The Meaning of Flowers

Most people appreciate flowers for their beauty and perfume. But did you know that flowers and bouquets also have their own "language"? For centuries, flowers and their individual meanings have been used to convey ideas, feelings and messages. This is called floriography.

Here is a listing of many different flowers and their meanings:

• Acacia: Friendship


• Allspice: Compassion


• Almond flowers: Hope


• Anemone: Forsaken


• Aster: Symbol of Love


• Azalea: Temperance


• Balm: Sympathy


• Basil: Best wishes


• Bay leaf: "I change but in death"


• Bell flower (white): Gratitude


• Bergamot: Irresistible


• Bluebell: Constancy


• Borage: Courage


• Broom: Humility


• Campanula: Gratitude


• Carnation, red: My poor heart aches for you


• Carnation, pink: I'll never forget you


• Carnation (striped): Refusal


• China rose: Beauty always new


• Chrysanthemum: Love


• Clover (four leafed): "Be mine"


• Coreopsis: Love at first sight


• Cuckoo pint: Ardor


• Daffodil: Regard


• Daisy: Innocence


• Fennel: Flattery


• Fern: Sincerity


• Forget-Me-Not: True love


• Furze or Gorse: Enduring affection


• French Marigold: Jealousy


• Gardenia: Ecstasy


• Gentian: Loveliness


• Geranium: "You are childish"


• Hare bell: Grief


• Heartsease: "I am always thinking of you"


• Honeysuckle: Bonds of love


• Heather: Admiration


• Hyacinth: I am sorry, Please forgive me


• Ice Plant: "Your appearance freezes me"


• Ivy: Fidelity, friendship, marriage


• Jasmine: Grace


• Jonquil: "I hope for return of affection"


• Larkspur: Lightness, levity


• Lavender: Luck, devotion


• Lemon Balm: Sympathy


• Lilac: First love


• Lily: Purity, modesty


• Lily of the Valley: Purity, the return of happiness


• Lily (Calla): Beauty


• Lotus: Eloquence


• Maple: Reservation


• Marigold: Grief or despair


• Marjoram: Kindness, courtesy


• Moss: Maternal love


• Mint: Virtue


• Mistletoe: "I surmount all difficulties"


• Myrtle: Fidelity


• Oregano: Joy


• Orchid: Love, beauty, refinement


• Pansy: Loving thoughts


• Periwinkle: Happy memory


• Phlox: Agreement


• Poppy (red): Consolation


• Primrose: "I cannot live without you"


• Rose (cabbage): Ambassador of love


• Rose (red): Love


• Rose (pink): Grace, beauty


• Rose (yellow): Friendship


• Rosemary: Remembrance, constancy


• Rue: Contrition


• Saffron: Beware of excess


• Sage: Gratitude, domestic virtue


• Spearming: Warmth of sentiment


• Snowdrop: Hope


• Star of Bethlehem : Purity


• Sweet Pea: Departure, tender memory


• Sweet William: Gallantry


• Sycamore: Curiosity


• Tuberose: Voluptuousness


• Tulip (red): My perfect Love, Reclamation of love


• Violet: Loyalty, modesty, humility


• Violet (blue): Faithfulness


• Wormwood: Grief


• Wheat: Riches of the continuation of life


• Willow (weeping): Mourning


• Wallflower: Fidelity


• Wormwood: Absence


• Yew: Sorrow


• Zephyr flower: Expectation


• Zinnia: Thoughts of absent friends

Most people know that red roses symbolize romantic love and that yellow roses convey the feeling of friendship. Here are the meanings for many other varieties of roses:

• Rose, Black: You are my obsession


• Rose, Champagne: You are tender and loving


• Rose, Leonidas: Sweet love


• Rose, Nicole: You are graceful and elegant, aristocratic


• Rose, Orange: You are my secret love


• Rose, Pink: Brilliant complexion; the glow of your smile; perfect happiness


• Rose, Red: Passionate love; I love you


• Rose, Single Stems: Simplicity


• Rose, White: I am worthy of you; spiritual love; Innocence and Purity; Secrecy and Silence


• Rose, White and Red: We are inseparable


• Rose, White and Red Mixed: Unity, Flower emblem of England


• Rose, White, Dried: Death is preferable to loss of virtue


• Rose, Yellow: Friendship; Jealousy; I am not worthy


• Rose, Bridal:Happy Love


• Rose, Dark Crimson: Mourning


• Rose, Hibiscus: Delicate beauty


• Rose, Tea: I’ll remember always


• Rose, Thornless: Love at first sight


• Roses, Bouquet of Mature Blooms: Gratitude

The number of roses in a bouquet also convey individual meanings:

• Single bloom red Rose: Love at first sight, I still love you


• Single Rose, any color: Gratitude or simplicity


• Two Roses: Mutual feelings


• Three Roses: I love you


• Seven Roses: I’m infatuated with you


• Nine Roses: We’ll be together forever


• 10 Roses: You are perfect


• 11 Roses: You are my treasured one


• 12 Roses: Be mine


• 13 Roses: Friends forever


• 15 Roses: I’m truly sorry


• 20 Roses: I’m truly sincere towards you


• 21 Roses: I’m dedicated to you


• 24 Roses: Forever yours


• 25 Roses: Congratulations


• 50 Roses: Unconditional love


• 99 Roses: I will love you all the days of my life


• 108 Roses: Will you marry me?


• 999 Roses: I love you till the end of time