Flowers speak louder than words. Besides they're nature's work of art, their symbolism can tell more than you imagine. Red roses are a symbol of love, pink tulips symbolise good wishes, white peonies symbolize bashfulness, etc. But what about sunflowers? These big, yellow and bright flowers that always follow the sun and give delicious seeds (that by the way are super healthy)? If you consider getting a sunflower flower bouquet for whatever reason, here's what you need to know about these bright flowers.
The History
Originating around 1000 B.C, sunflowers were cultivated as one of the most valuable food on the American continent. The popularity of sunflowers rose as the continent was discovered by Europeans. During the Impressionist era, the sunflower was particularly in the focus of grand painters as one of the most loved flowers. The sunflower images and portraits occasionally were part of native societies but were a religious symbol as well.
Sunflower Symbolism
These big yellow flowers symbolise loyalty, and adoration thanks to the myth of Clytie and Apollo. And as their name says, these flowers are associated with the sun, making them well-known for being happy flowers. If you want to brighten someone's mood, wish someone a happy birthday, or simply bring some freshness and good mood to your home, this is a perfect choice of bouquet.
In China, sunflowers symbolize long life, good luck and vitality, so it's a common choice of bouquet for birthdays. Sunflowers are also considered spiritual flowers because of their similar appearance to the sun and because they always try to find the light. This is why in some religions, these flowers are very popular as they symbolize loyalty and following god and spirituality.
Sunflower Bouquets
There are so many different reasons to get a sunflower flower bouquet. It can be a simple wish for a long and happy life (for birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays), but also it can be a perfect choice for an autumnal bridal bouquet. It has the perfect colours, will stand out and make the entire bridal outfit wholesome. Let's see the meaning of these bouquets. Sunflowers symbolise adoration, loyalty and longevity and are known as “happy” flowers. Even one of them will lift a person's mood, and a whole bouquet can be a perfect addition to many birthday gifts or can stand out on its own.
Adoration and Friendship
If you have a dear friend who celebrates a birthday, has a wedding, just got a promotion, or graduated, then a sunflower bouquet is a perfect choice. This flower symbolizes the close bond between friends. You can also choose it for family members or romantic partners because the basis of a great relationship of any kind is friendship.
Healing
Sunflowers symbolize healing, so if you want to wish someone to feel better and recover from an illness, there is no better choice of flowers than bright yellow large sunflowers perfectly arranged with some greenery or other flowers such as lilies for example.
Sunflowers radiate positivity and optimism and when someone goes through a rough patch of their life, this type of bouquet can significantly improve their mood.
Focus
A sunflower bouquet can be a great encouragement to someone studying or working on a challenging project. This is the best type of flower to choose for co-workers or business collaborators, to encourage them to continue with their hard work or thank them for the achieved results. Yellow is a bright colour that quickly grabs attention and gives energy.
Are Sunflower Bouquets Suitable for Weddings
This flower brings peace, good health, good luck and optimism, so there's no reason for brides to avoid it in their bouquets. The gold and delicate petals are perfect for matching with various flowers of any colour. Sunflower wedding bouquets are a perfect choice for autumn weddings, but also any boho-styled wedding dress and wedding party.
If you're having your reception outdoors in a garden, beach or venue decorated in Boho style, don't hesitate to choose sunflowers to be your main flowers. They look cheerful, energetic and warm, and at the same time, they look timeless, playful and harmonious. Keep in mind sunflowers aren't just seeds - they're a work of nature.
Types of Sunflowers
Sunflowers have three different types; this means that some sunflower types don't always have yellow petals. So next time you’re looking for this flower, know that you can choose from tall, dwarf and coloured sunflowers.
Tall Sunflowers
As the name suggests, the tall sunflowers have a rough and tall stem that can grow up to 5 metres. They appear strong and beautiful and are ideal for making big sunflower bouquets. The tall sunflowers have many varieties, the most popular ones are American Giant, Sunforest Mix, Skyscraper, Russian Mammoth and Schweinitz’s Sunflower
Dwarf Sunflowers
These are cute and ideal for your garden. The dwarf sunflowers are hybridizing and some of them can only grow up to one metre. Because of their smaller size, these sunflowers have lower care requirements. The dwarf sunflowers have several varieties including Sundance Kid, Pacino, Little Becka, Suntastic Yellow and Sunny Smile.
Coloured Sunflowers
If you're looking for a more versatile sunflower bouquet, choose coloured sunflowers. This type of sunflower is a result of hybridizing that brings different colours to the petals. You can find soft colours such as creamy custard to deep red, coloured sunflower comes in several varieties including Eartwalker, Ms Mars, Terracotta, Chianti and Moulin Rouge.
