The Flowery Meanings, Languages and Sentiments – A to Z

Flowers have always held a certain mystique. Whether painted on a wall in an ancient tomb or etched onto a Grecian urn, they hold different meanings and honor.

Flower Meanings – A

Abandon	Grape
Abandonment	Anemone, Japanese Anemone
Absence	Wormwood
Absolute achievement	Gold rose
Accept a faithful heart	Weigela
Acceptance	Lilac
Accommodating disposition	Valerian
Accomplishment	Laurel
Achievement in the arts	Laurel
Activity	Thyme
Adieu	Sweet pea, pea
Administration, wise	Pear
Admiration	Carnation(especially red or yellow), heather
Adoration	Sunflower
Adversity	Wallflower
Advice	Rhubarb
Affection	Marigold, pear, wormwood
Affection, conjugal	Geranium
Affection, generous and devoted	Honeysuckle
Affection, lively and pure	Pink carnation
Afterthought	Aster
Age, winter of	Guelder rose, viburnum
Aggressiveness	Lavender cotton
Ambition	Ivy, mountain laurel
Ambition, female	White hollyhock
Amiability	Jasmine
Antidote	Plumbago
Ardor	fleur-de-lis/iris
Artifice	Clematis
Arts	Acanthus
Aspiration	Foxtail lily, cheddar pinks
Aspiring	Bellflower
Assignation	Scarlet pimpernel
Athletic victory	Sweet woodruff
Attachment, ardent	Lavender, larkspur
Attachment, early	Thornless rose
Attractive	Foamflower, sea holly
Attractive to the opposite sex	Lemon verbena
Austerity	Thistle
Availability	Wild or hardy geranium
Aversion	China or single pinks

Flower Meanings – B

Baby, newborn	English daisy
Baby’s hands	Japanese maple
Bantering	Southernwood
Bashfulness	Peony
Bashful modesty	Sensitive plant
“Be careful, do not hurt me!”	Sensitive plant
Be not weary	Mugwort
Beautiful eyes	Variegated tulip
Beautiful, long	Begonia
Beauty	Camellia, pink carnation, cinnamon, daylily, delphinium, lilac, maple, orchid, peony, roses, pink rosebud
Beauty, capricious	Lady’s slipper orchid, musk rose
Beauty, lasting/unfading	Carnation, wallflower, stock
Beauty, magnificent	Calla lily
Beauty, neglected	Throat wort
Beauty always new	China rose, damask rose
Beauty and youth –	Rosebud
Beauty in retirement	Aster
Beauty, splendid	Amaryllis
Beer	Hops
Beginning anew	Rue
Beginning, at the very	Parsley and rue together
Belief	Garden anemone
A Belle	Orchid
Beloved daughter	Cinquefoil
Beneficence	Marshmallow
Benevolence	Princess tree, sweet shrub
Benevolent justice	Pear
Best qualities	Cream rose
Best wishes	Basil
Betrothal	Red carnation
“Beware, I am fanciful”	Begonia
Beware of the excess	Saffron crocus
Birth	Dittany
Bitterness	Russian olive, wormwood
Bluntness	Borage
Blushes	Sweet marjoram
Boastfulness	Hydrangea
Boldness	Pine, pinks
Bonds of love	Carnation, honeysuckle
Bravery	Thyme
Bridal favor	Ivy geranium
Bridal festivities	Orange
Brouhaha	Rhubarb

Flower Meanings – C

Candor	White violet
Capability	Coneflower
Cares	Calendula/Pot marigold
Carousing	Grape
Challenge	Coral bells
Change	Scarlet pimpernel
Charity	Tulip
Charm	Rose, especially red
Charm feminine	Gardenia
Chastity	Orange blossom
Cheerfulness	Buttercup, chrysanthemum (especially yellow), English daisy, lemon mint
Cheerful always	Coreopsis
Cheers my soul	Quince
Cheers the heart	Ajuga/bugle
Childhood	Sweet William, geranium
Childishness	Buttercup
Chivalry	Flowering cherry, daffodil, monkshood
Christian faith	Passionflower
Christmas joy	Holly berries
Cleanliness	Soapwort
Cleansing	Hyssop
Clear vision	Rue
Cleverness	Strawberry begonia
Coldness	Chaste bush
Comfort	Chamomile, geranium, especially red, scented and scarlet, mugwort, pear
Comforting	Ginger
Compassion	Bee balm, elderberry, sweet shrub
Complaisance	Reed
Complexion, brilliant	Damask rose
Conceit	Spirea
Conception aid	Mugwort
Confession of love	Moss rosebud
Confidence	Lilac polyanthus
Confidence in heaven	Flowering reed
Congratulations	Rose
Conjugal affection	Geranium
Conjugal love	Linden
Consolation	Scarlet geranium, sweet marjoram, corn poppy, snowdrop
Constancy	Bellflower, wild or hardy geranium, ivy, calendula/pot marigold
Contentment	Camellia
Conviviality	Cone
Coquetry	Yellow lily
Coquette	Daylily
Cordiality	Sweet woodruff
Counterfeit	Mock orange/philadelphus
Courage	Borage, plum, thyme, garlic chives, garlic
Courtesy	Sweet marjoram
Creative force	Red and white rose
Creativity	Oregano
Cruelty	Nettle
Cure	Yarrow
Cure for heartache	Yarrow
Cure for melancholy	Lenten rose/hellebore

Flower Meanings – D

Dainty pleasures	Coral bells
Danger	Rhododendron
Dangerous love	Tuberose
Dangerous pride	Blackberry
Daughter, beloved	Cinquefoil
Daughter’s sweetness,	Wisteria
Dauntlessness	Statice
Dazzling but dangerous	Snapdragon
A deadly foe is near	Monkshood
“Death is preferable to dishonor!”	Withered white rose
Deceit	Geranium, monkshood
Decision	Foxglove
Declaration of love	Tulip, especially red
Decrease of love on better acquaintancee	Yellow rose
Delay	Hardy geranium
Delicacy	Cornflower
Dusty	Miller, lily-of-the-valley
Delicate pleasures	Sweet pea
Departure	White pinks, sweet pea, pea
Desertion	Columbine
Desire	Red rose
Devoted affection	Honeysuckle
Devotion	Lavender, hosta, hydrangea, champagne rose, rosemary
Dexterity	Sweet William
Diffidence	Cyclamen
Dignity	Silver King artemisia, dahlia, pinks, lavender rose
Directness	Borage
Discretion	Maidenhair fern, lemon blossom
Disdain	Yellow carnation, rue
Dispels melancholy	Yarrow
Disquietude	Marigold
Distinction	Cardinal flower, acidanthera/peacock orchid
Distinction/highest mark of	Yellow rose
Distrust	Cyclamen, lavender
Do not abuse	Saffron crocus
Do not forget me!	Forget-me-not
Docility	Rushes
Domestic happiness	Grape, holly
Domestic virtue	Sage
Dreaminess	Pink tulip
Dreams	Sweet phlox
Drunk and blowsy	Valerian
Durability	Oak
Duty through the hardship	Purple-leaf plum

Flower Meanings – E

Early attachment	Thornless rose
Early friendship	Red periwinkle
Early youth	Primrose
Earthly delights	Jerusalem sage
Education, good	Cherry, clover
Effervescence	Champagne rose
Egotism	Narcissus
Elegance	Bleeding heart, Carolina jasmine, locust, maple
Eloquence	Crepe myrtle, iris, Mexican or velvet sage
Embarrassment	Nigella
Encouragement	Galax, goldenrod
Endurance	Pine
Endurance in love	Calendula/pot marigold
Energy	Red salvia
Energy in adversity	Chamomile
Ennui	Moss
Enthusiasm	Monte Cristo aster, bouvardia, corn poppy
Envy	Wild or hardy geranium
Esteem	Sage, especially pineapple
Esteem but not love	Spiderwort
Eternal life	Sweet woodruff
Evanescent loveliness of life	Morning glory
Evening joy	Moth orchid
Evil prevented	Lavender cotton
Excellence	Camellia
Excess	Gilded rose
Expectation	Anemone
Expected meeting	Nutmeg scented geranium
Eyes, beautiful	Variegated tulip

Flower Meanings – F

Faith	Garden anemone, mustard seed
Faithfulness	Dogwood, verbena, violet, especially blue
Falsehood	Yellow lily
Fame	Tulip poplar, Tulip
Fame speaks him great and good	Apple
Family union	Pink verbena
Fantastic extravagance	Scarlet poppy
Farewell	Spruce
Farsighted outlook	Queen-of-the-prairie
Fascination	Carnation, especially red or yellow, fern, pinks
Fashionable	Queen’s rocket
Fastidiousness	Sensitive plant
Feasting	Parsley
Fecundity	Fig, orange
Felicity	Bachelor’s button/cornflower, dusty-iller, impatiens/balsam, sweet sultan
Female ambition	White hollyhock
Female fidelity	Speedwell/veronica
Feminine charm	Gardenia
Feminine modesty	Calla lily
Feminine softness	Peach
Femininity	Shell-ink rose
Fertility	Plum, verbena
Fertility and abundance	Pomegranate
Festivity	Parsley, baby’s breath
Fickleness	Pink larkspur
Fidelity	Bleeding heart, ivy, myrtle, rhubarb, rosemary
Fidelity, female	Speedwell, veronica
Fidelity in adversity	Wallflower
Fidelity in love	Lemon
Finesse	Sweet William
First emotions of love	Purple lilac
First love	White azalea
Fitness	Sweet flag
Flamboyant	Cattleya orchid
Flame	Fleur-de-lis/iris
Flee away	Pennyroyal
Fleeting quality of life	Grass
Flirt	Daylily, feverfew
Folly	Columbine, geranium, especially Scarlett
Foolishness	Pomegranate
Foppishness	Pomegranate
For once may pride befriend me!	Tiger flower
Force	Fennel
Foresight	Lily, strawberry
Forever shine	Red salvia
Forgetfulness	Opium poppy
Forgive and forget	Yellow rose
Forgiveness	Creeping Jennie, gooseneck loosestrife
Forsaken	Willow
Freedom
Freshness	Green rose
Friendliness	Wheat
Friendship	Galax, gerbera daisy, ivy, Peruvian lily/alstromeria, pine, pussy willow, rose, especially yellow, willow
Friendship (early)	Red periwinkle
Friendship (warm)	Pine
Fruitfulness	Hollyhock, lily
Fulfillment	Raspberry
Fun	Lemon balm
Future promise	Buds, strawberry

Flower Meanings – G

Gaiety	Primrose, yellow lily, baby’s breath
Gallantry	Sweet William
Games	Hyacinth
Generosity	Gladiolus, globeflower, orange
Genius	Plane tree
Gentle-heartedness	Raspberry
Gentleness	Lamb’s ears, pink rosebud
Gifts of the Holy Spirit	Columbine
Girl’s Day Flower (Japan)	Peach
Gladness	Sweet cicely
Gladness, youthful	Crocus
Glory	Laurel
Good fortune	Goldenrod, coral rose, vervain
Good luck	Bayberry, clover, garlic, white heather
Good luck in the new year	Rosemary
Good nature	Forsythia
Good news	Guelder rose
Good taste	Single dahlia
Goodwill	Holly
Government, good	Pear
Grace	Carolina jasmine, rose, especially pink, rue, pink rosebud
Grace, airy	Asparagus fern
Graceful	Sea holly
Gracefulness	Daffodil, white geranium
Gratitude	Bellflower, dahlia, globeflower/Trollius, parsley, purple-leaf sage, statice
Gratitude to parents	White dahlia
Great joy and delight	Caladium
Grief	Calendula/pot marigold, thistle
Grow thin	Fennel

Flower Meanings – H

Hands full of cash	Peony
Happiness	Lavender, sweet marjoram, plum
Happy outcome	Orang
Happy years	Tulip
Hard work	Coral bells, clover
Hardiness	Plum
Harmony	Red rose
Hatred	Basil
Haughtiness	Amaryllis, double larkspur, sunflower
Have pity on my passion!	Jonquil
Haven	Queen Anne’s lace
Healing	Lemon balm
Healing properties	Bachelor’s button
Heals wounds	Yarrow
Health	Bachelor’s button, geranium, especially red, calendula/pot marigold, pear, Green rose, yarrow
Health, good	Feverfew, shell-ink rose
Health, ruddy	Peach
A heart untouched by love	White rosebud
The heart	Anthurium/flamingo flower
The heart’s mystery	Crimson polyanthus
Heartache, cure for	Yarrow
Heedlessness	Almond
Helpfulness	Blue spirea
Helpless and delicate	Wisteria
High-souled	Scarlet lily
Home	Myrtle
Home sweet home	Comfrey
Homeyness	Lemon mint
Hope	Almond, forget-me-not, pear, spring starflower
Hope, innocent	Red rosebud
Hope in adversity	Spruce
A hopeful future	Pomegranate
Hospitality	Oak, pineapple mint, pineapple sage
Humility	Allium/flowering onion, violet
Humor	Cockscomb

Flower Meanings – I

I admire your accomplishments	Coral rose
I am dazzled by your charms	Ranunculus
I am happy that you love me!	Yellow dahlia
I am humble but proud!	Ragwort
I am in despair!	Withered white rose
I am not ambitious for myself but for you	Foxglove
I am worthy of you	White rose
I am your captive!	Peach
I await your favors	Orchid
I cannot give thee up!	Columbine
I cling to thee	Wisteria
I cling to you both in the sunshine and shade	Virginia creeper
I desire a return of affection	Jonquil
I have a desire to please	Wild or hardy geranium
I die if neglected!	Laurustinus/viburnum
I do not believe you!	Yellow carnation
I engage you for the next dance	Ivy geranium
I have lost all	Pincushion flower/scabiosa
I love you	Red rose, red chrysanthemum
I love you in secret	Gardenia
I return your love!	Violet
I share your sentiments	Double aster, English daisy
I think of you!	Blue salvia
I think of you constantly	Variegated dahlia
I understand you -light	Colored cyclamen
I will not economize	Red cyclamen
I will think of it	Single aster, a wreath of daisies
Ill-timed wit	Wood sorrel
I’ll return	Queen Anne’s lace
I’ll still be waiting	Astilbe
Imagination	Lupine, pink tulip
Immortality	Globe amaranth, peach rose, spruce
Impatience	Balsam
Inconstancy	Evening primrose
Independence	Nigella, oak, thistle
Indifference	Candytuft, chaste bush
Industry	Clover
Industriousness	Dusty miller
Infidelity prevented-	Caraway
Ingenuity	Clematis, penciled or skeleton geranium, white pinks
Ingratitude	Buttercups
Innocence	Daisy, English daisy, freesia, primrose
Innocence, spotless	White violet
Innocence, youthful	White lilac
Innocent hope	Red rosebud
Insincerity	Cherry, foxglove
Inspiration	Angelica
Instability	Dahlia
Instruction	Bayberry
Intellect	Walnut
Intellectual excellence	Sumac
Intoxication	Grape
Irresistible	Dill

Flower Meanings – J

Jealousy	Marigold, especially French, yellow rose
Joviality	Chrysanthemum
Joy	Chrysanthemum, calendula/pot marigold, sweet marjoram, myrtle, oregano, rose, especially red or red/white bicolor, sorrel
Joys to come	Wood sorrel
Jubilation	Guilder rose/viburnum
Justice	Black-eyed Susan
Justice, benevolent	Pear

Flower Meanings – K

Keep my secret	White rose
Keys	Maple
Kindliness	Blue hyacinth
Kindness	Elderberry, sweet marjoram
Kiss me twice before I rise	Nigella

Flower Meanings – L

Lasting beauty	Stock
Lasting pleasure	Everlasting pea
Liberty	Green rose
Life	Cone, pine cone
Life, long	Chrysanthemum, euonymous
Light-heartedness	Shamrock
Little-oy flower	Anthurium/flamingo flower
Living for love	White carnation
Longevity	Fig, peach, pine, plum, oak, pear, coral rose
Love	Azalea, cinnamon, lemon balm, lilac, myrtle, orchid, periwinkle, pinks, rose, especially red, pink tulip, blue-violet
Love, ambassador of	Cabbage rose
Love, ardent	Impatiens/balsam, red tulip
Love, ardent and pure	Carnation
Love, bonds of	Carnation, honeysuckle
Love, brotherly	Mock orange
Love, confession of	Moss rosebud
Love, conjugal	Linden
Love, consuming	Tulip
Love, dangerous	Tuberose
Love, deep and pure	Carnation
Love, filial	Virgin’s bower/clematis
Love, first	White azalea
Love, first emotions of	Purple lilac
Love, hopelessness	Yellow tulip
Love, living for	White carnation
Love, lost	White tulip
Love, maternal	Wood sorrel, pink carnation, moss
Love, slighted	Yellow chrysanthemum
Love, true	Forget-me-not
Love, unrequited	Begonia
Love wedded	Ivy
Love, woman’s	Carnation, cheddar pinks
Love letters	Agapanthus/lily-of-the-Nile
Love undiminished by adversity	White dogwood
Loveliness	Gentian
Loveliness, perfected	Camellia
Lover’s charm	Almond
Love’s oracle	Dandelion
Loving thoughts	Pansy
Loyalty	Bamboo, pine, sunflower, blue-violet
Luck	White clover, lavender, red rose, shamrock
Lust	Orchid
Luxury	Cymbidium orchid

Flower Meanings – M

Magnificence	Cymbidium orchid
Majesty	Lily
Marriage	Myrtle, orange, plum, verbena
Marriage, happy	Amaryllis, carnation, cherry blossom, clematis
Married bliss	Myrtle
Martyrdom	Red rose
Maternal affection	Cinquefoil
Matronly grace	Cattleya orchid
Mature charms	Cattleya orchid
Mature elegance	Pomegranate
May you be pleased and your sorrows mine!	Rose
Meeting, appointed	Everlasting pea
Meeting, expected	Nutmeg scented geranium
Meet me!	Sweet pea
Melancholy	Dead leaves, geranium
Melancholy, cure for	Lenten rose/hellebore
Memory	Sweet William, tulip
Memory, tender	Sweet pea
Mental beauty	Clematis
Mental powers	Savory
Merit, the reward of	Laurel
Merriment	Cherry-red rose
A merry heart	Salad burnet
Message	Iris
Mirth	Crocus, hops, sweet marjoram
Miscarriage prevented	Tansy
Misery	Calendula/pot marigold
Misrepresentation	Dahlia
Mitigates grief	Sage
Mobility	White pinks, pine
Moderation	Azalea
Modesty	Cosmos, lilac, violet
Modesty, feminine	Calla lily
Most lovable	Ajuga/bugle
Music	Oats, reed
My bane, my antidote	white poppy
My compliments	Iris
My gratitude exceeds your care	Dahlia
My love will never die	Double pinks

Flower Meanings – N

Newborn baby	English daisy
Needing protection	Gerbera daisy
Never forget	Scots thistle
Never too late to amend	Japanese rose/kerria
Newlyweds	Pinks
No!!	Pinks
Nobility	Lowering cherry, orchid
Noblest, among the	Tulip poplar
Nuisance	Ragweed
A nymph	Nerine

Flower Meanings – O

Obedience	Obedient plant
Oblivion	Poppy
Opposition	Slime fungus
Optimism	Chrysanthemum
Our souls are united –	phlox

Flower Meanings – P

Panache	Calla lily
Par excellence	Sweet pea
Parental affection	Sorrel
Participation	Double dahlia
Passion	Red or laced carnation, myrtle, red rose
Patience	Allium/flowering onion, chamomile, oxeye daisy, willow
Patriotism	Nasturtium
Peace	Gardenia, myrtle, olive
Penitence.	Yew
Perfect goodness	Strawberry
The perfect lover	Tulip
Perfection	Rose, especially cream
Perpetual concord	Apple
Perplexity	Nigella
Perseverance	Magnolia, plum, yew
Personal achievement	Laurel
Pilgrimage	Plantain
Play	Hyacinth
Pleasant	Ginger
Pleasantries	Peruvian lily/alstroemeria
Pleasure, lasting	Everlasting pea
Pleasure without alloy	Turtlehead
Pleasures, worldly	Astilbe
Pleasures of hope	Crocus
Pleasures of memory	Periwinkle
Plenty	Grape
Pliancy, strength through	Bamboo
Poetry	Eglantine rose
Poking fun	Pokeweed
Pomp	Dahlia
Popularity	Kalanchoe
Popular, highly	Begonia
Posterity	Pomegranate
Power	Silver King Artemesia, oak
Pray for me	White verbena
Prayer	Blueberry
Precaution	Goldenrod
Preference -Scented geranium	Goldenrod
Preferred	Dead nettle
Presumption	Snapdragon
Pride	Amaryllis, tiger-lily, red rose, pink carnation
Pride, dangerous	Blackberry
Pride of newly-acquired fortune –	Auricula/primula
Pride of ownership	Jerusalem sage
Pride of riches	Polyanthus/primula
Profits in business	Pea
Progeny, numerous	Orchid
Promise	Iris
The promise of good things to come	Buds
Promptness	Stock
Proposal of love	Phlox
Prosperity	Grape, nigella, oak, wheat
Protection	blueberry, garlic, garlic chives, red geranium, juniper, Queen Anne’s lace, Saint-John’s-Wort
Protection for travelers	Wormwood
Protection from danger	Heather
Providence	Trefoil
Pure and guileless	White verbena
Pure heart	Baby’s breath
Pure love of a virgin	Cosmos
Purity	Gardenia, white lilac, lily, lily-of-the-valley, white rosebud
Purity of sentiment	White violet
Pursuit	Lavender cotton

Flower Meanings – Q

Queen of coquettes

Rocket

Flower Meanings – R

Rarity	Lavender rose
Rashness	Butterfly bush
Recall	Silver-leaf geranium
Reckless	Mandevilla
Recollections, pleasant	White periwinkle
Reconciliation	Olive
Recovery from illness	Pussy willow
Refinement	Gardenia, orchid
Refusal	Japanese anemone, striped carnation, striped or white pinks
Regard	Daffodil
Rejected suitor	Ice plant
Rejection	Yellow carnation
Rejoice and comfort the heart	Sweet cicely
Rejoicing	Sweet woodruff
Rejuvenation	Lemon balm
Relief	Lemon balm
Religious	Passionflower
Remembrance	Forget-me-not, hydrangea, calendula/pot marigold, rosemary, statice
Remorse	Bramble, red or black raspberry
Rendezvous	Chickweed, scarlet pimpernel
Repentance	Rue
Reserve	Maple
Resoluteness	Sumac
Resolved to win	Columbine
Respect	Daffodil, pea, white rose
Responsibility	Lemon verbena
Rest	Hops
Resurrection	Lily
Retirement	Tulip poplar
Return of a friend is desired	Delphinium, balloon flower/platycodon, bellflower/campanula together
Return of happiness	Lily-of-the-valley
The reward of literary merit	Tea olive
The reward of merit	Laurel
The reward of virtue	Rose
Rich in charms	Buttercup
Riches	Corn/wheat
Richness	Cream rose
Righteousness	Gentian
Risqué	Protea
Rivalry	Rocket
Role reversal	Perilla
Romance	Azalea
Royalty	Pomegranate

(The following flower meanings are taken from the glossary of the book “Tussie-ussies, The Language of Flowers” by Geraldine Adamich Laufer, which I highly recommend for its insightfulness and beautiful photography. This flower guide includes the meanings of different flowers and the symbolic meanings of flowers.)

Flower Meanings – S

Sadness	Dead leaves
Safe	Ginger
Safety	Broom, traveler’s joy
Scholarship	Coral bells, orchid, especially cymbidium
Self-esteem	Narcissus
Self-love	Narcissus
Sensibility	Sensitive plant
Sentimental recollections	-Aster, Silver King Artemisia
Separation	Carolina jasmine
Serenity	Willow
Showy	Lisianthus
Shyness	Peony, rose-colored rose
Silence	White rose
Silliness	Cockscomb
Simplicity	Daisy, English daisy, violet
Sincerity	Fern, satin flower, anemone, honesty
Skill	Purple coneflower
Sleekness	Glossy abelia
Sleep	Hops, poppy, especially white
Softness	Lamb’s ears
Softness, feminine	Peach
Solitude	Globeflower
Soothes the tremblings and passions of the heart	Lavender
Soothing	Dill
Sorrow	Primrose, purple rose, yarrow, yew
Speak your mind	Borage
Spectacular	Mexican sage
Spiritual energy	Pine
Splendor	Cardinal flower, Turk’s-cap lily
Sport	Hyacinth, especially blue
Steadfastness	Oak, bamboo
Stoicism	Box
Stratagem	Walnut
Strength	Fennel, garlic, lovage, oak, thyme
Strength of character	Gladiolus
Strength of mind	Walnut
Strengthens the memory	Rosemary
Studious pursuit	Olive
Stupidity	Scarlet geranium
Submission	Grass
Success	Laurel, lavender
The sun	Pot marigold
Superstition	St. John’s Wort
Support	Lamb’s ears
Surprise	Truffle, lamb’s ears
Suspicion	Mushroom
Sweet dreams	Phlox
Sweetness	Delphinium, lilac, magnolia, pinks, sweet violet
The sweetness of character derived from good works	Cherry, cherry-red rose
Sympathy	Lemon balm, sea statice, thrift

Flower Meanings – T

Talent	Oregano
Taste	Fuchsia, pinks
Temptation	Apple, quince
Tenacity	Ivy
The testes	Pinecone
Thank you	Daisy fleabane
Thanks	Parsley
Thinness	Fennel
Thoughts	Pansy
Thoughts, happy	Heartsease, Johnny-jump-up
Thoughts of absent friends	Zinnia
Thoughts of heaven	Viburnum
Thrift	Sea thrift
Thriving	Blackberry lily
Timidity	Four-lock, Violet
Tiredness prevents	Mugwort
A token of affection	Oxeye daisy, Viburnum
Thoughtlessness	Mandevilla
Too young to love	White rosebud
Tranquility	Stonecrop/Sedum
Transient happiness	Spiderwort
Transient impressions	Withered white rose
Transport of joy	Gardenia, Jasmine
Travel	Mugwort
Travelers luck	Sea holly
Tree of life	Arborvitae
Triteness	Quince
Trinity	Three-leaf clover
Truthfulness	Ivy
Trustworthiness	Honesty
Truth	Anemone, bittersweet, white chrysanthemum, oak

Flower Meanings – U

Unceasing remembrance –	Silver King Artemesia
Unchanged for eternity	Clematis
Unchanging friendship	Arborvitae
Unexpected meeting	Lemon-scented geranium
Unfaithfulness	Yellow rose
Unfortunate attachment	Pincushion flower
Unity	White or red rose, allium/flowering onion
Uprightness	Bamboo
Usefulness	Grape Hyacinth

Flower Meanings – V

Vanity	Rocket
Variety	Aster, Rosa Mundi
The varying course of life	Magnolia and red flowers together
Vengeance	Scot’s thistle
Victory	Red rose, Spirea
Vigilance	Spring starflower
Vigorous life	Pine
Virtue	Lemon mint, oak, rue, sage, especially pineapple
Virtuous, sweet	Bee balm
Vision	Rue
Vitality	Champagne rose
Voluptuousness	Cyclamen, tuberose, moss rose
Voraciousness	Lupine
Vulgar minded	African marigold

Flower Meanings – W

Wait for me	Evening primrose
Wantonness	Butterfly bush
War	Yarrow
Wards off evil	Lavender cotton
Warm friendship	Pine
Warm-hearted	Cyclamen, especially white
Warming	Ginger
Warmth	Feverfew, peppermint
The warmth of feeling	Mint
The warmth of sentiment	Spearmint
Wealth	Tiger lily
Wearisomeness helps against	Chamomile
Wedded love	Ivy
Wedding	Stephanotis
Welcome	Pineapple, pineapple mint, safflower, spurge
Welcome fair stranger	Wisteria
Welcome-home-husband-however-drunk-ye-be	Stonecrop
Welcome to a new home	Juniper
Well-being	Delphinium
Whimsy	Bells-f-reland
Widowhood	Pincushion flower
Will you accompany me to the East?	Stephanotis
Wisdom	Rosemary, sage, blue salvia
Wise administration	Pear
A wish	Foxglove
Wishes, best	Basil
Wishes come true	Dandelion, heather
Wishes granted	Gooseneck loosestrife
Wit, ill-timed	Wood sorrel
The womb	Fig
Womb plant	Creeping jenny
Work, hard	Coral bells, clover
Worldly goods	Wheat
Worldly pleasures	Astilbe
Worth beyond beauty	Sweet alyssum
Worthy of all praise	Fennel

Flower Meanings – Y

You are a prophet	St.-John’s-Wort
You are childish!	Geranium
You are dazzling but dangerous	Snapdragon
You are delicious!	Strawberry
You are lovely	Pink rosebud
You are rich in attractions	Ranunculus
You are unjust!	Gentian
You cannot deceive me	Japanese lily
You light up my life!	Feverfew
You occupy my thoughts	Pansy, purple violet
You pierce my heart	Gladiolus
You will always be lovely	Double pinks
A young girl	Pink rosebud
Your ignorance of love is sweet!	Rosebud
Your image is engraved on my heart!	Euonymus
Your looks freeze me!	Ice plant
Your presence revives me!	Rosemary
Your qualities, like your charms, are unequaled!	Peach rose
Your smile bewitches me!	Scarlet geranium
Your whims are quite unbearable	Bee balm
Your wiles are irresistible –	Bergamot
Youth	Lilac, rosebud
Youth, early	Primrose
Youthful gladness	Crocus
Youthful innocence	White lilac

Flower Meanings – Z

Zeal	Elderberry
Zest	Lemon

Flowering Languages

When it comes to giving form to love – or hatred – nothing quite says it like flowers, writes Pamela Jane.

Poor old St Valentine – martyred in ancient Rome and, except for his name, apparently had nothing to do with the beautiful tradition of sending messages of love and admiration on February 14 every year.

One authority says the custom of sending Valentines began accidentally on that day because it coincided with a popular festival of feasting, dancing, and sacrificing goats.

Happy coincidence! St Valentine’s Day, a rather less bloody affair now, has grown in popularity to a worldwide celebration when millions of people reveal their feelings openly (or secretly) for somebody else.

It has become a profitable day, too, for newsagents selling cards, post offices selling stamps, newspapers printing weird and wonderful messages, and, of course, for florists who regard February 14 as one of their best days.

Flowers have been important for centuries in celebrations of all kinds so it is not surprising that special meanings have developed around some of them.

You really should know – sending or receiving – how your floral message might be interpreted.

Roses are the most traditional Valentine flowers but different colors send different messages.

Red means pure and lovely, pink signifies grace, white says, “I am worthy of you” and a combination of red and white means unity. Yellow roses suggest sunshine and ecstasy, though some believe they also indicate a dwindling affection.

The splendid waterlily says purity of heart and the huge and fragrant summer magnolias bring a message of splendid beauty, love of nature, and magnificence.

White lilies are wonderful in flower arrangements and their message is one of mystique, purity and patriotism. Red lilies are a declaration of love.

Similarly, a red chrysanthemum says simply, “I love you”. A stem of heliotrope indicates that love is eternal and cream honeysuckle illustrates the bonds of love.

Some Valentines might prefer to receive a bunch of forget-me-nots for faithfulness or ivy for fidelity and marriage.

To praise your loved one’s beauty, choose colored daisies and china roses. For more sensitive souls, hibiscus depicts a delicate beauty, while stock means beauty everlasting. A small sunflower spells adoration and wisteria says, “I cling to thee”.

Less committed Valentines might consider sending marigolds, marjoram, rosemary, and heartsease for a message of happiness and remembrance, or salad burnet for gaiety and a sprig of wattle for friendship.

Personally, I hope the man in this house will find a small bunch of crepe myrtle to tell me I am “extremely eloquent!”

No, thanks

For all the charm and beauty of flowers, they are not always romantic in what they represent. With flowers alone, it is possible to be positively rude and unpleasant.

Larkspurs, for example, signify infidelity and wantonness, and faithlessness is indicated with a bunch of white daisies.

Florists use a lot of dramatic lotus flowers, but their message is one that renounces love.

Try sending a nasty neighbor a bunch of tansies, which means “I declare war against you”. Yellow carnations express total disdain. French marigolds signal extreme jealousy and a small handful of lobelia is a message of malevolence.

Morning glory is for affectation, hydrangeas for heartless boasters, a capricious beauty deserves musk roses and lavender says “distrust”.

You might consider sending a spray of stephanotis to a pompous boss – it means “you boast too much”. Another peculiar interpretation, however, says it asks, “Will you accompany me to the East?” Be careful.

Keeping Flowers Fresh

Summer heat and humidity can be lethal for flowers in vases. Picking or buying a pretty bunch one day and having to throw them away the next is frustrating and expensive. Fortunately, you can help them to live longer.

Always pick flowers in the cool of the evening or early morning. Keep them shaded as you pick and lie them flat.

Freshly picked flowers will last longer if their stems are recut underwater. Use a sharp knife – not scissors or secateurs – and slice at an angle. This gives a bigger surface through which water can be absorbed.

The stems of some flowers quickly become soggy in a vase. If you spot this, recut it every two or three days.

Submerged leaves will turn the water sour – so off with them.

Many florists offer sachets of chemicals to put in the water. A little bleach or lemonade can help if you prefer not to use preservatives.

The old-fashioned remedies of dropping in a spoonful of sugar, two aspirins, or a copper coin are useless.

Christmas bush (Ceratopetalum gummiferum) is still blooming and lasts well if picked early in the day. Put the stems into water immediately then recut. Keep the vase out of sunlight and draughts and the flowers” should last at least 10 days. Even when they dry out, they are attractive.

Wattle stems should be put into boiling water immediately after cutting. Leave until the water is cold then put them into a vase of clean, cold water with half a teaspoon of alum (from a chemist).

Agapanthus, those tall elegant purple or white lilies which grow in clumps last for ages if individual blooms are picked off as they die. The juicy, fat stems need trimming every second day to keep them fresh.

Ochna requires little treatment and the bright red waxy calyx can be mixed cheerfully with other flowers.

Hydrangeas are always spectacular at this time of year – and they can fill a lot of space. Slit the ends of the stems about 2cm and submerge them in boiling water for five minutes. Alternatively, scorch them over a flame.

Dahlias can be given the same treatment except that stems should be scalded for 30 minutes. Daisies last better if their ends are burnt and the vase water replaced daily.

Roses should be picked early. Crush the base of each stem as you pick it and soak in the water right up to the base of the flower for a couple of hours or even overnight.

Carnations last well in a vase of lemonade.

Gladioli and lily spikes can be picked when the first flower opens and will last several weeks. Remove flowers as they die and snap off the top buds.

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Read also: Names of Flowers According to Traditional Calendars