When there’s somebody you want to thank, there are lots of ways to do it. What’s the best way so that your appreciation will be understood and remembered?
You can fire off a text or an email, which in all likelihood will be read, nodded at and deleted. You can send a card, which at least will probably around at their home or office for a few days. You can give a gift card for an online retailer or for a local coffee shop.
But how about sending flowers? After all, who doesn’t like to get flowers? If they take your gift card to the coffee shop they’re going to order the same mocha latte they had the last six times, but a well-chosen flower can be something they never would have thought of.
They can put your cut flowers in a vase and, for days or weeks, be reminded of how you appreciate what they did for you. If you give a potted plant, you’ve made an addition that might brighten up their space for months or even years.
Most people say “thank you” when someone does something for them, but don’t you want to go just a little bit further? Don’t you want to put the same kind of thoughtfulness into what you do for them as they put in for you?
Whether it’s a romantic partner, a family member, a business associate or a friend, there’s a flower that’s right for every occasion of gratitude. Here are 30 different ways to say thank you, merci beaucoup, grazie, danke, gracias or mahalo nui loa in a language that everyone loves.
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Roses
Many people associate roses with romance, but there’s nothing wrong with using these beauties to say “thank you.” Sometimes the oldest and most traditional forms of expression are the best. A bouquet in full bloom is always an appreciated gesture. What color to choose?
They have different meanings: peach represents appreciation, pink expresses admiration and friendship and yellow is a shout-out of joy and gratitude. And if your friend is a gardener, what could be a better way to show gratitude than a live bush for their very own garden.
Chrysanthemums
It’s not just a Mothers’ Day flower; it’s a year-round symbol of optimism, friendship, and joy. What a timeless way to express thanks: a flower with a written history of over 3,000 years. Its venerated name is Greek for “golden flower,” but there are many more colors today. If you’re thanking your friend with a dinner, a single petal at the bottom of a wine glass suggests a healthy, long life. It’s also the birth flower for November and the designated official flower of Chicago.
Carnations
Their history of cultivation is almost as ancient as the chrysanthemum. Like the rose, carnations can be a symbol of love, and like mums, they’re associated with Mothers’ Day, but they also can represent good luck (white) or admiration (light red), sentiments you’d certainly want to express to someone who deserves thanks. Cut carnations can last up to two weeks. They blend nicely in arrangements, and, as a bonus, they’re edible as decorations on cakes or in salads.
Alstroemeria
You can almost never go wrong with alstroemeria, no matter the occasion. Even people who don’t know what they’re called recognize them instantly. These beautiful bloomers, also called Peruvian lilies because they’re from the Andes, are as good as it gets in retaining their beauty in a vase. They’re great either by themselves or in an arrangement, and your expression of appreciation will last a couple of weeks. There are about 50 species and almost 200 varieties, plenty of colors and patterns to choose from.
Baby’s Breath
Many people think of the baby’s breath as a white filler, but it comes in many colors, and filling out an arrangement isn’t all it can do. They furnish a pot quite nicely by themselves, and they need little help to make a creative hanging basket. Surprise and delight your friend by showing this versatile blossom in a whole new light.
Tulips
Like so many flowers, tulips symbolize love, but that isn’t the end of their meaning. Pink can stand for happiness and confidence, and yellow for cheerful thoughts. Express your appreciation either with cut tulips in a vase or with the bulbs attached in a pot. The latter is a gift that can last for many years. Though we associate them with Holland, they originally came there from Turkey.
Orchids
A special flower for special appreciation for a special person. In addition to love, orchids symbolize luxury, beauty, and strength. They’ve long been associated with magnificence and splendor. They show that you’ve gone just a little bit further to thank someone who went further for you. Orchids are a delight to display and enjoy either as s single flower or in an arrangement of several.
Daisies
Daisy is not a pretentious flower, but it’s certainly one of the happiest. The common daisy with the yellow center and the white petals is far from the only choice. There was a time that “daisy” was a slang term for something excellent, and in a thoughtfully set arrangement, they’ll tell your excellent friend just what you think. Daisy leaves are edible and some think daisy tea is medicinal.
Lilac
In many towns and villages, a sure sign of spring is the wafting smell from the lilacs that have graced their backyards and lot corners for years. But some sprigs of cut lilac make a thoughtful gift as well, especially for someone who lives where they miss out on the annual purple extravaganza. Both the color and aroma are timeless.
Camellia
It’s almost a rose but not quite. There are thousands of varieties of this Asian flower, and most have no aroma. They grow wild in the East and are sometimes called the “Japanese rose.” Choose one with some perfection of form and color to express the perfection of gratitude. It’s not just a symbol of love but also a statement that the recipient is well-liked.
Iris
The rich blue iris may be the best-known example, but the iris comes in even more colors than the irises in people’s eyes. This plant can be potted and repotted and grown indoors or out. It’s a gift that will multiply and prosper.
Amaryllis
The kid with the lisp in “The Music Man” couldn’t say it, but you don’t have to pronounce it to appreciate it. You can give them in pots or as stems. Even after they’re cut they’ll bloom for about three weeks. Their height and sturdiness symbolize strength and determination. They’re often given in recognition of achievement, which makes them especially appropriate to thank someone for working hard on an accomplishment.
Christmas Cactus
This isn’t for everybody, but if you owe thanks to someone who would be intrigued by an interesting botanical project, the Christmas cactus may be just right. The branches can get up to three feet long and with proper care, they’ll bloom every holiday season. Red flowers are common but they can also be pink, white, yellow, or purple. They need the right soil, light, and water and they should be repotted every year.
Venus Fly-trap
This plant really isn’t for everyone. Your dear Aunt Matilda would be flabbergasted. But if you want an unusual thank-you gift for a kid, why not favor them with this odd carnivore. The plants are fussy, so the youngster will need to understand the sunlight, soil, water, and dormancy requirements, but they’ll be rewarded with a “pet” that will make them the envy of their friends.
African Violets
These East African natives symbolize loyalty, devotion, and faithfulness, all attributes in people we appreciate. They’re a bit particular, especially with soil and potting, but following a few simple practices will provide a lovely reward for your friend’s tinkering. They come in several pottable sizes, and a relationship with the rewarding plants can be habit-forming. The soft, fuzzy leaves are a perfect backdrop for the blossoms.
Daffodils
Especially suitable for thanks over a happy occasion. What’s more cheerful than a daffodil? Like other bulb plants, these are appreciated cut or potted. Your friend can enjoy them for their brief yellow reign, up to three weeks in the right conditions, or regenerate them from the bulb year after year. Don’t pull the leaves as soon as the flowers drop; leave them for a few weeks of photosynthesis to enrich the bulb for another round of growth.
Ranunculus
Also known as buttercups, these are a symbol of charm and attractiveness. They don’t only come in the signature yellow, but can also be white, pink or red. Another name is coyote’s eyes, from a legend that Old Coyote fashioned a new pair of eyes from this flower after the eagle stole the ones he was born with.
Anemones
Anemones close up when a storm is coming, which leads to them symbolizing protection from danger. A vaseful of the multicolored flowers will continue to grow even after they’re cut. Lukewarm as opposed to room temperature water will make them bloom more quickly. These winter bloomers are often at their best when other flowers aren’t.
Pansies
A jolly flower that everybody loves. They can be a gift giver’s expression of admiration as well as love, so are great for thanking someone you look up to. Maybe it’s because their happy, smiling “faces” seem to be looking up with happiness and delight. They’re also associated with thoughtfulness, remembrance, and consideration.
Gerbera Daisies
Daisies are nice, but if you want to think big and thank in a big way, step up to Gerbera daisies. They’re actually closer to the sunflower family than to traditional daisies. They’re amazingly popular for giving. Only roses, mums, carnations, and tulips are gifted more. They tend to show up for special occasions, so make your friend’s home or office a special place with a few of these.
Blue Hydrangeas
As shrubs in a garden, these hydrangeas blossom blue under only the most ideal conditions, but you can say ‘thank you” by putting a few ready-to-go blue “popcorn balls” in your friend’s home. Sometimes blue hydrangeas symbolize apology, after a legend of a Japanese emperor who gave hydrangeas to the family of a girl whom he had neglected. So these might be a good choice for a belated or bashful expression of gratitude.
Peace Lilies
These potted plants are an excellent form of decor in a home or office. They can be large: a big plant to express a big thanks. They tolerate underwatering but not overwatering; add water only if their soil is dry to the touch. Peace lilies do well in poor light, although the white “flowers” are more likely to appear where the light is stronger. The white part is not actually a flower but a form of a leaf that grows as a hood over the flower.
Begonias
Begonias symbolize the connection between people, so if your friend’s kindness and generosity have really hit home on a personal level, this is a good choice. In many varieties, the leaves are as striking as the flowers. Let the soil dry out between waterings and mist the leaves to prevent droppage. Give them in a pot, or they make great hanging plants as well. In some societies, they’re a sign of justice and peace.
Bromeliads
The pineapple is a bromeliad, but it’s the only fruit that fits that description. Most bromeliads have colorful flowers spiking up from a bed of foliage. They like bright light but limited direct sun, and your friend can set them in pots inside or outside in warm weather. They propagate via offshoots or “pups” that can be removed and repotted. Like many tropical plants, they represent luxury, prosperity, and prestige.
Jade
Jades are succulents, they’re easy to grow indoors and they last a long time. You may be giving a gift that will be passed down through generations. Use a sturdy pot so they don’t get top-heavy and fall over. Many varieties have a thick, scaly trunk that makes them look like little trees, and they can be trained into interesting shapes. They like the warm, dry conditions found in most homes but are subject to rot if overwatered.
Dahlias
Growing dahlias is a hobby that has addicted quite a few gardeners. Cut dahlia stems with their look-at-me blooms put some life into any house, and you can also give bulbs in the fall or early spring. If your friend isn’t already a dahlia lover they may become one. They can stand for strength, creativity, dignity, elegance, change, and solid inner values.
Gladiolas
Gladiolas or gladioli? Just call them glads. These stand up tall and strong just like the person you want to show appreciation for. In giving cut glads, choose stems with blooms not fully open. Remove any foliage that might wind up underwater, put them in a vase at least one third their height, and use a few rocks as a stabilizer if necessary. Keep them in a warm spot until they open then move them to a cooler place so the blooms don’t dehydrate.
Lavender
When you give lavender, you give aroma as well as beauty. The foliage is also aromatic and just about as pretty as the flowers. They like south-facing windows and three to four hours of direct sunlight daily. Rotate the pot once a week to keep growth and flowering even. When you harvest the flowers new growth generates and increases their bushiness.
Primrose
It’s not prim and it’s not a rose, but it’s just about as pretty as one. With these happy little houseplants, you can show your appreciation in any color from red to yellow to orange to lavender. However, most of these plants last indoors only a little longer than the flowers do. Your friend can throw then out once they’ve enjoyed the bloom or stick them in the garden to see if they come back.
Forget-me-nots
Is this what you want to say? Maybe, but surely you want your friend to know that you haven’t forgotten them. These blue beauties will continue to remind that person how grateful you are. The tiny clusters of flowers and their gray-green stems need plenty of circulation so it’s best if each one has its own container. They’re pest resistant and can thrive even in poor soil.