What Did That Bouquet Say?
/
This is the last gardenia plant someone gave me. According to Language of Flowers, gardenias stand for “You’re lovely; secret love.” (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)
What Did That Bouquet Say?
You may not know this but flowers talk. We have the Victorians to thank for the “Language of Flowers,” an intricate dialogue lovers exchanged through gift flowers. According to the languageofflowers.com, flowers are a perfect replica of human life: planting, growing, blooming and withering so they can also easily reflect emotions.
The following is a shortened version of favorite flowers and what they represent.
AMARYLLIS - Pride; Pastoral Poetry
ANEMONE - Forsaken
ASTER - Symbol of Love: Daintiness
AZALEA - Take Care of Yourself for Me; Temperance; Fragile Passion; Chinese Symbol of Womanhood
BACHELOR BUTTON - Single Blessedness
BEGONIA - Beware
BITTERSWEET - Truth
BLUEBELL - Humility
BOUQUET OF WITHERED FLOWERS Rejected Love (ouch!)
CACTUS - Endurance
CANDY TUFT - Indifference
CARNATION General - Fascination; Divine Love
CARNATION Pink - I'll Never Forget You CARNATION, Purple - Capriciousness
CARNATION Red - My Heart Aches for You; Admiration
CARNATION Solid Colour - Yes
CARNATION Striped - No; Refusal; Sorry I Can't Be with You: Wish l 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 General - You're A Wonderful Friend; Cheerfulness and Rest
CHRYSANTHEMUM Red - I Love
CHRYSANTHEMUM White - Truth
CHRYSANTHEMUM Yellow - Slighted Love
COREOPSIS - Always Cheerful
CROCUS - Cheerfulness
CYCLAMEN - Resignation and Good-bye
DAFFODIL - Regard; Unrequited 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
DANDELION - Faithfulness; Happiness
DEAD LEAVES - Sadness
FERN - Magic; Fascination; Confidence and Shelter
FERN Maidenhair - Secret Bond of Love
FORGET-ME-NOT- True Love; Memories
FORSYTHIA - Anticipation
GARDENIA - You're Lovely: Secret Love
GARLIC - Courage; Strength (I don’t recommend adding this to a bouquet!)
GERANIUM -"Stupidity; Folly
GLADIOLUS - Give Me a Break . . . I'm Really Sincere; Flower of the Gladiators
GLOXINIA - Love at First Sight
HEATHER Lavender - Admiration; Solitude
HEATHER White - Protection; Wishes will Come True
HOLLY - Defense; Domestic Happiness
HYACINTH General - Games and Sports; Rashness: Flower Dedicated to Apollo
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 Valour; My Compliments
IVY - Wedded Love; Fidelity; Friendship; Affection
IVY SPRIG OF WHITE TENDRILS -Anxious to Please; Affection
JONQUIL - Love Me; Affection Returned; Desire; Sympathy; Desire for Affection Returned
LARKSPUR Pink - Fickleness
LILY Calla - Beauty
LILY Day - Coquetry; Chinese Emblem for Mothers
LILY Eucharis - Maiden Charms
LILY Orange - Hatred
LILY Tiger - Wealth; Pride
LILY White - Virginity; Purity; Majesty; It's Heavenly to Be with You
LILY Yellow - I'm Walking on Air; False and Gay
LILY-0F-THE-VALLEY - Sweetness; Tears of the Virgin Mary; Return to Happiness; Humility; You've Made My Life Complete
MAGNOLIA - Nobility
MARIGOLD - Cruelty: Grief Jealousy
MISTLETOE - Kiss me; Affection; To Surmount Difficulties; Sacred Plant of India; Magic Plant of the Druids
MOSS - Maternal Love; Charity
NARCISSUS - Egotism; Formality; Stay as Sweet as You Are
NASTURTIUM - Conquest; Victory in Battle
NUTS - Stupidity
ORCHID - Love; Beauty; Refinement; Beautiful Lady; Chinese Symbol for Many Children
ORCHID Cattleya - Mature Charm
PEONY - Shame; Gay Life; Happy Marriage
PETUNIA - Resentment; Anger; Your Presence Soothes me
POPPY General - Eternal Sleep; Oblivion; Imagination
POPPY Red - Pleasure
POPPY White - Consolation
POPPY Yellow - Wealth; Success
PRIMROSE - I Can't Live Without You
PRIMROSE - Evening - Inconstancy
ROSE Bridal - Happy Love
ROSE Christmas - Tranquilize My Anxiety; Anxiety
ROSE Coral - Desire
ROSE Damask - Persian Ambassador of Love
ROSE Dark Crimson - Mourning
ROSE Dark Pink - Thankfulness
ROSE Lavender - Enchantment
ROSE Orange - Fascination
ROSE Pale Peach - Modesty
ROSE Pale Pink - Grace, Joy
ROSE Red - Love, Respect
ROSE Single Full Bloom - I Love You; I Still Love You
ROSE White - Innocence and Secrecy
ROSE Yellow - Joy, Friendship
ROSES Bouquet of Full Bloom - Gratitude
SNAPDRAGON - Deception; Gracious Lady
SPIDER FLOWER - Elope with Me
STOCK - Bonds of Affection; Promptness; You'll Always Be Beautiful to Me
SWEET PEA - Good-bye; Departure; 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
VIOLET- Modesty
ZINNIA Magenta - Lasting Affection
ZINNIA Mixed - Thinking (or in Memory) of an Absent Friend
ZINNIA Scarlet - Constancy
ZINNIA White - Goodness
ZINNIA Yellow - Daily Remembrance
Humm, I need to take a closer look at this Embroidered Flowers Handmade Quilt and see what messages those flowers are streaming together. Okay, now what do you want to say with flowers?
Charlotte
