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Flower Meanings Meaningful
Age-old Custom of Conveying Message Still Favoured Today
Flower meanings have been documented since the early 1700s in Turkey and later in the 1800s in Britain. In researching flower meanings, I have learned that we have generally misunderstood that there is one set of meanings that everyone knew. Or that the "language of flowers" was a secret communication, according to literary calligrapher, Susan Loy. Her site offers an in-depth literature review of the history of meanings applied to flowers.
Still, 150 years later we all find meanings in the stuff of life. A gesture means something when we feel angry or insecure, and totally another thing when we feel empowered and receptive. A laugh, a grimace, silence, hesitancy, zealousness, the sticky stuff of life only has meaning from the perception we put into it. In a Curriculum for Living education at Vancouver's Landmark Education we look at ourselves sufficiently to see we are all meaning-making machines. Flower meanings are just a part of that, and the meanings we put into creating our lives are the reasons you may want to buy flowers.
The messages sent with flowers can be a myriad of meanings from empathy to sympathy and from amazement to congratulations to simply, I extend beauty into your life. If the list doesn't quite define the person you wanted to send flowers to sufficiently, then this bloom mood meter will sort flowers according to your outlook on life or that of the person you're reaching out to.
Enjoy the list, and be amused that the recipient would have to create a meaning from the intent of several possibilities.
AcaciaAcornAgapanthus - Love Letters
Allium - Unity, Humility, Patience
Alstroemeria - Wealth, Prosperity, Fortune
Amaryllis - Pride
Ambrosia - Your love is reciprocated
Anemone - Forsaken
Arbutus - Thee only do I love
Aster - Afterthought
Astilbe - I'll still be waiting
Azalea - Love, Romance, First love, Take care of yourself for me, Temperance, Chinese symbol of womanhood, Fragile passion
Bachelor's Button Felicity, delicacy, Single blessedness
Basil - Best wishes
Bells of Ireland - Good luck
Begonia - Beware Bittersweet Truth
Bluebell - Humility
Bouquet of withered flowers -Rejected love
Bouvardia - Enthusiasm
Cactus - Endurance
Caladium - Great joy and delight
Calla - Magnificent Beauty
Camellia - General Perfection
Watch out for the withered flower bouquets!
Pink - Longing for you
Red -You're a flame in my heart
White - You're Adorable
Candytuft - Indifference
Carnation - General Fascination, Capriciousness
Solid Color - Yes
Pink -I'll never forget you
Purple- Capriciousness
Red- My heart aches for you, Admiration
Striped- Sorry I can't be with you, No, Refusal, Wish I could be with you
White - Innocence, Sweet and lovely, Pure love, woman's good luck gift
Yellow - Rejection, You have disappointed me
Chrysanthemum-General Cheerfulness, You're a wonderful friend
Red -I Love
White - Truth
Yellow -Slighted love
Clover - Good luck
Coral Bells - Challenge
Coreopsis- Always cheerful
Cosmos - Modesty
Crocus- Youthful gladness, Cheerfulness
Cyclamen - Resignation, Goodbye
Daffodil - You're the only one, Regard, Unrequited love
Dahlia -Instability
Daisy - Innocence, Loyal love, I'll never tell, Purity
Dandelion - Faithfulness, Happiness
Dead leaves - Sadness
Dogwood - Love undiminished by adversity
Fern -Fascination, Sincerity, Magic, Confidence, Shelter
Fern (Maiden Hair)- Secret bond of love
Fir- Time
Flax- Domestic symbol
Forget-Me-Not- True love, Memories
Forsythia- Good nature, Innocence, Anticipation
Freesia- Innocence
Galax - Encouragement
Gardenia - You're lovely, Secret love
Garlic - Courage, Strength
Geranium - Stupidity, Folly
Geranium - Ivy Bridal favor
Gladiolus - Strength of character, Give me a break, Really sincere, Flower of the gladitors
Gloxinia - Love at first sight
Grass -Submission
Heather: Lavender - Admiration, Solitude
White - Protection, Wishes will come to you
Holly -Foresight, Defense, Domestic happiness
Hyacinth - General Games, Sports, Rashness, Flower dedicated to Apollo
Blue - Constancy
Purple -Please forgive me, Sorrow
Red or Pink -Play
White - Loveliness, I'll pray for you
Yellow -Jealousy
The BC floral emblem is the Dogwood. We are the Dogwood people: love undiminished by adversity.
Hydrangea -Thank-you for understanding, Frigidity, Heartlessness
Iris -Emblem of France, Wisdom and Valor, My compliments Your friendship means so much to me
Ivy - Fidelity, Wedded love, Friendship, Affection
Ivy - (Sprig of white tendrils) Anxious to please, Affection
Jonquil (daffodil) -Sympathy, Love me, Affection returned, Desire
Kalanchoe - Popularity
Larkspur - Levity
Larkspur (Pink) - Fickleness
Lavender - Devotion
Lilac -Humility
Lily:Day Lily - Coquetry, Chinese emblem for mother
Eucharis
Maiden charms
Orange - Hatred
Tiger - Wealth, Pride
White - Virginity, Purity, Majesty, It's heavenly to be with you
Yellow - I'm walking on air!
Lily of the Valley - Sweetness, Tears of the Virgin Mary, Humility, You've made my life complete, Return to happiness
Magnolia -Love of nature, Nobility
Marigold - Cruelty, Grief,Jealousy
Marjoram -Blushes, Mirth
Mint Virtue
Missletoe - Magic plant of the Druids, Kiss me, Affection, To surmount difficulties, Sacred plant of India
Monkshood -Chivalry, Beware, A deadly foe is near
Moss -Maternal love, Charity
Myrtle - Home, Love, Hebrew emblem of marriage
Narcissus - Egotism, Formality, Stay as sweet as you are
Nasturtium -Patriotism, Conquest, Victory in battle, Nuts Stupidity
Orange Blossom -Purity, Innocence, Eternal love, Marriage, Fuitfulness
Orange (Mock)- Deceit
Orleander - Caution
Orchid - Love, Beauty, Refinement, Beautiful lady, Chinese symbol for many children
Orchid (Cattleya) -Mature charm
Palm leaves - Victory, Success
Pansy -Thoughts
Parsley -Festivity
Peach Blossom -I am your captive
Peony -Bashfulness
Petunia -Resentment, Anger, Your Presence Sooths Me
Phlox -Our souls are united
Pine - Hope , Pity
Poppy -General Eternal sleep, Oblivion, Imagination
Red -Pleasure
White -Consolation (Poppy is the floral sign of consolation probably because it was created by "Ceres" while in search of her daughter, Prosperpine, to assuage her grief).
Yellow -Wealth, Success
Get the power in that little nasturtium!
Primrose -I can't live without you
Primrose (Evening)- Inconstancy
Queen Anne's Lace -Haven
Quince -Temptation
Ranunculus -You are radiant with charm
Rose: Bridal -Happy Love
Christmas -Tranquilize my anxiety, Anxiety
Damask -Persian Ambassador of Love
Dark Crimson -Mourning
Hibiscus -Delicate Beauty
Leaf -You may hope
Red -Love, Respect, I love you
Tea -I'll remember Always
Thornless Love at First Sight
White -Innocence, Secrecy, Purity, I am worthy of you, You're heavenly,Silence
White and Red Mixed -Unity, Flower Emblem of England
White (Withered)-Transient Impression, Fleeting Beauty, You made no impression
White (Dried) Death is preferable to loss of virtue
Pink -Grace, Perfect Happiness, Thankfulness, Please believe me
Lavender -Enchantment
Peach -Desire
No wonder purple roses are a favoured gift at Valentine's!
Rosebud -General Beauty and Youth, A heart innocent of love
Red -Pure and lovely
White -Girlhood
Moss -Confessions of Love
Here's one. And since I don't make any flower sales when you take my ideas from here, just remember our name! A bag of moss with the proposal!
Rose- Gratitude
Roses (Single)- I love you, I still love you
Roses (Garland or Crown of)- Beware of Virtue, Reward of Merit, (crown) Symbol of Superior Merit
Rosemary -Remembrance
Sage -Domestic virtue
Smilax -Loveliness
Snapdragon Deception, Gracious Lady
Spider Flower -Elope with Me
Spirea -Victory, Conceit
Star of Bethlehem -Purity
Statice -Sympathy, remembrance
Stephanotis -Happiness in marriage, Desire to travel
Stock Lasting beauty, Bonds of affection, Promptness, You'll always be beautiful to me
Sunflower -Adoration
Sweet Basil -Good wishes
Sweet Pea -Delicate pleasures, Good-bye, Departure, Blissful pleasure, Thank you for a lovely time
Thyme -Activity
Tulip
 General -Perfect lover, Fame, Flower Emblem of Holland
Red -Believe me, Declaration of Love
Variegated -Beautiful eyes
Yellow -Hopeless love, There is sunshine in your smile
Violet:Blue -Watchfulness, Faithfulness, I'll always be true
White -Let's take a chance
Viscaria -Will you dance with me?
Water lily -Purity of heart
Weeping Willow -Mourning
Wheat -Friendliness
Yarrow -Healing
Zinnia :General -Thoughts of absent friends
Magenta -Lasting affection; Mixed Thinking (or in Memory) of an absent friend
Scarlet - Constancy
White -Goodness
Yellow -Daily Rememberance
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