A basic requirement of florist shops is the purchasing of flowers to suit the preferences of their customers. The flower market, like other agriculture markets, is subject to many fluctuations due to natural factors, supply and demand, and fashion. Learning how to buy in such a way as to best serve a variety of clients while earning a profit is not a simple skill.

Knowing how to create the wreaths, bouquets, and other more complicated arrangements clients will ask for is essential to florists. The flowers sold in florist shops typically represent the varieties abundantly available in the season but also include blossoms flown in from around the world. Basic varieties include roses, tulips, irises, and lilies.

Wreaths can be made out of many different types of flowers and plants. Typically, a florist will organize flowers by season and holiday. Flowers have various different meanings in different cultures which florists are keenly aware of. The holidays and events for which flowers are used vary. Poppies are used to remember fallen soldiers only in England and the Commonwealth countries.

The cultural meaning of colors also strongly affects the choice and use of flowers. People often prefer flowers that are associated with their ethnic group or country, and various colors may have special meanings of luck or death or love or other basic human traits.

A flower such as a red rose might to some mean love, but to others it might be considered indecent or simply puzzling. The vastly divergent views on the color white can lead to major flower issues. White is viewed as standing for death in many Asian cultures but is considered a symbol of purity and innocence in many European and American cultures. Such differences can lead to difficult issues when a bouquet of white lilies, for example, is delivered.

Many people, however, don't know what flowers or their colors symbolize. To them, it's just a pretty arrangement to enjoy. Or maybe their favorite color is yellow, so they always buy yellow roses. Or lavender goes with their wedding colors, so they choose the chrysanthemum to carry down the aisle. For many ordinary people, flowers are chosen based on aesthetic appeal, rather than any meaning behind the color or variety of flower.

Here is a short list of popular flowers, and what they are said to mean.

Roses

Pink, Friendship

Red, Passionate Love

Red and White, Unity

White, Purity

Yellow, Zealous

Tulips

Pink, Caring

Purple, Royalty

Red, Declaration of Love

White, Forgiveness

Yellow, Hopelessly in love

Lily

Calla, Regal

Casablanca, Celebration

Day, Enthusiasm

Stargazer, Ambition

Chrysanthemum

Bronze, Excitement

White, Truth

Red, Sharing

Yellow, Secret Admirer

Carnation

Pink, Gratitude

Red, Flashy

Striped, Refusal

White, Remembrance

Yellow, Cheerful

Baby's Breath, Festivity

Alstroemeria, Aspiring

Daffodil, Chivalry

Delphinium, Boldness

Daisy, Innocence

Gardenia, Joy

Geranium, Comfort

Holly, Domestic Happiness

Iris, Inspiration

Ivy, Fidelity

Orchid, Delicate Beauty

Snapdragon, Presumptuous

Star of Bethlehem, Hope

Stephanotis, Good Luck

Violet, Faithfulness

Hopefully this will help in your quest to send the perfect bouquet of flowers to that special someone. You might even include a list of meanings, so that they know exactly what your feelings for them are.