We’ve all experienced occasions in our lives when someone unexpectedly does something huge for us without expecting anything in return. So, how do you say “thank you” to someone that won’t accept repayment and when mere words won’t suffice?
Since ancient times and throughout great civilizations such as Rome, China, Egypt, and Greece, flowers were given to communicate various emotions.
During the 18th century, the Turks embraced this passion by assigning unique and specific meanings to each flower. This symbolism quickly gained popularity and subsequently spread throughout the rest of the world. Even in modern times, the practice of sending flowers to convey a particular message is still in use.
Therefore, giving a bouquet of thank you flowers, supplemented with an excellent quote, is a kind, thoughtful, simple, and unique way of showing your gratitude. It symbolizes that you care and truly appreciate the kindness bestowed on you. Of course, throwing in some cookies or chocolates to the mix will never be frowned upon.
Sending the wrong flowers, though, might convey an unintended message. Therefore, it’s essential to know the symbolism behind the flowers to ensure that you say “thank you” instead of “my condolences” or “I love you.”
To help you make the right decision, we’ve included some of the most popular flowers symbolizing gratitude.
Flowers That Say “Thank You” the Best
Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemums should be your first choice of flowers if you intend to thank someone special for their friendship. These hardy, rainbow-colored blossoms symbolize saying “you’re a wonderful friend” and cheerfulness.
Roses
People use roses worldwide to communicate feelings of romance, true love, and endearment. They’re also the most acclaimed and popular flowers to give. A bouquet of yellow, peach, and pink roses in full bloom signifies gratitude, making it an exceptional choice with which to say thank you.
- Pink is symbolic of friendship and admiration
- Yellow represents friendship and joy
- Peach is associated with appreciation
When you’re sending a friendship bouquet, though, it’s best to avoid red roses to avoid conveying the wrong message.
Sweet Peas
According to the language of flowers, sweet peas are the most appropriate way to say “thank you for a marvelous time.” These little blossoms smell every bit as good as they look and can be made into an arrangement by themselves or as fillers in a larger bouquet. They’re the ideal gift to give someone for showing you a good time.
Bellflower (Campanula)
The bellflower gets its name from its blossoms that are shaped like bells or cups. In floriography, these lovely flowers represent gratitude, and they’re available in pink, purple, blue, and white.
Hydrangeas
Even though hydrangeas are native to various locations worldwide, it’s a common belief that these blossoms were first discovered in Japan, as they’re referred to in poems from the Nara period (AD 710–794).
Although these flowers are often given to someone to ask forgiveness, “thank you for understanding” is probably their most significant meaning. These large blossoms, available in peach, pink, white, and blue, are the perfect gift to send to someone that went out of their way to help you get through a difficult time.
Iris
According to flower symbolism, the iris, available in purple, peach, white, pink, blue, and bi-color, signifies “I value our friendship” and “my compliments.” These blossoms are perfect for telling someone that you hold their friendship in high regard.
Lucky Orchid
Orchids are luxurious, lavish, and delicate, making them the perfect choice to say thank you to your teacher, best friend, or even mother-in-law. Their soft, contemporary look creates a striking statement when resting on a windowsill or as a dining table centerpiece.
Daisy
The birth flower for people that were born in April is the colorful and cheerful daisy. These blossoms signify feelings of playfulness and innocence, making them perfect for saying thank you to anyone young at heart.
Tulips
These Dutch flowers rose to fame when explorers started to invade European cities during the 17th century. These cup-shaped blossoms burst into bloom during springtime, and they come in various invigorating colors. Although they typically symbolize perfect love, the yellow variety is associated with happy thoughts and sunshine, making them ideal to say thank you.
Lily
Nature provides us with various lily species, including tiger and trumpet lilies. These perennials are usually quite tall, and they’re found worldwide. They’re a symbol of humility and devotion, making them the perfect choice of blossom to say congratulations and thank you to your parents on their wedding anniversary.
Quotes and Sayings to Express Gratitude and Appreciation
From time to time, we all feel the need to communicate a heartfelt thank you to our friends, siblings, parents, teachers, and other important people in our lives. As mentioned earlier, an excellent method for doing this is to send a bouquet with a memorable quote attached as a message.
To assist you, or at least tweak your interest, here are some notable quotes and sayings to express sincere gratitude and appreciation:
- “For your thoughtfulness and generosity, from you, I have learned much of life’s philosophy–Thank you sincerely.“– Unknown.
- “Not all superheroes have capes. Some have teaching degrees.“– Unknown.
- “There are no words that can express my thanks for you. If words could be hugs, I would send you pages.“– Unknown.
- “Your friendship is a gift. Generously given, happily accepted and deeply appreciated!“– Anonymous.
- “All kids need is a little help, a little hope, and somebody who believes in them.“– Earvin “Magic” Johnson.
- “I can’t promise to solve all your problems, but I can promise you won’t have to face them alone.“– Unknown.
- “Anyone who does anything to help a child in his life is a hero to me.“– Fred Rogers.
- “It takes a long time to grow an old friend.“– John Leonard.
- “To give and not expect a return, that is what lies at the heart of love.“– Oscar Wilde.
- “The greatest gift our parents ever gave us was each other.“– Unknown.
- “A teacher takes a hand, opens a mind, and touches a heart.“– Unknown.
- “Appreciation is a wonderful thing: it makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.“– Voltaire.
- “I would thank you from the bottom of my heart, but for you, my heart has no bottom.” –Unknown.
- “Sisters and brothers just happen, we don’t get to choose them, but they become one of our most cherished relationships.“– Wes Adamson.
- “Thank you for always giving me the extra push I need.“– Anonymous.
- “I can no other answer make but thanks, and thanks, and ever thanks.“– William Shakespeare.
- “Brothers and sisters can say things to one another that no one else can.“– Gregory E. Lang.
- “What a teacher writes on the blackboard of life can never be erased.“– Unknown.
- “When I count my blessings, I count you twice.“– Unknown.
To Wrap Up
It’s hard to think of a flower that doesn’t say thank you in some way or another. The mere thought of giving that particular, deserving person a bouquet alone shows your gratitude.
Some of the most frequently used flowers to say “thank you” include chrysanthemums, colored roses, sweet peas, and irises. However, giving someone their favorite flowers will demonstrate your thoughtfulness and make the gift even more unique.
