Each bloom represents something unique. Naturally, you may give red roses as a token of your love to your partner, but there are other flowers that equally denote romantic passion and adoration. In addition, different hues of roses have their own symbolic connotations. Giving a special someone a lovely bouquet of their favourite flowers is heart-warming, but picking flowers based on what they stand for may make the gift much more heartfelt.
What is floriography?
The term "floriography" is only a fancy name for "flower language." Every flower has a unique significance or symbolism in the art of floriography, which is impacted by the variety and colour of the flower. Depending on the quantity given, certain flowers can acquire a different meaning. A solitary daffodil, for instance, is bad luck and should never be offered; but, a group of flowers might bring good fortune!
Once you are aware of the significance of flowers, you may experiment with your bouquets and arrangements to express your feelings to your special someone.
The Origins and Meanings of Flowers
For millennia, numerous nations in Europe and Asia have acknowledged the floral language. They even have a significant impact on William Shakespeare's writings. Ancient Greek, Roman, Egyptian, and Chinese mythologies, folklore, sonnets, and plays frequently use floral and plant symbolism, and for good cause.
It is uncertain if Victorians genuinely employed floral symbolism to communicate their emotions through bouquets. This common floral vocabulary may have served primarily as a 19th-century "coffee-table book." However, writers, poets, artists, and jewellers employed the flower symbolism frequently in their work. Given how widely accepted it was, numerous species are given their symbolic meanings in this "mystic dialect" of flowers in an 1895 book on Canadian wildflowers.
Flowers |
Meaning |
Acacia (Blossom) |
Concealed Love, Chaste Love, Beauty in Retirement |
Acorn |
Nordic Symbol of Life and Immortality |
Ambrosia |
Your Love is Reciprocated |
Amaryllis |
Pride, Pastoral Poetry |
Anemone |
Forsaken |
Arbutus |
Thee Only Do I Love |
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 |
Bouquet of Withered Flowers |
Rejected Love |
Endurance |
|
Camellia (Pink) |
Longing For You |
Camellia (Red) |
You're a Flame in My Heart |
Camellia (White) |
You're Adorable |
Candytuft |
Indifference |
Carnation (General) |
Fascination, Women Love |
Carnation (Pink) |
I'll Never Forget You |
Carnation (Red) |
My Heart Aches For You, Admiration |
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 and Lovely, Innocence, Pure Love, Woman's Good Luck Gift |
Carnation (Yellow) |
You Have Disappointed Me, Rejection |
Cattail |
Peace, Prosperity |
Chrysanthemum (Red) |
I Love You |
Chrysanthemum (White) |
Truth |
Chrysanthemum (Yellow) |
Slighted Love |
Coreopsis |
Always Cheerful |
Crocus |
Cheerfulness |
Cyclamen |
Resignation & Good-bye |
Daffodil |
Regard, Unequalled 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 |
Faithfulness, Happiness |
|
Dead Leaves |
Sadness |
Fern |
Magic, Fascination, Confidence, and Shelter |
Fern (Maidenhair) |
Secret Bond of Love |
Fir |
Time |
Flax |
Domestic Symbol |
Forget-Me-Not |
Memories, True Love |
Forsythia |
Anticipation |
Gardenia |
You're Lovely, Secret Love |
Stupidity, Folly |
|
Gladioli |
Give Me a Break & Flower of the Gladiators |
Gloxinia |
Love at First Sight |
Grass |
Submission |
Heather (Lavender) |
Admiration, Solitude |
Heather (White) |
Protection, Wishes Will Come True |
Holly |
Defense, Domestic Happiness |
Hyacinth (General) |
Games and Sports & Rashness |
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 Valor, My Compliments |
Ivy |
Fidelity, Friendship, Wedded Love, Affection |
Ivy (Sprig of White Tendrils) |
Affection & Anxious to Please |
Jonquil |
Love Me, Desire, Sympathy, Desire for Affection Returned |
Larkspur (Pink) |
Fickleness |
Lily (Orange) |
Hatred |
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, Return to Happiness, Humility, You've Made My Life Complete |
Magnolia |
Nobility |
Cruelty, Grief, Jealousy |
|
Mistletoe |
Kiss Me, Affection, To Surmount Difficulties, Sacred Plant of India |
Monkhood |
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 |
Love, Beauty, Refinement, Beautiful Lady, Chinese Symbol for Many Children |
|
Palm Leaves |
Victory and Success |
Peony |
Shame, Happy Life, Happy Marriage |
Resentment, Anger, Your Presence Soothes Me |
|
Pine |
Hope, Pity |
Poppy (General) |
Eternal Sleep, Oblivion, Imagination |
Poppy (Red) |
Pleasure |
Poppy (White) |
Consolation |
Poppy (Yellow) |
Wealth, Success |
I Can't Live without You |
|
Primrose (Evening) |
Inconstancy |
Rose (Bridal) |
Happy Love |
Rose (Christmas) |
Tranquilize My Anxiety, Anxiety |
Rose (Damask) |
Persian Ambassador of Love |
Rose (Dark Crimson) |
Mourning |
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 (White-Withered) |
Transient Impression, Fleeting Beauty, You Made No Impression |
Rose (Yellow) |
Decrease of Love, Jealousy, Try to Care |
Rosebud |
Beauty and You, 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 |
Roses (Garland or Crown of) |
Beware of Virtue, Reward of Merit, Crown - Symbol of Superior Merit |
Roses (Musk Cluster) |
Harming |
Smilax |
Loveliness |
Snapdragon |
Deception, Gracious Lady |
Spider Flower |
Elope with Me |
Stephanotis |
Happiness in Marriage, Desire to Travel |
Stock |
Bonds of Affection, You'll Always Be Beautiful to Me, Promptness |
Sweetpea |
Good-bye, Blissful Pleasure, Thank You for a Lovely Time |
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 |
Viscaria |
Will You Dance with Me? |
Zinnia (Magenta) |
Lasting Affection |
Zinnia (Mixed) |
Thinking (or In Memory) or an Absent Friend |
Zinnia (Scarlet) |
Constancy |
Zinnia (White) |
Goodness |
Zinnia (Yellow) |
Daily Remembrance |
Source – Almanac.com