Etiquette of Sending Flowers

Flowers... are a proud assertion that a ray of beauty outvalues all the utilities of the world. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

ProFlowers' Guide for the Etiquette of When to Send Flowers And When Not To...

Flowers are typically appropriate for most occasions, but you have to be careful about treading into taboo areas or sending mixed messages with your thoughtful intentions. By following some basic etiquette rules, you should be able to navigate any landmines commonly associated with flower giving. 

Funerals

Flowers, such as the Sympathy Peace Lily, are appropriate blooms to send to grieving families and bring peace and tranquility to a funeral. Flowers are usually sent to the funeral home, which displays the flowers during the viewing or memorial ceremony and then transfers them to the site of the burial. At times, the families prefer not to have flowers and ask instead for donations to be made to a charity of organization in lieu of flowers. You should honor those requests. 

Workplace Flowers

To be safe, it’s best to send romantic bouquets, such as red roses, to a person’s home instead of her place of business. When flowers are received in the workplace, unwanted gossip sometimes ensues. 

On the other hand, when your intention is to go public with your romantic intentions or show off your feelings toward a spouse or lover, then send the flowers to her workplace. Just be sure they will be welcomed, to avoid any misunderstandings. 

Get Well Flowers

Many hospitals have banned flowers from patients’ room because of the risk of infection, allergic reactions and other side effects that can occur from various blooms. It’s best to check with the hospital before sending a beautiful get-well bouquet to a friend or family member. Proper etiquette dictates the most appropriate time to send flowers to a person recovering from a surgery or illness is after he’s been released from the hospital. A bouquet such as the 100 Blooms of Get Well Wishes from ProFlowers is a thoughtful gesture that will cheer up any recovering friend. 

Flowers for Best Wishes

Always consider the unspoken message when you send flowers. For example, while you may want to send a dozen roses to a co-worker as congratulations on a promotion, the flowers may carry an unintended romantic message. 

Sending flowers to your boss may be misconstrued as looking for favors. Sending flowers to a married friend of the opposite sex may cause problems at home. When you aren’t sure how well your gesture will be taken, it may be more prudent to send a plant or a fruit basket, gifts that cannot be misconstrued with hidden meaning or intentions.– From ProFlowers. com
                                   

"No, no, this will not do."  "Wha... Why? What is wrong with this one?" "The Orange Lily implies extreme hatred. The Begonia and Lavender danger and suspicion, respectively. Every flower has a meaning, Charles. Might I suggest the Amaryllis, which declares the recipient a most splendid beauty. Or the Cabbage Rose." —Hugh Jackman's "Leopold," from the movie, "Kate and Leopold"

The ABCs of the Language of Flowers

"A"

Abecedary Volatility.
Abatina Fickleness.
Acacia Friendship.
Acacia, Rose or White Elegance.
Acacia, Yellow Secret love.
Acanthus The fine arts. Artifice.
Acalia Temperance.
Achillea Millefolia War.
Aconite (Wolfsbane) Misanthropy.
Aconite, Crowfoot Lustre.
Adonis, Flos Painful recollections.
African Marigold Vulgar minds.
Agnus Castus Coldness. Indifference.
Agrimony Thankfulness. Gratitude.
Almond (Common) Stupidity. Indiscretion.
Almond (Flowering) Hope.
Almond, Laurel Perfidy
Allspice Compassion.
Aloe Grief. Religious superstition.
Althaea Frutex (Syrian Mallow) Persuasion.
Alyssum (Sweet) Worth beyond beauty.
Amaranth (Globe) Immortality. Unfading love.
Amaranth (Cockscomb) Foppery. Affectation.
Amaryllis Pride. Timidity. Splendid beauty.
Ambrosia Love returned.
American Cowslip Divine beauty.
American Elm Patriotism.
American Linden Matrimony.
American Starwort Welcome to a stranger. Cheerfulness in old age.
Amethyst Admiration.
Anemone (Zephyr Flower) Sickness. Expectation.
Anemone (Garden) Forsaken.
Angelica Inspiration.
Angrec Royalty.
Apple Temptation.
Apple (Blossom) Preference. Fame speaks him great and good.
Apple, Thorn Deceitful charms.
Apocynum (Dog's Vane) Deceit.
Arbor Vitæ Unchanging Friendship. Live for me.
Arum (Wake Robin) Ardour.
Ash-leaved Trumpet Flower Separation.
Ash Tree Grandeur.
Aspen Tree Lamentation.
Aster (China) Variety. Afterthought.
Asphodel My regrets follow you to the grave.
Auricula Painting.
Auricula, Scarlet Avarice.
Austurtium Splendour.
Azalea Temperance.

"B"
Bachelor's Buttons Celibacy.
Balm Sympathy.
Balm, Gentle Pleasantry.
Balm of Gilead Cure. Relief.
Balsam, Red Touch me not. Impatient resolves.
Balsam, Yellow Impatience.
Barberry Sourness of temper.
Barberry Tree Sharpness.
Basil Hatred.
Bay Leaf I change but in death.
Bay (Rose) Rhododendron Danger. Beware.
Bay Tree Glory.
Bay Wreath Reward of merit.
Bearded Crepis Protection.
Beech Tree Prosperity.
Bee Orchis Industry.
Bee Ophrys Error.
Belladonna Silence
Bell Flower, Pyramidal Constancy.
Bell Flower (small white) Gratitude.
Belvedere I declare against you.
Betony Surprise.
Bilberry Treachery.
Bindweed, Great Insinuation.
Bindweed, Small Humility.
Birch Meekness.
Birdsfoot Trefoil Revenge.
Bittenweet; Nightshade Truth.
Black Poplar Courage.
Blackthorn Difficulty.
Bladder Nut Tree Frivolity. Amusement.
Bluebottle (Centaury) Delicacy.
Bluebell Constancy.
Blue-flowered Greek Valerian Rupture.
Boras Henricus Goodness.
Borage Bluntness.
Box Tree Stoicism.
Bramble Lowliness. Envy. Remorse.
Branch of Currants You please all.
Branch of Thorns Severity. Rigour.
Bridal Rose Happy love.
Broom Humility. Neatness.
Buckbean Calm repose.
Bud of White Rose Heart ignorant of love.
Bugloss Falsehood.
Bulrush Indiscretion. Docility.
Bundle of Reeds, with their Panicles Music.
Burdock Importunity. Touch me not.
Buttercup (Kingcup) Ingratitude. Childishness.
Butterfly Orchis Gaiety.
Butterfly Weed Let me go.

"C"
Cabbage Profit.
Cacalia Adulation.
Cactus Warmth.
Calla Æthiopica Magnificent Beauty.
Calycanthui Benevolence.
Camellia Japonica, Red Unpretending excellence.
Camellia Japonica, White Perfected loveliness.
Camomile Energy in adversity.
Canary Grass Perseverance.
Candytuft Indifference.
Canterbury Bell Acknowledgement.
Cape Jasmine I'm too happy.
Cardamine Paternal error.
Carnation, Deep Red Alas! for my poor heart.
Carnation, Striped Refusal.
Carnation, Yellow Disdain.
Cardinal Flower Dittitutim.
Catchfly Snare.
Catchfly, Red Youthful love.
Catchfly, White Betrayed.
Cedar Strength.
Cedar of Lebanon Incorruptible.
Cedar Leaf I live for thee.
Celandine (Lesser) Joys to come.
Cereus (Creeping) Modest genius.
Centaury Delicacy.
Champignon Suspicion.
Chequered Fritillary Persecution.
Cherry Tree Good education.
Cherry Tree, White Deception.
Chesnut Tree Do me justice. Luxury.
Chickweed Rendezvous.
Chicory Frugality.
China Aster Variety.
China Aster, Double I partake your sentiments.
China Aster, Single I will think of it.
China or Indian Pink Aversion.
China Rose Beauty always new.
Chinese Chrysanthemum Cheerfulness under adversity.
Christmas Rose Relieve my anxiety.
Chrysanthemum, Red I love.
Chrysanthemum, White Truth.
Chrysanthemum, Yellow Slighted love.
Cinquefoil Maternal affection.
Circaa Spell.
Cistus, or Rock Rose Popular favour.
Cistus, Gum I shall die to-morrow.
Citron Ill-natured beauty.
Clematis Mental beauty.
Clematis, Evergreen Poverty.
Clotbur Rudeness. Pertinacity.
Cloves Dignity.
Clover, Four-leaved Be mine.
Clover, Red Industry.
Clover, White Think of me.
Cobæea Gossip.
Cockscomb Amaranth Foppery. Affectation. Singularity.
Colchicum, or Meadow Saffron My best days are past.
Coltsfoot Justice shall be done.
Columbine Folly.
Columbine, Purple Resolved to win.
Columbine, Red Anxious and trembling.
Colchicum, or Meadow Saffron My best days are past.
Coltsfoot Justice shall be done.
Columbine Folly.
Columbine, Purple Resolved to win.
Columbine, Red Anxious and trembling.
Convolvulus Bonds.
Convolvulus, Blue (Minor) Repose. Night.
Convolvulus, Major Extinguished hopes.
Convolvulus, Pink Worth sustained by judicious and tender affection.
Corchorus Impatient of absence.
Coreopsis Always cheerful.
Coreopsis Arkansa Love at first sight.
Coriander Hidden worth.
Corn Riches.
Corn, Broken Quarrel.
Corn Straw Agreement.
Corn Bottle Delicacy.
Corn Cockle Gentility.
Cornel Tree Duration.
Coronella Success crown your wishes.
Cowslip Pensiveness. Winning grace.
Cowslip, American Divine beauty. You are my divinity.
Cranberry Cure for heartache.
Creeping Cereus Horror.
Cress Stability. Power.
Crocus Abuse not.
Crocus, Spring Youthful gladness.
Crocus, Saffron Mirth.
Crown Imperial Majesty. Power.
Crowsbill Envy.
Crowfoot Ingratitude.
Crowfoot (Aconite-leaved) Lustre.
Cuckoo Plant Ardour.
Cudweed, American Unceasing remembrance.
Currant Thy frown will kill me.
Cuscuta Meanness.
Cyclamen Diffidence.
Cypress Death. Mourning. 

From Kate Greenaway's "Language of Flowers"

                                                

                                                 

ProFlowers sells a wide variety of fresh-cut flowers, mixed bouquets and potted plants, shipped fresh from the grower.

🌹Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J .Graber, is the Site Editor for Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia