Throughout history, flowers have been used as symbols to convey meanings and messages. Certain flowers have come to represent peace, tranquility, healing, and recovery due to their symbolic meanings and properties. Choosing the right flower to give to someone can be a thoughtful way to express your desire for their improved health or inner peace.
Some of the most common flowers associated with peace, calmness, and healing include the white orchid, lotus, white lily, daisy, violet, gardenia, and carnation. Each of these flowers has different origins and symbolic meanings that connect them to sentiments of serenity, recovery, and hope. Understanding what these flowers represent can help you pick the perfect blooms to gift someone going through a challenging time or to create a relaxing environment.
White Orchid
The elegant white orchid is one of the most popular flowers associated with peace, tranquility, and healing. In many cultures and traditions, the white orchid represents purity, integrity, and dignity.
White orchids are unique in that they belong to the Orchidaceae family, one of the two largest families of flowering plants with over 25,000 species. Originating in the tropics, orchids come in a diverse range of colors, but the pristine white orchid stands out as a symbol of reverence and innocence.
In ancient China, white orchids were believed to represent humility and contemplation, which are key to finding inner calmness and healing. White orchids are also tied to fertility and motherhood, associating them with life and new beginnings.
Today, white orchids are commonly gifted to new mothers as a flower of health, happiness, and purity for the child. They are also given to ill loved ones as a gesture of hope and positive healing energy. Their soothing white petals are thought to bring about a sense of peaceful reflection.
Lotus
The lotus flower holds deep spiritual symbolism in many Eastern cultures and religions, often representing purity, enlightenment, self-regeneration, and rebirth. The characteristic that gives the lotus its main associations with peace and healing is its ability to bloom beautifully in muddy, murky waters.
Native to Southern Asia and Australia, the lotus begins its life cycle in unclean pond sediments and surfaces to open its petals unstained. Representing the journey from hardship and pain to transcendence and peace, the lotus is commonly depicted in the religions originating from India.
In Hinduism, the lotus represents the divine feminine energy and the spirit’s liberation from attachment. To Buddhists, the flower symbolizes overcoming adversity on the path to achieve inner peace and enlightenment. The lotus is also part of Buddhist iconography, often shown in images of deities sitting atop an open lotus in a state of meditative reflection.
Due to its ability to emerge unsoiled from the depths, the lotus epitomizes spiritual awakening, rejuvenation, and the soul’s resilience. Traditionally the lotus positions in yoga are named after this symbolic flower and its characteristics of groundedness and upward focus. For these reasons, the lotus is strongly connected to qualities of harmony, hope, and healing amidst trials.
White Lily
With its trumpet-shaped, pristine white flowers, the regal white lily is another bloom tied to peace, tranquility, and purity. A popular funeral flower, the white lily symbolizes the restoration of the soul’s innocence after death.
Originating in the Mediterranean region, the white lily’s history can be traced all the way back to ancient Greece and Roman mythology. The Greek god Hera and the Roman goddess Venus were said to hold the white lily sacred. The mythological associations with female divinity led to the white lily becoming known as a flower of otherworldly purity and spiritual cleansing.
By the Victorian era, the white lily had gained its distinctive association with funerals and memorials. Its sublime fragrance and peaceful white petals evoked sentiments of the departed soul’s purity being restored in the afterlife. Hence the white lily came to represent sympathy, solace, and the rejuvenation of the spirit.
In Christianity, the angel Gabriel holds a white lily when visiting the Virgin Mary to announce her miraculous pregnancy. The lily reflects Mary’s virtue and the peace she would feel in accepting her divine role. Today, the Easter lily graces churches every spring as a symbol of Christ’s resurrection and the promise of life triumphing over death.
Daisy
With its delicate white petals and bright yellow center, the daisy is a cheerful flower long associated with innocence, purity, and peace.
Daisies originated as wildflowers in Europe and were likely given their name from the Old English term “daes eage” meaning “day’s eye.” Their flowers open and close with the daylight, reminiscent of an opening and closing eye greeting the sun.
Celtic legend held that babies and small children who passed away were transformed into daisies watching over their families from fields and grasslands. The association with the transformations after death give daisies a meaning of spiritual peace and the return to innocence.
In classical mythology, the nymph Belides perished while fleeing the amorous advances of Vertumnus, the god of seasons. As she died, the gods transformed her into the Bellis perennis, or European daisy. The daisy that sprung from her came to represent maidenly innocence, purity, and gentleness.
Daisies convey childlike joy and warmth. They evoke feelings of contentment and optimism. Their delicate appearance yet hardy growing nature also represent overcoming adversity with resilience. For these uplifting qualities, daisies have become a flower of friendship and promise of better days ahead.
Violet
With its soft, delicate petals in hues ranging from deep purple to white, the violet has a quiet, understated beauty. In the language of flowers, violets represent modesty and spiritual wisdom.
Native to Europe and Asia, violets have a rich history dating back to Ancient Greece and Rome. Greek mythology tells that violets first sprouted when one of Artemis’s nymphs, Io, was transformed into the delicate purple flower.
In Ancient Rome, violets became associated with death and last rites. They were often planted at gravesites for symbolic renewal. Romans would also scatter violets to honor their dead and invoke the god Jupiter.
By the Victorian era, violets had taken on an additional meaning of devotion. Their three-petaled flowers inspired the belief that the Holy Trinity dwelled wherever the wild violets grew. In this period, the purple color came to symbolize depth of feeling, modesty, and faithfulness.
In healing practices, violets are known as a throat remedy, and they have anti-inflammatory effects that can help colds and flu. Their associations with renewal, devotion, and humility make the violet an understated flower of peace, wisdom, and quiet healing.
Gardenia
The gardenia is a highly fragrant flower that evokes feelings of purity, calmness, and grace. With its lush white petals and intoxicating scent, the gardenia has become known as a flower of gentleness and inner peace.
Gardenias belong to the Rubiaceae family and originated in Asia, Australia, and Africa. They were named after the 18th century naturalist Alexander Garden. The Victorian meaning of gardenias was “secret love” or “you’re lovely,” based on their sweet fragrance and symmetrical white blooms.
However, in the modern era, gardenias have shifted to represent tranquility, purity, and renewal. In aromatherapy, gardenia essential oil is used to promote relaxation and harmony. The gardenia makes a soothing addition to baths, candles, and potpourri.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, gardenias are believed to calm restlessness, release heat, and relieve stress. Placing fresh gardenias around the home is thought to create positive energy flow. Displaying gardenias is also believed to help purify the environment and protect against negative influences.
For their associations with purity, grace, and inner peace, gardenias make a thoughtful gift for anyone recovering their health or in need of elevated spirits and calmness. The gardenia radiates soothing, positive energy.
Carnation
Though commonly seen in corsages, the frilly carnation is rich in meaning and mythological symbolism. This ruffled bloom has become known as the “flower of the gods” and is frequently associated with healing, protection, and inner peace.
The carnation’s history stretches back to ancient Greece and Rome. According to Greek myth, the first carnation sprang from the tears of the Virgin Mary as she wept for Jesus on the cross. The pink carnation became the symbol of a mother’s undying love.
Meanwhile, the Romans believed the carnation sprouted from Jupiter’s tears as he wept over Ganymede. Carnations thereby represented a father’s unconditional love.
Over time, the carnation’s meaning evolved to represent devotion, labor, and sacrifice. Their ruffled blooms in soft hues evoke love, innocence, and purity of spirit. It is thought that carnations clarify one’s aura, bringing about mental peace.
The red carnation specifically symbolizes admiration, while white carnations represent innocence and pure love. The wholesome image of the carnation makes it a suitable gift for someone suffering who needs uplifting support, or for conveying gentle affection.
Bouquet of Peace and Healing
When creating a bouquet to convey wishes of healing, peace, and recovery, consider including a few stems each of orchids, lilies, daisies, and carnations for their uplifting symbology. The tranquil gardenia’s soothing scent can be included for an additional relaxing element.
For variation, the classic white blooms can be accented with pale purples or pinks with shades of violet and carnation. This blend of flowers in gentle hues creates a thoughtful, meaningful arrangement for brightening someone’s spirits or setting a peaceful ambiance. The multi-layered meaning behind each bloom makes them ideal for wishing calm, hope, and renewed strength.
Planting a Meditation Garden
Incorporating flowers with peaceful symbolism into a meditation garden or quiet contemplative space allows you to surround yourself with their uplifting energies. Construct your garden as a safe, serene oasis for self-reflection and spiritual rejuvenation.
Include varieties of orchids, lotuses, lilies, violets, daisies, gardenias, and carnations for their significance of tranquility, healing, and hope. White gravel footpaths lit with paper lanterns can lead you through this meaningful floral retreat. Place stone benches beside a trickling water feature where you can sit comfortably. Plant your flowers in tidy beds, leaving open grassy spaces to create feelings of spaciousness and freedom.
Let this specially designed meditation garden become your sanctuary where you can retreat inward to process emotions, reflect on growth, and realign your spirit. Immerse yourself in the cloud-like flowers and their serene scents and colors for whenever you need to regain inner peace.
Conclusion
Flowers can be powerful symbols of our emotions, hopes, and spirituality. Many varieties specifically represent peace, healing, recovery, and tranquility. The white orchid, lotus, lily, daisy, violet, gardenia, and carnation all have individual mythological and cultural origins that connect them to serenity and overcoming hardship.
Gifting these blooms or incorporating them in a space for reflection are thoughtful ways to surround yourself or a loved one with uplifting energies and feelings of hope. Although simple and delicate, these flowers hold deep meaning. Their presence serves as a subtle yet profound reminder of our resilience and that inner calmness and joy can be restored even in the most turbulent storms of life.
| Flower | Meaning |
| White orchid | Purity, dignity, reverence, humility, new beginnings |
| Lotus | Purity, rebirth, enlightenment, resilience |
| White lily | Purity, innocence, sympathy, solace of the soul |
| Daisy | Innocence, childhood, gentleness, optimism |
| Violet | Modesty, devotion, wisdom, tranquility |
| Gardenia | Grace, purity, calmness, harmony |
| Carnation | Healing, protection, love, labor |
Summary
The white orchid, lotus, lily, daisy, violet, gardenia, and carnation are flowers strongly associated with peace, healing, and tranquility. Their symbolic meanings originate from myths, cultural traditions, and medicinal properties. Surrounding yourself or a loved one with these blooms can provide comfort, hope, and uplifting energies when they are most needed. A thoughtfully composed bouquet or meditation garden can convey profound wishes for improved health, serenity, and spiritual renewal.
