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Top 8 Flowers That Symbolize Happiness

Top 8 Flowers That Symbolize Happiness

If you want to learn about flowers that represent and symbolize happiness, you have come to the right place.

Whether you choose to display flowers that symbolize happiness in your own home or if you choose to plant them in your garden or gift them to friends and loved ones, the options are limitless.

Because flowers that symbolize happiness do not typically have any romantic attachments, they are excellent flowers to give as gifts or to display in almost all casual environments.

Flowers that symbolize happiness are: Blue Daisy, Dandelion, Wishbone Flower, Lupine; Lupin, Stock, Daffodil, Sweet Pea and Delphinium.

1. Blue Daisy (Felicia)

Felicia flower.
Felicia
Ruff tuff cream puff, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

The bleu daisy, also known as Felicia, is a genus of more than 80 species in total, and comes directly from the Asteraceae family.

You can find the blue daisy along the coast of southern Africa, as well as other coastal regions along the same lines of latitude.

While many daisies may be white or pink, the blue daisy is said to represent happiness and thriving growth.

Blue daisies attract a range of insects from spiders and wasps to bees and have an extremely long flowering season between spring and autumn.

Although it is not possible to tell exactly where the naming of the blue daisy/Felicia came from, the origin word, or Latin word “Felix”, is translated into “happy”, which is another reason blue daisies are closely related to feelings of happiness and being content.

Blue daisies themselves also directly represent happiness, long-lasting loyalty, trust, and honesty, making them a perfect gift to give to a friend or to someone you have unconditional love for in your everyday life.

2. Dandelion

A close-up shot of dandelion fluff.
A close-up shot of dandelion fluff
Image courtesy: peakpx.com / Creative Commons Zero – CC0

If you live in a region where wildflowers are common as well as weeds, you are likely familiar with dandelions, or the taraxacum flower.

The dandelion comes from a genus with more than 500 species and is also considered a part of the Asteraceae family.

Most often, dandelions are native to Europe and Asia, although they can be found throughout many regions of the United States as well.

Dandelions can easily spread and grow, even in harsh conditions.

They also always produce vibrant, bright, eye-catching yellow flowers, which are often referred to as a symbol of happiness.

Many believe that the petals of the dandelion are representative of the sun, while the seeds of the dandelion represent the moon.

They also believe that the seeds a dandelion drops or releases are reminiscent of the stars above in the sky.

In Ancient Greece, the words “taraxos” meant “disorder”, while the word “akos” meant “remedy”, which explains the direct correlation of the medicinal benefits that dandelions have to offer even today.

3. Wishbone Flower

Torenia flowers.
Torenia
Photo by David J. Stang, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The wishbone flower, also known as the Torenia, comes from the family Linderniaceae and is also a genus of around 15 species.

The wishbone flower can be found throughout both Southeast Asia as well as Africa with its small and eye-catching petals.

The wishbone flower creates either heart-shaped leaves or oval leaves, depending on the size and color of the plant itself.

Wishbone flowers typically come in bright colors, such as purples, pinks, yellows, blues, and even white.

Because of the funky and decorative appearance of the wishbone flower, it has always been closely associated with both charm and happiness.

The flower itself is also thought of as lucky, hence its name is similar to a traditional wishbone which represents good fortune, an optimistic future, and even a brand new start or fresh beginnings.

The wishbone flower is associated with so many positive qualities and meanings that it is typically symbolic of happiness as a whole and in general.

4. Lupine; Lupin

Lupine flowers.
Lupine
Paul VanDerWerf from Brunswick, Maine, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Lupine or Lupin flowers are from the Lupinus family, a genus of around 500 species in total.

The lupine flowers are part of the Fabaceae family, which can be found throughout the Americas, Australia, Asia, North Africa, and even in the Mediterranean.

Variations of the flower were actually cultivated by a well-known horticulturist, George Russell, who is responsible for numerous variations of the Lupine flower.

The lupine flower is tall, spiky, and creates pea-like buds in many colors ranging from deep violet to bright yellow and pale pink.

Originally, the name Lupine was derived from the Latin word “lupus”, which was a mistake, as the word meant the plant was depleting nearby minerals.

There is a Native American legend that is closely associated with tribes experiencing drought and famine, which quickly resulted in hunger and panic.

An orphan in the Native American tribe was willing to offer her own doll to the surrounding spirits of the land, which was one of her only remaining possessions that were reminiscent of her own family.

After laying the doll for sacrifice, it is said that a lupine flower immediately began to grow from the ground after each raindrop fell from the sky.

The lupine flower was known for its ability to offer proteins and carotenoids to humans, which is why they were a common and popular food source dating as far back as the Roman Empire.

Medicinal purposes that lupine was used for included everything from gastrointestinal upsets and nausea to severe internal bleeding.

It was also common to use lupine to help with relieving inflammation and arthritis throughout various areas of the body.

Today, Lupine is known as a symbol of creativity, imagination, inspiration, and happiness with its unique appearance and overall appearance.

5. Stock

Stock Flowers.
Stock Flowers
Clarise Samuels, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

In Europe, the stock flower is extremely prevalent and long-lasting, as stock blooms last longer than the average flower, regardless of region.

Stock flowers are vibrant, bright, and give off a wonderfully pleasant scent, which may be a reason why they are always in demand in various regions around the world.

There are many different types and species of stock flowers, with Matthiola incana being the most popular variety.

Planting stock flowers works well in bare areas, corners, and even when filling in rock walls.

Because these flowers have such a long bloom and are so bright, vibrant, and colorful, they are considered a symbol of happiness to many throughout Europe.

6. Daffodil

A daffodil flower.
A daffodil flower
Image courtesy: piqsels.com

The daffodil flower is also representative of love, life, and ultimately, attaining happiness in everyday life.

Because daffodils are some of the earliest flowers to bloom each year, they are said to bring joy, good luck, and happiness to those who plant or discover them.

They can also mean productiveness and finding love, which may be encouraging for those who are seeking it.

There are also tales in England that those who see the first daffodil in the springtime are more likely to experience growth and acquire wealth throughout the year.

While most daffodils that you might come across are bright yellow, daffodils do come in a variety of colors, though the alternative colors are much less common.

Typically, the yellow daffodil is representative of the arrival of spring, feeling rejuvenated, rebirth, and happiness.

A purple daffodil, on the other hand, can represent being obsessed with one’s self and their own vanity, as the purpose of the daisy is closely aligned with the Greek God Narcissus.

As with many other flowers, the white daffodil typically represents purity and innocence.

Along with symbolizing happiness and rebirth, the daisy also represents a sign of transformation to move away from being self-centered or vain.

An orange daisy represents vitality, joy, creativity, and enthusiasm, and can help individuals to face and overcome negative energies and experiences in their own lives.

In most situations, daisies are used to represent positive outlooks, optimism, and happiness.

7. Sweet Pea

Sweet Pea flower.
Sweet Pea
eileenmak, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The sweet pea flower is a dainty, delicate, beautiful small flower that comes in colors such as white, purple, and plenty of pink tones.

Sweet peas are representative of their name, as they smell extremely sweet in nature.

Because the sweet pea is so delicate and smells so refreshing, it is considered a symbol of pleasure and happiness.

The very first sweet pea in history is dated as far back as the 17th century in Europe. Their dreamy appearance and light fragrance is meant to bring joy and happiness to anyone who is near.

The origin of the flower name ‘sweet pea’, comes from its scientific name, ‘Lathyrus Odoratus’.

In Greek, “Lathyrus” can be loosely translated into the words pulse and pea, while the word “Odoratus” is Latin for “fragrant”.

Throughout the Victorian age, the sweet pea flower was commonly used when hosting dinner parties or even when planning wedding celebrations.

The clusters of flowers that stand upright are often symbolic of growth as well as providing a positive outlook, hope, and ultimately, happiness.

Sweet pea flowers can be given as gifts to friends and they can also be used to decorate celebratory events from baby showers to weddings and anniversaries due to their blissful nature and meaning.

8. Delphinium

Delphinium flower.
Delphinium
Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

If you’re seeking a flower that truly symbolizes happiness, you might not need to look any further than the delphinium flower.

The delphinium flower provides lush aromatic scents that can lead to an afternoon of feeling relaxed and calm with ease.

These vertical flowers produce beautiful luxurious petals that are draped in a cascading bouquet to create a beautiful arrangement on their own.

Delphinium flowers are known as herbaceous perennials and come in pink, white, yellow, scarlet, purple, and blue.

There are different types of delphiniums, as some are considered single-layered delphiniums, and others are semi-double or double-form delphinium flowers, with additional sepals and petals.

Delphinium flowers are native to the Northern Hemisphere, and are named after the Greek word “delphin”, which can be translated directly into the English word “dolphin”.

Delphinium flowers are named after dolphins due to the spur on the flower that closely resembles a dolphin swimming freely in the ocean.

Additionally, delphinium flowers have also played their part in Greek mythology. In Greek mythology, it is said that delphinium flowers bloomed due to the blood spilled by the God Ajax during the Trojan War.

The delphinium flower typically represents optimism, comfort, inner peace, as well as harmony, and perseverance, which is why so many view the flower as a symbol of hope and happiness.

In many regions, the delphinium is also the official birthday flower for July.

 Summary

Understanding the deeper meaning behind flowers that symbolize happiness can help to guide and direct you whenever you are searching for new flowers to plant, purchase, or give.

Whether you are giving a gift to a friend, showing a loved one that you care, or if you simply want to congratulate a co-worker on a happy and positive event in their life, you can do so with flowers that symbolize happiness at any time.

References

  • https://www.atozflowers.com/flower-tags/happiness/
  • https://allrosemeaning.com/what-flower-means-happiness/

Header image courtesy: Photo by Marko Milivojevic on Pixnio