The Language of Flowers

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The language of flowers has a long history. Plants and flowers have been given meanings through myths, legends, and folklore all over the world. The Myrtle was sacred to Aphrodite and the Lotus flower has represented divine female fertility in the Orient for over 5,000 years. The language of flowers as the western world knows it today, was started in Constantinople in the 1600's and was brought to England in 1716 by Lady Mary Wortley Montagu who had spent time in Turkey with her husband. It developed and flourished through out Europe for many decades. During the reign of Queen Victoria (1837 - 1901) the language of flowers hit its peak. Flowers became a form of communication between lovers and friends. How the flower was given, worn, the color, and type of flower or combination of flower of flowers all played a part in the meaning of the message.

~ Thomas E. Hill's Manual of Social and Business Forms, W.B. Conkey Company, Chicago, 1905

Acorn Life and Immortality
Amaranth Immortality; unfading
Amaryllis Beautiful but timid, pride
Amethyst Admiration
Anemone Expectation
Aster Daintiness
Azalea Take care of yourself for me
Bachelor Button Single blessedness
Balm, Mint Pleasantry
Basil Give me your good wishes
Bell of Ireland Good Luck
Blue Bells humility
Buttercup Riches; Memories of childhood , childishness
Cabbage Profit
Camellia Admiration
Carnation mixed fascination
Carnation pink I'll never forget you
Carnation red admiration
Carnation striped I wish I could be with you
Carnation white sweet and lovely
Cattails peace and prosperity
Catus Endurance
Cherry Good education
Chrysanthemum A heart left to desolation or truth or I love
Crocus cheerfulness
Daffodil Unrequited love or regard
Dandelion Oracle; coquetry
Daisy Innocence
Dogwood pleasure and pain
Eglantine Poetry; I wound to heal
Everlasting Always remembered
Fall Leaves Sadness
Fern Sincerity, magic, fascination
Forget-me-not Do not forget
Forsythia anticipation
Foxglove Insincerity; occupation
Fuchsia Taste; frugality
Gardenia Secret Love
Geranium, Rose I prefer you or melancholy
Grape Vine Intemperance
Grass Utility; Submission
Hawthorn Hope
Heliotrope I adore you. Devotion
Holly domestic happiness
Holyhock ambition
Honeysuckle sweet & secret love
Hyacinth Constancy; benevolence
Hydrangea Thank you for understanding
Ivy Friendship; wedded love
Iris wisdom, hope, your friendship means so much to me
Jasmine, White Amiability
Jonquil Desire; affection returned
Ladyslipper Capricious beauty
Lettuce cold heartedness
Lilac new love
Lily, white Majesty; purity
Lily of the Valley Return to happiness, modesty
Lily, Calla beauty
Lily, Day coquetry
Lily, Tiger pride

Lily, White purity and sweetness
Magnolia Nobility
Marigold Sacred affection
Mignonette Your qualities surpass your charms
Mistletoe kiss me
Morning Glory farewell, dear friend
Myrtle Love, Jewish symbol of marriage
Nuts stupidity
Oak Hospitality; bravery
Oats witching music of the soul
Orange Blossom marriage and fruitfulness
Orchid beautiful lady, refinement
Pansy thoughts
Peony happy marriage
Petunia your presence soothes me
Poppy, mixed imagination
Poppy red extravagance
Poppy white consolation
Poppy yellow success
Primrose I can't live without you
Quince Temptation
Rhododendron Agitation
Rosebud Confession of love
Cinnamon Rose Without pretension
Hundred Leaved Rose The graces
Austrian Rose Thou art all that is lovely
Rose Leaf I never trouble
Monthly Rose Beauty ever new
Moss Rose Superior merit; Voluptuousness
Pink Rose happiness
Red Rose I love you
White Rose Silence or innocent charm
Wild Single Rosee Simplicity
Yellow Rose friendship
Mixed Roses gratitude
Rosemary Remembrance; your presence revives me
Rubarb Advice
Sage Domestic Virtue
St John's Wort Animosity
Snapdragon Presumption or gracious lady
Strawberry Perfect excellence
Sunflower False riches
Sweet Pea Goodbye, thank you for a lovely time
Sweet William Gallentry; finesse; dexterity
Tube Rose Dangerous pleasure; voluptuousness; sweet voice
Tulip, Red Declaration of love
Tulip, Yellow there is sunshine in your smile
Valerian Facility
Violet Faithfulness, modesty
Violet, white let's take a change on happiness
Wheat Wealth
Zinnia, mixed thoughts of absent friends
Zinnia, red constancy
Zinnia, white goodness
Zinnia, purple lasting affection



Balm brings you sympathy, and Marjoram joy
Sage is long life ... Sweet Woodruff augurs well for health-
A blessing richer far than wealth.
While Lavender means deep devotion,
Herb of sweet omen, Rosemary conveys
Affection and remembrance all your days.
May Heaven and Earth and Man combine
To keep these blessings ever thine.

~Rachel Page Elliot

 

 


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