Flowers are a great way to add some color and character to your space. Sometimes, the beauty of these lovely plants can be confused with fragility, but this isn’t the case with Azaleas.
These lovely flowering plants can tolerate multiple growing conditions, even the tough ones like receiving minimal water.
The beauty of Azalea flowers makes them ideal for decorations, bouquets and also an ideal gift for plant lovers. While these plants thrive outdoors in gardens, they can also do well indoors.
Before you decide to give someone these beautiful flowers, you should know what they mean or symbolize. Flowers may have different meanings based on their color, but most of these meanings are positive.
Some of the common meanings are fragility, abundance, and homesickness, among others. Read on to find out more about the different meanings of Azaleas.
Symbolism of Azalea Flower
When it comes to the Azalea, people associate it with different meanings or feelings. The first common symbolism of Azaleas is homesickness; the desire to return home or fond memories of home. When gifted to a family member, it’s a way of telling them that you miss them.
Azaleas are also a symbol of elegance and wealth when used as decoration. Sometimes, the flowers are also a symbol of feminine beauty and gentleness and, as such, can be used to celebrate women.
For those with dreams of succeeding or people starting a new venture or a new career, getting them Azaleas may be the perfect gesture as it also represents abundance and good luck.
Most of these signs are positive, but there is the other side of the coin.
In many cultures, Azaleas are flowers that signify impending doom. In fact, they’re sent as death threats. The high toxicity levels in the flowers serve as a warning to whoever receives them that their days are numbered, especially if they’re in a black vase.
Since the petals of the flowers are highly fragile, Azaleas are also a symbol of fragile love. However, the flowers can still flourish and produce numerous blooms in the future.
Symbolism of Azalea Flower Based on Color
It’s not uncommon for the meaning of flowers to vary depending on the color. Different flower colors have different meanings, and if you don’t know what a certain flower color means, you may find yourself unintentionally offending the people you give them to.
Red and pink Azalea symbolize passion or true love. These flowers are perfect for a romantic occasion and are often gifted during Valentine’s Day. Another cheerful Azalea color is purple, which symbolizes gratitude and loyalty, marks of true friendship.
White Azaleas are a symbol of purity and innocence. They can be gifted to new mothers or used for decorations at weddings.
Looking to add positive energy, jovial mood, and inspire good relationships? Then yellow Azaleas are the perfect flowers for you. They add some color and positive moods to your space.
History and Origin of Azaleas
Before we look into the history of these versatile flowers, let’s first discuss what the name Azalea means. This name has Greek origins, where it translates to dry. The name is quite befitting to the plant since it not only survives but thrives in dry conditions.
However, despite the name having Greek origins, the Azalea doesn’t originate from Greece. In fact, these plants have been cultivated for over a millennia in Eastern Asia. Legend has it that a Chinese emperor discovered them and were then cultivated by Buddhist monks.
Carl Linnaeus, a Swedish naturalist, divided Azalea and Rhododendron into separate genera in the 18th century. This is most likely because the two are differentiated by stamen counts in their flowers. Later, Azalea and rhododendrons were classified into the genus Rhododendron by a taxonomist after other glaring similarities were noticed.
These plants are native to Europe, North America, and Eastern Asia. Azaleas were first native to Japan and only began appraising in Europe during the 20th century. Collector E.H. Wilson imported 50 Evergreen plants into the United Kingdom in 1918. Several of these plants later found their way into the United States.
Nowadays, Azaleas can be found in different places all over the world.
Cultural Significance of Azaleas
Every culture has different meanings and Characteristics about Azalea.
The art of Floriogrpahy, which is also known as the language of flowers, was popularized in the Victorian era. At this time, people shied away from openly expressing their feelings as it was considered impolite. As such, messages of love (or death threats) were expressed through flowers.
According to the Victorians, Azaleas represented temperance and wisdom.
While this is a beautiful symbol in the United Kingdom, Azaleas are cultivated mostly because they are low-maintenance plants that don’t need frequent watering. However, the Chinese have a far more profound reason for cultivating Azaleas.
In China, Azaleas are a representation of women. The Chinese believe that the plant got its name from connotations of melancholy or introspection.
Other than this, the plants also represent memories of good times at home, good luck, and thoughtfulness. Azaleas are also grown as Bonsai.
Azalea Myth and Stories
Not only do they have interesting meanings, but Azaleas also have interesting myths about their actual origins. Here are some of the most common ones.
Failed Kingdom
One Chinese myth states that Azaleas appear when a Cuckoo sings. In this myth, there was once a terrible king who knew nothing about leading a Kingdom. In the course of his reign, he made a lot of people angry, and one angry warrior ended up killing the king.
Right before his death, the king transformed into a cuckoo. It’s believed that the cuckoo began singing in pain and anger and encouraged the Azalea flower to grow. At first, the flowers bloomed in white, but over time, they turned into a blood-red color.
True Love
In this myth, a courageous Chinese emperor yearned for true love and companionship despite his victories in battle. One day, he received some Azalea flowers and was mesmerized by their beauty.
He decided to grow the flower in his garden and, as soon as the Azaleas started blooming, he met his true love. Ever since, the flowers have been believed to symbolize love, abundance, and happiness.
Mad Honey
This isn’t a fictional legend or myth but rather a practice that has existed as early as the 1700s.
Even though Azaleas are marvelous in their beauty and may seem sweet, they’re actually highly toxic. The toxicity level of Azaleas is so high that they’re used to feed bees, which will then create mad honey due to the toxins in the flowers.
At first, this honey was used for medical purposes, but it was soon discovered that the honey had mind-altering side effects.
Since the 1700s, the honey was sold as “deli bal” by traders. At this time, honey was added to alcoholic drinks to give one a more potent head rush. However, mad honey can also cause some hallucinations.
Wrapping Up
Now that you know different Azalea flowers and their meaning, I’m sure you can select the right flower for the right occasion to gift your friends or family (just don’t put them in a black vase!).
Azaleas are amazing flowers to grow and give. The versatility of their colors will bring a lot of beauty and color to your garden.
Since they are easy to grow and maintain, you can try to plant some, even as a beginner. You need only ensure that you grow them in acidic soil in a place where they receive plenty of indirect sunlight. Water them from time to time and, if possible, fertilize them during the growing season.
What more could you wish for than a flowering low-maintenance plant?!!
