Victorian Floral Symbolism

A
• APPLE BLOSSOM - Preference, Better Things to Come, Good Fortune
• ARBUTUS - Thee Only Do I Love
• ARUM - Ardor
• ASPARAGUS FERN - Fascination
• ASPHODEL - My Regrets Follow You to the Grave
• ASTER - Symbol of Love, Daintiness, Talisman of Love
• ASTER (CHINA) - Fidelity, Variety, I Will Think of Thee
• AZALEA - Take Care, Temperance, Fragile, Passion, Chinese Symbols of Womanhood
B
• BABY'S BREATH - Innocence, Pure of Heart
• BACHELOR BUTTON - Single blessedness, Celibacy
• BALM - Sympathy
• BALSAM - Ardent Love
• BEGONIA - Beware, A Fanciful Nature
• BELLS OF IRELAND - Good luck
• BIRD OF PARADISE - Often given today from a woman to man as a symbol of faithfulness
• BITTERSWEET - Truth
• BLACK BRYONT/LADY'S SEAL - Be My Support
• BLUEBELL/BELL FLOWER - Humility, Constancy, Gratitude
• BROOM - Humility, Neatness
• BUCK BEAN - Calm repose
• BUTTERCUP - Childishness, Riches
C
• CACTUS - Endurance, My Heart Burns with Love
• CALYCANTHUS/CAROLINA ALLSPICE/SWEET SHRUB - Benevolence
• CALLA LILY - Magnificent Beauty
• CAMELLIA - Admiration, Perfection, Good Luck Gift for a Man, Gratitude
• CAMELLIA (PINK) - Longing
• CAMELLIA (RED) - You're a flame in my heart
• CAMELLIA (WHITE) - Adoration, Perfection, Loveliness
• CANDYTUFT - Indifference
• CANTERBURY BELLS/BELL FLOWER - Gratitude
• CARDINAL FLOWER/SCARLET LOBELIA - Distinction
• CARNATION (GENERAL) - Fascination, Devoted Love
• CARNATION (PINK) - I'll never forget you, Women's Love
• CARNATION (RED) - My heart aches for you, Admiration
• CARNATION (DEEP RED) - Alas! for my poor heart
• 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 & Lovely, Innocence, Pure Love, Woman's Good Luck Gift
• CARNATION (YELLOW) - Disapointment, Rejection
• CATCHFLY (RED) - Youthful Love, I Fall Victim
• CATTAIL - Peace, Prosperity
• CATTLEYA - Mature charms
• CEDAR - I live but for thee, Think of Me
• CELANDINE/PILEWORT/FIGWORT - Future Joy
• CHAMOMILE/GOLDEN MARGUERITE/ANTHEMIS - Energy in Action
• CHERRY BLOSSOM (SINGLE) - Education
• CHICKWEED - I Cling to Thee
• CHICORY - Frugality
• CHRISTMAS ROSE/HELLEBORUS - Relieve My Anxiety
• CHRYSANTHEMUM (GENERAL) - Abundance & Wealth,
• Cheerfulness, You're a wonderful friend
• CHRYSANTHEMUM (RED) - Love
• CHRYSANTHEMUM (WHITE) - Truth
• CHRYSANTHEMUM (YELLOW) - Slighted Love
• CINQUEFOIL - Beloved Child
• CLEMATIS - Artifice (ingenuity)
• CLOVER (FOUR-LEAF) - Be Mine
• CLOVER (WHITE) - Think of Me
• CLOVER (RED) - Industry
• COLCHICUM (MEADOW SAFFRON) - My Best Days Fled
• COLUMBINE (PURPLE) - Resolved to Win
• COLUMBINE (RED) - Anxious
• COMPASS FLOWER - Faith
• CONVOLVUS MINOR/BINDWEED - Uncertainty
• CORCHORUS - Impatience of Happiness
• COREOPSIOS - Always Cheerful
• CORNFLOWER - Delicacy, refinement,
• CORONILLA/CROWN VETCH - Success to You
• COWSLIP - Rusticity, Winning Grace, Healing, Youth, Pensiveness
• COXCOMB - Foppery, Unfading Love
• CROCUS - Cheerfulness, Abuse not, Gladness
• CROWN IMPERIAL/FRITILLARIA - Majesty
• CYCLAMEN - Resignation and Good-Bye
D
• DAFFODIL - Regard, Unrequited Love, Sunshine, Respect, The sun shines when I'm with you
• DAFFODIL (YELLOW ) - Chivalry
• DAHLIA - Dignity and Elegance, Forever Thine
• DAISY - Innocence, Loyal Love, I'll Never tell, Purity, Beauty
• DAISY OX-EYE - Patience
• DAISY (RED) - Beauty Unknown to Possessor
• DANDELION - Faithfulness, Happiness, Love's oracle
• DAPHANE CNEORUM/ROSE DAPHANE - I Desire to Please
• DAPHANE ODORA/WINTER DAPHANE - I Would Not Have You Otherwise
• DRACAENA/DRAGON'S BLOOD/DRAGON LILY - Inner Power
• DEAD LEAVES - Sadness
• DELPHINIUM - Big-Hearted, Fun
• DILL - Lust
• DIOSMA - Your Simple Elegance Charms Me
• DOG ROSE - Pleasure and Pain
• DOGWOOD (FLOWERING) - Am I Indifferent to You?
• DRAGON ROOT/GREEN DRAGON (Arum draconium) - Ardor

E
• EDELWEISS/ALPINE CUDWEED - Daring, Courage, Noble Purity
• EGLANTINE/SWEET-BRIAR/ROSA EGLANTARIA - Poetry, I Wound to Heal
• ELDER FLOWER - Zeal
• ENDINE - Frugality
• EPIGAEA, REPENS/MAYFLOWER/TRAILING ARBUTUS - Budding
• EUPATORIUM/HARDY AGERATUM - Delay
• EREMURUS - Endurance
• EUPHORBIA - Persistence
• EVERLASTING - Never Ceasing Memory
F
• FERN - Magic, Fascination, Confidence, Shelter
• FERN (MAIDENHAIR) - Secret bond of love, Discretion
• FERN (ROYAL) - Reverie
• FILBERT - Reconciliation
• FIR - Time
• FLAX - Domestic Symbol
• FLORA'S BELL - Without Pretension
• FLOWERING REED - Confide in Heaven
• FORGET ME NOT - True Love, Memories
• FORSYTHIA - Anticipation
• FOXGLOVE/FAIRY THIMBLES/DEAD MEN'S BELLS - Stateliness, Youth
• FOXTAIL GRASS - Sporting
• FRAXINELLA/CULTIVATED DITTANY/GAS PLANT - Fire
• FREESIA - Innocence, Trust
• FUCHSIA (SCARLET) - Confiding Love, Taste
• FURZE - Love for All Occasions
G
• GARDENIA - You're lovely, Secret love, Purity, Refinement
• GARLIC - Courage, Strength, Get well, Ward Off Evil & Illness
• GENETIAN (FRINGED) - Intrinsic Worth, I Look to Heaven, Autumn
• GENTIAN (CLOSED) - Sweet Be Thy Dreams
• GERANIUM - True Friend, Stupidity, Folly
• GERANIUM (APPLE) - Present Preference
• GERANIUM (IVY) - Your Hand for Next Dance
• GERANIUM (LEMON) - Unexpected Meeting
• GERANIUM (NUTMEG) - I Expect a Meeting
• GERANIUM (OAK-LEAVED) - True Friendship, Lady, Deign to Smile
• GERANIUM (PENCILED) - Ingenuity
• GERANIUM (ROSE) - Preference
• GERANIUM (SCARLET) - Consolation, Melancholy
• GERANIUM (SILVER-LEAF) - Recall
• GERBERA - Innocence
• GLADIOLI - Generosity, I'm sincere, Flower of the gladiators
• GLOBE AMARANTH - Unfading Love
• GLOXINIA - Love at first sight
• GINGER - Strength
• GOLDEN-ROD - Be cautious, Encouragement
• GOOSEBERRY - Anticipation
• GOOSEFOOT - Goodness
• GORSE - Endearing Affection
• GRASS - Submission
• GRASS/CITRONELLA/CAMEL GRASS/LEMON GRASS/GINGER
• GRASS - Homosexual Love
• GUELDER ROSE/SNOWBALL - Winter
H
• HAREBELL/CAMPANULA - Humility, Grief
• HEART'S EASR/PURPLE/JOHNNY JUMP UP - You Occupy My Thoughts
• HEPATICA (Anemone nobilis) - Confidence
• HEATHER (LAVENDER) - Admiration, Solitude
• HEATHER (WHITE) - Protection, Wishes will come true
• HELIOTROPE - Devotion
• HENBANE - For Males to Attract Love from Females
• HIBISCUS - Consumed by Love, Delicate Beauty
• HOLLY - Defense, Domestic Happiness, Am I forgotten
• HOLLYHOCK - Fruitfulness
• HOLLYHOCK (WHITE) - Female Ambition
• HONESTY/LUNARIA/DOLLAR PLANT/MONEY PLANT - Sincerity
• HONEYFLOWER - Sweet, Secret love, Generous Affection, Sweetness of Disposition
• HONEYSUCKLE - The Bond of Love
• HONEYSUCKLE (CORAL) - I Love You
• HOUSTONIA/BLUET/QUAKER LADIES - Content
• HOYA/WAX PLANT - Sculpture
• HUCKLEBERRY - Faith, Simple Pleasures
• HYACINTH (GENERAL) - Games & Sports, Rashness, Flower dedicated to Apollo
• HYACINTH (BLUE) - Consistency
• HYACINTH (PURPLE) - Sorry, Please forgive me, Sorrow
• HYACINTH (RED OR PINK) - Playful Joy
• HYACINTH (WHITE) - Unobtrusive Loveliness, I'll pray for you
• HYACINTH (YELLOW) - Jealousy
• HYDRANGEA - Thank you for understanding, frigidity, heartlessness
I
• IPOMACA - I Attach Myself to You
• INDIAN CRESS/NASTURTIUM - Resignation
• IRIS - Faith, Wisdom, Promise in Love, Hope, Wisdom & Valor
• IRIS (YELLOW) - Passion
• IRIS (GERMAN) - Flame
• IVY - Wedded Love, Fidelity, Friendship, Affection
• IVY (SPRIG OF WHITE TENDRILS)- Anxious to please, Affection

J
• JAPONICA - Sincerity, Symbol of Love
• JASMINE (INDIAN) - Attachment
• JASMINE (SPANISH) - Sensuality
• JASMINE (YELLOW) - Modesty, Grace, Elegance
• JASMINE (WHITE) - Amiability
• JERUSALEM OAK - Your Love is Reciprocated
• JONQUIL - Love Me, Affection Returned, Desire, Sympathy
K
• KENNEDIA - Intellectual Beauty
L
• LADY'S SLIPPER - Win me, Capricious Beauty
LANTANA - Rigor
• LARKSPUR - Levity, An Open Heart, Lightness
• LAURISTINUS - Cheerful in Adversity
• LAVENDER - Love, Devotion,
• LEMON BLOSSOM - Fidelity in Love; I Promise to be True
• LILAC (GENERAL) - Beauty, Pride
• LILAC (PURPLE) - First emotions of love
• LILAC (WHITE) - Youthful Innocence
• LILY (GENERAL) - Majesty & Honor, Purity of Heart
• LILY (ORANGE) - Hatred, Dislike
• LILY (WHITE) - Virginity, Purity, Majesty, It's Heavenly to be with You, Youth
• LILY (YELLOW) - I'm Walking On Air, False, Gay, Gratitude
• LILY (CALLA) - Beauty
• LILY (DAY) - Coquetry, Chinese Emblem For Mother
• LILY (EUCHARIS) - Maiden Charms
• LILY (TIGER) - Wealth, Pride, Prosperity
• LILY OF THE VALLEY - Sweetness, Tears Of The Virgin Mary, Happiness, Humility
• LIVERWORT - Confidence
• LOVE IN A MIST - You Puzzle Me
• LOVE-LIES-BLEEDING/AMARANTHUS - Hopeless, Not Heartless, Desertion
• LOTUS - Estranged love, Forgetful of the Past
• LUCERNE - Life
• LUNGWORT - Thou Art My Life
• LUPINE - Imagination
• LYCHNIS/CAMPION/MALTESE CROSS - Religious Enthusiasm
M
• MAGNOLIA - Nobility, Perseverance, Nobility
• MAGNOLIA (CHINESE) - Love of Nature
• MALLOW - Delicate Beauty, Sweetness
• MARIGOLD (COMMON) - Pretty Love, Sacred,Affection, Caress, Sorrow
• MARJORAM - Joy, Happiness
• MARVEL OF PERU/FOUR O' CLOCK - Timidity
• MEADOW SAFFRON - My Best Days Are Gone
• MIGNONETTE - Your qualities Surpass your Charms, Health
• MEZEREON - Desire to Please
• MILK VETCH - Your presence softens my pain
• MIMOSA - Secret Love
• MINT - Virtue
• MISTLETOE - Kiss me, Affection, Difficulties, Sacred plant of India,
• MONKSHOOD - Beware, Danger is near
• MOUSE-EAR CHICKWEED - Simplicity
• MORNING GLORY - Affection
• MOSS - Maternal Love, Charity
• MOTHERWORT - Secret Love
• MOONWORT/HONESTY - Forgetfulness
• MUGWORT/WORMWOOD - Tranquility, Happiness
• MULLEIN - Good Nature
• MYRTLE - Love, Joy, Hebrew Emblem of marriage
• MYRTLE (WAX) - Discipline, Instruction
N
• NARCISSUS - Formality, Stay As Sweet As You Are
• NASTURTIUM - Conquest, Victory In Battle
• NUTS - Stupidity
O
• OAK LEAVES - Bravery
• OLEANDER - Caution
• OLIVE BRANCH - Peace
• ORANGE BLOSSOM - Innocence, Eternal Love, Marriage, Fruitfulness
• ORANGE, MOCK - Deceit
• ORCHID - Love, Beauty, Refinement, Chinese Symbol for Many Children, Thoughtfulness
• ORCHID (CATTLEYA) - Mature Charm
P
• PALM LEAVES - Victory & Success
• PANSY - Merriment, Thoughts (You Occupy My Thoughts)
• PARSLEY - Useful Knowledge
• PASSION FLOWER - Faith, Religious Fervor
• PASQUE FLOWER - Unpretentious, You Have No Claims
• PEAR - Affection
• PEACH BLOSSOM - I am your Captive
• PEONY - Shame, Happy Marriage, Compassion, Bashfulness
• PEPPERMINT - Cordiality
• PERIWINKLE/VINCA/MYRTLE - Early Recollections, Pleasures of Memories, Sweet Memories
• PETUNIA - Your Presence Soothes Me
• PHEASANT'S EYE/ADONIS - Sorrowful Memories
• PHLOX - Our souls are united, Unanimity
• PIMPERNEL/POOR MAN'S WEATHER GLASS - Change
• PINE - Hope, Pity
• PINK- Pure Affection
• PINK (MOUNTAIN) - You Are Aspiring
• POPPY (GENERAL) - Eternal Sleep, Oblivion, Imagination
• POPPY (RED) - Pleasure
• POPPY (WHITE) - Consolation
• POPPY (YELLOW ) - Wealth, Success
• POMEGRANATE FLOWER - Elegance
• PRIDE OF CHINA - Dissension
• PRIMROSE - I Can't Live Without You, Woman
• PRIMROSE (EVENING) - Inconstancy
• PRIMROSE (RED) - Unpatronized Merit
• PRINCE'S FEATHER - Unfading Love
• PUSSY WILLOW - Motherhood
Q
• QUAKING GRASS - Agitation
R
• RAGGED-ROBIN - Wit
• RANUNCULUS - I am Dazzled by your Charms
• REEDS - Music
• RHUBARB - Advice
• RHODODENDRON - Danger, Beware, I am Dangerous
• ROSE (BRIDAL) - Happiness
• ROSE (BURGANDY) - Unconscious Beauty
• ROSE (CHRISTMAS)- Relieve my anxiety
• ROSE (CORAL) - Desire
• ROSE (DAMASK) - Freshness, Persian Ambassador of Love
• ROSE (DARK CRIMSON) - Mourning
• ROSE (DOG) - Pleasure & Pain
• ROSE (GREEN) - I am from Mars
• ROSE (HIBISCUS) - Delicate, Beauty
• ROSE (LEAF) - You may Hope
• ROSE (LAVENDER) - Enchantment
• ROSE (ORANGE) - Fascination
• ROSE (PINK) - Perfect Happiness, Secret Love, Grace & Sweetness, Indecision
• ROSE (DARK PINK) - Thankfulness
• ROSE (PALE PINK) - Grace, Joy
• ROSE (PEACH) - Immortality, Modesty
• ROSE (RED) - Love, I love you, Respect, Beauty
• ROSE (DEEP RED) - Bashful, Shame
• ROSE (TEA) - I'll Remember - Always
• ROSE (THORNLESS) - Love at first sight, Early Attachment
• ROSE (WHITE) - Innocence, Purity, Humility, I am Worthy of You, Secrecy, Silence
• ROSE (WHITE & RED TOGETHER) - Unity, Flower Emblem of England
• ROSE (WHITE-DRIED) - Death is Preferable to Loss of Virtue
• ROSE (YELLOW) - Joy, Jealousy, Friendship (one yellow rose with 11 red ones means love & passion)
• ROSEBUD - Beauty & Youth, A Heart Innocent of Love
• ROSEBUD (RED) - Pure & Lovely
• ROSEBUD (WHITE) - Girlhood, Heart Ignorant of Love
• ROSEBUD (MOSS) - Confessions of Love
• ROSES (Bouquet of full bloom) - Gratitude
• ROSES (Single full bloom) - I truly love you, Simplicity.
• ROSES (GARLAND or CROWN OF) - Beware of Virtue, Reward of Merit, Symbol of Superior Merit
• ROSE (MUSK CLUSTER) - Charming
• ROSE-OF-SHARON - Consumed by Love
• ROSEMARY - Remembrance
• RUSH/HORSE-TAIL - Docility
S
• SAGE - Wisdom, Great Respect, Speedwell Female Fidelity
• SATIN-FLOWER - Sincerity
• SENSITIVE PLANT - Timidity
• SHAMROCK - Lightheartedness
• SLOE - Difficulty, AusteritySMILAX - Loveliness
• SNAPDRAGON - Gracious Lady, Strength
• SNOWBALL - Thoughts of Heaven
• SNOWDROP - Hope, Consolation
• SPEARMINT - Warm Sentiment
• SPIDER FLOWER - Elope with me
• SOLIDAGO - Success
• STAR OF BETHLEHEM - Atonement, Reconciliation
• STARWORT - Welcome to a Stranger
• STEPHANOTIS - Marital Happiness, Desire to Travel
• STOCK- Bonds of Affection, Promptness, You'll Always Be Beautiful to Me
• STONECROP - Tranquility
• STRAW FLOWER - Agreement
• STRAW (BROKEN) - Broken agreement
• SYTINGIA/MOCK ORANGE/LILAC - Memory
• SUNFLOWER (TALL) - False riches, Pride
• SUNFLOWER ( DWARF) - Adoration
• SWEETPEA - Good-by, Departure, Blissful Pleasure, Thank You for a Lovely Time
• SWEET-SULTAN - Felicity, Happiness
• SWEET-WILLIAM - Grant me one smile, Gallantry
T
• TEASEL (Dipscaus) - Misanthropy
• THORNAPPLE - I dreamed of thee
• THRIFT (ARMERIA) - Sympathy
• TRAVELER'S JOY - Rest, Safety
• TRUMPET FLOWER/ANGEL'S TRUMPET/DATURA - Separation
• 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
• TURNIP - Charity
V
• VALERIAN - Accommodating Disposition
• VENUS FLYTRAP - Caught at Last
• VENUS' LOOKING GLASS - Flattery
• VERBENA - Pray for me, Sensibility
• VERONICA SPEEDWELL - Fidelity
• VERVAIN - Enchantment
• VINE - Intoxicating
• VIOLET - Modesty, Virtue, Affection
• VIOLET (BLUE) - Watchfulness, Faithfulness, Love
• VIOLET (WHITE) - Let's Take A Chance On Happiness
• VIRGIN'S BOWER/CLEMATIS - Filial Love (Filial: referring to a son or daughter)
• VISCARIA - Will You Dance With Me?
W
• WALL FLOWER/GILLY FLOWER - Faithful in Adversity, Fidelity, Lasting Beauty
• WINDFLOWER - Sincerity, Symbol of Love
• WINTERGREENS - Harmony
• WISTERIA - Welcome
• WITCH HAZEL - A spell
• WOLFBANE/ACONITE/TURK'S CAP/FRIAR'S CAP/BEAR'S FOOT - Misanthropy, Chivalry, Knight
• WOODBINE - Fraternal Love
• WORMWOOD/ARTEMISIA - Absence, Do not be discouraged
Y
• YARROW - Cure for heartache
Z
• ZEPHYR FLOWER- Sincerity, Symbol of Love
• ZINNIA (MAGENTA) - Lasting Affection
• ZINNIA (MIXED) - Thinking (or in memory) of an Absent Friend
• ZINNIA (SCARLET) - Constancy
• ZINNIA (WHITE) - Goodness
• ZINNIA (YELLOW) - Daily Remembrance

Alphabetical Listing Courtesy of Victorian Bazaar