The Meaning of Flowers
Submitted by diaskeaus on Sat, 12/23/2006 - 08:11
Tags:
- A
- Acacia - Secret love; chaste love; beauty in retirement; elegance; friendship; hope
- Acanthus - Art or artistic; the fine arts; artifice
- Achillea millefolia - War
- Aconite (Wolf's Bane) - Misanthropy
- Acorn - Nordic symbol of life and immortality
- Agapanthus - Love letters; secret love
- Agnus castus - Coldness; indifference
- Allspice - Compassion
- Almond Blossom - Hope; lover's charm
- Aloe - Grief
- Alstroemeria - Devotion; friendship
- Alyssum - Worth beyond beauty
- Ambrosia - Love returned
- Amaranth - Fidelity
- Amaranth, Globe - Unchangeable; immortality; unchanging love
- Amaryllis - Pride; Timidity; splendid beauty
- Anemone - Unfading love; truth; sincerity; anticipation; forsaken; fading hope
- Angelica - Inspiration
- Aniseed - Restoration of youth
- Apple blossom - Preference; good fortune
- Arbor Vitae - True friendship
- Arbutus - Thee only do I love
- Artemisia - Dignity
- Asphodel - My regrets follow you to the grave
- Aster - Love; daintiness
- Azalea - Take care of yourself for me; fragile passion; temperance; Chinese symbol of womanhood
- B
- Bachelor's Buttons - Celibacy; single blessedness; hope in love
- Baby's Breath - Everlasting love; happiness; pure in heart
- Basil - Best Wishes; love; hatred
- Bay Leaf - Strength; I change but in death
- Bear's Breeches - Art or artistic; the fine arts; artifice
- Begonia - Beware
- Betony - Surprise
- Bells Of Ireland - Good luck
- Bilberry - Treachery
- Bird Of Paradise - Magnificence
- Bittersweet - Truth
- Bluebell - Humility; constancy
- Borage - Courage; bluntness
- Bouquet of withered flowers - Rejected love
- Broom - Humility; neatness
- Bulrush - Indiscretion; docility
- Burnet - A merry heart
- Buttercup - Cheerfulness; ingratitude; childishness; desire for riches
- C
- Cactus - Endurance; warmth; grandeur
- Calendula - Joy
- Calla - Magnificent beauty
- Camellia - Admiration; perfection; good luck gift to a man; loveliness
- Camellia (Pink) - Longing for you
- Camellia (Red) - You're a flame in my heart
- Camellia (White) - You're adorable
- Camomile - Energy in adversity
- Candytuft - Indifference
- Carnation (in general) Bonds of affection; health and energy; fascination; alas for my poor heart
- Carnation (pink) - I'll never forget you
- Carnation (purple) - Capriciousness; whimsical; changeable
- Carnation (red) - My heart aches for you; admiration
- Carnation (solid colour) -Yes
- Carnation (striped)- No; refusal; sorry I can't be with you; wish I could be with you
- Carnation (white) -Sweet and lovely; innocence; pure love; woman's good luck gift
- Carnation (yellow) - You have disappointed me; Rejection; disdain
- Cattail - Peace; prosperity
- Cedar - I live for thee; think of me
- Celandine - Joys to come
- Chamomile - Patience ; attracts wealth
- Chysanthemum (in general) - Cheerfulness; You're a wonderful friend
- Chysanthemum (red) - I love
- Chysanthemum (white) - Truth
- Chysanthemum (yellow) -Slighted love
- Cinnamon - My fortune is yours
- Clover (four-leaf) - Good luck; be mine
- Columbine - Folly
- Coreopsis - Always cheerful
- Corn - Riches
- Cornflower - Delicacy; refinement
- Coriander - Lust
- Cowslip - Pensiveness; winning grace
- Coxcomb - Foppery
- Crocus - Cheerfulness; abuse not; joy
- Crown Imperial - Majesty; power
- Cyclamen - Resignation and goodbye; diffidence
- D
- Daffodil - Respect; regard; unrequited love; deceit
- Dahlia - Good taste; instability
- Daisy - Innocence; loyal love; purity; faith; cheer; simplicity
- Dandelion - Wishes come true; faithfulness; happiness; rustic oracle
- Daphne odora - Painting the lily
- Delphinium - Airy
- Dogwood - Durability
- E
- Edelweiss - Daring; noble courage
- Eglantine - Poetry; I wound to heal
- Elder - Zealousness
- Elm - Dignity
- Eucalyptus - Protection
- Eupatorium – Delay
- F
- Fennel - Worthy of all praise; strength
- Fern - Sincerity
- Fern (Magic) - Fascination; confidence and shelter
- Fern (Maidenhair) - Secret bond of love
- Feverfew - Protection
- Fig - Argument
- Fir - Time
- Flax - Domestic symbol; fate; I feel your kindness
- Forget-me-not - True love; memories; forget me not
- Forsythia - Anticipation
- Foxglove - Insincerity
- Fuchsia - Good taste
- Fuller's Teasel - Misanthropy
- G
- Gardenia - You're lovely; secret love; refinement; joy
- Garland of roses - Reward of virtue
- Garlic - Courage; strength
- Geranium (Oak leafed) - Friendship
- Geranium (Rose) - Preference
- Geranium (Scented) - Preference, melancholy; stupidity; folly
- Gillyflower - Bonds of affection
- Gladiolus - Love at first sight; ready-armed; strength of character; generosity
- Gloxinia - Love at first sight
- Golden Rod - Precaution
- Grass - Submission; utility
- Guelder Rose - Winter; age
- H
- Harebell - Submission; grief
- Hawthorn - Hope
- Hazel - Reconciliation
- Heather (lavender) - Admiration; solitude
- Heather (pink) - Good luck
- Heather (white) - Protection; wishes will come true; good luck
- Helenium - Tears
- Heliotrope - Devotion; eternal love; faithfulness
- Hemlock - You will be my death
- Hibiscus - Delicate beauty
- Holly - Good will; defence; domestic happiness; foresight
- Hollyhock - Female ambition; fecundity
- Honesty - Honesty; fascination
- Honeysuckle - Generous and devoted affection; sweetness of disposition
- Hop - Injustice
- Hyacinth (general) - Rashness, sorrow, flower dedicated to Apollo
- Hyacinth (blue) - Constancy
- Hyacinth ( purple) - I'm sorry; please forgive me; sorrow
- Hyacinth (red or pink) - Play
- Hyacinth (white) - Loveliness; I'll pray for you
- Hyacinth (yellow) - Jealousy
- Hydrangea - Thank you for understanding; frigidity; heartlessness; vanity
- Hyssop - Wards away evil spirits; cleanliness
- I
- Ice plant - Your looks freeze me
- Iris - Faith; hope; wisdom and valour; my compliments; eloquence; message
- Ivy - Fidelity; friendship; affection; marriage
- J
- Jasmine - Amiability; wealth; grace and elegance
- Jonquil - Love me; affection returned; desire; sympathy
- Judas Tree - Unbelief; betrayal
- Juniper - Protection; succour
- K
- Kingcup - Desire for riches
- L
- Laburnum - Forsaken; pensive beauty
- Larkspur (pink) - Fickleness; levity
- Laurel (mountain) - Ambition; glory
- Lavender - Devotion, distrust
- Lemon - Zest
- Lemon Balm - Brings love
- Lemon verbena - Attracts opposite sex
- Lilac - First love
- Lily (general) - Purity
- Lily (calla) - Beauty
- Lily (day) - Coquetry
- Lily (eucharis) - Maidenly charms
- Lily (orange) - Hatred
- Lily (tiger) - Wealth; pride
- Lily (white) - Virginity; purity; majesty; it's heavenly to be with you
- Lily (yellow) - I'm walking on air; false and gay
- Lily of the valley - sweetness; return to happiness; humility; perferct purity
- Lobelia - Malevolence
- Love-in-a-mist - Perplexity
- Love-lies-bleeding - Hopeless; not heartless
- Lupin - Voraciousness; admiration
- M
- Magnolia - Sweetness; beauty; love of nature; nobility; dignity; splendid beauty
- Marigold - Comforts the heart; grief; cruelty; jealousy; sacred affection
- Marjoram (sweet) - Joy and happiness; blushes
- Meadowsweet - Uselessness
- Michaelmas Daisy - Afterthought; farewell
- Mignionette - Your qualities surpass your charms
- Mimosa - Sensitivity
- Mint - Protection from illness; warmth of feeling; virtue
- Mistletoe - Kiss me; affection; I surmount difficulties; sacred plant of India, magic plant of the Druids
- Monkshood - Beware, a deadly foe is near; chivalry
- Morning Glory - Affectation
- Moss - Maternal love; charity
- Myrrh - Gladness
- Myrtle - Love; love in absence; remembrance; Hebrew emblem of marriage
- Myrtle (wax) - Discipline; instruction
- N
- Narcissus - Egotism; formality; stay as sweet as you are; you love yourself too well; self-esteem
- Nasturtium - Conquest; victory in battle; maternal love; charity; patriotism
- Nightshade - Truth
- O
- Oak leaves - Bravery
- Oleander - Caution; beware
- Orange - Generosity
- Orange Blossom - Wisdom; purity; eternal love; your purity equals your loveliness
- Orange (mock) - Deceit
- Orchid - Love; beauty; refinement; you flatter me
- Orchid (Cattleya) - Mature charm
- P
- Palm leaves - Victory and success
- Pansy - Thoughts; love
- Parsley - Festivities
- Pasque Flower - You have no claims
- Peach blossom - Longevity; I am your captive
- Peony - Shame; bashfulness; anger; indignation
- Peppermint - Warmth of feelings
- Periwinkle (blue) - Early friendship
- Periwinkle (white) - Pleasures of memory
- Persicaria - Restoration
- Petunia - Resentment; anger; your presence soothes me; never despairing
- Phlox - Agreement; unanimity; sweet dreams
- Pine - Hope; pity
- Pink - Boldness
- Poinsettia - Be of good cheer
- Polyanthus - Pride of riches
- Poppy (general) - Eternal sleep; oblivion; imagination; extravagance
- Poppy (red) -Pleasure; fantastic extravagance
- Poppy (white) - Consolation; sleep
- Poppy( yellow) - Wealth; success
- Prickly Pear - Satire
- Primrose - I can't live without you; early youth; young love
- Primrose (evening) - Inconstancy
- Q
- Quaking Grass - Agitation
- Queen Anne's Lace - Fantasy
- Quince - Temptation
- R
- Ranunculus - You are radiant with charms
- Rocket - Rivalry
- Rose (red) - Love ; I love you
- Rose (white) - Eternal Love; innocence; heavenly; secrecy and silence
- Rose (pink) - Perfect happiness; please believe me
- Rose (yellow) - Friendship; jealousy; try to care
- Rose (black) - Death
- Rose (red and white) - Together; unity
- Rose (thornless) - Love at first sight
- Rose (single, full bloom) - I love you; I still love you
- Rose bud - Beauty and youth; a heart innocent of love
- Rose bud (red) - Pure and lovely
- Rose bud (white) - Girlhood
- Rosebud (moss) - Confessions of love
- Roses (bouquet of full bloom) - Gratitude
- Roses (garland or crown of) - Beware of virtue; reward of merit; crown ; symbol of superior merit
- Roses (musk cluster) - Charming
- Rose (tea) - I'll always remember
- Rose (cabbage) - Ambassador of love
- Rose (Christmas) - Tranquilize my anxiety; anxiety
- Rose (damask) - Brilliant complexion
- Rose (dark crimson) - Mourning
- Rose (hibiscus) - Delicate beauty
- Rose leaf - You may hope
- Rosemary - Remembrance; commitment; fidelity
- Rudbeckia - Justice
- Rue - Disdain
- S
- Saffron - Beware of excess
- Sage - Wisdom; long life; domestic virtue
- Salvia (blue) - I think of you
- Scabious - Unfortunate love
- Shamrock - Lightheartedness
- Smilax - Loveliness
- Snapdragon - No; deception; gracious lady; presumption
- Snowdrop - Hope
- Spearmint - Warmth of sentiment
- Spiderflower - Elope with me
- Spindle Tree - Your charms are engraved on my heart
- Statice - Lasting beauty
- Star of Bethlehem - Atonement; purity
- Stephanotis - Happiness in marriage; desire to travel; come to me
- Stock - Lasting beauty; promptness
- Strawberry - Perfect goodness
- Sunflower - Loyalty; haughtiness; you are splendid
- Sweet Basil - Good luck
- Sweet pea - Goodbye; departure; blissful pleasure; Thank you for a lovely time
- Sweet William - Grant me one smile; perfection; gallantry
- Syringa - Memory
- T
- Tamarisk - Crime
- Thrift - Sympathy
- Thyme - Strength and courage; activity
- Tuberose - Dangerous pleasure
- Tulip(general) - Fame; charity; declaration of love;
- Tulip(red) - Believe me; declaration of love
- Tulip(variegated) - Beautiful eyes
- Tulip(yellow) - Hopeless love
- U
- V
- Valerian - An accommodating disposition
- Vernal Grass - Poor but happy
- Veronica - Fidelity
- Violet - Modesty; faithfulness
- Violet (blue) - Watchfulness; faithfulness; I'll always be true
- Violet (white) - Let's take a chance on happiness
- Viscaria - Will you dance with me?
- W
- Wallflower - Fidelity in adversity
- Water Lily - Purity of heart
- Wistaria - I cling to you
- Woodruff - Sweet humility
- Wormwood - Absence
- X
- Xeranthemum - Cheerfulness under adversity
- Y
- Yarrow - Health; healing
- Yew - Sorrow
- Z
- Zinnia - Thoughts of friends
- Zinnia (magenta) - Lasting affection
- Zinnia (mixed) - Thinking of an absent friend
- Zinnia (scarlet) - Constancy
- Zinnia (white) - Goodness
- Zinnia (yellow) - Daily remembrance








The follow list of flower meanings was taken from Chrissie Harten's website, The Language of Flowers:
http://www.thegardener.btinternet.co.uk/flowerlanguage.html
Reproduced here for my own reference.