Purple flowers seem to have that special quality to add a slight note of luxury and distinction when put in bouquets or flower arrangements. The following guide to purple flowers, their meanings, various symbolism, types and arrangements will broaden your knowledge of them and help you choose the best purple flowers for your occasion or as a gift.
Purple is considered to be the colour of magic, being a combination of hot and cold tones at the same time. Purple emerges from the radiant red and the calm blue and it is a completely natural colour which is found in nature. Purple has plenty of different shades, which have the names of some of the flowers, fruit and plants which are originally purple: lilac, violet, lavender, plum, pomegranate, orchid, mulberry or eggplant. These shades are all different from one another, with their own beauty, symbolism and specifications. They can be paired with one another in a bouquet or mixed with totally different colurs, some of which in such bright shades that you might be surprised. Traditionally, purple was connected to royalty (Roman emperors wore togas in purple, cardinals wore purple and during the age of Queen Elizabeth purple became a really significant colour, defining social status, which was dictated by the law). According to the rules of feng shui, however, purple shouldn’t be worn on a regular basis, as it is believed to cause diseases of the blood and general disturbance of the health. Purple is allowed for meditation rooms, though, as it is a colour which stimulates the mind and increases creativity and imagination.
It is generally accepted that purple flowers signify nobility, royalty and a certain distinction, unlike any other colour of flower. Purple is often encountered in nature and many Eastern cultures consider purple flowers sacred and holy, using them as tokens of their love for God. For example, in Buddhism, the purple lotus is a mystical flower. In recent times the colour purple and purple flowers are associated with gay pride, being different and choosing not to hide it.
Based on the tone of purple, flowers have various meanings associated to them. Here are some of the most popular ones:
• The light shades, such as violet, lilac and mauve symbolize femininity, beauty and youth. Such bouquets can be given for graduation, for Mother’s Day or Valentine’s Day.
• Darker shades express deeper emotions, such as gratitude, admiration, respect and love. Give them to those you want to thank or wish good luck to.
Due to purple’s correlation with spirituality, power and luxury, such flowers are often used for creating flower masterpieces. Either for weddings, big birthday parties or other celebrations, purple is one of the most eye-catching colours for flowers. Often given in bouquets to women, purple flowers are loved for their psychedelic effect when paired with contrasting colours, such as bright orange, yellow or pink. Adding lots of greenery around purple flowers is a way to create flower arrangements which resemble nature the most. If you want to create a more conservative or classy flower decoration, pair flowers in eggplant purple with cream ones. Here are some of the types of flowers which can be found in different shades of purple: tulip, lily, statice, sweet pea, larkspur, passion flower, liatris, monarda, hydrangea, iris, kale, birds of paradise, lavender, freesia, spray roses, lilac, lavender freesia, lavender hydrangea, aster, delphinium, amaranthus, gladiolus, anemones, carnation, and dahlia.
