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)

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