These fourteen flowers symbolize peace: white poppy, peace lily, lavender, hyacinth, chamomile, violet, peony, lotus, hellebore, cosmos, pincushion flower, white rose, apple blossom, cattail, and basil.
The symbolism comes from history, mythology, and many different cultures. Some of these flowers are global symbols of peace while others only at some regions or at some specific times in history.
Flowers that Symbolize Peace
1. White Poppy
The poppy flower is a symbol of renewal, peace, and calmness. This flower has many medicinal properties and has a relaxing effect on the nervous system.
The idea that the poppy flower has a calming effect dates back to prehistoric times.
In Greek mythology, Demeter, in anguish at the seizure of her daughter Persephone by Hades, ate poppies to fall asleep and relieve the agony of her lost daughter Persephone.
The white poppy has had a link with peace since the early 1930s. In contrast to red poppies, which honor those who died in battle, the Co-operative Women’s Guild began selling the emblem to convey the message “never again.” It was developed in 1934 by the Peace Pledge Union (PPU) as a symbol of anti-war and pacifist sentiment.
2. Peace Lily
The peace lily has varied meanings and symbols. It represents peace, innocence, purity, healing, optimism, and prosperity. It’s frequently a symbol of sympathy, long life, beauty, rebirth, purity, or virtue.
The Peace Lily symbolizes peace and calmness in practically every corner of the world. Its white blossom is reminiscent of the white flag, a universal symbol of peace.
Sending Peace Lilies to the person you wish to put an end to an old dispute is a fantastic idea. There’s a good chance that sending this plant will symbolize the start of a new friendship.
3. Lavender
The lavender flower symbolizes peace, purity, devotion, serenity, elegance, and tranquility.
The color purple also represents elegance, refinement, and richness. According to Hindu traditions, the color represents the crown chakra, the energy center connected to greater purpose and spirituality.
As an aromatherapy oil, lavender lowers tension and encourages sleep.
These flowers provide harmony and calm. Along with ease, the lovely flowers represent peace and power.
4. Hyacinth
The hyacinth is the flower of the sun god Apollo, who is the god of goodness. It symbolizes peace, dedication, beauty, power, and pride.
It frequently appears in Christian churches as a symbol of joy and love.
The origin of the name traces back to Greek mythology. Hyacinth was a hero and Apollo’s lover.
When the Greek mythological prince Hyacinth died, Apollo grieved. It is said that he made the hyacinth flower from Hyacinth’s spilled blood.
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5. Chamomile
Chamomile flowers are associated with peace, tranquillity, serenity, and stillness. It also symbolizes rejuvenation and rebirth in many cultures because of its capacity to bloom for long periods.
Ancient cultures throughout the Mediterranean and Egypt used Chamomile for millennia. Chamomile types used for therapeutic purposes first arrived in Europe in the early Middle Ages. It was well-documented as part of the European herbal medicine tradition in the 12th and 13th centuries.
The herb’s main effect was relaxing and soothing, which Europeans discovered when they used it to cure many conditions. People still use it extensively as a sleep-inducing drink at bedtime nowadays.
5. Violet
Violets are the purest symbol of peace, healing, and serenity.
According to Roman tradition, these flowers offer calm to the afterlives of those who have passed away. These magnificent blooms emit a soothing aura into the environment.
Violet is a color that reminds me of the Sahasrara or crown chakra, whose energy is about enlightenment and consciousness.
Therefore, violets have a connection with expansion, growth, and serenity. They are symbols of mental clarity.
6. Peony
The Peony flower is popular and culturally significant in many countries worldwide. This flower represents peace and prosperity.
Peonies are a sign of good fortune and harmony in China and Japan, especially when in full bloom.
7. Lotus
The lotus flower symbolizes peace, freedom, spiritual enlightenment, and purity.
In both Hinduism and Buddhism, the lotus flower is a powerful emblem. The lotus flower represents eternity, purity, and serenity in Hinduism.
In Buddhism, the lotus blossom represents self-awareness, love, and compassion for all beings and things. It symbolizes the emptiness from desire, enlightenment, triumph overattachment, overcoming suffering, and spiritual progress, among other things. As a result, the lotus has a link with patience, purity, and mysticism.
The white lotus is a sign of spiritual completeness and purity and it represents awakening. As a result, it also means peace and a calm mind.
8. Hellebore (Christmas rose)
Hellebore is a flower that represents tranquillity, peace, and serenity.
According to a Christian legend, the first Christmas rose blossomed in Bethlehem from the tears of a poor shepherd. He didn’t have anything to gift to baby Jesus, but the arrival of the Christmas Rose meant he could still send him flowers.
Its association with Christmas makes it a flower of peace, given that Christmas is a time for peace on earth.
9. Cosmos
The cosmos flower represents order, peace, modesty, and harmony.
The name of the genus originates from the Greek word “kosmos,” which means “balanced world” or “harmony.”
These flowers are associated with dignity and serenity. It’s a romantic gesture between couples, symbolizing their love and harmony.
10. Pincushion flower (Scabiosa)
Scabiosa is a flower that represents love, purity, and peace.
Scabiosa is a lovely, sweet-scented flower that expresses pure love. It exudes warmth, love, purity, and peace. As a result, it’s an ideal present for a special occasion or to give someone a boost.
11. White Rose
The oldest rose, the white rose, has a long association with pure love and calmness. It symbolizes peace, love, friendship, affection, and hope.
The white rose is also a sign of peace, sometimes used to apologize to a loved one.
The white rose became a symbol of peace in the twentieth century. During the Nazi occupation of Germany, there lived a nonviolent intellectual resistance movement known as The White Rose.
Also, the white rose became a symbol of peace after Guatemala signed the Peace Accords in 1996, ending a 36-year civil war and beginning a new chapter in its history. Since then, they placed a white rose on the National Palace’s Peace Courtyard every day to commemorate another day of peace.
12. Apple Blossom
During the early spring season, apple blossoms are at their peak, blooming in pink and white tones. Apple blossoms are a symbol of peace, love, and fertility. They bloom in spring, a time of joy and peacefulness after a hard winter.
In many cultures, such as the Celts, people used them as romantic decorations for bedrooms and other intimate places.
13. Cattail
In the Victorian flower language, the meaning of the cattail is peace, wealth, and prosperity.
You will notice that the cattail is a flower you can gift to bring peace to friends or lovers who are arguing. It is a flower you will give to someone to represent peace and let them know that you are thinking of them and wishing them well.
14. Basil
Basil is a symbol of peace. But some also believe that it brings good fortune, prosperity, and happiness. It even wards off bad energy. Basil comes in a range of colors, and you can recognize it for its beautiful flowers.
Conclusion
Flowers can represent ideas, messages, and concepts. Some flowers symbolize peace in different traditions.
In many cases, the symbolism comes because they produce calmness and ease. In other cases, the symbolism comes from mythology or tradition.
You can gift some of these flowers when you want to express your apologies, amend a relationship, or calm a loved one.
I’m Chris and I run this website – a resource about symbolism, metaphors, idioms, and a whole lot more! Thanks for dropping by.