31 Plants for Every Personality

Plants, flowers and other foliage symbolize emotions, ideas and actions. Each plant has its own meaning and surrounding yourself with plants that symbolize things you want or value can create a positive environment. Knowing plant symbolism can help you pick decor and gifts that are more meaningful and personalized. Symbolism is also important when picking out plants for one of life’s biggest moments like a wedding or other ceremony.

Another thing to keep in mind when selecting a plant or floral gift is that different colors have their own meanings as well. To give you a better idea of what each plant means, we’ve included the history of plant symbolism, the symbolism of the most popular plants and printable plant symbolism wall art for you to gift or keep for yourself.

Plant Symbolism History

There is evidence of plant symbolism in literature, art and folklore as early as the Ancient Greeks and likely other comparable civilizations. Plant and flower symbolism has appeared throughout history in religious texts like the Bible, in art and literature during the Middle Ages and Renaissance (including Shakespearean plays), all the way into modern day culture.

Plant and flower meanings became a popular subject to study after Joseph Hammer-Purgstall’s Dictionnaire du language des fleurs was published in 1809. Translated to “dictionary of the language of flowers,” this publication formalized the study of plant symbolism.

Plant Meanings + Symbolism

With so many different plants to choose from, we put together this ultimate guide of plants and their meanings. Skip to your favorite plant or peruse the whole guide to find new favorites and add to your garden wish list!

Additional Plant Meanings + Symbolism

Didn’t see your favorite plant above? Check out these additional plants, the list includes flower and herb meanings as well.

Aloe (Aloe vera)

Healing and protection
Great for: People interested in holistic health

Aloe does best in bright, indirect sunlight and temperatures of 13 – 27º C. They should be watered every three weeks and even less during cold months.

Azalea (Rhododendron)

Femininity, strength and beauty
Great for: Reminding someone of their inner and outer beauty

Azaleas will thrive best in indirect sunlight and cannot be kept in temperatures below 4º C. Proper azalea care includes keeping soil evenly moist but be careful to not overwater them.

Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus)

Love and femininity
Great for: An anniversary or Valentine’s Day bouquet to show your affection

Carnations love being watered 1–2 times weekly depending on the soil, it should be kept moist but not wet. Some other carnation care tips include keeping them in bright indirect light.

Daisy (Gerbera jamesonii)

Innocence and purity
Great for: New and expecting mothers to symbolize their bundle of joy

Daisies do best when they are watered any time the top inch of their soil is dry. To keep daisies alive longer, keep them away from extreme heat, they prefer cooler temperatures below 21ºC.

Fern (Adiantum pedatum)

Health, luck and protection
Great for: Someone moving to a new city or in a transition period of their life

You should water ferns regularly, making sure they are evenly moist. Ferns prefer shade or partial light and a temperature of 18–23ºC.

Gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides)

Trust, clarity and purity
Great for: A family member or long-time friend as a fragrant reminder of your solid relationship

Keep gardenia plants’ soil moist but well-drained. Gardenias require bright and indirect light and can tolerate temperatures no lower than 17º C.

Kalanchoe (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana)

Eternal love and persistence
Great for: Someone to remind them of their endurance and love

Kalanchoe loves light but make sure it gets no more than two hours of direct sunlight and that they are kept in temperatures above 16º C. They should be watered every two weeks in warmer months, but test the soil to make sure it’s moist and not wet.

Lavender (Lavandula)

Relaxation and comfort
Great for: Someone who needs to destress or loves a trip to the spa

Lavender prefers full sunlight and comfortably warm temperatures. Water new lavender once or twice a week and reduce watering as they grow.

Orchid (Orchidaceae)

Admiration and love
Great for: A mentor or someone that has inspired you—they also add a delicate vibrancy to home decor

Orchids can survive in temperatures of 16–37º C during their growing season and 13–21º C during their off-season. There are different care requirements for orchids depending on their species.

Peony (Paeonia)

Compassion and good relationships
Great for: Someone in a new or evolving relationship or someone starting a family

Peonies need about six hours of moderate sunlight to thrive. They should be watered once to twice a week, depending on the moistness of the soil.

Rose (Rosa)

Romance and love
Great for: Someone that you love — different colored roses stand for different types of love

Roses need bright light for at least six hours per day and prefer temperatures no lower than 13º C. Rose care includes watering them when an inch of their soil is dry.

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)

Remembrance, love and fidelity
Great for: Those who love to cook or maintain their own herb garden

This medicinal herb loves a lot of light and to be watered about twice a week. Rosemary can’t tolerate temperatures lower than -1ºC but is a great fit for an indoor herb garden.

Sage (Salvia officinalis)

Health, purity and wisdom
Great for: Spiritual people who enjoy smudging their house to eradicate negative energy

Sage does best in medium to bright light and does not do well in temperatures lower than -4º C. Let a sage plant’s soil dry in between watering. Sage is fairly cold and drought-resistant, making it an easy herb plan to take care of.

Sunflower (Helianthus)

Happiness, adoration and loyalty
Great for: The warm and fuzzy type of friend who brings joy to everyone’s day

Sunflowers need full sunlight, prefer a temperature range of 21–25ºC and their watering needs vary based on their phase in the growing cycle. Sunflowers are best kept as outdoor plants because they can grow to be 9–12 feet tall, but they can bring color and cheer indoors in the form of a bouquet.

Tulip (Tulipa)

Unconditional love and cheer
Great for: Springtime home decor and for mothers to show your appreciation

Tulips should be watered about once or twice weekly and placed somewhere that receives sun and shade throughout the day. Tulips like to be potted in cold soil but prefer moderate air temperatures.

Winter Cactus (Schlumbergera)

Vibrancy and celebration
Great for: A holiday, birthday, host gift and those who love color in their homes

Christmas cactus plants love lots of indirect sunlight but need a dark period for six weeks leading up to winter with 12 hours of darkness per day. They should be watered thoroughly and allowed to dry in between watering.

Whether you’re looking for a plant for a beginner or an experienced gardener, knowing the meaning behind the plant adds more depth to your decor, garden or gift choice. Certain plants are also great for different styles and purposes like feng shui and other office and home decor designs.

Source: Proflowers