The Historical Meanings of Silk Wedding Flowers

There was a time when flowers were valued for much more than their beautiful exteriors. "There's rosemary, that's for remembrance and there is pansies. That's for thoughts," Ophelia sings in Shakespeare's Hamlet. Flowers were recognizable symbols in 16th century England. Knowing the historical meanings of your silk wedding flowers will add greater significance to your choice of artificial wedding flower arrangements.

Calla lily

Lilies represent majesty, and the calla lily, though not a true lily, represents magnificent beauty. The calla lily was formerly a member of the genus Calla and still retains that name in common usage.

Daisy

The daisy represents innocence and purity. Its English name is an abbreviation of the phrase "day's eye" in reference to the way English daisies close their petals at night and open them in the morning.

Iris

Iris is the Greek word for rainbow, which is how the multi-colored iris flower earned its name. Because of this origin, the iris has to come to represent hope or promise.

Magnolia

Magnolia flowers represent nobility, longevity, and perseverance. Magnolia was named for a 17th century French botanist, but the word has come to be associated with various trees, plants, and birds.

Orchid

There are numerous varieties of orchids with varying meanings, but in general an orchid stands for love and beauty. The orchid's association with fertility (in China it is a symbol for fecundity or many children) is partially due to the derivation of its name from the Greek word orkhis, meaning testicle.

Peony

Peonies symbolize bashfulness. Peony is a flower with medicinal powers, the discovery of which the Greeks attributed to Paion, the physician of the gods. Paion later become synonymous with the god Apollo, who was considered a divine physician.

Poppy

The poppy has many different meanings. Its use in opium manufacturing made it a symbol of dream, sleep, and imagination. Color is significant in the poppy's symbolism. Red poppies signify pleasure, while yellow poppies represent wealth or success. The name poppy comes from the Latin papaver, presumably derived from papula, or papule, because of the poppy's many small seed capsules.

Rose

The rose, specifically the red rose, is a symbol of love or beauty. The name rose derives from the Latin rosa, likely from the Greek Rhodia, or originating from Rhodes.

Sunflower

Sunflowers can represent peace, hope, or happiness. Long-stemmed sunflowers symbolize pride, so look for dwarf sunflowers, which signify adoration.

Tulip

A tulip is a declaration of love, particularly a red tulip. Its name comes from Latin via the Turkish name for Persian turbans, which resemble an expanded tulip.