Orchid: The Flower Of Love, Beauty And Luxury

It’s pretty safe to say that there is no flower more widely coveted than the orchid. With their delicate, sculptural beauty and historical rarity, orchids carry an unrivaled suggestion of refinement. The exotic flowers are now cultivated in a wide variety of colors and delicately shaped blossoms, making them beautiful both on their own and as an addition to arrangements, but they retain their association with very special occasions.

Orchids are a long-lasting and particularly elegant type of flower, making them the perfect gift for many occasions. Their graceful appearance draws immediate attention, and their reputation as an exotic and unusual flower evokes a sense of refinement and innocence. With many orchid varieties to choose from and the meanings of orchids being so special, you are sure to find one that can express the right message, whether it be Thank You, Happy Anniversary, Congrats on Your Promotion, or anything in between.

With an estimated 25,000 different types existing naturally, orchids are of the largest flowering plant families, but they have always carried an impression of rarity. Some tropical species grow in virtually inaccessible habitats and have never been seen more than a handful of times in the wild. Their exotic mystique and otherworldly beauty was irresistible to the Victorians, who collected and displayed them like treasures. Consequently, they became a sign of luxury and refined tastes. Today they are still hunted and traded by avid international orchid collectors, who also prize them for their long-lasting blooms.

Fertility

In ancient Greece it was believed that orchids were a symbol of fertility and virility. It was even believed that consuming the flower could determine the sex of an unborn child. If the father of an unborn child ate large, new orchid tubers then the woman would have a boy. On the other hand if the mother ate small orchid tubers she would have a girl. If you are trying to have a baby this could be a meaningful gift to your spouse. Or this could be a pretty and meaningful gift for someone who is expecting a baby.

Luxury

In Victorian England orchids took on the mantle of luxury. No doubt this image stems from the fact that these flowers are hard to find anywhere but tropical places. Anyone during this era who could afford to buy these exotic blooms would have to be a rich person. Orchids still have a connotation of luxury as they are still hard to find and exotic.

Perfection and Beauty

Today, the meanings of orchids are generally regarded as symbolic of rare and delicate beauty. The shape of orchids has been mentioned as geometric in comparison to the curvier forms of other flowers. The straight lines that run through these flowers have led them to be a symbol of perfection and beauty. This has to do with the notion that beauty can be found in symmetry. The varied colors of these flowers will give you many choices in terms of which beautiful bloom you wish to use or present someone with. The orchid flower meaning symbolizes a beautiful lady according to the Victorian era.

Love

Orchids stand for the symbol of love and affection. It has the ability to grow anywhere and has the resistance power to bloom under any condition, that makes it a symbol of love. During the Victorian Era, it was said, the gifting a flower that was found with much difficulty, means the love has deeper affections and emotions. A pink orchid conveys pure affection. The Cattleya orchid denotes mature charm, and is often used in corsages for Mother’s Day.

Other

The ancient Chinese interpreted the orchid flower meaning as a symbol for many children. It also signifies refinement, and innocence.

In Japan, Neofinetia falcata has a long history within the Samurai culture. This little jewel long treasured by Japanese royalty for its fragrance and foliage. It is known as an orchid of wealth and nobility. Samurai warriors would travel for miles in the search for this tiny orchid to bring back to the royal court. If the warrior succeeded in his quest, it was considered a sign of his bravery.

The Aztecs were said to drink a mixture of Vanilla orchid and chocolate to give them power and strength.

Orchids are available in every colour of the rainbow, excluding true blue. There is, however, a blue toned orchid – they are extremely rare, so they represent rarity, as well as spirituality and meditation.

Pink: The pink Orchid has the honour of representing innocence, femininity, grace, joy and happiness. It also represents the celebration of the 14th and 28th wedding anniversary.

Purple: Purple flowers often represent royalty, respect, admiration and dignity and the same is true for purple orchids. These stunning blooms are ideal to show someone that you admire them and have respect for them.

Red: Red roses have come to universally represent passion and desire, and the meaning of this colour is no different when it comes to orchid symbolism. Perfect for Valentine’s Day to give to someone who makes you hot under the collar! Red orchids are also symbolic of courage and strength.

White: White orchids signify innocence, elegance and beauty – ideal for a christening or the birth of a baby. White also signifies reverence and humility.

Yellow: The sunny, bright colour of yellow orchids is synonymous with joy and new beginnings. This orchid colour is also the traditional symbol for friendship. Perfect for giving to a friend who has just succeeded with a joyous achievement.

Orange: The orange orchid represents pride, enthusiasm and boldness. Perfect for giving to someone who is just about to do something nerve-racking.

Green: Represents health, nature, life and longevity. This gorgeous coloured orchid is also thought to represent good fortune and happy blessings.