We all know red roses are a classic symbol of true love. Beyond that, though, many of us aren’t sure of the symbolic meanings of flowers—and may fear accidentally sending the wrong message (especially in a budding relationship).

Usually we don’t need to worry. Although people in Victorian England were well aware of the symbolic meaning of dozens of flowers, today, most of us just appreciate a pretty bouquet. Still, it can be fun to know a little about the language of flowers, and mentioning their significance in an accompanying card or note may make the gift even more meaningful.

Here are some of the traditional meanings of flowers—and some ideas about who might appreciate them. Of course, if you know that a particular flower in a certain hue is someone’s favorite, then it’s always appropriate. In that case, it just means, “I know you and I love you”…and what could be more meaningful than that?

If you have friends from other countries, you might want to avoid giving them any yellow or white flowers, just to be on the safe side.

• Yellow blooms, as well as an even number of stems, may indicate bad luck or a breakup to someone from Russia or Ukraine.
• In China, yellow and white flowers, especially chrysanthemums, are used for funerals, and the number four is strongly linked to death. Mexicans may associate yellow flowers with memorial services as well.
• White chrysanthemums are also popular as funeral flowers in Belgium, Switzerland and Italy, and white carnations symbolize death in Japan.