In today’s article, we will talk about Japanese flower meanings. It’s been known for centuries how wonderful the symbolism of Japanese flowers is.
Behind apricot tree blossoms, red roses, and autumn sakura cherry trees there are so many untold stories. Today, you’ll find out more about all of those.
We could easily say that a popular Japanese flower is a Japanese primrose, but there are many popular flowers in Japan that are a part of such a wonderful mysterious story behind violet, red, pale pink, and yellow petals.
Some of the flowers we will talk about today were also a big part of the imperial family tradition.
They don’t have only beautiful symbolism, they are also showy flowers, and vibrant flowers and they’ll give any garden or a vase in your home morning glory.
Let’s learn about the symbolism and meanings of stunning flowers and aromatic flowers of Japan.
Japanese Flowers Meanings In The Japanese Culture
No matter if it’s a floral gift or just fleeting nature around your house, there is something truly special about Japanese flowers and their culture. Japanese flowers and their meanings have been popular and interesting topics for years now.
Their flowers have special stories behind their petals and once you start learning about the spiritual meanings, symbolism, and history of Japanese gardens, you won’t be able to start.
In case you’re already hooked on this topic, below we bring you amazing Japanese flowers and their hidden meanings and symbolism. Let’s learn more about them.
1. Meanings Behind Japanese Apricot Tree
Its symbolism is pretty clear and simple. This lovely tree means and presents resilience in the face of adversity.
If you’re facing adversity, or your family members, or your friends, what is better to be grown in your garden than this lovely tree? If you believe in hidden meanings and symbolism, try this one as well. There is surely nothing you can lose by trying.
Along with the Japanese sunflower, it gives an amazing vast yellow sea look. Also called the Chinese plum since it is native to China, the Japanese apricot tree has amazing fragrant pink flowers that will simply take your breath away.
When grown with love, it can bloom in your garden for 150 years, for many generations as you can see. This tree has been cultivated for 1500 years and reminds me a lot of beautiful cherry blossoms combined with tulip blooms.
2. Flower Symbolism Of Japanese Cherry Blossom
The Sakura flower meaning is very unique and both positive and negative at the same time. In some cultures, they present death, and lost hope, while in some cultures as Japanese culture, for example, they present and mean eternal human life and found hope.
When leaves fall off in cherry blossom gardens, they apparently present the life of dead samurais and their spirit that’s present in such a shape around us now.
Cherry blossom meanings are used in literature, music, poetry (most often in China and Japan), etc.
Japanese plants are truly an inspiration for those who know how to observe them correctly. For some, even the Japanese fern tree has its own symbolism: family and hope for future generations.
3. Red Spider Lily Flowers And Their Meanings
Types of lilies and their meanings are truly breathtaking and special, no wonder why so many people use them as floral decorations at their weddings.
In Buddhism, these flowers are flowers of heaven. They do have a heavenly look, that’s for sure. They seem pretty soft, fragile, and gentle, but they can survive even the strongest rainy season if grown outside.
People usually give these flowers to each other on final goodbye occasions. Just like a white camellia, and sometimes a light pink rose, it’s a perfect flower to say goodbye to someone you love.
This flower also presents a cycle of life, amazing spirits of life, and life itself. No wonder why Italy and France have a lily flower as their national flower.
Japanese gardens are 90% of the time filled with cherry trees, flowering peach trees, and red spider lilies.
Some people say that sunflower symbolism is also very similar to lilies’ hidden stories behind their petals, but they’re slightly different and both very unique and used for special occasions.
4. Language Of Beautiful Japanese Flowers Pink Roses
But to be fair end square, what’s more, beautiful than an evergreen classic flower rose? So many flowers for so many occasions.
Pink roses are pretty unique and simple with their symbolism. The Pink rose meaning in relationship presents first love, love at first sight, happiness, and gratitude.
If you have friends that are celebrating their birthday or have just graduated, more than a suitable gift is a pink rose or a bouquet of pink roses that say how much you appreciate their friendship.
But definitely, if you get a light pink rose on a first date, it means that the other person is falling in love with you or already is in love with you. They also present trust and happiness as a yellow rose. Yellow rose meaning in relationship is very similar to the pink rose meaning.
5. Lotus Flower Symbolism Plays Big Role In Japanese Culture Too
Similar to cherry blossoms, the Japanese lotus meaning is rebirth, the cycle of life, purity, and even strength in some cultures.
No matter what variety you see or get, violet, pale pink, or white, they are just so elegant and fresh! Besides its amazing symbolism, it’s one of the best underwater flowers you can buy for your home aquarium.
They have a calming appearance and that is why they’re used in botanic gardens, fountains, and similar places.
Just like a white rose, they represent the purity of human lives. White lotus is the one that stands for purity, elegance, affection, and even strong romantic feelings.
Violet lotus however presents faithfulness and innocence. The meaning of a pink lotus is enlightenment.
The yellow lotus flower presents faith in God and devotion to God. It’s said that those who have faith in God will only achieve true happiness.
6. Japanese Iris And Japanese Poetry Behind Them
There is not a single thing you can’t or won’t like about Japanese iris. Its fragrant violet flowers and yellow discolorations are breathtaking!
For those who grow Japanese iris in their garden, it’s said that they will be protected from any evil that comes around.
They purify all the bad vibes and spirits around you and leave your home area purified with a good aura and positive thoughts and energy only. Just like the lotus flower, their spiritual symbolism is purity and clarity.
7. Japanese Camellia And Its Showy Pink Flowers
You won’t be able to resist its striking red petals. Similar to pink roses, this flower presents noble death.
This is usually connected to Japanese warriors-samurai because they always wanted to have a noble death. “Fight noble, die nobly.”
White camelia and bright pink camelia can also present love. It’s not romantic passionate love like the one that the red rose presents for example, but rather just a feeling of love and being loved. There is also a yellow version of camellia flowers and that color’s symbolism is longing.
8. Himawari And Its Large Yellow Flowers
Himawari flowers, also known as sunflowers are happy large flower shrubs that every vase needs to have in it. If any flower can fix your day and make it happier and brighter, the sunflower is number one.
Sunflower meanings are pretty simple and clear: friendship, happiness, adoration, and loyalty. Everything about these flowers is truly admirable.
They also present hope due to their way of spinning to the sun and the need for the sun. In some cultures, sunflowers respect loyalty as well.
9. Orange Osmanthus And Its Delicate Flowers
If you were lacking optimism in your life lately, and someone gave you an orange osmanthus flower, they were on the point!
This flower presents optimism, happiness, joy, and sometimes even serenity. But those are not its only meanings
Orange osmanthus flowers stand for peace, protection, and good fortune as well. Their beautiful look isn’t their only benefit. They are used for curing kidney and liver diseases, for drinks that can detox our bodies, and much more.
Not so long ago they became a popular part of Japanese gardens and now, you can see them in almost every Japanese garden thanks to their dark orange flowers and tiny petals.
10. Garden Mums Of Kiku Flower
Symbol of the season of spring and the country itself, the Kiku flower is an amazing yellow, pink and white flower that you’ll completely adore.
They look like underwater creatures with their tiny petals that grow down instead of up creating a beautiful flowering image.
Known as Chrysanthemum, is a very popular flower, not just in Japan, but in the USA and Europe as well, and for a reason, it has such a name. Around the USA and Europe, it’s a big important part of every yard garden and porch decoration.
11. Plum Blossom With Lovely Ruffled Petals
The lovely Japanese plum is very similar to the cherry tree with its blooms and a lot of people mix it, but there are slight differences between these flowers.
These wonderful flowers symbolize hope, vitality, and renewal. It’s a noble flower and its tiny petals will take your breath away.
Since you can’t give them away as roses, lilies, and irises, for example, you can simply buy seeds or propagate them in the garden of someone you appreciate and respect and those 3 meanings have meaning for the two of you.
In case those 3 meanings don’t make much sense to you, they also symbolize good luck and I’m more than sure that is much needed and wanted by anyone you know right?
12. Red Rose As One Of The Popular Floral Gifts
Red rose, as we all know I’m sure is the perfect symbol of romantic, passionate, caring, and giving love. It’s the perfect Valentine’s day gift and any other day right? Every woman loves getting a red rose.
Every rose has its own symbolism, and a number of those roses are as well. One red rose doesn’t mean the same as a bouquet of red roses.
A single red rose presents love at first sight while a bouquet presents affection, connection, and passion. The red rose’s spiritual meaning is sacrifice.
Red roses are the universal language of love, you can say I love you with roses in any language and the person who’s receiving the gift will understand it.
13. Japanese Peony And Symbolism Of Bright Violet Petals
Japanese peonies and Japanese cherry flowers are probably the Japanese flowers that are most used in literature and poetry all around the world. Their symbolism and lovely features truly are a valid reason for it.
Peony flowers and their meanings are bravery and honor. If someone you know just achieved something in their life or they’re about to, these flowers are the perfect and most suitable gift for them. They are also one of the oldest Japanese flowers that were popular in gardens a long time ago.
14. Yellow Rose – Popular Flower Symbol Of Friendship
There is no better flower to symbolize and celebrate joy, happiness, and friendship than a yellow rose.
This amazing flower is the perfect gift for your best friend’s birthday, a celebration of anniversaries, simply, if you want to express love to your friend, this flower is the best choice.
They don’t symbolize romantic love, but they symbolize platonic love between two people. The spiritual meaning of the yellow roses is wisdom.
If you give it to your friend, maybe they’ll think you see them as wise people. Yellow rose is more popular in Europe than in the USA. In flower shops in the USA, you’ll find red and pink roses more often.
While people use yellow roses as flower decor for weddings and even funerals in Europe, in the USA, white roses are most used for such occasions.
15. Flower Blooms Of Pale Orange Rose And Their Meanings
Orange roses meaning is definitely everything but a simple one. Orange roses probably have the most meanings among every rose color.
They present humility and renunciation in Buddhism, they present joy, change, and movement in some cultures and they also have the ability to evoke positive thoughts and energy.
Since it’s a fire color along with yellow and rose, it is also connected to courage. They present positivity and simplicity of life as well.
If you got this lovely rose from a man you’re (almost) dating, he’s fascinated by you and he sees you as something more than a friend.
Among positive thoughts, they are the best symbol of optimism, long and well-standing hope, mutual love and affection, and much more. If you get an orange rose, you’re a lucky one!
16. Ornamental Peach Trees And Their Flowers Bloom
In Japan, where festivities are held in honor of the peach blossom, it is also given the importance of purity and fidelity: the peach blossom symbolizes innocence.
The peach tree in Japan and China is attributed with protective properties, the power to dispel evil spirits and protect the house from unfavorable influences.
In the myth of Izanagi, the Japanese god of war, a peach fruit protected him from lightning. During New Year’s celebrations in China, peach branches are placed on house doors to keep away evil spirits.
Also popular are gatekeeper statues carved from peach wood, which are placed to hang above the door.
The Chinese ruler Huang Ti first thought of replacing his guards with their figures carved from peach wood and simply hanging them above the door.
17. Red Tulips With Their Language Of Flowers
If someone gives you a tulip, know that that person is worth preserving. Different colors of tulips have different meanings that you can use to interpret what the person who brings them wants to tell you.
Red tulips symbolize love. The love that red tulips symbolize is similar to the love of a red rose-passionate, caring, loving, romantic type of love.
Yellow tulips symbolize friendship. It is known that we use gestures and symbols in communication, so flowers have their own symbolic meaning. According to these meanings, we can send a certain message to someone, and the tulip and its meaning take on a big role in this.
In addition to the red and yellow tulips, whose meanings we mentioned above, there are some others that should be mentioned.
A purple tulip that hides fidelity in its meaning. The most delicate tulip and its meaning, the white tulip means forgiveness.
Common Japanese Flowers Questions-FAQ
As always, we make sure we answer all of your questions in our articles. We don’t want you to do any further research after our article about this topic.
You deserve to have all the information you need in one place, right? Let’s learn more about Japanese flowers below then.
What’s The Most Famous Japanese Flower?
I think it’s more than well-known that the most famous Japanese flowers are cherry trees. These wonderful flowers can be found around any corner in the streets of Japan, in private gardens and botanic gardens, near rivers, etc.
Its centuries-old cultivation made it possible along with its amazing look and fragrant flowers. Due to their popularity in Japan, they became more popular in Europe as well.
What Japanese Flowers Presents Love?
In Japanese culture, carnations present pure, romantic, passionate love. Their color along with their centuries-old cultivation makes them so special.
They were very popular in the older times in classical Japanese gardens. If you want to express your love to someone, strong and passionate, besides red roses, you can buy them carnations.
What Japanese Name Means Beautiful Flower?
A very popular Japanese name that’s given to girls is Akina. This name means beautiful flowers and it’s very old.
This name dates back to a time when the Japanese traditions and cultures were much more different than the ones they cherish today. If you want your baby girl to have a lovely unique name, here it is.
What Japanese Flower Presents Forbidden Love?
In the 18th century, in Japan and many other places around the world, rose as a symbol of forbidden love.
Roses weren’t so popular at that time in Japan either and rarely they were given to someone. But in those opportunities, it was usually from late-night lovers who had to hide because their love was forbidden and they were hiding it.
What’s The Rarest Japanese Flower?
Titan arum is the rarest Japanese flower and it’s also rarely cultivated. It’s rarely found in modern and popular Japanese gardens now.
Most of the gardens in Japan now are consisted of cherry trees, peach trees, lotus flowers, and roses.
Final Thought
In today’s article, we learn all about the Japanese flower meanings. In order to completely understand this amazing culture and its symbolism, we presented you with 21 flower of Japan and their hidden meanings, stories, historical facts, and much more.
Next time, when you’re shopping for a floral gift for a member of your family or your friends, remember this beautiful symbolism and have that in mind.
You can even put it on the card so they understand their meaning too. However, there are still many flowers that we didn’t mention today.
There are a thousand flowers that have their own unique symbolism and deserve appreciation moment.
But these flowers we talked about here today are definitely the ones that are the most beautiful and most popular ones. And those probably have the most beautiful positive symbolism behind their petals.
That’s all for today, see you here soon with more similar topics.