Purple lavender flowers symbolize purity, devotion, calmness, homosexuality, and royalty. People have garnered these meanings based on the flower’s calming fragrance, its color, and its uses throughout history. Therefore, if you ask five different people the meaning of lavender, you may get five different answers.
We’re going to dive a bit deep into lavender meaning and the reason behind each specific symbolism. By the time you’re done reading, you’ll know all about this iconic flower.
About the Lavender Flower
Lavender is the common name used to describe various plants in the Lavandula genus. Although this genus consists of close to 50 species, all of these plants share multiple characteristics. Lavender’s most noteworthy trait is the purple flowers that appear on tall flower spikes. These flowers have a unique calming fragrance that humans use in everything from lotions to soaps to potpourri. The flowers also contain essential oil that can be extracted.
Lavender plants grow best in arid climates with dry and well-draining soil. They grow as perennials as long as the air remains warm enough to support their growth. Many of these plants are native to regions surrounding the Mediterranean Sea, but gardeners currently grow lavender all over the world.
What Does Lavender Symbolize?
Lavender symbolizes many different things, depending on the culture and time in history. Here are some common meanings of lavender.
Purity
Throughout the centuries, people have used lavender to impart a sense of purity and cleanliness. Historians have found evidence that ancient Egyptians used lavender during the mummification process for their appealing scent. Egyptians also used the plant in perfumes and incense. Ancient Greeks and Romans praised the plant’s purifying properties and used it during baths.
The lavender meaning of purity also relates to the plant’s uses as an antiseptic, cleaning agent, antibacterial, and insect repellent. People have used lavender plants and/or lavender oil to disinfect surfaces, treat acne, protect linens from moths, improve digestion, disinfect cuts, and more. Recent research also shows that lavender oil has antifungal properties.
While lavender may not actually help with all these issues, its reputation for being a purifying agent has stuck. That’s why you may see delivering bouquets of lavender to cleanse a space of unwanted properties..
Devotion
The symbolism of devotion relates to the lavender’s spiritual meaning. The color purple, and therefore lavender, is tied to the crown chakra, also known as sahasrara. This chakra is located at the top of your head and is linked to your connection to the spirit, wisdom, and unity. Therefore, lavender is often linked to spirituality and devotion.
Calmness
People have relied on lavender’s calming properties for thousands of years. You may have used fresh and dried flowers, lavender essential oil, and products like soaps and lotions in an attempt to limit stress and impart a sense of calm and serenity. And it turns out these peaceful feelings aren’t all in your head!
Numerous studies report that lavender can decrease stress and anxiety while increasing well-being and peacefulness. This plant can have an impact on chronic anxiety and depression as well as short-term anxiety due to events like impending surgery or a big speaking engagement. That’s why people often place lavender essential oils in their bedrooms to help them drift off to sleep, or rub lavender essential oil on their wrists if they’re having a stressful day at work.
These calming properties are the reason behind the lavender meaning of calmness and serenity. And this meaning is why lavender makes a great gift for a friend who is going through a stressful time or a family member who is overwhelmed.
Pride
People have also used lavender as a symbol of the LGBTQ+ movement. This lavender meaning started sometime in the late 1800s when people began using purple as a symbol of homosexuality, since it was a mix of the traditionally masculine blue and feminine pink. Over time, people began using the color purple and the lavender flowers as a way to symbolize gay pride. Today, the purple flower is still used as a symbol of support for LGBTQ+.
Royalty
Purple has long been the color associated with royalty and riches, so it’s no surprise that the purple lavender flowers also hold this symbolism. Although lavender flowers aren’t commonly used to impart purple hues on fibers and fabrics, their soothing fragrance can make anyone feel like royalty. So the next time you’re looking to feel a little extra special, take a soak in a lavender infused bath or order flower delivery online.
Lavender Fun Facts
Lavender not only brings rich meaning and symbolism, but it also comes with more than a few interesting facts. Check out these features that make lavender unique.
Although it may not look like it, lavender is a member of the mint family! That’s why the plant sports square stems. However, you don’t have to worry about lavender taking over your garden like you do with peppermint or spearmint.
There are many different types of lavender, and each species has a unique look and ideal growing conditions. While there are close to 50 lavender species, English and French lavender are the two varieties most commonly grown in gardens. English lavender is the more fragrant of the two, but it’s hardy down to zone four. French lavender can only survive winters in zone seven and above, and the flowers bloom for a longer period than those of English lavender.
A final fun fact about lavender relates to the flower’s color. Although light purple is by far the most common and popular lavender color, you can also find lavender in shades of white, blue, and even yellow!
Order Flowers from The Bouqs
Now that you know all about the lavender flower meaning, take a moment to learn about the symbolism behind other popular flowers. We’ve put together articles on peony symbolism and the meaning of roses to help get you started. After you learn about the meaning of various flowers, you’ll be better able to choose a bouquet that matches the message you wish to send.
We offer a wide variety of bouquets that include flowers such as roses, tulips, ranunculus, and sunflowers. And with an online marketplace, we make it easy to order flower delivery online! So whether you’re looking for a fun flower arrangement for your friend’s birthday or a calming arrangement for yourself, you can find an option (or two) that you’ll love.
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