By color · all year
Red flowers: love and passion beyond the rose
Red is the color that leaves the least room for doubt. What red flowers say, which alternatives there are to the rose and on which dates of the calendar they take center stage.
- Meaning
- Love and passionand courage
- Most gifted
- Red roseValentine’s Day and Sant Jordi
- Alternatives
- Tulip, ranunculus, dahliaand gerbera
- Watch out
- At workit reads as romantic
What red flowers mean
Red is the color of romantic love, passion and desire. Also of courage, strength and celebration. It is the color least open to misunderstanding: if you give someone a bouquet of red roses, they will understand what you mean.
Shades matter too: bright red is passion, burgundy or maroon a deeper, more mature love, and orange-red energy and enthusiasm. You will find the other colors in our guide to flower color meanings.
Dates on which red flowers are given
Red takes center stage on some of the most important dates in the flower calendar:
| Date | What is celebrated and why | Flower | Color | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| every year | Our Lady of Guadalupe According to tradition, in 1531 Juan Diego carried roses from Tepeyac hill in his cloak (tilma), in the middle of December. That is why every December 12 millions of people bring roses to the Basilica. | Roses | Red | Mexico |
| every year | Valentine’s Day The biggest day of the year for flowers. The red rose is the universal code for “I like you”; in several Latin American countries friendship is celebrated too, so giving flowers to friends also counts. | Red roses | Red | Worldwide · in Mexico and other countries, Day of Love and Friendship |
| every year | Sant Jordi Legend has it that a rosebush sprang from the blood of the dragon slain by Saint George (Sant Jordi). Barcelona fills with rose and book stalls; the book was added in the 20th century and coincides with World Book Day. | A red rose and a book | Red | Catalonia |
And at Christmas, the red poinsettia fills homes and churches. There are more ideas in Christmas flowers.
Red flowers to give
- Red rose: the classic declaration of love.
- Red tulip: true love, fresher and less formal than the rose.
- Ranunculus: in season in winter, perfect for Valentine’s Day.
- Dahlia: red or burgundy, the flower of the fall.
- Red carnation: admiration, and in Portugal a symbol of freedom.
- Red gerbera: cheerful, without so much romantic weight.
- Anemone and amaryllis: winter flowers with plenty of presence.
- Gladiolus: tall spikes for large arrangements.
When to give red flowers
- To your partner: on Valentine’s Day, on an anniversary or for no reason at all.
- To celebrate an achievement: red is also success and celebration.
- At Christmas: red and green are the colors of the holidays.
When it is better to avoid them
- At work or with someone you don’t know well: a bouquet of red roses can be misread.
- At a funeral: although some people bring them as a sign of love, white is the norm. If you choose them, better in a mixed bouquet. There is more in sympathy flowers.
- For friendship: yellow says “I love you as a friend” better. See yellow flowers.
Remind me 3 days before
Download the reminder and open it with your phone’s calendar: it repeats every year and alerts you three days before, so you have time to order the bouquet.
Frequently asked questions
What do red flowers mean?
Romantic love, passion and desire, but also courage, strength and celebration. Between partners they almost always read as a declaration of love.
Which red flowers can I give besides roses?
Red tulips, ranunculus, dahlias, gerberas, carnations, anemones, amaryllis, gladiolus or, at Christmas, a poinsettia. Many are cheaper than roses and just as striking.
What do red roses mean?
Passionate love. A single red rose says “I love you” or “love at first sight”; a dozen, a full declaration. It is the flower of Valentine’s Day and Sant Jordi.
Can I give red flowers to a friend or my mom?
Yes, but better mixed with other colors or in less romantic flowers than the rose, such as gerberas, dahlias or carnations. For a mother, a deep red bouquet says admiration and profound affection.
What does the red carnation mean?
Love and admiration. In Portugal it is the symbol of the Carnation Revolution of April 25, 1974, and in Spain it is the flower of the flamenco dress and of bullfighters.
