Victorian Language of Flowers
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APPLE BLOSSOM - Preference, Better Things to Come, Good Fortune
ARBUTUS - Thee Only Do I Love
ARUM - Ardor
ASPARAGUS FERN - Fascination
ASPHODEL - My Regrets Follow You to the Grave
ASTER - Symbol of Love, Daintiness, Talisman of Love
ASTER (CHINA) - Fidelity, Variety, I Will Think of Thee
AZALEA - Take Care, Temperance, Fragile, Passion, Chinese Symbols of Womanhood
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BABY'S BREATH - Innocence, Pure of Heart
BACHELOR BUTTON - Single blessedness, Celibacy
BALM - Sympathy
BALSAM - Ardent Love
BEGONIA - Beware, A Fanciful Nature
BELLS OF IRELAND - Good luck
BIRD OF PARADISE - Often given today from a woman to man as a symbol of
faithfulness
BITTERSWEET - Truth
BLACK BRYONT/LADY'S SEAL - Be My Support
BLUEBELL/BELL FLOWER - Humility, Constancy, Gratitude
BROOM - Humility, Neatness
BUCK BEAN - Calm repose
BUTTERCUP - Childishness, Riches
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CACTUS - Endurance, My Heart Burns with Love
CALYCANTHUS/CAROLINA ALLSPICE/SWEET SHRUB - Benevolence
CALLA LILY - Magnificent Beauty
CAMELLIA - Admiration, Perfection, Good Luck Gift for a Man, Gratitude
CAMELLIA (PINK) - Longing
CAMELLIA (RED) - You're a flame in my heart
CAMELLIA (WHITE) - Adoration, Perfection, Loveliness
CANDYTUFT - Indifference
CANTERBURY BELLS/BELL FLOWER - Gratitude
CARDINAL FLOWER/SCARLET LOBELIA - Distinction
CARNATION (GENERAL) - Fascination, Devoted Love
CARNATION (PINK) - I'll never forget you, Women's Love
CARNATION (RED) - My heart aches for you, Admiration
CARNATION (DEEP RED) - Alas! for my poor heart
CARNATION (PURPLE) - Capriciousness
CARNATION (SOLID COLOR) - Yes
CARNATION (STRIPED) - No, Refusal, Sorry I can't be with you, Wish I could be with you
CARNATION (WHITE) - Sweet & Lovely, Innocence, Pure Love, Woman's Good Luck Gift
CARNATION (YELLOW) - Disapointment, Rejection
CATCHFLY (RED) - Youthful Love, I Fall Victim
CATTAIL - Peace, Prosperity
CATTLEYA - Mature charms
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CEDAR - I live but for thee, Think of Me
CELANDINE/PILEWORT/FIGWORT - Future Joy
CHAMOMILE/GOLDEN MARGUERITE/ANTHEMIS - Energy in Action
CHERRY BLOSSOM (SINGLE) - Education
CHICKWEED - I Cling to Thee
CHICORY - Frugality
CHRISTMAS ROSE/HELLEBORUS - Relieve My Anxiety
CHRYSANTHEMUM (GENERAL) - Abundance & Wealth,
Cheerfulness, You're a wonderful friend
CHRYSANTHEMUM (RED) - Love
CHRYSANTHEMUM (WHITE) - Truth
CHRYSANTHEMUM (YELLOW) - Slighted Love
CINQUEFOIL - Beloved Child
CLEMATIS - Artifice (ingenuity)
CLOVER (FOUR-LEAF) - Be Mine
CLOVER (WHITE) - Think of Me
CLOVER (RED) - Industry
COLCHICUM (MEADOW SAFFRON) - My Best Days Fled
COLUMBINE (PURPLE) - Resolved to Win
COLUMBINE (RED) - Anxious
COMPASS FLOWER - Faith
CONVOLVUS MINOR/BINDWEED - Uncertainty
CORCHORUS - Impatience of Happiness
COREOPSIOS - Always Cheerful
CORNFLOWER - Delicacy, refinement,
CORONILLA/CROWN VETCH - Success to You
COWSLIP - Rusticity, Winning Grace, Healing, Youth, Pensiveness
COXCOMB - Foppery, Unfading Love
CROCUS - Cheerfulness, Abuse not, Gladness
CROWN IMPERIAL/FRITILLARIA - Majesty
CYCLAMEN - Resignation and Good-Bye
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DAFFODIL - Regard, Unrequited Love, Sunshine, Respect, The sun shines when I'm with you
DAFFODIL (YELLOW ) - Chivalry
DAHLIA - Dignity and Elegance, Forever Thine
DAISY - Innocence, Loyal Love, I'll Never tell, Purity, Beauty
DAISY OX-EYE - Patience
DAISY (RED) - Beauty Unknown to Possessor
DANDELION - Faithfulness, Happiness, Love's oracle
DAPHANE CNEORUM/ROSE DAPHANE - I Desire to Please
DAPHANE ODORA/WINTER DAPHANE - I Would Not Have You Otherwise
DRACAENA/DRAGON'S BLOOD/DRAGON LILY - Inner Power
DEAD LEAVES - Sadness
DELPHINIUM - Big-Hearted, Fun
DILL - Lust
DIOSMA - Your Simple Elegance Charms Me
DOG ROSE - Pleasure and Pain
DOGWOOD (FLOWERING) - Am I Indifferent to You?
DRAGON ROOT/GREEN DRAGON (Arum draconium) - Ardor
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EDELWEISS/ALPINE CUDWEED - Daring, Courage, Noble Purity
EGLANTINE/SWEET-BRIAR/ROSA EGLANTARIA - Poetry, I Wound to Heal
ELDER FLOWER - Zeal
ENDINE - Frugality
EPIGAEA, REPENS/MAYFLOWER/TRAILING ARBUTUS - Budding
EUPATORIUM/HARDY AGERATUM - Delay
EREMURUS - Endurance
EUPHORBIA - Persistence
EVERLASTING - Never Ceasing Memory
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FERN - Magic, Fascination, Confidence, Shelter
FERN (MAIDENHAIR) - Secret bond of love, Discretion
FERN (ROYAL) - Reverie
FILBERT - Reconciliation
FIR - Time
FLAX - Domestic Symbol
FLORA'S BELL - Without Pretension
FLOWERING REED - Confide in Heaven
FORGET ME NOT - True Love, Memories
FORSYTHIA - Anticipation
FOXGLOVE/FAIRY THIMBLES/DEAD MEN'S BELLS - Stateliness, Youth
FOXTAIL GRASS - Sporting
FRAXINELLA/CULTIVATED DITTANY/GAS PLANT - Fire
FREESIA - Innocence, Trust
FUCHSIA (SCARLET) - Confiding Love, Taste
FURZE - Love for All Occasions
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GARDENIA - You're lovely, Secret love, Purity, Refinement
GARLIC - Courage, Strength, Get well, Ward Off Evil & Illness
GENETIAN (FRINGED) - Intrinsic Worth, I Look to Heaven, Autumn
GENTIAN (CLOSED) - Sweet Be Thy Dreams
GERANIUM - True Friend, Stupidity, Folly
GERANIUM (APPLE) - Present Preference
GERANIUM (IVY) - Your Hand for Next Dance
GERANIUM (LEMON) - Unexpected Meeting
GERANIUM (NUTMEG) - I Expect a Meeting
GERANIUM (OAK-LEAVED) - True Friendship, Lady, Deign to Smile
GERANIUM (PENCILED) - Ingenuity
GERANIUM (ROSE) - Preference
GERANIUM (SCARLET) - Consolation, Melancholy
GERANIUM (SILVER-LEAF) - Recall
GERBERA - Innocence
GLADIOLI - Generosity, I'm sincere, Flower of the gladiators
GLOBE AMARANTH - Unfading Love
GLOXINIA - Love at first sight
GINGER - Strength
GOLDEN-ROD - Be cautious, Encouragement
GOOSEBERRY - Anticipation
GOOSEFOOT - Goodness
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GORSE - Endearing Affection
GRASS - Submission
GRASS/CITRONELLA/CAMEL GRASS/LEMON GRASS/GINGER
GRASS - Homosexual Love
GUELDER ROSE/SNOWBALL - Winter
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HAREBELL/CAMPANULA - Humility, Grief
HEART'S EASR/PURPLE/JOHNNY JUMP UP - You Occupy My Thoughts
HEPATICA (Anemone nobilis) - Confidence
HEATHER (LAVENDER) - Admiration, Solitude
HEATHER (WHITE) - Protection, Wishes will come true
HELIOTROPE - Devotion
HENBANE - For Males to Attract Love from Females
HIBISCUS - Consumed by Love, Delicate Beauty
HOLLY - Defense, Domestic Happiness, Am I forgotten
HOLLYHOCK - Fruitfulness
HOLLYHOCK (WHITE) - Female Ambition
HONESTY/LUNARIA/DOLLAR PLANT/MONEY PLANT - Sincerity
HONEYFLOWER - Sweet, Secret love, Generous Affection, Sweetness of Disposition
HONEYSUCKLE - The Bond of Love
HONEYSUCKLE (CORAL) - I Love You
HOUSTONIA/BLUET/QUAKER LADIES - Content
HOYA/WAX PLANT - Sculpture
HUCKLEBERRY - Faith, Simple Pleasures
HYACINTH (GENERAL) - Games & Sports, Rashness, Flower dedicated to Apollo
HYACINTH (BLUE) - Consistency
HYACINTH (PURPLE) - Sorry, Please forgive me, Sorrow
HYACINTH (RED OR PINK) - Playful Joy
HYACINTH (WHITE) - Unobtrusive Loveliness, I'll pray for you
HYACINTH (YELLOW) - Jealousy
HYDRANGEA - Thank you for understanding, frigidity, heartlessness
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IPOMACA - I Attach Myself to You
INDIAN CRESS/NASTURTIUM - Resignation
IRIS - Faith, Wisdom, Promise in Love, Hope, Wisdom & Valor
IRIS (YELLOW) - Passion
IRIS (GERMAN) - Flame
IVY - Wedded Love, Fidelity, Friendship, Affection
IVY (SPRIG OF WHITE TENDRILS)- Anxious to please, Affection
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JAPONICA - Sincerity, Symbol of Love
JASMINE (INDIAN) - Attachment
JASMINE (SPANISH) - Sensuality
JASMINE (YELLOW) - Modesty, Grace, Elegance
JASMINE (WHITE) - Amiability
JERUSALEM OAK - Your Love is Reciprocated
JONQUIL - Love Me, Affection Returned, Desire, Sympathy
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KENNEDIA - Intellectual Beauty
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LADY'S SLIPPER - Win me, Capricious Beauty
LANTANA - Rigor
LARKSPUR - Levity, An Open Heart, Lightness
LAURISTINUS - Cheerful in Adversity
LAVENDER - Love, Devotion,
LEMON BLOSSOM - Fidelity in Love; I Promise to be True
LILAC (GENERAL) - Beauty, Pride
LILAC (PURPLE) - First emotions of love
LILAC (WHITE) - Youthful Innocence
LILY (GENERAL) - Majesty & Honor, Purity of Heart
LILY (ORANGE) - Hatred, Dislike
LILY (WHITE) - Virginity, Purity, Majesty, It's Heavenly to be with You, Youth
LILY (YELLOW) - I'm Walking On Air, False, Gay, Gratitude
LILY (CALLA) - Beauty
LILY (DAY) - Coquetry, Chinese Emblem For Mother
LILY (EUCHARIS) - Maiden Charms
LILY (TIGER) - Wealth, Pride, Prosperity
LILY OF THE VALLEY - Sweetness, Tears Of The Virgin Mary, Happiness, Humility
LIVERWORT - Confidence
LOVE IN A MIST - You Puzzle Me
LOVE-LIES-BLEEDING/AMARANTHUS - Hopeless, Not Heartless, Desertion
LOTUS - Estranged love, Forgetful of the Past
LUCERNE - Life
LUNGWORT - Thou Art My Life
LUPINE - Imagination
LYCHNIS/CAMPION/MALTESE CROSS - Religious Enthusiasm
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MAGNOLIA - Nobility, Perseverance, Nobility
MAGNOLIA (CHINESE) - Love of Nature
MALLOW - Delicate Beauty, Sweetness
MARIGOLD (COMMON) - Pretty Love, Sacred,Affection, Caress, Sorrow
MARJORAM - Joy, Happiness
MARVEL OF PERU/FOUR O' CLOCK - Timidity
MEADOW SAFFRON - My Best Days Are Gone
MIGNONETTE - Your qualities Surpass your Charms, Health
MEZEREON - Desire to Please
MILK VETCH - Your presence softens my pain
MIMOSA - Secret Love
MINT - Virtue
MISTLETOE - Kiss me, Affection, Difficulties, Sacred plant of India,
MONKSHOOD - Beware, Danger is near
MOUSE-EAR CHICKWEED - Simplicity
MORNING GLORY - Affection
MOSS - Maternal Love, Charity
MOTHERWORT - Secret Love
MOONWORT/HONESTY - Forgetfulness
MUGWORT/WORMWOOD - Tranquility, Happiness
MULLEIN - Good Nature
MYRTLE - Love, Joy, Hebrew Emblem of marriage
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MYRTLE (WAX) - Discipline, Instruction
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NARCISSUS - Formality, Stay As Sweet As You Are
NASTURTIUM - Conquest, Victory In Battle
NUTS - Stupidity
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OAK LEAVES - Bravery
OLEANDER - Caution
OLIVE BRANCH - Peace
ORANGE BLOSSOM - Innocence, Eternal Love, Marriage, Fruitfulness
ORANGE, MOCK - Deceit
ORCHID - Love, Beauty, Refinement, Chinese Symbol for Many Children, Thoughtfulness
ORCHID (CATTLEYA) - Mature Charm
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PALM LEAVES - Victory & Success
PANSY - Merriment, Thoughts (You Occupy My Thoughts)
PARSLEY - Useful Knowledge
PASSION FLOWER - Faith, Religious Fervor
PASQUE FLOWER - Unpretentious, You Have No Claims
PEAR - Affection
PEACH BLOSSOM - I am your Captive
PEONY - Shame, Happy Marriage, Compassion, Bashfulness
PEPPERMINT - Cordiality
PERIWINKLE/VINCA/MYRTLE - Early Recollections, Pleasures of Memories, Sweet Memories
PETUNIA - Your Presence Soothes Me
PHEASANT'S EYE/ADONIS - Sorrowful Memories
PHLOX - Our souls are united, Unanimity
PIMPERNEL/POOR MAN'S WEATHER GLASS - Change
PINE - Hope, Pity
PINK- Pure Affection
PINK (MOUNTAIN) - You Are Aspiring
POPPY (GENERAL) - Eternal Sleep, Oblivion, Imagination
POPPY (RED) - Pleasure
POPPY (WHITE) - Consolation
POPPY (YELLOW ) - Wealth, Success
POMEGRANATE FLOWER - Elegance
PRIDE OF CHINA - Dissension
PRIMROSE - I Can't Live Without You, Woman
PRIMROSE (EVENING) - Inconstancy
PRIMROSE (RED) - Unpatronized Merit
PRINCE'S FEATHER - Unfading Love
PUSSY WILLOW - Motherhood
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QUAKING GRASS - Agitation
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RAGGED-ROBIN - Wit
RANUNCULUS - I am Dazzled by your Charms
REEDS - Music
RHUBARB - Advice
RHODODENDRON - Danger, Beware, I am Dangerous
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ROSE (BRIDAL) - Happiness
ROSE (BURGANDY) - Unconscious Beauty
ROSE (CHRISTMAS)- Relieve my anxiety
ROSE (CORAL) - Desire
ROSE (DAMASK) - Freshness, Persian Ambassador of Love
ROSE (DARK CRIMSON) - Mourning
ROSE (DOG) - Pleasure & Pain
ROSE (GREEN) - I am from Mars
ROSE (HIBISCUS) - Delicate, Beauty
ROSE (LEAF) - You may Hope
ROSE (LAVENDER) - Enchantment
ROSE (ORANGE) - Fascination
ROSE (PINK) - Perfect Happiness, Secret Love, Grace & Sweetness, Indecision
ROSE (DARK PINK) - Thankfulness
ROSE (PALE PINK) - Grace, Joy
ROSE (PEACH) - Immortality, Modesty
ROSE (RED) - Love, I love you, Respect, Beauty
ROSE (DEEP RED) - Bashful, Shame
ROSE (TEA) - I'll Remember - Always
ROSE (THORNLESS) - Love at first sight, Early Attachment
ROSE (WHITE) - Innocence, Purity, Humility, I am Worthy of You, Secrecy,
Silence
ROSE (WHITE & RED TOGETHER) - Unity, Flower Emblem of England
ROSE (WHITE-DRIED) - Death is Preferable to Loss of Virtue
ROSE (YELLOW) - Joy, Jealousy, Friendship (one yellow rose with 11 red ones means love &
passion)
ROSEBUD - Beauty & Youth, A Heart Innocent of Love
ROSEBUD (RED) - Pure & Lovely
ROSEBUD (WHITE) - Girlhood, Heart Ignorant of Love
ROSEBUD (MOSS) - Confessions of Love
ROSES (Bouquet of full bloom) - Gratitude
ROSES (Single full bloom) - I truly love you, Simplicity.
ROSES (GARLAND or CROWN OF) - Beware of Virtue, Reward of Merit, Symbol of Superior
Merit
ROSE (MUSK CLUSTER) - Charming
ROSE-OF-SHARON - Consumed by Love
ROSEMARY - Remembrance
RUSH/HORSE-TAIL - Docility
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SAGE - Wisdom, Great Respect, Speedwell Female Fidelity
SATIN-FLOWER - Sincerity
SENSITIVE PLANT - Timidity
SHAMROCK - Lightheartedness
SLOE - Difficulty, AusteritySMILAX - Loveliness
SNAPDRAGON - Gracious Lady, Strength
SNOWBALL - Thoughts of Heaven
SNOWDROP - Hope, Consolation
SPEARMINT - Warm Sentiment
SPIDER FLOWER - Elope with me
SOLIDAGO - Success
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STAR OF BETHLEHEM - Atonement, Reconciliation
STARWORT - Welcome to a Stranger
STEPHANOTIS - Marital Happiness, Desire to Travel
STOCK- Bonds of Affection, Promptness, You'll Always Be Beautiful to Me
STONECROP - Tranquility
STRAW FLOWER - Agreement
STRAW (BROKEN) - Broken agreement
SYTINGIA/MOCK ORANGE/LILAC - Memory
SUNFLOWER (TALL) - False riches, Pride
SUNFLOWER ( DWARF) - Adoration
SWEETPEA - Good-by, Departure, Blissful Pleasure, Thank You for a Lovely
Time
SWEET-SULTAN - Felicity, Happiness
SWEET-WILLIAM - Grant me one smile, Gallantry
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TEASEL (Dipscaus) - Misanthropy
THORNAPPLE - I dreamed of thee
THRIFT (ARMERIA) - Sympathy
TRAVELER'S JOY - Rest, Safety
TRUMPET FLOWER/ANGEL'S TRUMPET/DATURA - Separation
TULIP (GENERAL) - Perfect Lover, Fame, Flower Emblem of Holland
TULIP (RED) -Believe me, Declaration of Love
TULIP (VARIEGATED) - Beautiful eyes
TULIP (YELLOW) - There's Sunshine In Your Smile
TURNIP - Charity
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VALERIAN - Accommodating Disposition
VENUS FLYTRAP - Caught at Last
VENUS' LOOKING GLASS - Flattery
VERBENA - Pray for me, Sensibility
VERONICA SPEEDWELL - Fidelity
VERVAIN - Enchantment
VINE - Intoxicating
VIOLET - Modesty, Virtue, Affection
VIOLET (BLUE) - Watchfulness, Faithfulness, Love
VIOLET (WHITE) - Let's Take A Chance On Happiness
VIRGIN'S BOWER/CLEMATIS - Filial Love (Filial: referring to a son or daughter)
VISCARIA - Will You Dance With Me?
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WALL FLOWER/GILLY FLOWER - Faithful in Adversity, Fidelity, Lasting Beauty
WINDFLOWER - Sincerity, Symbol of Love
WINTERGREENS - Harmony
WISTERIA - Welcome
WITCH HAZEL - A spell
WOLFBANE/ACONITE/TURK'S CAP/FRIAR'S CAP/BEAR'S FOOT - Misanthropy, Chivalry,
Knight
WOODBINE - Fraternal Love
WORMWOOD/ARTEMISIA - Absence, Do not be discouraged
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YARROW - Cure for heartache
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ZEPHYR FLOWER- Sincerity, Symbol of Love
ZINNIA (MAGENTA) - Lasting Affection
ZINNIA (MIXED) - Thinking (or in memory) of an Absent Friend
ZINNIA (SCARLET) - Constancy
ZINNIA (WHITE) - Goodness
ZINNIA (YELLOW) - Daily Remembrance
Adapted from Victorian Bazaar for educational purposes. http://www.victorianbazaar.com/meanings.html