a perfect flower to represent friendships of all kinds.

In historical Victorian language, the Peruvian lily typically indicates that an individual is loved, cherished, and appreciated, which is where the Peruvian lily fits in well with the symbol of friendship.

Peruvian lilies have strong roots and are known as hearty flowers, which also represent strong lifelong bonds between friends.

If you want to show a friend how much you care about them, you can do it by gifting Peruvian Lilies for just about any occasion.

5. Chrysanthemums

If you’ve ever heard of or seen mums, you know just how cheery these bright and quaint flowers can appear.

Chrysanthemums are bright and full flowers, coming in a range of colors. The color of the chrysanthemum will determine what symbolism is behind the flower.

For instance, red chrysanthemums typically relate to love, whereas yellow chrysanthemums follow the same symbolism as yellow roses, representing loyalty and friendship.

Because Chrysanthemums are so bright in nature and so vibrant when in full bloom, they are typically thought to represent the foundation and trust of a friendship or any platonic relationship being represented.

Chrysanthemums can also be given to friends in a happy and joyous situation, making them the perfect flower for a celebration of any kind.

6. Tulips

Tulips are one of the most beloved types of flowers around the world. With so many colors to choose from and a uniquely chic and sleek appearance, the tulip is the perfect flower for many occasions and situations.

Throughout history, tulips have been known as medicinal plants and even used for food, especially in Holland, where they are native.

While pink and red tulips are often considered useful as a declaration of love, there are many colors of tulips to choose from when representing friendships.

Most often, yellow and white tulips are given or presented when they are meant to represent friendship, loyalty, and trust.

Yellow tulips are the most common friendship color choice when giving a tulip as a present, as it often represents sunshine, optimism, or allowing brightness into one’s life.

7. Daffodils

Daffodils are often the first flowers to appear during the springtime, and often represent overcoming the wintertime and moving forward into the rebirth of springtime.

Daffodils also represent joy, optimism, and a bright future ahead, making them the perfect flower to give to friends and to those who want to celebrate others in platonic relationships.

Because the daffodil is from the narcissus genus, it has a history that links it to the Ancient Greek God, Narcissus.

The daffodil typically signifies renewal, forgiveness, and inspiration, along with rebirth, depending on the instance it is given or used.

In China, daffodils also take on a meaning of prosperity and good luck, and are often presented around the Chinese New Year.

Giving the daffodil as a gift is a way to show that you care about someone, either romantically or platonically.

The daffodil radiates energy due to its bright yellow color, which can also help to convey a message of friendship.

8. Zinnia

If you find yourself drawn to gorgeous, colorful, fast-growing flowers, Zinnias may be just the right flower for you.

Not only are Zinnias extremely fast-growing in nature, but symbolically, they often represent long-lasting friendships and bonds between individuals.

In Victorian floral history, zinnias can represent thinking of or missing a friend in your life. You can also gift zinnias to show that you have missed a friend that you have not seen in person for an extended period of time.

Zinnias make the perfect surprise gift for a friend if you are giving flowers.

Additionally, all color variations of zinnias can also be given as gifts to friends. For platonic friendships and for remembrance, yellow zinnias are common.

As with many signs of affection, gifting a magenta or red zinnia is ideal. Because zinnias come in nearly every color of the rainbow, they are a perfect gift for everything from saying hello to an old friend to showing deep love and gratitude for someone who means a lot in your daily life.

9. Gerbera Daisies

Gerbera Daisies are some of the most cheerful flowers, which make them perfect for gift-giving and for representing friendships.

Many variations of Gerbera daisies are available and in different colors including white, cream, pink, red, and even yellow.

Daisies are typically referred to as a flower of happiness, which is why they are often considered a suitable choice when giving a flower gift to a friend.

When giving a Gerbera daisy as a gift to a friend, choosing a yellow daisy is often most common. Yellow is a sign of energy, brightness, purity, and pride, which makes it an excellent choice when it comes to gifting flowers to friends.

Additionally, yellow is commonly viewed as a sign of happiness, making it a go-to flower for any occasion, from casual gatherings to formal events.

Receiving Gerbera flowers from a friend can feel extremely endearing and heartwarming, whether you are close to one another or living far away.

Summary

When you are familiar with what flowers symbolize friendship, finding a flower that not only represents your friendship, but also the reason you are sending the flowers will become much easier.

References

• https://coachellavalleypreserve.org/flowers-that-represent-friendship/