|
Flowers have a language of their
own. Every sentiment is expressed in one form or
another by these beatiful blooms. Did you know
that in the Middle Ages flowers were used as a
vital part of lengthy courtships? In Victorian
times, couples in love would send messages to each
other using different flowers; each flower had its
own special meaning. Since different flowers are
deemed to convey different messages, lovers could
express themselves without the fear of being
overheard. The flowers could even be symbolically
arranged to communicate different feelings of
love, attraction, affection or even disdain.
Flowers were all part of a secret code - and a
beautiful code at that... These days, whether
you're male or female, romantic or practical, if
you do decide to give the age-old gift flowers it
will mean so much more if you brush up on some of
the meanings beforehand. While all flowers convey
thoughtfulness and love, here are some of the more
traditional meanings, according to one source.
|
| FLOWER MEANINGS |
ACACIA - |
Concealed Love, Beauty in Retirement, Chaste Love |
AGAPANTHIS |
Secret Love |
AMBROSIA - |
Your Love is Given Back/Returned |
AMARYLLIS - |
Pride, Pastoral Poetry |
ANEMONE - |
Forsaken, sincerity |
ARBUTUS - |
Thee Only Do I Love |
ASTER - |
Symbol of Love, Daintiness |
AZALEA - |
Take Care of Yourself for Me, Temperance, Fragile Passion, Chinese Symbol of Womanhood |
BACHELOR BUTTON - |
Single Blessedness |
BEGONIA - |
Beware |
BELLS OF IRELAND - |
Good Luck |
BITTERSWEET - |
Truth |
BLUEBELL - |
Humility |
CACTUS - |
Endurance |
CALADIUM |
Great joy and delight |
CAMELLIA |
Good luck gift for a man |
CAMELLIA (PINK) - |
Longing for you |
CAMELLIA (RED) - |
You're a Flame in My Heart |
CAMELLIA (WHITE) - |
You're Adorable |
CARNATION (GENERAL) - |
Fascination, Woman Love |
CARNATION (PINK) - |
I'll Never Forget You |
CARNATION (RED) - |
My Heart Aches For You, Admiration |
CARNATION (PURPLE) - |
Capriciousness, Whimsical |
CARNATION (SOLID COLOR) - |
Yes |
CARNATION (STRIPED) - |
No, Refusal, Sorry I Can't Be With You, Wish I Could Be With You |
CARNATION (WHITE) - |
Sweet and Lovely, Innocence, Pure Love, Woman's Good Luck Gift |
CARNATION (YELLOW) - |
You Have Disappointed Me, Rejection |
CATTAIL - |
Peace, Prosperity |
CHRYSANTHEMUM (GENERAL) - |
You're a Wonderful Friend, Cheerfulness and Rest. |
CHRYSANTHEMUM (WHITE) - |
Truth |
CHRYSANTHEMUM (YELLOW) - |
Slighted Love |
CROCUS - |
Cheerfulness, gladness |
CYCLAMEN - |
Resignation and Good-bye |
DAFFODIL - |
Respect, Regard, Unrequited Love, You're the Only One, The Sun is Always Shining when I'm with You |
DAISY - |
Innocence, Loyal Love, I'll Never Tell, Purity |
DANDELION - |
Faithfulness, Happiness |
FERN - |
Magic, Fascination, Confidence and Shelter |
FIR - |
Time |
FLAX - |
Domestic Symbol |
FORGET-ME-NOT - |
True Love, Good Memories, Hope, I’ll never forget you |
FORSYTHIA - |
Anticipation |
FREESIA |
Trust |
GARDENIA - |
You're Lovely, Secret Love |
GERANIUM - |
Stupidity, Folly |
GLADIOLI - |
Give Me a Break, I'm Really Sincere, Flower of the Gladiators |
GLOXINIA - |
Love at First Sight |
HEATHER (LAVENDER) - |
Admiration, Solitude |
HEATHER (WHITE) - |
Protection, Wishes Will Come True |
HOLLY - |
Defence, Domestic Happiness |
HONEYSUCKLE |
Happiness |
HYACINTH (GENERAL) - |
Games and Sports, Rashness, Flower Dedicated to Apollo |
HYACINTH (BLUE) - |
Constancy |
HYACINTH (PURPLE) - |
I am Sorry, Please Forgive Me, Sorrow |
HYACINTH (RED OR PINK) - |
Play |
HYACINTH (WHITE) - |
Loveliness, I'll Pray for You |
HYACINTH (YELLOW) - |
Jealousy |
HYDRANGEA - |
Thank You for Understanding, Frigidity, Heartlessness |
IRIS - |
Fleur-de-lis, Emblem of France, Your Friendship Means so Much to Me, Faith, Hope, Wisdom and Valour, My Compliments |
IVY - |
Wedded Love, Fidelity, Friendship, Affection |
JONQUIL - |
Love Me, Affection Returned, Desire, Sympathy, Desire for Affection Returned |
LARKSPUR (PINK) - |
Fickleness |
LILY (WHITE) - |
Virginity, Purity, Majesty, It's Heavenly to be with You |
LILY (YELLOW) - |
I'm Walking on Air, False and Gay |
LILY (CALLA) - |
Beauty |
LILY (DAY) - |
Coquetry, Chinese Emblem for Mother |
LILY (EUCHARIS) - |
Maiden Charms |
LILY (TIGER) - |
Wealth, Pride |
LILY OF THE VALLEY - |
Sweetness, Tears of the Virgin Mary, Return to Happiness, Humility, You've Made My Life Complete, beauty, gaiety |
MAGNOLIA - |
Nobility |
MARIGOLD - |
Cruelty, Grief, Jealousy |
MISTLETOE - |
Kiss me, Affection, To Surmount Difficulties, Sacred Plant of India |
MONKSHOOD - |
Beware, A Deadly Foe is Near |
MOSS - |
Maternal Love, Charity |
MYRTLE - |
Love, Hebrew Emblem of Marriage |
NARCISSUS - |
Egotism, Formality, Stay as Sweet as You Are |
NASTURTIUM - |
Conquest, Victory in Battle |
OLEANDER - |
Caution |
ORANGE BLOSSOM - |
Innocence, Eternal Love, Marriage and Fruitfulness |
ORANGE MOCK - |
Deceit |
ORCHID - |
Love, Beauty, Refinement, Beautiful Lady, Chinese Symbol for Many Children, Thoughtful, Maturity, Charm |
ORCHID (CATTLEYA) - |
Mature Charm |
PALM LEAVES - |
Victory and Success |
PEONY - |
Shame, Happy Life, Happy Marriage |
PETUNIA - |
Resentment, Anger, Your Presence Sooths Me |
PINE - |
Hope, Pity |
POPPY (GENERAL) - |
Eternal Sleep, Oblivion, Imagination |
POPPY (RED) - |
Pleasure |
POPPY (WHITE) - |
Consolation |
POPPY (YELLOW) - |
Wealth, Success |
PRIMROSE - |
I Can't Live Without You |
PRIMROSE (EVENING) - |
Inconstancy |
ROSE (BRIDAL) - |
Happy Love |
ROSE (DARK CRIMSON) - |
Mourning |
ROSE (HIBISCUS) - |
Delicate Beauty |
ROSE (LEAF) - |
You May Hope |
ROSE (PINK) - |
Perfect Happiness, Please Believe Me |
ROSE (RED) - |
Love, I Love You |
ROSE (TEA) - |
I'll Remember Always |
ROSE (THORNLESS) - |
Love at First Sight |
ROSE (WHITE) - |
Innocence and Purity, I am Worthy of You, You're Heavenly, Secrecy and Silence |
ROSE (WHITE AND RED MIXED) - |
Unity, Flower Emblem of England |
ROSE (WHITE-DRIED) - |
Death is Preferable to Loss of Virtue |
ROSE (YELLOW) - |
Decrease of Love, Jealousy, Try to Care |
ROSEBUD - |
Beauty and Youth, A Heart Innocent of Love |
ROSEBUD (RED) - |
Pure and Lovely |
ROSEBUD (WHITE) - |
Girlhood |
ROSEBUD (MOSS) - |
Confessions of Love |
ROSES (Bouquet of Mature Blooms) - |
Gratitude |
ROSES (Single Full Bloom) - |
I Love You, I Still Love You |
SMILAX - |
Loveliness |
SNAPDRAGON - |
Deception, Gracious Lady |
SPIDER FLOWER - |
Elope with Me |
STEPHANOTIS - |
Happiness in Marriage, Desire to Travel |
STOCK - |
Bonds of Affection, Promptness, You'll Always Be Beautiful to Me |
SUNFLOWER |
Pride, Sunshine |
SWEETPEA - |
Good-bye, Departure, Blissful Pleasure, Thank You for a Lovely Time |
TULIP (GENERAL) - |
Perfect Lover, Frame, Flower Emblem of Holland |
TULIP (RED) - |
Believe Me, Declaration of Love |
TULIP (VARIEGATED) - |
Beautiful Eyes |
TULIP (YELLOW) - |
There's Sunshine in Your Smile |
VIOLET - |
Modesty |
VIOLET (BLUE) - |
Watchfulness, Faithfulness, I'll Always Be True |
VIOLET (WHITE) - |
Let's Take a Chance |
VISCARIA |
Dance With Me |
WISTERIA |
Welcome |
ZINNIA (MAGENTA) - |
Lasting Affection |
ZINNIA (MIXED) - |
Thinking (or In Memory) of an Absent Friend |
ZINNIA (SCARLET) - |
Constancy |
ZINNIA (WHITE) - |
Goodness |
ZINNIA (YELLOW) - |
Daily Remembrance |
 |
|
| BIRTHDAY FLOWER |
|
 |
|
| Most people have heard of Birthstones, well the following list is of Birthflowers. |
|
JANUARY
Flower: Carnation, Snowdrop
FEBRUARY
Flower: Primrose, Violet
MARCH
Flower: Jonquil, Violet
APRIL
Flower: Daisy, Sweet Pea
MAY
Flower: Hawthorn, Lily of the Valley
JUNE
Flower: Honeysuckle, Rose |
JULY
Flower: Larkspur, Water Lily
AUGUST
Flower: Gladiolus, Poppy
SEPTEMBER
Flower: Aster, Morning Glory
OCTOBER
Flower: Calendula, Cosmos
NOVEMBER
Flower: Chrysanthemum
DECEMBER
Flower: Holly, Narcissus, Poinsettia
|
|
Colours
There are
many different color traditions and these can be
affected by culture, function, application etc. The
following is a general rule of thumb in regard to
choosing the right colored flowers to portray the
correct sentiment.
You
can base your color choice on traditional associations
or scientific choices.
Traditional Colour Choice
These
traditional color choices mainly apply to roses but may
also be applied to other flower types.
- Red roses mean romantic love.
- Purple roses signify that the giver has fallen in love with the recipient at first sight.
- Coral and orange roses signal desire.
- Yellow
roses are joy and friendship.
- Pink
roses express our gratitude and appreciation.
- Light
pink
roses show feelings of admiration and sympathy.
- Peach
is more indefinite, as it can signify either sympathy
or gratitude.
- White
roses show meaning of reverence and humility.
|
|