The language of flowers also known as floriography, can be traced back to the early Chinese dynasties. However, it wasn’t until the 18th Century when Lady Mary Wortley Montague, wife of the British ambassador to Constantinople introduced the “Secret language of Flowers” to Europe that the language of flowers flourished between couples. European lovers embraced this book and thus, the tradition of sending secret messages through flowers began. The floristry industry grew in this period as the demand for more flowers especially exotic flowers grew.
The secret meaning of flowers has been forgotten over time but here are few hidden meanings of some flowers for when a text message isn’t enough.
In days gone by lovers would communicate with the secret language of flowers. Red roses for passion, jasmine for grace or a pink camellia for longing are just a few secret meanings that could be communicated between lovers.
Sending flowers must be one of the most special ways to brighten up someone’s day. Its made extra special if the flower meanings send a message too. There is more to just giving or receiving flowers as every flower lover knows but even the experts can’t agree on the real meaning of many blooms. Here are a general guide for a few of the more traditional ones.
Note: Cats are highly alergic to lillies, if your recipient has a cat please choose another flower.
Flower | Meaning |
---|---|
Acacia | Beauty in retirement; friendship; Concealed love; Chaste love |
Allium | Unity; Humility; Patience |
Alstroemeria | Wealth; Prosperity; Fortune |
Amaryllis/Hippeastrum | Pride; Splendid Beauty: Timidity |
Ambrosia | Your Love is reciprocated |
Anemone | Forsaken; Expectations |
Aster/Callistephus | Symbol of love; Daintiness; Afterthought |
Baby's Breath/Gypsophilia | Pure of heart; Innocence |
Bachelor's Button/Centaurea Cyanus | Hope in love; Felicity; Delicacy; Single blessedness |
Begonia | Beware |
Bells of Ireland/Molluculla Balm | Good Luck |
Bluebell/Scilita Nutans | Humility; Everlasting love |
Bouvardia | Enthusiasm |
Buttercup | Childishness |
Cactus | Endurance |
Caladium | Great joy and delight |
Camellia | Gratitude; Perfection |
Camellia (blue) | You're a flame in my heart |
Camellia (Pink) | Longing for you |
Camellia (Red) | Unpretending excellence |
Camellia (White) | You're adorable; Perfected loveliness |
Carnation/Dianthus Caryophyllus | Fascination; Womanly love; Devoted love |
Carnation/Dianthus Caryophyllus (Pink) | I'll never forget you; Woman's love |
Carnation/Dianthus Caryophyllus (Purple) | Capriciousness |
Carnation/Dianthus Caryophyllus (Red) | My Heart aches for you; Admiration |
Carnation/Dianthus Caryophyllus (Striped) | Sorry I can't be with you; No; Refusal; Wish I could be with you |
Carnation/Dianthus Caryophyllus (White) | Innocence; Sweet and lovely; Pure Love; Woman's good luck gift; You're adorable. |
Carnation/Dianthus Caryophyllus (Yellow) | Rejection; You have disappointed me |
Chrysanthemum chrysanthemums | Cheerfulness; You're a wonderful friend; Rest; Loveliness; Abundance; Wealth. |
Chrysanthemum (Red) | I love |
Chrysanthemum (White) | Truth |
Chrysanthemum (Yellow) | Slighted love |
Crocus | Youthfulness gladness; cheerfulness |
Cyclamen | Resignation; Goodbye |
Daffodil | You're the only one; Regard; Unrequited love, The sun shines when I'm with you |
Dahlia | Dignity; Elegance; Good Taste; Instability |
Daisy | Innocence; Loyal love; I'll never tell; purity; Gentleness; Romance |
Delphinium | Flight of fancy; Ardent attachment |
Fern | Secret bond of love; Fascination; Sincerity; Magic |
Fleur De Lis/Milled de fleur | Flame; Burning |
Forget-Me-Not/Myosotis | Faithful love; Undying hope; memories; Do not Forget; True love |
Freesia | Innocence; Trust; Friendship |
Galax | Encouragement |
Gardenia | Purity; Sweet love; You're lovely; Secret love; Refinement |
Geranium | Folly; Stupidity |
Gladiolus | Strength of Character; Sincerity; Generosity; Natural Grace |
Gloxinia | Love at first sight |
Grass | Submission |
Heather/Erica | Admiration; Solitude |
Heather/Erica (White) | Protection; Wishes will come true |
Hibiscus | Delicate beauty |
Holly | Foresight; Domestic happiness; Defence |
Hyacinth | Gave; Sports; Rashness |
Hyacinth (Blue) | Constancy |
Hyacinth (Purple) | Please forgive me; Sorrow |
Hyacinth (Red/Pink) | Play |
Hyacinth (White) | Loveliness; I'll pray for you |
Hyacinth (yellow) | Jealousy |
Hydrangea | Thank you for understanding; Frigidity; Heartlessness |
Iris | Faith; Wisdom; Valour; Promise; My Compliments; Hope; Message |
Ivy | Wedded love; Fidelity; Friendship; Affection |
Jonquil/Narcissus | Affection returned; sympathy; Desire; Love me |
Lilac (purple)/Syringa | First emotion of love |
Lilac (white)/Syringa | Youthful Innocence; Purity; Modesty; Virginity; Majesty |
Lily (Day)/Hermerocallis | Coquetry, Flirtatious |
Lily (Eucharis) | Maiden Charms |
Lily (Oriental/Tiger) | Wealth; Pride; prosperity |
Lily Calla/Zantedeschia | Beauty |
Lily of the Valley | Sweetness; Humility; Return of happiness |
Magnolia | Love of nature; Nobility; Dignity |
Marigold/Tagates | Grief; Cruelty; Jealousy; Sacred affection; Despair |
Mimosa, bloom/ Acacia | Concealed love; Sensitivity |
Monkshood/Aconitum | Chivalry; Beware; A Deadly foe is near |
Moss | Maternal love; Charity |
Myrtle/Vinca | Duty; Affection; Home; Love; Discipline; Instruction |
Narcissus | Stay as sweet as you are; Egotism; Formality |
Nasturtium | Patriotism; conquest; Victory in battle |
November Lily/Longiflorum lilium | Pure; Modest |
Oleander | Caution; Beauty; Grace |
Orange Blossom | Purity; Innocence; Eternal love; Marriage; Fruitfulness; Loveliness |
Orchid | Love; Beauty; Refinement; Beautiful Lady; Flower of magnificence |
Orchid (Cattaleya) | Mature charm |
Paeony | Bashfulness; Happy Marriage; Prosperity |
Palm Leaves | Victory; Success |
Pansy/Viola | Thoughtful reflection; Merriment |
Paper Daisy/Xeranthemum | Eternity; Immortality |
Petunia | Resentment; Anger; Your presence soothes me |
Pine | Hope; Pity |
Poinsettia | Be a good cheer |
Poppy/Papaver | Eternal sleep; Imagination; Oblivion |
Poppy/Papaver (Red) | Pleasure |
Poppy/Papaver (White) | Consolation |
Poppy/Papaver (Yellow) | Wealth; Success |
Primrose (Evening)/Lamarckiana | Inconstancy |
Primrose/Primula | I can't live without you |
Queen Anne's Lace | Haven |
Ranunculus | Radiant; Charming |
Rose (Assorted Colours) | You're everything to me |
Rose (Deep Pink) | Thank you |
Rose (Light pink) | Admiration |
Rose (Long stemmed) | I will remember you always |
Rose (Mature Blooms) | Gratitude |
Rose (Orange) | Enthusiasm; Desire |
Rose (Peach/Coral) | Enthusiasm; Desire |
Rose (Pink) | Perfect happiness; Gentility; Grace; Please believe me |
Rose (Red & White) | Unity |
Rose (Red) | Love; I Love You; Respect; Courage |
Rose (Short Stemmed) | Sweetheart; Girlhood |
Rose (Single Full Bloom) | I love you; I still love you |
Rose (Single Red) | Simplicity; I love you |
Rose (White) | Innocence; Purity; Heavenly; Secrecy; Silence; Charm |
Rose (Yellow) | Friendship; Joy and happiness; Jealousy; Trying to care; Gladness |
Rosebud | Beauty; youth; A heart Innocent of love |
Rosebud (Red) | Pure; Lovely |
Rosebud (white) | Girlhood |
Snapdragon/Antirrhinum | Gracious Lady; Deception; Presumption |
Spider Flower | Elope with me |
Statice | Sympathy: Remembrance |
Stephanotis | Happiness in marriage; Desire to travel; come to me |
Stock/Matthiola | Lasting beauty; Bonds of affection; Promptness; You'll always be beautiful to me |
Sunflower/Hellianthus | Adoration; Pride; Sunshine |
Sweet Pea/Lathyrus | Delicate pleasures; Goodbye; Blissful pleasure; Departure; Thank you for a lovely time |
Sweet William/Dianthus Barbatus | Grant me one smile; Gallantry |
Tulip | Perfect lover; Fame; Love; Passion |
Tulip (Red) | Believe me; Declaration of love |
Tulip (Variegated) | Beautiful eyes |
Tulip (Yellow) | There is sunshine in your smile; Hopeless love |
Verbena | Will you get your wish? |
Veronica | Fidelity |
Violet (blue) | I'll always be true; Watchfulness |
Violet (White) | Let's take a chance on happiness |
Violet/Viola | Modesty; Faithfulness; Virtue |
Wallflower Erysimum | Fidelity in adversity |
Water Lily | Purity of heart |
Wisteria/Sinensis | Welcome |
Yarrow | Healing |
Zinnia | Thoughts of absent friends |
Zinnia (Magenta) | Lasting affection |
Zinnia (Mixed) | Thinking/In memory of an absent friend |
Zinnia (Scarlet) | Constancy |
Zinnia (White) | Goodness |
Zinnia (Yellow) | Daily remembrance |
Gerbera (Red) | Unconscious in love |
Gerbera (White) | Truth, Innocence |
Gerbera (Yellow) | I’ll try harder to win you |
Gerbera (Orange) | You’re the sunshine of my life |