The language, meaning and history of flowers.
History
Thank the 17th Century Turks for the meaning of flowers! The French then stole the idea (as they do) and in 1819 a bird called Louise Cortambert wrote and published THE first dictionary of flowers and their meanings – Le Language Des Fleurs. It became a best seller (well there was no Playboy back then!)
During the reign of Queen Victoria in England from 1837 – 1901, the meaning of flowers became commonly known with the classes. They were more popular with Victorian ladies than men which makes sense looking at today’s situation. They became a way of communicating messages.
In 1884 a whole book on the subject and entitled, The Language of Flowers, by Jean Marsh and illustrated by Kate Greenaway, was published in London. It became popular and respected and has been the standard source for Victorian flower meaning ever since.
Meanings
Here’s a taster for you as to what some of the most popular flowers mean… go on, get your ass up and go and buy her some flowers!
ACACIA: Concealed love, chaste love.
AGAPANTHUS Love letters, love.
ALIUM Strength.
ALSTROMERIA Wealth, prosperity, fortune.
AMARYLLIS Pride.
AMBROSIA Love is reciprocated.
ANEMONE Forsaken, expectation.
ANTHURIUM Lover.
APPLE BLOSSUMS Good fortune.
ARBUTUS Do I love.
ASPARAGUS FERN Fascination.
ASTER: Variety, elegance, daintiness.
ASTILBE: I’ll still be waiting.
AZALEA: Love, romance, first love, fragile passion, temperance. It is also the Chinese symbol of womanhood.
BABY’S BREATH: Innocence.
BACHELOR BUTTON: Single blessedness.
BALSAM: Ardent love.
BEGONIA: Beware.
BELLS OF IRELAND: Good luck.
BIRD OF PARADISE: Magnificence.
BITTERSWEET: Truth.
BLUEBELL: Humility, constancy.
BOUVARDIA: Enthusiasm.
BROOM: Humility.
BUTTERCUP: Childishness.
CACTUS: Endurance.
CALENDULA: Grief, jealousy. Also the birthflower for October.
CALLA LILY: Magnificent beauty. Associated with the sixth wedding anniversary.
CAMELLIA: Gratitude.
CAMELLIA, PINK: Longing for you.
CAMELLIA, RED: You’re a flame in my heart.
CAMELLIA, WHITE: You’re adorable.
CARNATION: Fascination, distinction, divine love, woman, yes. Also the birthflower for January.
CARNATION, PINK: A woman’s love, I’ll never forget you, mother’s love.
CARNATION, PURPLE: Capriciousness.
CARNATION, RED: Alas for my poor heart, admiration, my heart aches for you, fascination.
CARNATION, STRIPED: Refusal, No, sorry I can’t be with you.
CARNATION, WHITE: Innocence, faithfulness, sweet and lovely, pure love, ardent love, good luck.
CARNATION, YELLOW: Disdain, rejection, you have disappointed me.
CATTAIL: Peace, prosperity.
CHRYSANTHEMUM: Cheerfulness, optimism, rest, truth. Considered to be a noble flower in Asian culture, mums are used as an object of meditation per a suggestion by Confucius. Also the birthflower for November.
CHRYSANTHEMUM, RED: I love.
CHRYSANTHEMUM, WHITE: Truth, loyal love.
CHRYSANTHEMUM, YELLOW: Slighted love.
CLEMATIS: Clever, intellectual. Associated with the eighth wedding anniversary.
CORNFLOWER: Delicacy.
COSMOS: Modesty. Associated with the 2nd wedding anniversary.
CROCUS: Cheerfulness, abuse not.
CYCLAMEN: Resignation, good-bye.
DAFFODIL: Regard, rebirth, new beginnings, unrequited love, you’re the only one, chivalry. Associated with the tenth wedding anniversary. Also the birthflower for March.
DAFFODIL, SINGLE: Misfortune.
DAFFODIL, SEVERAL: Joy, happiness.
DAHLIA: Instability. Associated with the fourteenth wedding anniversary.
DAISY: Innocence, loyal love, I’ll never tell, purity. Associated with the fifth wedding anniversary.
DANDELION: Faithfulness, happiness, love’s oracle.
DAY LILY: Coquetry, Chinese emblem for mother. Associated with the twentieth wedding anniversary.
DELPHINIUM: Big-hearted, fun.
EBONY: Blackness.
EREMURUS: Endurance.
EUPHORBIA: Persistence.
FERN: Sincerity, magic, fascination, confidence, shelter.
FIR: Time.
FLAX: Domestic symbol.
FLYTRAP: Deceit.
FORGET-ME-NOT: True love, hope, remembrance, memories.
FORSYTHIA: Anticipation.
FOUR-LEAF CLOVER: Good luck, be mine.
FOXGLOVE: Insincerity.
FREESIA: Innocence, thoughtfulness.
FUSCHIA: Taste. Associated with the third wedding anniversary.
GARDENIA: You’re lovely, secret love, joy, sweet love, good luck.
GERANIUM: Stupidity, folly, comfort, gentility. Associated with the fourth wedding anniversary.
GINGER: Strength.
GLADIOLUS: Strength of character, remembrance, infatuation, splendid beauty, give me a break
GLOXINA: Love at first sight.
HEATHER, LAVENDER: Admiration, solitude, beauty.
HEATHER, WHITE: Protection, wishes will come true.
HIBISCUS: Delicate beauty.
HOLLY: Foresight, defence, domestic happiness, enchantment.
HOLLYHOCK: Ambition, fruitfulness. Associated with the thirteenth wedding anniversary.
HONEYSUCKLE: Bonds of love.
HUCKLEBERRY: Simple pleasure.
HYACINTH: Sport, play, games, rashness.
HYACINTH, BLUE: Constancy.
HYACINTH, PURPLE: I am sorry, sorrow, please forgive me.
HYACINTH, RED OR PINK: Play.
HYACINTH, WHITE: Loveliness, I’ll pray for you.
HYACINTH, YELLOW: Jealousy.
HYDRANGEA: Thank you for understanding, frigidity, heartlessness, heartless.
IRIS: Wisdom, Fleur-de-lis, emblem of France, your friendship means so much to me, faith, hope, valor, my compliments. Associated with the twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.
IRIS, BLUE: Faith, hope.
IRIS, PURPLE: Wisdom, compliments.
IRIS, YELLOW: Passion.
IRIS, WHITE: Purity.
IVY: Fidelity, wedded love, friendship, affection, marriage.
IXIA: Happiness.
JACK-IN-THE-PULPIT: Associated with the seventh wedding anniversary.
JASMINE, WHITE or INDIAN: Amiability , I attach myself to you, sensuality, attachment.
JASMINE, SPANISH: Sensuality.
JASMINE, YELLOW: Grace, elegance.
JONQUIL: Sympathy , love me, affection returned, desire.
LADY SLIPPER: Capricious beauty.
LARKSPUR: Fickleness, ardent attachment, levity, lightness.
LARKSPUR, PINK: Fickleness.
LARKSPUR, PURPLE: First love.
LAVENDER: Devotion.
LEATHERLEAF FERN: Fascination.
LILAC: Youthful, humility, confidence.
LILY: Majesty, wealth, pride, innocence, purity.
LILY, WHITE: Purity, modesty, virginity, majesty.
LILY, ORANGE: flame, I burn for you.
LILY, YELLOW: I’m walking on air, false, gay.
LILY OF THE VALLEY: Return of happiness, purity of heart, sweetness.
LOTUS BLOSSUM: Estranged love.
MAGNOLIA: Dignity, love of nature, nobility.
MARIGOLD: Affection, cruelty, grief, jealousy.
MARIGOLD, POT: Grief, despair.
MIMOSA: Sensitivity.
MINT: Virtue.
MISTLETOE: Kiss me, affection, to surmount difficulties, sacred plant of India.
MONKSHOOD: Beware, a deadly foe is near, danger.
MORNING GLORY: Loves you. Associated with the eleventh wedding anniversary.
MOSS: Maternal love, charity.
MYRTLE: Love, Hebrew emblem of marriage.
NARCISSUS: Egotism, conceit, self love, self admiration, formality.
NASTURTIUM: Conquest, victory in battle. Associated with the fortieth wedding anniversary.
OAK LEAVES: Bravery.
OLEANDER: Caution.
OLIVE BRANCH: Peace.
ORANGE BLOSSUM: Purity, innocence, eternal love, marriage and fruitfulness, fertility.
ORANGE, MOCK: Deceit.
ORCHID: Rare beauty, love, refinement, beautiful lady, Chinese symbol for many children, mature charm, beauty, long life. Associated with twenty-eighth wedding anniversary.
PALM LEAVES: Victory, success.
PANSIES: Recipient is being thought about. Associated with the first wedding anniversary.
PAPERWHITE: Aphrodisiac due to its intoxicating scent.
PEONY: Bashfulness, shame, happy life, happy marriage, good health, prosperity. Associated with the twelfth wedding anniversary.
PEPPERMINT: Cordiality.
PERIWINKLE: Friendship.
PETUNIA: Resentment, anger, your presence soothes me.
PHLOX: Unanimity.
POPPY: Eternal sleep, oblivion, imagination. Associated with ninth wedding anniversary.
POPPY, RED: Pleasure, consolation.
POPPY, WHITE: Consolation, sleep, rest.
POPPY, YELLOW: Wealth, success.
PRIMROSE: I can’t live without you.
PRIMROSE, EVENING: Happy love.
QUEEN ANNE’S LACE: Haven.
RANUNCULUS: You are radiant with charm, radiant charm.
RHODODENDRON: Danger, caution.
ROSE: Love, passion, perfection. Associated with the fifthteenth wedding anniversary. It is also known as the birthflower of June.
ROSE, BURGUNDY: Beauty within.
ROSE, CORAL: Desire.
ROSE, DARK CRIMSON: Mourning.
ROSE, HIBISCUS: Delicate beauty.
ROSE, LAVENDER: Love at first sight, enchantment.
ROSE, LEAF: You may hope.
ROSE, MOSS: Confessions of love.
ROSE, ORANGE: Fascination, display feeling of enthusiasm.
ROSE, PEACH: Desire, gratitude, apprecation, admiration, sympathy, modesty.
ROSE, PINK: Happiness, appreciation, admiration, friendship, sympathy.
ROSE, DARK PINK: Thankfulness.
ROSE, LIGHT PINK: Grace, gladness, joy, perfect happiness, please believe me, gratitude, admiration, gentility.
ROSE, RED: Love, passion, respect, courage, I love you, beauty, pure and lovely, prosperity.
ROSE, DEEP RED: Un-selfconscious beauty.
ROSE, SINGLE, FULL BLOOM: I love you, I still love you, new love.
ROSE, BUD, SMALL: Pure and lovely, beauty and youth, a heart innocent of love.
ROSE, THORNLESS: Love at first sight.
ROSE, WHITE: Innocence, purity, secrecy.
ROSE, WHITE, DRIED: Death is preferable to loss of virtue.
ROSE, YELLOW: Joy, friendship, true love, decrease of love, jealousy, try to care, freedom, slighted love, shows “I care”, joy, gladness.
ROSES, BOUQUET, MATURE: Gratitude.
ROSES, RED & WHITE TOGETHER: Unity, flower emblem of England.
ROSES, YELLOW & RED TOGETHER: Happiness, congratulations.
ROSES, YELLOW & ORANGE TOGETHER: Passionate thoughts.
ROSEMARY: Remembrance, purity, rebirth.
SAGE: Virtue.
SALAL: Zest.
SCABIOUS: Unfortunate love.
SMILAX: Loveliness.
SNAPDRAGON: Deception, gracious lady, presumption.
SPEARMINT: Warm sentiment.
SPIDER FLOWER: Elope with me.
STAR OF BETHLEHEM: Purity.
STATICE: Sympathy, remembrance, success.
STEPHANOTIS: Happiness in marriage, desire to travel.
STOCK: Lasting beauty, bonds of affection, promptness, you’ll always be beautiful to me.
SUNFLOWER: Follows the sun as it grows, adoration, haughtiness.
SWEET PEA: Lasting pleasure, good-bye, departure, blissful pleasure, thank you for a lovely time, I think of you.
SWEET WILLIAM: Gallantry, smile, finesse.
THYME: Activity.
TUBEROSE: Dangerous pleasure.
TULIP: Perfect lover, frame, flower emblem of Holland.
TULIP, RED: Believe me, declaration of love, fame.
TULIP, VARIEGATED: Beautiful eyes.
TULIP, YELLOW: Hopeless love, there’s sunshine in your smile.
VIOLET: Modesty, faithfulness, innocence, understated beauty. Associated with the fifth wedding anniversary.
VIOLET, BLUE: Watchfulness, faithfulness, I’ll always be true.
VIOLET, PURPLE: Thoughts of you, blue love.
VIOLET, WHITE: Let’s take a chance, youthful innocence.
VIOLET, YELLOW: Love of country.
WATER LILY: Purity of heart.
WEEPING WILLOW: Mourning.
WHEAT: Friendliness.
YARROW: Healing, sorrow.
ZINNIA: Thoughts of absent friends, in memory of an absent friend.
ZINNIA, SCARLET: Constancy.
ZINNIA, WHITE: Goodness.
ZINNIA, YELLOW: Daily remembrance.
Not only types of flowers have a meaning, so does quantity, colour and grouping. Believe it or not, how you wear a flower is also important. Also, flowers can be used to answer questions. When they are presented with the right hand the answer is “yes,” but when presented with the left hand the answer is “no.”
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