The Meaning of Flowers
Our floral dictionary defines flowers according to their traditional meanings. Check here when you wish to send a subtle message through a bouquet – or to decode the spray you’ve received!

a
Absinth/Wormwood: Separation and Torment of Love
Acacia: Platonic Love, concealed love
Aconite/Monkshood: Misanthropy and Poisonous Words
Adams’s Needle: A Friend in Need
Adonis: Recollection of Life’s Pleasure
Almond: Virginity and Fruitfulness
Almond Blossom: Hope and Watchfulness
Aloe: Wisdom and Integrity
Allspice: Compassion
Alyssum (sweet): Worth beyond beauty
Amaranth: Fidelity
Amaranth, Globe: Unchangeable
Amaryllis: Pastoral Poetry, Pride
Ambrosia: Your Love is reciprocated
Anemone: Refusal and Abandonment, Forsaken
Apple: Symbol of Perpetual Concord
Apricot Blossom: Timid Love
Abor Vitae: True Friendship
Arbutus: Thee only do I Love
Artemesia: Symbol of Dignity
Asphodel: Languor and Regret
Aster: Daintiness, Symbol of Love
Azalea: Fragile and Ephemeral Passion
b
Baby’s Breath: Happiness
Bay Wreath: Reward of Merit
Begonia: “Beware! I am fanciful!”
Bindweed: Coquette and Busybody
Bittersweet: Truth
Blackthorn/Sloe: Difficulty and Austerity
Blue Bell: Delicacy and Humility
Bouquet of Withered Flowers: Rejected love
Burdock: Importunity and Boredom
Buttercup: Childishness
c
Cactus: Bravery and Endurance
Camellia: Excellence and Steadfastness
Camellia, red: You’re a flame in my heart
Camellia, white: You’re adorable
Camomile: Initiative and Ingenuity
Candytuft: Indifference
Canterbury Bell: Constancy and Warning
Cardinal Flower: Distinction and Splendor
Carnation: Fascination
Carnation, Pink: Emblem of Mother’s Day, I will never forget you
Carnation, Purple: Antipathy and Capriciousness
Carnation, Red: Admiration, my heart aches for you
Carnation, Striped: No, Sorry, I cannot be with you
Carnation, White: Pure Love, Sweet Love, Innocence
Carnation, Yellow: Disdain and Rejection
Cedar Leaf: “I live for thee”
Chestnut: Independence and Injustice
China Aster: Jealousy and After-thought
Chrysanthemum: You are a wonderful friend
Chrysanthemum, Red: I love you
Chrysanthemum, White: Truth
Chrysanthemum, Yellow: Slighted Love
Cinnamon: Love and Beauty
Clematis: Artifice and Ingenuity
Clove: Dignity and Restraint
Clover: Fertility and Domestic Virtue
Clover, Four leafed: Symbol Of Good Luck
Clover, Five leafed: Symbol Of Bad Luck
Cockscomb/Celosia: Silliness or Foppery
Coltsfoot: Maternal Love and Care
Columbine: Cuckoldry and Deserted Love
Convolvulus: Humble Perseverance
Coreopsis: Always cheerful
Cornflower: Delicacy
Crane’s-bill/Wild Geranium: Constancy and Availability
Crocus: Youthful Gladness, Attachment, Cheerfulness
Crown Imperial: Majesty and Power
Cyclamen: Resignation & Goodbye
d
Daffodil: Emblem of Annunciation/Regard, Unrequited love
Dahlia: Good Taste
Daisy: Gentleness, Innocence, Loyal love
Dandelion: Oracle of Time and Love, Faithfulness, Happiness
Day Lily/Hemerocallis: Emblem Of The Mother
Delphinium: Airy
Dogwood: Durability
e
Edelweiss: Daring & Noble Courage
Eglantine: Spring & Poetry
Elderberry Blossom: Humility and Kindness
Everlasting: Constancy
f
Fennel: Strength
Fern: Sincerity, Magic, Fascination, Confidence, Shelter
Fir: Time & Evaluation
Forget-me-not: Faithful Love, Memories
Forsynthia: Anticipation
Fuchsia: Amiability
g
Gardenia: “I love you in secret”
Geranium, Oak-leaf: Friendship
Geranium, Rose: Preference
Gillyflower, Pink: Bonds Of Affection
Gladiolus: Strength Of Character, I am really sincere
Gloxinia: Love at first sight
Goldenrod: Treasure And Good Fortune
h
Heather, Purple: Admiration, Beauty and Solitude
Heather, Pink: “Good Luck”
Heather, White: Protection From Danger
Heliotrope: Devotion, Eternal Love
Hibiscus: Delicate Beauty
Holly: Foresight
Hollyhock: Ambition and Liberality
Honeysuckle: Sweetness Of Disposition
Hyacinth: Games & Sports
Hyacinth, purple: I am sorry, Please forgive me, Sorrow
Hyacinth, white: Loveliness, I will pray for you
Hyacinth, yellow: Jealousy
Hydrangea : Vanity, Thank you for understanding, Frigidity
i
Iris: Faith, Wisdom, Valor, Your Friendship means so much to me
Ivy: Friendship, Wedded love, Fidelity, Friendship, Affection
j
Jasmine, Red: Folly and Glee
Jasmine, White: Amiability and Cheerfulness
Jasmine, Yellow: Timidity and Modesty
Jonquil: Violent Sympathy and Desire, Love me, Affection returned
l
Lady’s Slipper: Capricious Beauty
Larkspur: Open Heart
Laurel: Success and Renown
Lavender: Constancy
Lilac, Mauve: “Do You Still Love Me”
Lilac, Pink: Youth and Acceptance
Lilac, White: “My First Dream Of Love”
Lily, Calla: Majestic Beauty
Lily, Day: Coquetry
Lily, Orange: Hatred and Disdain, Wealth, Pride
Lily, White: Majesty and Purity, Virginity
Lily-Of-The-Valley: Purity and Humility, Sweetness
Lotus: Mystery and Truth
Love-In-The-Mist/Nigell: Delicacy and Perplexity
m
Magnolia: Dignity, Splendid Beauty
Marigold: Sacred Affection, Cruelty, Grief, Jealousy
Marjoram: Comfort and Consolation
Marvel-Of-Peru: Flame of Love
Mistletoe: Affection and Love
Mimosa: Sensitivity
Myrtle: Love, Mirth and Joy
n
Narcissus: Egotism, Formality
Nasturtium: Patriotism
o
Oleander: Beauty and Grace
Orange Blossom: Your Purity Equals Your Loveliness, Innocence, Eternal Love
Orange Mock: Deceit
Orchid: Magnificence, Love, Beauty, Refinement
p
Pansy: Thoughtful Recollection
Passionflower: Faith and Piety
Peach Blossom: Generosity and Bridal Hope
Pear Blossom: Health and Hope
Peony: Healing, Life, Happy Marriage, Gay life
Peppermint: Warmth of Feelings
Periwinkle, Blue: Early Friendship
Periwinkle, White: Pleasures of Memory
Petunia: Anger and Resentment
Phlox: Sweet Dreams
Plum Blossom: Beauty and Longevity
Poinsettia: “Be of Good Cheer”
Poppy: Imagination, Dreaminess, Eternal sleep
Poppy, yellow: Wealth, Success
Primrose: Young Love, I cannot live without you
Primrose, evening: Inconstancy
q
Queen Anne’s Lace: Fantasy
r
Rose, Bridal: Happy Love
Rose, Carolina: Love Is Dangerous
Rose, Christmas: Peace and Tranquility
Rose, Coral/Orange: Enthusiasm, Desire
Rose, Dark Pink: Thank you
Rose, Light Pink: Admiration
Rose, Musk: Capricious Beauty
Rose, Pale: Friendship
Rose, Peach: Let’s get together, Closing of the deal
Rose, Pink: Love, Grace, Gentility, You’re so Lovely, Perfect Happiness, Please believe me
Rose, Pink & White: I love you still and always will
Rose, Red: Love, Desire, Respect, Courage, Job well done
Rose, Red & Yellow: Congratulations
Rose, White: Charm, Secrecy, Silence, You’re Heavenly, Reverence, Humility, Youthfulness and Innocence
Rose, White on Red: Unity/Flower Emblem of England
Rose, Yellow: Infidelity, Joy, Gladness, Friendship, Jealousy, Welcome Back, Remember me
Rose, Yellow & Orange: Passionate thoughts
Rosemary: Constancy, Fidelity and Loyalty
s
Salvia, Blue: “I Think of You”
Smilax: Lovely
Snapdragon: Presumption, Deception, Gracious lady
Snowdrop: Hope and Consolation
Spearmint: Warmth of Sentiment
Spider Flower: Elope with me
Statice: Lasting Beauty
Stephanotis: Happiness in marriage
Stock: Bonds of affection, You will always be beautiful to me
Sunflower: Homage and Devotion
Sweet Basil: Good Luck
Sweet Pea: Departure, Blissful pleasure, Thanks for a lovely time
Sweet William: Gallantry, Finesse and Perfection
t
Thrift: Sympathy
Thyme: Courage and Activity
Tiger Lily: Wealth and Pride
Tuberose: Dangerous Pleasures
Tulip: Symbol of The Perfect Lover
Tulip, Red: Believe me, Declaration of love
Tulip, Variegated: Beautiful eyes
v
Violet: Modesty and Simplicity
Viscaria: Will you dance with me?
w
Wallflower: Friendship and Adversity
Water Lily: Eloquence and Persuasion
Wisteria: Youth and Poetry
x
Xeranthemum: Eternity and Immortality
y
Yarrow: Healing
z
Zinnia: Thoughts of Absent Friends
Zinnia, Pink: Lasting Affection