Flowers and their vibrant colours have served as a universal means of communication since a time far beyond our memories. Their hues transmit emotions, tell stories, and add meaning to our lives in so many ways. Brightly coloured blooms naturally lift our spirits, while softer, subtler tones bring balance and calm. Yet, the role of colour runs even deeper—it has a profound effect on our subconscious, influencing everything from our mood to the decisions we make.
For the creatively inclined, the psychology of colour is an essential consideration in selecting and arranging flowers for events, décor, and special occasions. This connection between colour and emotion is reinforced by modern trends in floral design and colour theory, such as the eagerly anticipated announcement of the Pantone Colour of the Year. This year’s choice (2025), Mocha Mousse, exemplifies the warm, grounding tones that resonate with contemporary tastes.
In this article, we’ll explore the meanings behind different flower colours, their emotional impact, and how trending hues like Mocha Mousse inspire fresh, creative expressions. By the end, you’ll feel inspired and ready to embrace the blooming beauty of floral colours in all their glory!
Colours of Flowers: Meanings and Symbolism
Let’s begin by taking a look at the symbolism of traditional flower colours:
Red
The iconic colour of love and passion, red flowers, tend to symbolise deep emotions, desire, and courage. It’s a great colour choice for winter weddings because it exudes warmth, passion, and romance and contrasts beautifully with the cool, often stark tones of the season. Its rich, vibrant hue adds a touch of drama to the event while complementing traditional festive decor like evergreen foliage and gold and silver accents. Love is not this colour’s only association though; it can also signify respect and admiration too. Red flowers are not just limited to roses either, there are plenty of bold energetic, beautiful alternatives for a blooming romance.
Pink
Pink flowers are often seen as gentle and nurturing, symbolising grace, gratitude, sweetness, and young love. They’re a popular choice for expressing admiration or affection in a softer, more understated way than red. A perfect choice for a spring or summer wedding too to represent the new growth in nature during those months. Pink flowers are available in several varieties, from allium and cosmos to dahlia and delphiniums, check out our extensive range of pink artificial flowers for inspiration.
White
White flowers stand for purity, innocence, and spirituality. They are commonly used in weddings to signify new beginnings and are also used in remembrance or sympathy arrangements to evoke peace and reverence. White is also great for creating a calm, balanced and serene atmosphere, so if you need to add some zen to your floral creations, white flowers, like our white artificial hydrangeas, would make a great addition to your displays.
Yellow
If your goal is to convey joy, friendship, and positivity, yellow flowers like sunflowers and daffodils are the perfect choice. Radiating warmth, cheer, and optimism, yellow blooms are ideal for celebrations, get-well wishes, or simply brightening someone's day.
For summery displays, our mini dried craspedia, artificial sunflowers, and dried helichrysum create stunning arrangements that exude energy and vibrancy. In winter, yellow roses, immortelle, and gypsophila bring a touch of warmth and optimism, beautifully balancing the cooler tones of the season.
Orange
The more vibrant orange hues will add bundles of energy and excitement to your arrangements, whilst the more delicate shades will add that subtle touch of creativity, enthusiasm and that all important zest for life. Autumn is the ideal season to embrace orange tones. Not only is it a seasonal favourite and easy to find, but it also provides a much-needed mental lift as the days grow shorter, the nights darker, and we anticipate the festive cheer of Christmas.
This stunning bouquet combining foxtail lilies, red dahlias, orange hibiscus, orange cosmos and yellow marigolds is a great example of a traditional autumnal coloured arrangement (artificial):
Purple
Long associated with royalty and luxury, purple flowers symbolise dignity, admiration, and success. They can also convey mystery and enchantment, making them a unique choice for special occasions.
Blue
Blue flowers are calming and serene, representing peace, stability, and tranquillity. They are often used to encourage relaxation and contemplation. Blue is also known as the colour of trust and dependability, so using blue in your brand colour palette for example, can evoke reliability and help your customers relax and trust your brand.
Green
Though less common, the natural hues of green flowers symbolise renewal, health, and growth. They evoke a sense of harmony and balance, often complementing other colours in floral arrangements rather than stealing the limelight themselves. However, foliage remains the mainstay for incorporating green into floral displays, offering endless possibilities for texture, depth, and structure. Whether using fresh, dried, artificial, or preserved foliage—or a thoughtful mix—these versatile elements are essential for creating stunning designs.
For example, preserved eucalyptus paired with ruscus can lend a timeless elegance to any arrangement, while artificial monstera leaves can add a bold, modern touch. Atlas Flowers offers a vast selection of quality foliage to suit every style, including favourites like olive branches, and preserved ferns. With such variety available, incorporating green tones into your designs has never been easier or more inspiring.
Cultural Variations in Flower Colours
It is important to highlight here that flower colours hold diverse meanings across cultures, reflecting unique traditions and values. For instance, in Western cultures, red flowers often symbolise love and passion as we have spoken about above, while in many Asian cultures, red signifies good fortune and prosperity. White flowers are associated with purity and new beginnings in weddings for some, yet in countries like Japan and China, they are often linked to mourning and remembrance. Yellow flowers may symbolise friendship and joy in Western contexts, but in some parts of Latin America, they can be associated with separation or jealousy.
When choosing flower colours for meaningful occasions or celebratory displays, remember to bear cultural variations in mind. Understanding local traditions will help avoid declaring your love for someone rather than wishing them luck!
The Psychology Behind Colours in Floral Design
It is well known fact that colours have a power effect on our emotions and moods, often influencing how we feel without us even realising it. By understanding the psychology of colour, interior designers and event organisers (to name but a few) can strategically influence the atmosphere, ambiance, and mood of a space, creating environments that align perfectly with their vision and purpose.
For example:
- Tranquillity and sophistication for hospitality interiors: For interior designers and hospitality owners aiming to create a serene and inviting atmosphere, flowers in soft blues, greens, and whites are ideal. These colours evoke calmness and balance, making them perfect for hotel lobbies, spas, or fine dining establishments. Artificial eucalyptus, preserved hydrangeas in soft blue tones, and white dried pampas grass can add a sophisticated touch while maintaining a low-maintenance aesthetic for high-traffic areas.
- Passion and drama for wedding and event decor: Event organisers and wedding planners can use deep reds, burgundies, and golds to create a sense of passion and luxury. These colours are particularly impactful for winter weddings or glamorous evening events. Preserved red roses, burgundy amaranthus, and gold-painted dried palm leaves can form striking statement pieces, leaving a memorable impression on guests.
- Energy and optimism for retail displays: Retailers looking to create vibrant, eye-catching displays might choose bright yellows, oranges, and pinks to convey energy, happiness, and positivity. These colours are ideal for summer promotions or cheerful seasonal themes. Artificial sunflowers, dried craspedia, and preserved orange-coloured baby’s breath can be used in bold arrangements to attract attention and enhance customer engagement.
Using Colour Trends to Inspire Floral Design
For floral designers, understanding how trends work enables them to connect with their clients and offer creative solutions that speak well to their personalities.
Colour trends:
Modern colour trends, such as the Pantone Colour of the Year, can influence floral arrangements hugely. In 2025, Pantone® crowned Mocha Mousse its colour of the year and described it as a muted blend of purple, blue, and grey.
Mocha Mousse is said to symbolise sophistication, serenity, and introspection, and it is a sure bet that we’ll be seeing this versatile colour in magazines, on the catwalk, in our interiors, gardens, planting schemes, commercial displays, as well as in floral arrangements for modern weddings, special events, and even company branding throughout the year and beyond.
Seasonal trends:
Flower colours often mirror the seasons, with soft pastels in spring, vibrant hues in summer, warm earthy tones in autumn, and cool blues and whites in winter. This timeless trend remains ever-popular, as seasonal designs not only stay current but also align with the natural availability of blooms. Floral designers can effortlessly capture the essence of each season, creating arrangements that feel authentic and relevant year-round.
Complementary colours:
Using complementary colours can also hold power for designers. Combining complementary flower colours can create harmony or contrast in your floral arrangements. For example, choosing varying shades of the same colour (e.g. light pink to deep magenta) can create a sophisticated, layered look that’s visually appealing and easy to coordinate.
Pairing vibrant blooms with neutral elements like Mocha Mousse, or whites, creams, or greens will ground the arrangement and prevent it from feeling overwhelming. Dust off that colour wheel – it's a great tool for finding complementary colours. Pantone® suggests the following complementary floral colours for Mocha Mousse:
Image: floral Pathways screenshot from the Pantone® website
Colour psychology isn’t just about flowers—it plays a vital role in many areas, including a company’s branding. At Atlas Flowers, we work with a wide range of businesses and understand how challenging it can be to create a successful brand that truly stands out. If you’re planning to launch a new venture this year or considering rebranding your existing business, be sure to explore our blog, Colour Psychology for Branding: What Businesses Need to Know. It’s packed with insights that could help you make impactful and strategic branding decisions.
If you are thinking of exploring preserved, dried, or artificial flowers to achieve long-lasting colour displays or arrangements, you know who to call: 0330 912 8630 or info@atlasflowers.com.
About the author:
Rob Copsey
Rob Copsey is the founder of Atlas Flowers, a London-based wholesale supplier specialising in high-quality, sustainably sourced dried, preserved, and artificial flowers. With deep roots in horticulture and a family legacy in the flower industry spanning four generations, Rob has nurtured a lifelong passion for the natural world. Since launching Atlas Flowers in 2006, he has maintained a strong commitment to environmental responsibility, collaborating with growers worldwide to source exceptional products with minimal ecological impact. Under his leadership, Atlas Flowers has grown into one of the UK’s leading suppliers, known for providing unique, eco-friendly floral options to florists, retailers, and beyond.
Published: February 2025