White flowers: peace, purity and new beginnings

What white flowers mean

White is associated with purity, peace, innocence and respect. It is also the color of new beginnings: a wedding, a baby, a new home or a reconciliation. And, at the other end, of a serene farewell.

That double meaning is its great strength: a white bouquet is never too romantic or too loud, so it is the safe choice when you don’t know what to give. You will find the other colors in our guide to flower color meanings.

The most beautiful white flowers to give

• White rose: sincere love and respect. The most versatile.
• Calla lily: elegance and rebirth, for minimalist brides.
• Lily: large and fragrant, a classic for sympathy.
• White orchid: potted, it lasts for months.
• Peony and ranunculus: the bridal bouquet favorites.
• Jasmine and tuberose: for their scent.
• Daisy: simple, cheerful and innocent.
• Lily of the valley: France’s lucky flower on May 1.
• Baby’s breath: the classic filler that lightens any bouquet.

When to give white flowers

• Weddings: the color of the bridal bouquet ever since Queen Victoria married in white in 1840.
• Births and christenings: white with touches of soft pink or blue.
• Anniversaries: white roses mixed with red ones mean unity.
• To apologize: white is the color of peace.
• Sympathy: the most common color at funerals in Spain and Latin America.

When it is better to avoid them

• White chrysanthemums in Spain, France and Italy: they are the flowers of All Saints’ Day.
• China, Japan and Korea: white is the color of mourning. If the person is from there, add another color.
• Very cheerful celebrations (a child’s birthday, a graduation): an all-white bouquet can feel cold. Better mixed with yellow or pink.

Tips for a beautiful white bouquet

1. Play with textures: mix large flowers (lilies, hydrangeas) with small ones (baby’s breath, lily of the valley).
2. Add plenty of greenery: eucalyptus, olive or fern make white shine.
3. Watch the pollen: remove the stamens from lilies so they don’t stain the white petals.

Frequently asked questions

What do white flowers mean?

Purity, peace, innocence, respect and new beginnings. That is why they are used for weddings, christenings and births as well as to say goodbye to someone.

Is giving white flowers bad luck?

Not in Spain or Latin America. Just avoid white chrysanthemums in Spain, France and Italy, which are cemetery flowers, and take care in China, Japan and Korea, where white is the color of mourning.

Which white flowers should I give a partner?

White roses, peonies, ranunculus or a white orchid. Combined with some greenery or touches of pink they are romantic without being as intense as red.

Which white flowers are taken to a funeral?

Lilies, white roses, calla lilies, orchids and, in Spain, chrysanthemums. The usual choice is a wreath or a bouquet with a ribbon bearing the sender’s name.

Which white flowers smell best?

Jasmine, gardenia, tuberose, lily and lily of the valley are the most fragrant white flowers.