THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS

A

Acacia
Beauty in retirement
Acorn
Nordic symbol of life and immortality
Agapanthis
Secret love
Ambrosia
"Your love is returned"
Anemone
Sincerity; forsaken
Aster
Symbol of love
Azalea
"Take care of yourself"; Chinese symbol for womanhood

B

Bachelor's Button
Single blessedness; hope in solitude
Begonia
Beware
Bouquet of Withered Flowers
Rejected love

C

Cactus
Endurance
Calladium
Great joy and delight
Camellia
Good luck gift for a man
Carnation
Fascination; love
• Pink Carnation - "I'll never forget you"
• Red Carnation - "My heart aches for you"
• Solid Carnation - "Yes"
• Striped Carnation - "No, I cannot be with you"; refusal
• White Carnation - Sweet and lovely; good luck gift
• Yellow Carnation - Rejection
Chrysanthemum
"You are a wonderful friend"; hope amid darkness
Crocus
Gladness

D

Daffodil
Respect; "The sun always shines when I am with you"
Dahlia
Instability, fickleness
Daisy
Loyal love; purity

F

Fern
Grace
Fleur de Lis
Flame; burning
Forget-Me-Not
True love; memories
Freesia
Trust

G

Gardenia
"You are lovely"; feminine grace
Geranium
Stupidity; folly
Gerbera Daisy
Purity
Gladiolus
"Give me a break!"; natural grace

H

Heather
Admiration
Hyacinth
"I am sorry, please forgive me"; sorrow (general)
Hydrangea
"Thank you for understanding"

I

Iris
"Your friendship means a lot to me"; compliments; wisdom; faith and hope

J

Jasmine
Good luck, productivity
Jonquil
"Love me"; sympathy

L


Lilac
Beauty
Lily (White)
Youthful innocence
• Calla Lily - Beauty
• Day Lily - Emblem for motherhood (China)
• Tiger Lily - Prosperity
Lotus
Estranged love
M

Magnolia-Nobility; dignity
Marigold-Grief


N

Narcissus-"Stay as sweet as you are"


O

Orchid-Ecstasy
• Cattleya Orchid - Maturity; charm


P

Palm Leaves-Victory; success
Pansy-Merriment; unspoken communication between lovers (from French pensee, meaning thought)
Peony-Compassion, ability to keep a secret
Petunia-"Your presence soothes me"; resentment; anger
Pine-Hope; pity
Poppy-Eternal sleep; oblivion
Primrose-"I cannot live without you"


R

Rose-Love
• Pink Rose - Happiness
• Red Rose - Passion; love
• White Rose - Purity; innocence; love not just of the body, but of the soul
• White & Red Roses - Unity
• Yellow Rose - "I care"; friendship
• Single Rose - "I still love you"
Rosemary-Remembrance


S

Snapdragon-Strength
Stephanotis-Happiness in marriage
Sunflower-Pride; sunshine
Sweet Pea-"Goodbye and thank you for a lovely time"; departure; lasting pleasure or careless luxury


T

Tulip-Perfect lover; luck; floral emblem of Holland
• Red Tulip - Declaration of love
• Yellow Tulip - "There is sunshine in your eyes"; declaration of utter and hopeless love


V

Violet-Virtue
Viscaria-"Dance with me"


W

Wintergrass-Harmony
Wisteria-Welcome


Y

Yarrow-Healing


Z

Zinnia-Thinking (in memory) of an absent friend
• Yellow Zinnia - Daily remembrance