Brides-to-be and wedding planners alike know that every flower has a meaning. Flowers have been used throughout history to express emotions and symbolize virtues, in addition to their physical beauty and pleasing scents.

The allium flower's perfectly round shape and range of colors make it an ideal choice for any flower arrangement, and its traditional meaning makes it a good addition to the bridal bouquet as well.

The language of flowers or "floriography" became popular under the reign of Queen Victoria, when the flowers expressed sentiments people could not speak in polite society, according to "BBC:The Language of Flowers." Writers at the BBC explain that during this time of restricted conversation, flowers became such a popular method of expressing one's emotions that several dictionaries of flower meanings were written, including "Le Langage des Fleurs" by Charlotte de la Tour published in 1818.

Allium flowers grow from a single bulb and produce globe-shaped clusters of flowers in purple and pink, writes Norah T. Hunter in her book "The Art of Floral Design." Hunter notes that allium flowers are members of the lily family, and that common names for the plant are garlic, onion and flowering onion. Allium flowers may smell like onions when cut, according to Hunter, and the flowers last from five to 10 days in a vase.

Allium is a versatile flower that functions well in minimalist, modern floral arrangements as well as ornate, romantic creations, according to "Martha Stuart Living" magazine. You'll find a wide variety of blooms in this varietal, reported "Martha Stewart Living": blooms range in size from a fraction of an inch to the size of a grapefruit and vary in height from a couple of inches to 4 feet. In addition, writers at "Martha Stewart Living" assert that allium flowers can be found in a wide variety of colors, including purple, pink, lilac, blue, white and pale green.

The allium flower means unity, humility and patience, according to "Brides Magazine: Flower Finder." Author E. Block explains in his book "Garlic and Other Alliums: The Lore and the Science" that the Latin root of the word onion, "unio," means one or unity, and the plant was given this name because it grows from a single bulb.

Plants from the allium family can be toxic to cats and dogs, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. If you're including allium flowers in your wedding flowers, make sure that none of your household pets--cats, dogs or horses--chew on the flowers. If you think your pet has been poisoned, contact an ASPCA Poison Control Center.