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Flowers and Their Meaning

This whole flower language started in Constantinople in the 1600s, and was brought to England in 1716 by Lady Mary Wortley Montagu who had spent time in Turkey with her husband. The interest then moved to France (of course) where the Book 'Le Langage des Fleurs' was printed with over 800 floral signs. Many were toned down in the English translation at the time of Queen Victoria because they were quite lusty and risque!

Here are a few "nice" ones!

White rosebud Heart ignorant of love
Crocus Abuse not
Rhubarb advice
Indian jasmine attachment
Holly Am I forgotten
Deep red carnation Alas! for my poor heart
Deep red rose bashful shame
Full red rose beauty
Burgendy rose unconscious beauty (hmm?)
Unique rose call me not beautiful
Turnip charity
Chrysanthemum cheerfulness in old age
Buttercup childishness
Great yellow daffodil chivalry
Lettuce coldheartedness
Moss rosebud confession of love
Red poppy consolation
Red tulip declaration of love
yellow rose decrease of love, jealousy
Mistletoe difficulties, I surmount
Yellow carnation rue, distain
Thornless rose early attachment
Anemone expectation
Scarlet poppy extravagance, fantastic
Blue violet faithfulness
Purple lilac first emotions of love
Forget-me-not ditto
Damask rose freshness
White rose I am worthy of you
Peach blossom I am your captive
Iris I have a message for you
White daisy innocence
Dandelion love's oracle
Lotus flower estranged love
Ivy marriage
Provence rose my heart is in flames
yellow iris passion
Dog rose pleasure and pain
Christmas rose relieve my anxiety
Filbert reconciliation
Spanish jasmine sensuality
Peony shame
White poppy sleep
Yellow chrysanthemum slighted love
Amarylis splendid beauty
Honeyflower sweet and secret love
Pansy thoughts
Zinnia thoughts of absent friends
Forget-me-not also means true love
White and red rose unity
Parsley useful knowledge
Pink carnation woman's love
lady slipper win me and wear me (Hmm, OK..)
Marigold vulger minded
Rosemary your presence revives me
Ice plant your looks freeze me

The Language of Flowers.

Flowers may be combined and arranged so as to express even the nicest shades of sentiment.

If a flower is offered ``reversed'', its direct signification is likewise reversed, so that the flower now means the opposite.

A rosebud divested of its thorns, but retaining its leaves, convays the sentiment, ``I fear no longer; I hope.''

Stripped of leaves and thorns, it signifies, ``There is nothing to hope or fear.''

A full-blown rose places over two buds, signifies ``Secrecy.''

``Yes,'' is implied by touching the flower given to the lips; ``No,'' by pinching off a petal and casting it away.

``I am,'' is expressed by a laurel leaf twined arround the bouquet; ``I have,'' by an ivy leaf folded together; ``I offer you,'' by a leaf of Virginia creeper.

COMBINATIONS

  • Moss Rosebud and Myrtle.
    A confession of love.
  • Mignonette and Coloured Daisy.
    Your qualities surpass your charms of beauty.
  • Lily of the Valley and Ferns.
    Your unconscious sweetness has fascinated me.
  • Yellow Rose, Broken Straw and Ivy.
    Your jealousy has broken our friendship.
  • Scarlet Geranium, Passion Flower, Purple Hyacinth, and Arbor Vitae.
    I trust you will find consolation, through faith, in your sorrow; be assured of my unchanging friendship.
  • Columbine, Day Lily, Broken Straw, Witch Hazel and Coloured Daisy.
    Your folly and coquetry have broken the spell of your beauty.
  • White Pink, Canary Grass and Laurel.
    Your talent and perseverance will win you glory.
  • Golden-rod, Monkshead, Sweet Pea and Forget-me-not.
    Be cautious; danger is near; I depart soon; forget me not.
CARNATION, WHITE. - Distain.
CHINA-ASTER. - Variety.
CLOVER, FOUR-LEAF. - Be mine.
CLOVER, WHITE. - Think of me.
CLOVER, RED. - Industry.
COLUMBINE. - Folly.
COLUMBINE, PURPLE. - Resolved to win.
DAISY. - Innocence.
DEAD LEAVES. - Sadness.
DEADLY NIGHTSHADE. - Falsehood.
FERN. - Fascination.
FORGET-ME-NOT. - True love. Forget me not.
FUCHSIA, SCARLET. - Taste.
GERANIUM, SCARLET. - Consolation.
GERANIUM, ROSE. - Preference.
GOLDEN-ROD. - Be cautious.
HELIOTROPE. - Devotion.
HONEY-FLOWER. - Love, sweet and secret.
HYACINTH, WHITE. - Unobtrusive loveliness.
IVY. - Fidelity.
LADY'S SLIPPER. - Win me and wear me.
LILY, DAY. - Coquetry
LILY, WHITE. - Sweetness.
LILY, YELLOW. - Gaiety.
LILY OF THE VALLEY. - Return of happiness.
MIGNONETTE. - Your qualities surpass your charms.
MONKSHEAD. - Danger is near.
MYRTLE. - Love.
OATS. - The witching soul of music.
ORANGE BLOSSOMS. - Chastity.
PANSY. - Thoughts.
PASSION FLOWER. - Faith.
PEACH BLOSSOM. - I am your captive.
PEAR. - Affection.
PRIMROSE. - Inconstancy.
QUAKING GRASS. - Agitation.
ROSE. - Love.
ROSE, DEEP RED. - Bashful shame.
ROSE, YELLOW. - Jealousy.
ROSE, WHITE. - I am worthy of you.
ROSEBUD, MOSS. - Confession of love.
SHAMROCK. - Lightheartedness.
STRAW. - Agreement.
STRAW, BROKEN. - Broken agreement.
SWEEP PEA. - Depart.
TUBEROSE. - Dangerous pleasures.
VERBENA. - Pray for me.
WITCH HAZEL. - A spell.




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