Colors have long been used to represent ideas, emotions, and meanings. When it comes to flowers, the color they bloom in can symbolize different sentiments. One color that is strongly associated with healing is the color green.
Green Flowers Represent Healing
Green flowers are commonly thought to symbolize renewal, growth, hope, and most importantly, healing. There are several reasons why the color green has become so strongly tied to the idea of healing:
- Green is the color of nature. Seeing the green of fresh grass, leaves, stems, and vines represents the life force and reminds us of nature’s incredible power to regenerate and thrive.
- Green is the color of balance and harmony. In color therapy, green is thought to promote stability and tranquility.
- Green is the color of growth. As plants grow from seeds to sprouts to mature plants, green stems and leaves signal life and vitality.
- Green is the color of restoration. When we think of being healed, we think of being restored to health, vigor, and wholeness.
- Green is the color of resilience. Plants always bounce back – even after storms, floods, droughts, or harsh winters. Green represents this resilience in the face of adversity.
- Green is the color of hope. Dark winter days are brightened by the hope that the green growth of spring will soon return.
So when we see green blooms, it reminds us of the incredible restorative power of nature. What makes green such an apt color to represent healing is its association with freshness, renewal, resilience, and the promise of new beginnings.
Examples of Green Flowers That Symbolize Healing
Many green blooms are intentionally planted for their healing symbolism. Here are a few of the main green flowers used to represent healing:
| Flower | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ferns | New beginnings, perseverance, sheltering |
| Spider Plant | Recovery, rebirth |
| Aloe Vera | Soothing, healing salve |
| Calendula | Healing of wounds |
| Eucalyptus | Antiseptic, medicinal |
| Moss | Perseverance, renewal |
Some additional green flowers that are known to symbolize growth, restoration, and healing include ivy, mint, basil, green roses, green carnations, zinnia, chrysanthemum, and bellflower.
Healing Properties of Green Flowers
In addition to their symbolic meaning, many green flowers and plants have healing properties:
- Aloe Vera – The gel from aloe plants is used to treat burns, wounds, and inflammation. It is known for its soothing, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties.
- Eucalyptus – An antiseptic, eucalyptus is used to relieve congestion and respiratory ailments. It also reduces fevers and pain.
- Ferns – Ferns have antioxidants that help fight disease and inflammation. Some cultures eat fern fronds to remedy stomach ailments.
- Calendula – Calendula has incredible healing abilities, especially for skin. It stimulates wound and burn healing, treats rashes and dermatitis, and has antifungal and antimicrobial properties.
- Moss – Moss extracts have been used to treat bronchitis and soothe irritated mucous membranes.
- Green Tea – Made from steamed green leaves, green tea contains antioxidants and anti-inflammatories that improve health and may help fight cancer.
The natural remedial properties of these plants likely contribute to the association of green with healing.
Green Flowers for Celebrating Healing
Here are some ways green flowers and plants can be incorporated into celebrations of healing:
- Send a bouquet of green roses, ferns, eucalyptus, etc. to someone recovering from illness to cheer them up.
- Decorate the room of a sick friend or relative with potted green plants like aloe, spider plants, or ivy to promote healing.
- Make a wreath with green hyacinth, vines, and moss and hang it on the door of someone recently discharged from the hospital.
- Create an herbal healing tea with dried green flowers and leaves like chamomile, eucalyptus, mint, and green tea.
- Plant a garden of healing herbs like calendula, aloe, and basil for someone convalescing at home.
- Frame pictures or affirmations with green accents to give as an uplifting gift.
Green flowers and foliage are beautiful, uplifting gifts that wish health and renewal. They are the perfect way to celebrate healing and convey hopes for full recovery.
Green Flowers to Represent Healing from Loss
Green flowers and plants can also help represent healing from emotional wounds, grief, and loss. Some meaningful green flowers to give to convey sympathy and hopes for inner healing include:
- Ferns – Representing perseverance and sheltering fronds that “comfort and protect,” ferns are an appropriate condolence gift.
- Ivy – In Celtic symbolism, ivy represents faithfulness and eternal life. Its perpetual greenery makes it fitting for funerals.
- Calendula – Sometimes called “Marigold,” calendula blossoms stand for grief, sorrow, and remembrance.
- Eucalyptus – With an aroma that stimulates and awakens the senses, eucalyptus can help revive someone mourning a loss.
- Willow – Known for its flexibility and fast growth, willow represents resilience and the ability to bounce back after adversity.
Giving green flowering plants or trees can allow friends and family to remember a departed loved one while also conveying hope that emotional wounds will heal with time.
Green to Represent Healing of the Earth
In addition to physical and emotional healing, green is universally recognized as representing environmental healing. With climate change and pollution threatening ecological health, green is more important than ever. Some ways green is used to promote environmental healing include:
- Greenpeace and green activism.
- Green recycling symbols.
- Green energy providers.
- Green infrastructure to heal cities.
- Reforestation and greening projects to heal landscapes.
- Green gardening and sustainable agriculture.
- Green architecture that incorporates living green walls and rooftop plantings.
Around the world, green is synonymous with ecological protection and sustainability. Choosing native species when landscaping with green plants promotes local biodiversity. The symbolism of green flowers and their ability to heal people and the planet is globally recognized.
Conclusion
Throughout history, culture, and science, green has signified life, regeneration, resilience, and restoration. The color green, found abundantly across the natural world, reminds us of nature’s restorative power and ability to heal and thrive even after trauma.
When we see or give green flowers, we tap into green’s rich symbolic meaning. Green blooms represent hope, growth, purpose, and emotional and physical healing. Their medicinal properties and use in herbal remedies also support green’s strong association with therapeutic healing.
Green flowers and plants celebrate our collective wish for healing – be it for a loved one, for our communities, or for the living Earth. Green blossoms convey care and are the perfect gift to accompany anyone on their journey back to wholeness – offering an uplifting vision of health, harmony, and happier days ahead.