The Meaning of August Flowers: Gladiolus
The flower associated with the summer month of August is the majestic gladiolus. Presenting on a tall spike of a stem, this flower can grow up to 4ft tall. The beautiful shades of pastel pinks, blues and purples, and vibrant shades of orange and red make the gladiolus a striking feature in any garden, especially when it was cut and placed in vases. Discover the meaning behind the August flower and how best to use the bloom in flower bouquets by just reading the full article.
What’s in a Name?
The gladiolus derives its name from gladius, which is Latin for sword. The sword-like shape of the plant’s leaves certainly warrants the name, but the meanings behind this stunning flower are a lot more welcoming.
Love at First Sight
It is said that gifting these should be a spontaneous act as the flower symbolises love at first sight. It would indeed be a most romantic gesture to gift them to someone you have only just met and would make for a great story. However, besides this romantic meaning, the gladiolus has many other meanings also.
The Many Meanings of the Gladiolus
Not only does the gladiolus have meanings for the flower in general, but there are also different meanings for each colour which is useful when planning which flowers to be delivered on certain occasions. Generally, the meanings of the gladiolus are persistence, infatuation, the strength of character, faithfulness and integrity. The red flowers symbolise love, pink compassion, purple charm and grace, yellow joy, and white innocence.
Wedding Flowers
August is an extremely popular month for weddings, and flowers are usually cheapest in the month that they bloom. If you are on a budget, the gladiolus could be the cheap flower option, you are searching for with regards to your wedding décor. As they are available from florists in such a variety of colours, you won’t have any difficulties choosing the right ones for your colour scheme.
Flowers for Friends
Yellow is a vibrant and joyful colour and as the yellow gladiolus means joy, they would be the perfect choice to send to friends who are celebrating something. This could be anything from a promotion at work or a birthday, and it is certain that your friend will be delighted to receive such vibrant flowers.
Birthday Flowers
As the gladiolus is the birth flower of August, it makes sense to gift them to loved ones with birthdays in this month. Choose a bouquet in their favourite colour, or send a mix of shades for a spectacular bouquet. If it is the birthday of your partner, husband or wife, send them red gladiolus as a change from the usual red roses.
A Flower of Healing
In England many centuries ago, the roots of the gladiolus were used to heal wounds and to draw out splinters and thorns. However, it is now known that the roots can cause rashes and irritation and so it is not advisable to attempt to mimic ancient medicinal rituals with this flower. Yet, certain species of gladioli are still used in medicines today, especially by herbalists who claim that the plant can cure many ailments including colds and constipation. It is important that you don’t attempt to use the flower in this way yourself but to rely on qualified herbalists to advise you should you be interested in the medicinal benefits of certain species of the flower.
The gladiolus is a modern and thoughtful gift for friends and family members alike. In addition to giving these blooms as gifts, celebrate August’s birth flower and bring the beautiful blooms into your home this summer.