What are some good "I'm sorry" flowers?
I know you are asking for flower meanings and you’ll get them, you’ll get a lot of them, but I would like to preface this list with that someone’s favourite flower or in any case a thoughtfully picked bouquet (in their favourite colour maybe) is also always a good idea for an apology.
For a character who barely knows anything about the person they’re apologising to or the meaning of flowers an attempt of being thoughtful is a good alternative. Florists often don’t know these meanings, but we do know that nevermind the meaning if someone adores a flower it’s instantly an awesome present. An apology bouquet/arrangement that your character can stand a 100% behind will have an indefinitely higher success rate even if it’s nothing fancy.
Alright, let’s go! I don’t know what they’re trying to apologise for or how the want to convey it, so I’ll try to cover as much ground as possible. Also I hope we’re not talking a 9 on an alphabetical scale! (If anyone has the original on hand, a link would be appreciated too.)
Allium - patience, unity, humility
Anemone - fragile, anticipation
Arbor vitae - true friendship (a hopeful wish?)
Asphodel - my regrets follow you to the grave
Bindweed (small and or white) - humility
Bittersweet nightshade - truth
Blue bell - constancy, sorrowful regret but also humilty, constancy, gratitude
Broom - humilty (but also neatness and adour)
Camellia - my destiny is in your hands, but also modest merit
Caramine - paternal error (could be taken as a form of acknowledgement of it)
Carnation (red) - my heart breaks
Chestnut - justice, do me justice (could be used in combination with expected retribution, or when a character would think only a penalty makes their apology mean something)
Chrysanthemum (white) - truth
Cinquefoil - maternal affection, beloved daughter (have them combine it with caramine)
Gum cistus - I shall die tomorrow (for the overly dramatic character)
Clove - dignity (an acknowledgment or dignity or to say they’re trying to preserve it here)
Columbine - folly, desertation, I cannot give thee up
Columbine (red) - anxious and trembling (as in one meaning, not two)
Convolvulus - uncertainty, bonds
Convovulus major - estinguished hopes
Crab-apple blossom - ill-tempered
Currant - thy frown will kill me
Daisy - innocence (are they innocent though? meaning has to handled with care)
Dock - patience (they could signify their own and their will to wait things to get better or the acceptance of the apology etc.)
Elm - dignity (see previous)
Eschsholzia (esch-schol-zia) - do not refuse me (risky, but good for characters stubborn as a mule)
Everlasting - peptual or never-ceasing remembrance (of what? you will have to choose for yourself, your muse sure will know)
Fern - sincerety, confidence
Fool’s parsley - silliness
Freesia - lasting friendship, innocence, trust
Fritillary (chequered) - persecution (as in being haunted by something in this case or maybe they’re apologising for persecution who am I to judge)
Geranium - true friend, stupidity, folly (all at once)
Geranium (clouded or dark) - melancholy
Geranium (horse-shoe leaf) - stupidity
Geranium (fish) - disappointed expectation
Geranium (scarlet) - folly, comforting, stupidity
Gladiolus - you pierce my heart, generosity, I’m sincere, flower of the gladiators
Hairbell - submission, grief, humility
Hazel - peace, reconcilation
Heart’s ease (purple) - you occupy my thoughts
Henbane - imperfection, fault
Honeysuckle (coral) - the colour of my fate)
Hyacinth (purple) - sorrowful, please forgive me
Ice plant - your looks freeze me
Iris - faith, thank you for your friendship (wishful thinking of theirs in hope it comes true?)
Carolina jasmine - seperation
Lalic (field, like an actual field of lalics) - humility
Lint - i feel my obligations
Lote tree - concord (a wish for such in this case)
Lotus leaf - recantation (of your character’s previously spoken words for example)
Marianthus - hope for better days
Marvel of peru - timidity
Peony - shame bashfullness, anger
Persicaria - restauration
Pomegranate - foolishness
Rose (deep red) - bashful shame
Rose (white and red) - unity
Snowdrop - friendship in trouble, consolation, hope
Straw (a single, broken) - rupture of a contract, dissension, broken agreement
Verbena (pink) - family union (wished for maybe?)
Violet (white) - candor, let’s take a chance
Volkameria - may you be happy
Willow (creeping) - love forsaken
For an accepted apology a sultan lilac (”I forgive you”) in combination with white tulpis (”forgiveness”) would go well.
As you can see Nonny the list is quite long, and I’ve only covered the basics. if they need to apologise for a certain behaviour or certain circumstances, it would helpful if you let us know more details, so we can try to give a more precise answer. However I do hope the above was helpful to you and your writing.
Disclaimer: This is intended as writing advice only. We are not responsible for incorrect messages received by the interpretation of flower language in real life.
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