Guide to red flowers

What are the meanings of red flowers?

While the meaning of red flowers varies, the colour of red is almost always associated with passion, love and affection. So, sending your partner a big bouquet of romantic red flowers, especially elegant flowers like roses and tulips, will definitely be appreciated!

Red flowers are also used a lot to decorate the house during Christmastime as they do a great job of spreading the festive cheer and represent Christmas joy. If you're struggling for Christmas gift ideas, you can’t go wrong with sending a bunch of festive red blooms.

When Should You Gift Red Flowers?

There are lots of occasions and events where red flowers make the perfect gift. Here are some of the most common ones to take note of:

Christmas

The colour red and Christmas are two things that go hand in hand. We see so many red flowers used in Christmas displays and as gifts at Christmas. From poinsettias and roses to tulips and lilies, red flowers are perfect for every Christmas occasion and winter birthdays too.

Weddings

When you think of weddings you'll probably think of pure, white flowers. But, red flowers are usually scattered through the bouquet and other decorative arrangements to symbolise the couples ever-lasting love and commitment.

Anniversaries

Anniversaries are the perfect time for red flowers as they can be used to symbolise love and passion. Red roses are a great choice for most anniversaries as they're a super romantic flower. But, if you're celebrating your 11th anniversary, then red tulips are the way to go as tulips are the official 11th wedding anniversary flower.

After a performance

Red flowers are often gifted after a performance to congratulate the performer on their success. Traditionally, the admirer would give long stem red roses, but, over the years, it has evolved to be almost any red flower.

5 red flowers for winter

Winter is a beautiful time of year, with frosty mornings, freshly fallen snow and the hint of holiday joy in the air. It’s also the time for some gorgeous red flowers to really show-off their beauty!

1. Red roses

No red flower could be more loved than the classic red rose. Traditionally the red rose is a symbol of passion and love and can be used as a romantic gesture or a celebratory flower during the winter months.

2. Red poinsettia

What’s the ultimate Christmas flower you ask? The rich red poinsettia of course! You just know that Santa is making his list and checking it twice as soon as you see these plants being displayed. Poinsettias are full of meaning and symbolism and with their vibrant, red leaves and unique star shape, they’re always a popular gift for the festive season.

3. Red poppies

Red poppies are a lovely symbol of remembrance and hope. Traditionally, they’re worn to remember and appreciate The Armed Forces and everything they did for us during the First World War. They are often pinned to people's clothes and worn in November and December and are also usually gifted in the winter months

4. Red tulips

Tulips are rich in meaning and symbolism. If you're the romantic type and in a new relationship, red tulips can symbolise perfect love. They're very popular flowers for couples to give each other as an alternative to red roses during the winter months as they are able to bloom even in the cold weather.

5. Red amaryllis

With a deep crimson colour, the red amaryllis is often thought of as a Christmas flower. The word amaryllis is Greek and means ‘to sparkle’ making it a winter wonder that is perfect for the festive season. As well as being a Christmas flower, the red amaryllis takes its meaning from a tragic greek love story which is why the flower is also thought to symbolise pride and radiant beauty.

5 Red Flowers For Spring

The beauty of spring’s arrival is always an exciting time. Flowers are blooming, baby animals are bounding and bright bursts of colours are coming back into nature. Here are some of the top red flowers for spring:

1. Red lilies

Red lilies are a beautiful addition to any garden. They prefer cooler weather, so planting them in spring is usually recommended. And gifting them during spring is perfect timing! In red, they represent passion and love, as well as purity.

2. Red dahlias

The red dahlia flower is truly a sight to behold! They are a perfect springtime flower as they are thought to symbolise strength and power and offer continual flowering from spring into summer.

3. Red carnations

Red carnations represent admiration and joy and are often gifted to express platonic love when in a light red and romantic love when in a darker red. They bloom in spring making them a lovely addition to your garden during this season.

4. Red alstroemeria

As one of the most popular spring flowers, the red alstroemeria has a long bloom time which makes it ideal for the season. In red, Alstroemeria is said to symbolise romance and playfulness, which makes it a perfect gift for the one you love.

5. Red anemone

These adorable flowers have a poppy-like aesthetic and are perfect for the springtime. Their most common colour is white, but they’re also available in red which looks absolutely beautiful and can represent romance and love.

5 Red flowers for summer

The sun is shining, the beaches are calling our name and the urge to brighten up the home with some flowers is strong! These 5 red flowers are perfect for the summer months:

1. Gerbera daisies

These cheerful blooms have sunshine like petals that come in a vibrant red colour. These flowers are almost as obsessed with the sun as we are, so they require minimal effort to thrive in the warmer, summer months.

2. Red freesias

Freesias love the summer months and when you plant them in a vibrant red colour, your garden is sure to turn heads! Freesias are said to represent love and passion, making them a delightful gift for the one you love.

3. Red peonies

Everyone loves peonies as their bright clustered petals offer a splash of colour to any garden. In red they are often a symbol of romance, but they can also mean bashfulness. In Greek mythology, Paeonia becomes bashful in front of the goddess Aphropdite and turns bright red. Legend has it that as a result, Aphrodite transformed the nymph into a red peony.

4. Red dianthus

The dianthus flower blooms all summer long, and is a relatively low maintenance flower when planted in well drained soil. The red Dianthus is considered as the flower of the gods and symbolises admiration and divinity.

5. Red begonias

Begonias are used to tropical, warm climates which means that they struggle to survive for most of the year in the UK. But, in the summer months, beautiful red begonias can really come into their own. Although they only last for a short while, they are delicate and bright when they do bloom.

5 red flowers for autumn

As the leaves start to turn into stunning shades of red, brown and yellow and we start to cosy up by the fireplace with a hot chocolate in hand, autumn is a great time to bring some autumnal red flowers in your home.

1. Red poppies

Beautiful red poppies are a symbol of remembrance and hope and during autumn they are commonly worn on the lead up to November 11 and afterwards too. They’re a lovely gift, and the perfect representation of remembrance and admiration.

2. Red chrysanthemums

As the official birth flower for November, chrysanthemums are perfect to give to those born during the autumn months. Available in a wide range of autumnal colours, red chrysanthemums are extra special as they represent passion, love and purity.

3. Red hibiscus

Red hibiscus is one of the most exciting flowers to watch bloom, as their bright and bold petals renew themselves every 24 hours! Unlike many flowers, the hibiscus flower blooms right through autumn, making them a great flower for the season.

4. Red hyacinth

The color red for hyacinths is a symbol of recreation and play time, making them a lovely garden brightener when they bloom. Gifting the red hyacinth in autumn is a wonderful idea, as their bulbs need to be planted in autumn so that they can bloom in summer.

5. Red crocus

The crocus is one of the first flowers to emerge in the autumn months and is thought to represent new life and joy! This meaning is even more obvious when the flower is seen in a joyful, bright red colour.