Gladiolus stands for strength of character, sincerity and honour, while the poppy carries meanings of imagination, restful ease and remembrance. Strength and softness together — very August.
Gladiolus stands for strength of character, sincerity and honour, while the poppy carries meanings of imagination, restful ease and remembrance. Strength and softness together — very August.
August-born people are strong-willed and honest, with a fierce instinct to protect the people they love. They carry themselves with confidence, but a rich imagination runs underneath.
Gladiolus takes its name from the Latin gladius, 'small sword', after its blade-like leaves — it has long been nicknamed the sword lily and linked in lore with Roman gladiators. The poppy was tied to the god of sleep in Greek myth, and after the First World War the red poppy became a symbol of remembrance through the poem 'In Flanders Fields'.
With their tall, dramatic stems, gladioli make a superb congratulations flower for promotions or grand openings. Cut poppies such as Iceland poppies suit gentler celebrations beautifully.