Flower Meanings & Symbolism A-Z
Floriography is the 'language of flowers'. Dating back to Victorian times, floriography was used as a means of coded communication through various flowers and floral arrangements, allowing people to express feelings which otherwise could not be spoken.
Through the years people have used flowers to express their feelings to others in many ways, and in modern times flowers still carry various different meanings. Use our comprehensive A–Z guide below to discover what your flowers say.
Abor Vitae Unchanging friendship Acacia Friendship, Beauty in retirement Acacia (Rose or White) Elegance, Friendship Acacia (Yellow) Secret love Aconite Beware Agapanthus Secret love Agrimony Thankfulness Allium Unity, Humility, Patience Almond Blossom Hope Alstroemeria Devotion, Wealth, Prosperity, Fortune Alyssum Worth beyond beauty Amaryllis Pride, Timidity, Splendid beauty Ambrosia Your love is reciprocated Anemone Forsaken, Expectations Apple Blossom Better things to come, Good fortune Arbutus Thee only do I love Arum Ardour Asparagus Fern Fascination Asphodel My regrets follow you to the grave Aster Symbol of Love, Daintiness Aster (China) Fidelity, Variety, I will think of thee Azalea Take care of yourself, Temperance, Fragile, Chinese symbol of womanhood
Baby's Breath Innocence, Pure of heart Bachelor Button Single blessedness, Hope Balloon Flower Endless love, Honesty Balm Sympathy Balsam Ardent love Barberry Bad temper Begonia A fanciful nature Bells of Ireland Good luck Bird of Paradise Symbol of faithfulness Bittersweet Truth Black Bryony / Lady's Seal Be my support Bluebell Humility, Constancy Bouvardia Enthusiasm Broom Humility, Neatness Buck Bean Calm repose Burdock Touch me not Buttercup Childishness
Cactus Endurance Caladium Great joy and delight Calendula Considered sacred Calla Lily Magnificent beauty Calycanthus Benevolence Canterbury Bell Gratitude Camellia (General) Gratitude, Perfection Camellia (Red) Unpretending excellence, You're a flame in my heart Camellia (White) You're adorable, Perfected loveliness Camellia (Pink) Longing for you Candy-Tuff Indifference Cardinal Flower Distinction Catchfly (Red) Youthful love, I fall victim Cattleya Mature charms Carnation (General) Fascination, Woman love Carnation (Red) Alas poor heart, Admiration Carnation (White) Sweet, Lovely, Innocence, Pure love, Adoration Carnation (Pink) I'll never forget you Carnation (Purple) Capriciousness Carnation (Solid Colour) Yes Carnation (Striped) No, Refusal, Sorry I can't be with you Carnation (Yellow) Disappointment, Rejection Cattail Peace, Prosperity Cedar I live but for thee, Think of me Celandine Future joy Chamomile Energy in action Cherry Blossom (Single) Education Chickweed I cling to thee Chicory Frugality China-Aster Variety Christmas Rose Relieve my anxiety Chrysanthemum (General) You're a wonderful friend, Rest, Cheerfulness Chrysanthemum (Red) I love you Chrysanthemum (White) Truth Chrysanthemum (Yellow) Slighted love Cinquefoil Beloved child Clematis Artifice (ingenuity) Clover (Four Leaf) Be mine Clover (Red) Industry Clover (White) Think of me Colchicum My best days fled Columbine (Red) Anxious Columbine (White) Folly Columbine (Purple) Resolved to win Compass Flower Faith Corchorus Impatience of happiness Coreopsis Always cheerful Cornflower Delicacy, Refinement Coronilla Success to you Cowslip Rusticity, Winning grace, Healing, Youth, Pensiveness Coxcomb Foppery, Unfading love Crocus Youthful gladness, Cheerfulness Crown Imperial Majesty Cyclamen Resignation, Good-bye
Daffodil Regard, Unrequited love, Respect Dahlia Dignity and Elegance Daisy Loyal Love, Gentleness, Innocence Dandelion Faithfulness, Happiness, Love's oracle Dead Leaves Sadness Deadly Nightshade Falsehood Delphinium Flight of fancy Dill Lust Diosma Your simple elegance charms me Dog Rose Pleasure and pain Dogwood Durability Dogwood (Flowering) Am I indifferent to you? Dracaena Inner power Dragon Root Ardour
Edelweiss Daring, Courage, Noble purity Eglantine Poetry, I wound to heal Elder Flower Zeal Endine Frugality Epigaea (Mayflower) Budding Eremurus Endurance Eupatorium Delay Euphorbia Persistence Everlasting Never ceasing memory
Fern Fascination, Sincerity, Magic Fern (Maidenhair) Secret bond of love, Discretion Fern (Royal) Reverie Filbert Reconciliation Fir Time Flax Domestic symbol Fleur De Lis Flame, Burning Flora's Bell Without pretension Flowering Almond Hope Flowering Reed Confide in heaven Forget Me Not True love, Faithfulness, Remembrance Forsythia Anticipation, Innocence Foxglove Stateliness, Youth Foxtail Grass Sporting Freesia Innocence, Trust, Friendship Fuchsia (Scarlet) Confiding love, Taste Furze Love for all occasions
Galax Encouragement Gardenia Purity, Sweet love, You're lovely Gentian (Fringed) Intrinsic worth, I look to heaven, Autumn Gentian (Closed) Sweet be thy dreams Geranium Stupidity, Folly Geranium (Apple) Present preference Geranium (Ivy) Your hand for the next dance Geranium (Lemon) Unexpected meeting Geranium (Nutmeg) I expect a meeting Geranium (Oak-Leaved) True friendship, Lady Geranium (Pencilled) Ingenuity Geranium (Rose) Preference Geranium (Scarlet) Consolation Geranium (Silver-Leaf) Recall Gerbera Innocence Gladioli I'm really sincere, Flower of the Gladiators Gladiolus Strength of character, Generosity Globe Amaranth Unfading love Gloxinia Love at first sight Golden-Rod Be cautious Gooseberry Anticipation Goosefoot Goodness Gorse Endearing affection Grass Submission Gypsophila Fertility
Harebell Humility, Grief Hawthorn Hope Heartsease Pansy Think of me Heart's Ease You occupy my thoughts Heather Good luck Heather (White) Protection, Wishes will come true Heather (Lavender) Admiration, Solitude Heliotrope Devotion, Faithfulness Hellebore Scandal Henbane For males to attract love from females Hibiscus Delicate beauty Holly Domestic happiness, Defence, Foresight Hollyhock Fruitfulness Hollyhock (White) Female ambition Honey Flower Secret love, Sweet Honeysuckle Generosity Honeysuckle (Coral) I love you Hoya (Wax Plant) Sculpture Huckleberry Faith, Simple pleasures Hyacinth Playful, Loveliness Hyacinth (White) Unobtrusive loveliness Hyacinth (Red or Pink) Playful Hyacinth (Blue) Constancy Hyacinth (Purple) Sorrow, Please forgive me Hyacinth (Yellow) Jealousy Hydrangea Thank you for understanding, Boastfulness, Heartlessness
Indian Cress Resignation Ipomoea I attach myself to you Iris Faith, Valour, Wisdom, Friendship Iris (Yellow) Passion Iris (German) Flame Ivy Fidelity, Wedded love, Affection, Friendship
Japonica Loveliness Jasmine (White) Amiability Jasmine (Yellow) Modesty, Grace, Elegance Jasmine (Indian) Attachment Jasmine (Spanish) Sensuality Jerusalem Oak Your love is reciprocated Jonquil Affection returned, Desire, Love me Juniper Protection
Kennedia Intellectual beauty King's Cup I wish I were rich
Lady's Slipper Win me Larkspur An open heart Larkspur (Pink) Fickleness Lavender Loyalty, Love, Devotion Lemon Leaves Everlasting love Lemon Blossom Fidelity in love Lilac (White) Youthful innocence, Purity Lilac (Purple) First emotion of love Lily of the Valley Return of happiness, Humility Lily (Orange) Wealth Lily (White) Sweetness, Purity Lily (Yellow) I'm walking on air, Gaiety Lily (Calla) Beauty Lily (Day) Coquetry Lily (Eucharis) Maiden charms Lily (Tiger) Wealth, Pride Linden Tree Matrimony Liverwort Confidence Longi Lily Pure, Modest Lotus Flower Estranged love Love In a Mist You puzzle me Lucerne Life Lungwort Thou art my life Lupine Imagination
Magnolia Love of nature, Nobility Maidenhair Discretion Mallow Sweet disposition Marigold Grief, Despair, Jealousy Marigold (Common) Pretty love, Sacred, Affection, Caress, Sorrow Marjoram Joy, Happiness Meadow Saffron My best days are past Mezereon Desire to please Mignonette Your qualities surpass your charms, Health Milk Vetch Your presence softens my pain Mimosa Sensitivity Mint Virtue Mistletoe Kiss me, Affection, Difficulties Monkshood Beware, A deadly foe is near Morning Glory Affection Moss Maternal love, Charity Motherwort Secret love Mullein Good nature Mum Hope Myrtle Love, Home, Duty
Narcissus Egotism, Formality Nasturtium Patriotism, Conquest, Victory in battle
Oleander Caution Olive Branch Peace Orange Blossom Innocence, Purity, Eternal love, Marriage Orange Mock Deceit Orchid Love, Beauty Orchid (Cattleya) Mature charm
Palm Leaves Victory, Success Pansy Thoughtful reflection, Merriment Parsley Useful knowledge Pasque Flower Unpretentious, You have no claims Passion Flower Faith Peach Blossom I am your captive Pear Blossom Affection Peony Happy marriage, Prosperity, Bashfulness Petunia Resentment, Anger, Your presence soothes me Phlox Our souls are united Pimpernel Change Pine Hope, Pity Pink Pure affection Pink (Mountain) You are aspiring Poinsettia Be of good cheer Pomegranate Flower Elegance Poppy (General) Eternal sleep, Oblivion, Imagination Poppy (Red) Pleasure Poppy (White) Consolation Poppy (Yellow) Wealth, Success Pride Of China Dissension Primrose I can't live without you Primrose (Red) Unpatronised merit Primrose (Evening) Inconstancy Prince's Feather Unfading love Pussy Willow Motherhood
Quaking Grass Agitation Queen Anne's Lace Haven
Ragged-Robin Wit Ranunculus Radiant, Charming Rhubarb Advice Rhododendron Danger, Beware, I am dangerous Rose (Red) Love, I love you, Desire Rose (Single Red) I love you Rose (White) Charm, Innocence Rose (White and Red) Unity Rose (Pink) Perfect happiness Rose (Pale Pink) Grace Rose (Dark Pink) Thankfulness Rose (Burgundy) Unconscious beauty Rose (Coral) Desire Rose (Dark Crimson) Mourning Rose (Orange) Fascination Rose (Peach) Immortality, Modesty Rose (White-Dried) Death is preferable to loss of virtue Rose (Yellow) Friendship, Joy, Gladness Rose (Bridal) Happiness Rose (Christmas) Relieve my anxiety Rose (Damask) Freshness, Persian ambassador of love Rose (Dog) Pleasure, Pain Rose (Hibiscus) Delicate beauty Rose (Lavender) Enchantment Rose (Leaf) You may hope Rose (Musk Cluster) Charming Rose (Tea) I'll remember always Rose (Thornless) Love at first sight Rose-Of-Sharon Consumed by love Rosebud Beauty, Youth Rosebud (Red) Pure, Lovely Rosebud (White) Girlhood Rosebud (Moss) Confessions of love Roses (Assorted Colours) You're everything to me Roses (Single Full Bloom) I love you, I still love you Roses (Bouquet Mature Blooms) Gratitude Roses (Garland or Crown of) Beware of virtue, Reward of merit, Symbol of superior merit Rosemary Remembrance Rush Docility
Satin-Flower Sincerity Scarlet Ipomoea Attachment Sensitive Plant Timidity Shamrock Light heartedness Sloe Difficulty Smilax Loveliness Snapdragon Presumption, Deception, Gracious lady Snowball Thoughts of heaven Snowdrop Hope Solidago Success Spanish Jasmine Sensuality Spearmint Warm sentiment Spider Flower Elope with me Star of Bethlehem Atonement, Reconciliation Starwort Welcome to a stranger Statice Remembrance Stephanotis Marital happiness Stock Affection, Lasting beauty, You'll always be beautiful to me Stonecrop Tranquillity Straw Flower Agreement Straw (Broken) Broken agreement Sunflower (Tall) False riches, Pride Sunflower (Dwarf) Adoration, Pride Sweet Pea Blissful pleasure, Good-bye, Departure Sweet-Sultan Felicity, Happiness Sweet William Grant me one smile
Thornapple I dreamed of thee Thrift (Armeria) Sympathy Tiger Lily Prosperity Traveller's Joy Rest, Safety Trumpet Flower Separation Tuberose Dangerous pleasure Tulip Love and Passion Tulip (Red) Declaration of love Tulip (White) I am worthy of you Tulip (Variegated) Beautiful eyes Tulip (Yellow) There's sunshine in your smile
Venus Flytrap Caught at last Verbena Pray for me Veronica Fidelity Vervain Enchantment Vine Intoxicating Violet Faithfulness, Modesty Violet (Blue) Watchfulness, Faithfulness, I'll always be true Violet (White) Let's take a chance Viscaria Will you dance with me?
Wallflower Fidelity in adversity Water Lily Purity of heart Wax Flower Riches Windflower Sincerity, Symbol of love Wintergreens Harmony Wisteria Welcome Witch Hazel A spell Wolfbane Misanthropy, Chivalry, Knight Woodbine Fraternal love Wormwood Absence, Do not be discouraged
Zephyr Flower Sincerity, Symbol of love Zinnia Thoughts of an absent friend Zinnia (Yellow) Daily remembrance Zinnia (Magenta) Lasting affection Zinnia (Mixed) Thinking / In memory of an absent friend Zinnia (Scarlet) Constancy Zinnia (White) Goodness
📖 About Floriography
The Victorian language of flowers allowed people to express emotions that couldn't be spoken aloud. A carefully chosen bouquet could convey complex messages of love, friendship, warning, or sympathy. Today, understanding flower meanings adds a thoughtful dimension to any floral gift.
England
Scotland
Wales
Northern Ireland