Symbols & Sun Lovers: Gazania Flower Meaning Explored
Gazania rigens (the treasure flower) is a treasure of South Africa. The flowers feature vibrant, cheerful-looking blossoms, evergreen foliage, and an interesting history of etymology and symbolic meaning. This guide will take you through everything you need to know about Gazania flower meaning and symbolism in the language of flowers.
Gazania (Treasure Flowers) Symbolism – Key Takeaways
In the language of flowers, gazania symbolizes good fortune, wealth, and riches. Also known as the treasure flower, it showcases an array of color tones that take on additional symbolic meanings. As such, gazania blossoms symbolize excitement, friendship, optimism, and purity in addition to their traditional symbolic meaning associated with good fortune and wealth.
Etymology
According to definitions from Oxford Languages, the origin of the genus name, Gazania, is a modern Latin adaptation, naming the genus of plants after the 15th-century Greek scholar, Theodorus Gaza. The specific name, rigens, is Latin for rigid, stiff, or unbending.
It’s not completely clear why Gazania rigens is commonly called the treasure flower. However, there are some theories. Some believe that the term treasure is associated with the gold color of the flowers, while others think it could be associated with the word gaza itself. In the Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, “gaza” (a word of Persian origin) refers to treasure, riches, and the royal treasury.
So, although the Gazania genus gets its “Gaza” from a person’s name, it may have become associated with the word gaza and treasure over time.
Gazania Meaning and Symbolism
Given Gazania rigens common name, treasure flower, it is not really surprising to learn that these flowers symbolize wealth, riches, good fortune, and treasure.
Treasure Flowers in the Language of Flowers
The treasure flower or Gazania rigens was conspicuously excluded from the various floriography (language of flowers) texts from the Victorian era. As a result, this flower was not assigned an official meaning in the language of flowers.
Although gazania flowers were not included in the Victorian language of flowers, some of its cousins from the Asteraceae plant family were assigned symbolic meanings in the floral communication system. These included aster (afterthought or variety), daisy (innocence), and sunflower (haughtiness or adoration).
Gazania Colors and Their Symbolic Meanings
Gazania rigens and its cultivars and hybrids bloom in shades of orange, yellow, and white. However, other species of gazania flowers also feature shades of red and pink. In the language of flowers, color plays a vital role in symbolic meaning.
- Red – Red flowers are most commonly associated with romantic love, passion, and true love.
- Orange – Orange flowers symbolize enthusiasm, excitement, energy, joy, and optimism.
- Yellow – In flowers, yellow is the color of happiness, positivity, optimism, friendship, and loyalty.
- Pink – In flowers, pink can symbolize love, but it is more often associated with gentle affection, gentleness, and femininity.
- White – White is often a symbol of mourning and sympathy in flowers. It can also represent purity, chastity, innocence, faith, and spirituality.
Depending on the colors of the blooms, gazania flowers can also take on these symbolic meanings. So, Gazania rigens blossoms could symbolize excitement, friendship, optimism, and purity in addition to their traditional symbolic meaning associated with good fortune and wealth.
Suitable Gifting Occasions
Treasure flowers almost always make a wonderful gift or choice for a bouquet or live plant. They are a smart way to tell any recipient (family member, friend, coworker, teacher, mentor, etc.) how much you treasure them.
Since they symbolize treasure, wealth, riches, and good fortune, gazania flowers are the perfect gift for any person whom you want to wish abundance and good luck in life or in a new endeavor. In this respect, they make a wonderful housewarming, engagement, wedding, new job, promotion, new baby, or congratulatory present.
These cheerful blossoms also make an excellent “get well” present, as their vibrant faces are sure to lift any recipient’s spirits.
Gazania Flower Meaning FAQs:
What do gazania flowers symbolize?
Gazania flowers symbolize good fortune, wealth, and riches – hence the common name, treasure flower.
Do gazania flowers symbolize love?
In the language of flowers, Gazania flowers do not symbolize love; gazania (treasure flowers) symbolize riches, wealth, and good fortune.
Do gazania flowers come back every year?
Gazania flowers are winter-hardy, grow as perennials, and come back yearly in USDA hardiness zones 9 through 11. In other growing zones, they can be grown as annuals.
How long do gazania flowers last?
When grown in USDA hardiness zones 9 through 11, gazania flowers can bloom from spring until winter. In other growing zones, gazania flowers bloom from late summer or early spring until fall.
Are gazania flowers toxic?
Gazania flowers are not considered to be toxic. Although they aren’t technically poisonous, ingesting them can cause significant gastrointestinal discomfort.
Gazania Flower Meaning: The Final Word
Whether you grow Gazania rigens in your garden and containers or enjoy them in bright and beautiful floral arrangements, you’ll find that this flower is truly one of Mother Earth’s treasures. The blossoms of the treasure flower will be sure to create richness in your life either through the good fortune they symbolize or the beauty and color they add to your surroundings.