Closely associated with life and love, the colour red makes a strong, bold statement no matter where it is found. From when the first vibrant reds were noticed in nature, the colour red has influenced our language, being synonymous with fire, anger, passion, blood, love, royalty, valour, religion, and patriotism. Many of the most popular types of flowers have red varieties, making it easy to include this powerful hue in floral gifts and décor either on its own or in attractive combinations with many other color's.
When it comes to romance, nothing compares to the classic beauty of the red rose. This flower is peppered throughout literature and fairy tales, from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet to stories of beauties, beasts, and enchantments, to a young girl named Rose Red, a relation of Snow White. Whether it is a gift of one red rose, one dozen, or one hundred, the aromatic and visual beauty of this flower has made it a staple for romantic occasions such as professions of love, engagements, weddings, and anniversaries. On its own, the red rose symbolizes love, but the inclusion of certain roses of other color's. can enhance or change the meaning. For example, white roses together with red means unity, while the inclusion of a single yellow rose with eleven red stands for love and passion together.
Other popular cut flowers, such as gerberas, chrysanthemums or ‘mums,’ tulips, orchids, carnations, and lilies also come in shades of red. Along with the red rose, the red varieties of the chrysanthemum, tulip, and carnation also symbolize love, and would be a gift with special romantic consideration for an intended recipient. Any of these flowers in a solid red bouquet would be stunning, but they are also very appealing when combined with other shades of their own flower, red flowers of other types, or other flowers in different color's. A combination of red, orange, and yellow gerberas would make a welcome birthday gift, or a bouquet of red, yellow, orange, pink and white tulips. Red roses combined with red tulips, carnations, and gerberas would make a delightful Valentine’s Day treat, while red chrysanthemums and carnations are both focal points and accent pieces in bouquets of other flowers such as sunflowers, freesia, and delphinium. As a special holiday treat, at Christmastime, the poinsettia makes an appearance, and is a popular seasonal present, and can also be dazzling focal points in arrangements for mantles or centrepieces.
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