from https://preply.com/en/blog/names-of-flowers-in-english/

 

Common flowers and their names

Below, we list common flowers found in North America and Europe. Whether you’re visiting and want to learn more about them, or you’re looking to better understand the history of Anglophone culture, these fun flower facts have got you covered. And they’ll help you practice your English, too.

Roses

Roses have long been popular for their fresh scent and uniformity. Broadly speaking, they are considered expensive flowers, given on special occasions. However, you should always be careful when giving roses as a gift; different colors can signal different feelings.

Red roses

For most, red roses signify romance. According to Greek mythology, Aphrodite, the goddess of love, created roses when her tears and her lover’s blood fell on the soil. As a result, red roses are usually exchanged between partners and have gained popularity when celebrating Valentine’s Day around the globe.

Usually given in dozens, red roses can carry different meanings just by their shade. For example, bright red may mean a new romance, whereas dark red symbolizes deep love.

White roses

In many English-speaking cultures, white signifies purity, so it’s no surprise that white roses are a sign of new beginnings. Popular at weddings, they are also an appropriate yet thoughtful gift for a coworker as a congratulations or a friend who may have lost a loved one.

Pink roses

While it wouldn’t offend most to receive pink roses from a romantic partner or love interest, they are also seen as the cuter counterparts of red roses, often given to children for recitals or grandchildren for birthdays.

Yellow roses

Yellow roses are cheerful and often given between friends. Traditionally, they symbolize platonic love, so be careful when giving them to someone you’re dating; they might misunderstand your intentions.

Orange roses

Orange roses convey enthusiasm and excitement. They are usually safe to give to anyone as they don’t have a specific designation between family, love interests, and friends. Some people associate them with fall holidays, such as Thanksgiving.

Other rose varieties

There are many other rose varieties, including multicolor roses. For example, the symbolic Tudor rose, a traditional symbol of royalty in England, is a red rose with a white center much like the ‘Cherry Parfait’ rose variety.

Lilies

Like roses, lilies have a distinctive but somewhat lighter scent and are known for their beautiful centers and multicolor petals. There are a few popular lily varieties that grow in gardens around the Northern Hemisphere and are often given as gifts.

Tiger lilies

Tiger lilies are famous for their orange-and-brown coloring that earned them their name. (They have spots instead of stripes, though.) With their bright colors, tiger lilies make for a beautiful centerpiece year-round. However, it’s important to note that they are poisonous to cats, so they must be kept out of their reach.

Easter lilies

The name of this flower comes from its popularity as a holiday decoration in homes and churches around Easter time. The white of the Easter lily symbolizes purity and rebirth, referencing the celebrated resurrection of Jesus Christ, who was believed to be sinless. Because lilies are often mentioned in the Bible, this flower is regularly used in other church celebrations as well, such as weddings.

Calla lilies

White and bell-shaped, calla lilies are similar to Easter lilies but with one key difference: They aren’t actually lilies at all. Although they belong to a different family of flowers, they are known as calla lilies due to their lily-like appearance. There are many different types of calla lilies with distinct names, including the Acapulco Gold (named after the Mexican gold mine), the night life (a flower with a deep-purple color that invokes a night out), and the California ice dancer (a tall, white calla lily).

Stargazer lilies

Stargazers are people who like to look at the night sky, sometimes with a telescope or other equipment. Some people theorize that the stargazer lily got its name after the way its petals point toward the heavens. Others believe the white flower looks like a sparkling star. Whatever the case may be, stargazer lilies are popular for their bright, bold tones, which attract butterflies and other useful pollinators to gardens.

Daylilies

The name of the daylily flower in English is more precise than that of some of its cousins; they only live for a few weeks, and their flowering period only lasts for a day. The good news is that these flowers crop up several times a year, imitating the year-round vibrance of perennials.

Tulips

In the Western world, tulips are most often associated with spring since that’s when they bloom. The word “tulip” is a distant descendant of the Persian word for “turban” due to the flower’s resemblance to the headwrap.

Fun fact: Tulips did not originate in Holland as many believe but instead in Central Asia.

Red tulips

If you’re already familiar with the meaning of a red rose, you’ll be familiar with that of red tulips as well; they symbolize romance. Although some people might not give tulips to lovers and partners for fear of seeming too casual, they are actually a great Valentine’s Day gift if you don’t want to be too conventional.

Purple tulips

Purple tulips are a symbol of elegance, refinement, and admiration. This is because the color purple is often associated with royalty in Western cultures as purple dye was historically scarce and thus expensive. Although it’s unlikely that you’ll be giving flowers to a member of the royal family anytime soon, you can still give purple tulips to someone you respect and admire.

Yellow tulips

Tulips already symbolize spring, and what could better emphasize good cheer, happiness, and hope than the color yellow? You might consider giving yellow tulips as a congratulations at a baby shower or to someone going through a hard time, just to express that you’re thinking of them.

White tulips

White tulips may look simple, but they have a weightier meaning than some of the other flowers on this list. White tulips are often used in religious ceremonies and formal events, such as funerals. Although white isn’t the color of death in many English-speaking countries, it’s important to give these flowers with caution as they may come across as solemn.

Bicolor tulips

There’s some controversy as to what bicolor tulips symbolize; some say romantic admiration, while others lean toward a simple fondness for cross-breeding. Whatever the case may be, these stunning flowers can provide you with a great opportunity to jazz up your home or serve as a special present when you want something more extravagant than monochrome tulips.

Daisies

Of all the names of flowers in English, the origin story of daisies may be the most straightforward; “daisy” comes from “day’s eye” in reference to the dark center of the daisy’s bright petals. They are sometimes considered less elegant flowers since they are often encountered in nature, but there are many varieties beyond common daisies that are worth exploring.

Common daisies

Common daisies are named for how easy it is to find them growing in the Northern Hemisphere, particularly in Europe and North America. They are often associated with innocence and playfulness as they are popular among children for their ability to be made into flower chains.

Shasta daisies

The Shasta daisy is named after Mount Shasta in California because its yellow center and white petals resemble the sun emerging from behind a set of snowy peaks. It’s somewhat larger than the common daisy and a very popular variety.

Gerbera (African) daisies

Gerbera daisies are popular components of flower arrangements as they are quite hardy and can last a long time in a vase. They earned their name in South Africa in the 1700s after being noticed by a European scientist who named them after a fellow botanist.

Orchids

While quite common in the United States, orchids can still be seen as exotic flowers and are popular when one wants a dash of elegance. The name “orchid” comes from the Greek word for an intimate body part that they thought the orchid’s root reassembled – but most people wouldn’t see it that way today.

Phalaenopsis orchids

Phalaenopsis orchids are also known as moth orchids because the European scientist who originally found them in Asia mistook the flower for a cluster of furry moths when he was studying them through his looking glass. Unlike the common variety of the insect after which they were named, moth orchids come in pink, white, yellow, and orange.

Cattleya orchids

Indigenous to Brazil, the cattleya orchid is considered a showy flower due to its scalloped petals. The name “cattleya” is a Spanish word derived from the English surname of a famous botanist admired by the European who discovered the orchid.

Sunflowers

As their name suggests, sunflowers are associated with the biggest star in our solar system, which in turn symbolizes warmth, growth, and happiness. Sunflowers brighten up any space and are popular for providing shade in the garden.