Your Family Tree

The botanical world is full of symbols. While you might look out your window and see nothing but some landscaping plants and a shade tree or two, those same plants and flowers actually symbolize a whole world of meaning you can unlock. Expressing your creativity with a bouquet or potted plant gift takes on a whole new level when you learn about what each part of the gift means. If you’re trying to celebrate your family with a centerpiece or outdoor decoration, put these family themed flowers and plants to good use.

Bringing Two People Together

Start your flower and plant project with symbols of marriage, fidelity, and true love. A family begins with a pair of people willing to work together through the good and bad times. The best way to symbolize this bond is with plants like:

• The ruffled blooms represent marriage and a long and happy relationship
• Orange Blossom – Victorians considered this an icon of a fruitful marriage, making it a perfect emblem of family
• Arbutus – Cementing fidelitous love between two people
• Azalea – Celebrating first love that bloomed into a lasting union
• Symbolizing the connection between two people
• Sunflowers – The dedication to weather all storms together and emerge victorious on the other side
• Both red for passion and white for respect, which mixed together symbolize unity
• Dandelion – A humble weed that signals endurance and faithfulness
• Stability and reliability, two important qualities in a family relationship
• This Hawaiian flower is used to signal single or taken status, and the deep red color is associated with passion

Encouraging Happiness

Once the foundation and core of the family is represented, you can work in some plants that symbolize happiness. These flowers remind us to cherish the good and forgive the bad in our relationships. All colors of daffodils tell us to stay sunny and optimistic, while coreopsis is a cheerful little bloom related to common aster that works well with other flowers. For a rose bush planting or bouquet, pink and yellow blooms mixed together bring a wave of happiness to the home.

Many families consider crocuses the best flower for planting around the front door because they symbolize a peaceful home free from disputes or abuse. Take some inspiration from Chinese culture and consider any one of the many lilies. They all represent unity and a full century of love between the people exchanging the flowers. Throw in a few delphinums for fun and lightheartedness, then a sprig or two of feverfew to wish good health on the entire family.

Representing Children

Don’t forget to add meaning for the children and other members of the family that aren’t part of the core relationship. Surround your love and commitment flowers with symbols for offspring, then aunts, uncles, and grandparents. Whether you want a flower tattoo for each child or need to fill a vase for your family reunion, try:

• Buttercup – This flower symbolizes both childishness and youthful joy in the Victorian language of the flowers, so be careful what you pair it with
• Crocuses – As one of the first blooms of spring, crocus also represents children
• Primrose – With a name that means the first rose, it’s no wonder this flower is tied to youth and new life
• Hyacinths – The clusters of blooms remind us of playfulness and energy
• A sweet scent and creamy white color brings both purity and gentleness to mind
• As immature roses, you can mix white, pink, and yellow buds to represent a group of different kids
• Birth Flowers – Since each month has its own flower, it’s easiest to represent other relatives with their birth flowers

Symbolizing the Home

Are you visiting a family and want to bring a floral arrangement with meaning as a host or housewarming gift? Mix and match flowers that celebrate and symbolize the home. Tiger lilies are a sweet idea because their warm orange and pink colors bring joy and happiness to mind. Colored carnations also work well as a representation of the family’s pride and comfort in their home. Steer clear of white, pink, and red for this flower and go with blue, purple, and other colors not associated with romantic love.

Reaching Out

Flowers can also help you reconnect with estranged family members. Sending a blooming laurel or olive branch is a beautiful way to say you’re sorry and extend a symbol of peace. Other trees like hazel and heather produce bright white blooms commonly used both in Victorian times and today to make an apology and ask for reconciliation. Fragrant purple and blue hyacinths express your regrets over a fight or disagreement in the past, and white tulips make the same statement.