This time of year gets people thinking about flowers (maybe you just gave some as aValentine's Day gift earlier this week!), but whether you're looking forward to planting some in your garden, choosing flowers for an event, or looking for the right flower for the right person, it can be helpful to know that flowers have meanings.

Okay, it's true that most people probably aren't going to know what the flowers you've chosen mean, but you can use them as inspiration or impress someone with your flower power wisdom.

Friendship

If you're looking for a way to cheer up a friend or want your garden to be cheerful and happy, there are a few flowers that do a better-than-average job.

Chrysanthemum

Let's be honest, chrysanthemum is a fun word to say. It's cheerful, which is perfect because chrysanthemums generally convey cheerfulness. That's why it's a perfect addition to a bouquet for a friend that you want to make smile.

Violet

You may or may not know someone named Chrysanthemum, but you've probably met or heard of someone named Violet. Since violets stand for dignity, affection, and nobility, it's no surprise that it would be popular as a name AND as a symbol of friendship and admiration.

Lily of the Valley

Lilies are beautiful flowers that can mean a range of different things. Lilies of the Valley, in particular, symbolize sweetness and a return to happiness, an extra special message in springtime.

I Love You

Of course there are plenty of flower meanings related tolove, some you might expect and some maybe not so much.

Red Rose

You don't have to look far to find that the red rose is a symbol of love. Chances are you've seen a bunch of them lately on your social media feeds from delighted recipients; you might even have a dozen sitting in a vase at home right now!

Jasmine

It might surprise you to find out that jasmine is as much a declaration of lover as roses. In fact, the jasmine symbolizes sweet love and beauty. What better way to say how you feel about a new romance, hm?

Fuschia

Your first experience with the word "fuschia" was probably on a crayon or colored pencil, but it's not just a color, it's a flower, and fuschia stands for "confiding love." For your long-term sweetheart, there's fewer better ways to express yourself.

I'm Sorry

Let's be real, we've all been there, right? You do something stupid, you even know it's stupid when it happens but you just can't seem to stop yourself. What now?

Purple Hyacinth

This one couldn't be more clear, at least to flower aficionados, but you probably want to write the words on a card too, just in case.

Purple hyacinths mean: "I'm sorry, please forgive me." If that's your message, saying it with purple hyacinths is a good choice.

Liatris

Liatris is another purple flower and flat out stands for "I'm Sorry." They're also bright and pretty and look amazing in a garden, so if you've angered a gardener, you might be able to make it up to it with this.

Or a garden gnome. Whatever works.

Yellow Rose

Roses again?! Yup. They're popular for a reason, and yellow roses in particular represent friendship and the "promise of a new beginning." 

If you've made someone angry, a yellow rose is as good as an olive branch. You're also more likely to find a yellow rose than an olive branch.

The bottom line, of course, is that a lot of people like flowers, and as long as you're not buying a dozen highly-pollenated beauties for someone with allergies, you really can't go wrong!