Seven Flowers for Seven Kinds of Love

The first ever London ‘Festival of Love’, has descended on the South Bank. And the Festival of Qixi, otherwise known as Chinese Valentine’s Day, has just finished.

What with all this love floating around, We thought it would be fun, to take a look at the seven kinds of love, and which flowers best express them.

Agape – the love of humanity- Red Carnation

This, is charitable love, and empathy. It is the love, and sadness we feel when we hear of a natural disaster, or crisis. Sometimes, a catastrophe such as the floods in New Orleans, the Tsunami in Japan, 9/11, or the 7/7 bombings in London, will make us feel connected to people we don’t know, and reach out to them, through charitable acts, fundraising activities, and acts of kindness.

The flower that best represents this empathic love, is the red carnation.

Storge – family love- Gerbera (African Daisy).

This love is the deep connection shared between a parent and a child, or a child and the adults they love in their family, such as aunts and uncles. It is also the care and love that an adopted parent, step parent, or foster parent extends to the children in their care.

The flower that most represents this protective, embracing love, is the bright, playful African Daisy.

Pragma – love which endures - Baby’s Breath

This is the love which endures hardship. It is the stuff that long-lasting, successful marriages are made of. And the love that binds an enduring friendship. This love takes time, and effort. It has a history. Not fresh as a daisy, but deep as a river, this love is the one that has been carried through, and matured like a good wine. It is all the better for time. There is a beautiful, traditional Chinese folktale, that is the epitome of this enduring love, known as the Legend of Qixi. Check out our lovely version of this folktale, re-told exclusively for Lily Blossom East Molesey, by writer Kyra Hall-Gelly, here.

The flower that best represents this enduring love, is the delicate, cotton-like Baby’s Breath.

Philautia – self-respect- Daffodils.

Yes, it is the love of self-respect. This is the essence of knowing what you are worth as a human being. When you have love for yourself, you have love for others. This love, is not about vanity. It is not about gloating. It is about truly valuing ourselves, for who we are, and being brave enough to follow our dreams, and do what is right, for us, if it harms none.

The flower that best represents this love of self, is the Daffodil. Its botanical name is the Narcissus. And on the day that legend has it, David confidently slayed Goliath, the Daffodil can usually be seen everywhere! To bring the energy of self-respect and confidence into your environment, choose the sunny daffodil.

Philia – shared experience- Geraniums and Alstromeira

The way we feel about our co-workers, our football team, the people we set out to achieve an ambitious goal or project with, encompasses Philia. We may not think of it as a type of love, but it is. It’s a connection born from challenge, cooperation, and achievement.

The flower that best expresses this love, is the Geranium. It symbolizes cooperation, the coming together of people, and camaraderie. Combine geraniums with alstromeira, the flower of achievement and goal-setting, and you have a bouquet rich in Philia’s symbolism!

Ludus – flirting, playful affection- The Bridal Rose (White Rose)

Aah Ludus. The risky, all-consuming, visceral love of young lovers. The heart flutters, the butterflies in the stomach, the longing, and the coy passion. That is Ludus

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The flower that speaks of this flirtatious love the best, is the white rose. Youthful, fresh and pure, with a gorgeous, soft, enticing scent, the white rose is the perfect symbol for Ludus.

Eros – romantic and erotic love- The Lily

Animal magnetism personified, the love of Eros is a powerful and passionate one. It is erotic, of course, and sexual. This is the love that can morph into the other kinds of love; the creative love which makes two human beings come together, and sometimes, with effort and patience, can become the enduring love of Pragma.

The flower that best represents this passion is our very own Lily. Powerful and evocative, with a heady scent and stunning, silk smooth petals, Lilies in all their many colours are a rich representation of Eros. We particularly like the exotic mango Calla Lily.

 

So there are our seven flowers, for seven kinds of love. To check out the events of the South Bank’s Festival of Love, visit their website.

If you would like us to help you design a wedding bouquet that is symbolic, get in touch by email here. Our Floriographer will communicate with you via email, and help you find the flowers that best express your sentiments. It’s a free service. There’s no obligation to purchase from us. We’d be happy to help. Simply write FAO Floriographer in the subject heading!