Flowers and Their Meanings

Acacia (rose or white)

- elegance

Acacia (yellow)

- secret love

Acanthus

- the arts

Adonis

- sorrowful remembrance

Alstroemeria

- aspiring

Althaea Frutex

- consumed by love

Alyssum (sweet)

- worth beyond beauty

Amaryllis

- dramatic

Anemone

- unfading love

Angelica

- inspiration

Apple Blossom

- promise

Asphodel

- my regrets follow you to the grave

Aster

- contentment

Azalea

- abundance, temperance

Baby’s Breath

- festivity, pure of heart

Bachelor’s Buttons

- delicacy

Balsam (red)

- impatient resolves

Balsam (yellow)

- impatient

Begonia

- deep thoughts

Bells of Ireland

- good luck

Betony

- surprise

Black-Eyed Susan

- encouragement, justice

Blackthorn

- difficulty

Bluebell

- constancy

Bramble

- remorse

Broom

- humility

Buttercup

- desire for riches, ingratitude

Butterfly Weed

- let me go

Calycanthus

- benevolence

Camellia

- graciousness

Candytuft

- indifference

Canterbury Bell

- constancy

Cardinal Flower

- distinction

Carnation (pink)

- I will never forget you, gratitude

Carnation (red)

- flashy

Carnation (striped)

- refusal

Carnation (white)

- endearment, remembrance

Carnation (yellow)

- cheerful

Celandine

- joys to come

Centaury

- delicacy

Chamomile

- patience

Cherry Blossom

- beauty, spirituality

Chrysanthemum (bronze)

- excitement

Chrysanthemum (white)

- truth

Chrysanthemum (red)

- sharing

Chrysanthemum (yellow)

- secret admirer, sighted love

Cinquefoil

- beloved daughter, maternal affection

Coltsfoot

- justice shall be done

Columbine (purple)

- resolved to win

Columbine (red)

- anxious, trembling

Coreopsis

- always cheerful

Coriander

- hidden worth

Cornel

- durability

Cosmos

- peaceful

Crocus (saffron)

- mirth

Crocus (spring)

- youthful gladness

Crown Imperial

- majesty, power

Cyclamen

- diffidence

Cypress

- death, mourning

Daffodil

- chivalry, regard

Dahlia

- dignity

Daisy (general)

- innocence, hope

Daisy (Michaelmas)

- farewell

Daisy (parti-colored)

- beauty

Delphinium

- boldness

Dittany of Crete

- birth

Dittany of Crete (white)

- passion

Dogbane

- falsehood

Elder

- zealousness

Endive

- frugality

Fern

- sincerity

Fir

- elevation

Foxglove

- a wish

Freesia

- spirited

Forget-me-not

- remember me forever

Gardenia

- joy

Geranium (crane’s bill)

- envy

Geranium (dark)

- melancholy

Geranium (scarlet)

- comforting

Geranium (yellow)

- ingratitude

Gillyflower

- bonds of affection, lasting beauty

Gladiolus

- strength of character

Goldenrod

- encouragement

Harebell

- grief, submission

Hawkweed

- quick sightedness

Hawthorn

- hope

Heather

- solitude

Helenium

- tears

Heliotrope

- devotion, faithfulness

Hibiscus

- delicate beauty, sweet disposition

Holly

- domestic happiness, hope

Hollyhock

- ambition

Honesty

- honesty, sincerity

Honey flower

- love sweet and secret

Honeysuckle

- bonds of love

Honeysuckle (French)

- rustic beauty

Honeysuckle (wild)

- inconsistency

Horse Chestnut

- luxury

Houstonia

- content

Hyacinth (general)

- play, sport

Hyacinth (blue)

- constancy

Hyacinth (white)

- unobtrusive loveliness

Hydrangea

- perseverance

Hyssop

- cleanliness, sacrifice

Iris

- inspiration

Ivy

- fidelity, marriage

Jasmine

- gracefulness

Jasmine (Cape)

- I am too happy

Jasmine (Carolina)

- separation

Jasmine (Indian)

- attachment

Jasmine (Spanish)

- sensuality

Jasmine (white)

- amiability

Jasmine (yellow)

- elegance, grace

Jonquil

- desire for return of affection

Kingcup

- desire for wishes

Laburnum

- pensive beauty

Lady’s Slipper

- capricious beauty

Lantana

- rigor

Larkspur

- lightness

Lavender

- distrust

Lilac (purple)

- first emotions of love

Lilac (white)

- innocence, purity

Lily (Casablanca)

- celebration

Lily (Day)

- enthusiasm

Lily (Stargazer)

- ambition

Lily of the Valley

- return of happiness

Liverwort

- confidence

Lucern

- life

Lupine

- imagination

Magnolia

- dignity, love of nature

Marigold

- desire for riches, grief

Marigold (African)

- uneasiness

Marigold (French)

- jealousy

Marjoram

- happiness, joy

Mint

- virtue

Mistletoe

- I surmount all difficulties

Moonflower

- night

Morning Glory

- affection, night

Morning Glory (red)

- attachment

Mourning Bride

- unfortunate attachment

Musk Plant

- weakness

Myrtle

- emblem of marriage

Narcissus

- egotism

Nasturtium

- patriotism

Nightshade (Belladonna)

- silence

Nightshade (Woody)

- truth

Oleander

- beware

Orange Blossom

- fertility, woman’s worth

Orchid

- delicate beauty, luxury, refinement

Orchid (Cattleya)

- mature charms

Orchid (Slipper)

- capricious beauty

Pansy (Heart’s Ease)

- loving thoughts

Pansy (purple)

- you occupy my thoughts

Passion flower

- passion

Peony

- healing

Peony (red)

- devotion

Periwinkle (blue)

- early friendship

Periwinkle (white)

- pleasures of memory

Petunia

- resentment and anger

Pink (Dianthus)

- boldness

Pink (China)

- aversion

Pink (double Indian)

- always lovely

Pink (Mountain)

- aspiring

Pink (red)

- pure and ardent love

Pink (white)

- ingeniousness, talent

Poinsettia

- be of good cheer

Polyanthus

- pride of riches

Polyanthus (crimson)

- the heart’s mystery

Polyanthus (lilac)

- confidence

Pomegranate Flower

- mature elegance

Poppy (red)

- consolation

Poppy (scarlet)

- extravagance

Poppy (white)

- my antidote

Primrose

- young love

Primrose (lilac)

- confidence

Queen Anne’s Lace

- delicate femininity, regal

Ranunculus

- radiant

Rhododendron

- beware

Rose (burgundy)

- unconscious beauty

Rose (coral/peach)

- appreciation, congratulations

Rose (lavender/purple)

- enchantment

Rose (pink)

- admiration, friendship

Rose (red)

- passionate love, desire

Rose (red & white)

- unity

Rose (white)

- purity, innocence

Rose (yellow)

- happiness

Rudbeckia

- justice

Snapdragon

- presumption

Sorrel

- affection

Southernwood

- constancy

Star of Bethlehem

- hope

Stephanotis

- good luck

Statice

- success

Stock

- bonds of affection, contentment

Sunflower (dwarf)

- adoration

Sunflower (tall)

- appreciation

Sweet Pea

- delicate pleasures

Syringa

- memory

Syringa (Carolina)

- disappointment

Trumpet Flower

- fame

Tuberose

- pleasure

Tulip (pink)

- caring

Tulip (purple)

- royalty

Tulip (red)

- declaration of love

Tulip (striped)

- beautiful eyes

Tulip (white)

- forgiveness

Tulip (yellow)

- hopelessly in love

Valerian

- readiness

Valerian (red)

- accommodating disposition

Violet (blue)

- faithfulness

Violet (yellow)

- rural happiness

Violet (white)

- innocence

Wallflower

- fidelity in adversity

Water Lily

- purity of heart

Yarrow

- good health

Zephyr Flower

- expectation

Zinnia (magenta)

- lasting affection

Zinnia (mixed)

- thoughts of absent friends

Zinnia (scarlet)

- constancy

Zinnia (yellow)

- remembrance

Zinnia (white)

- goodness