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The Meaning of Flowers

ACACIA: Concealed love, chaste love.

AGAPANTHUS: Love letters, love.

ALIUM: Strength.

ALSTROMERIA: Wealth, prosperity, fortune.

AMARYLLIS: Pride or Splendid Beauty.

AMBROSIA: Love is reciprocated.

ANEMONE: Forsaken, expectation.

ANTHURIUM: Lover.

APPLE BLOSSUMS: Good fortune.

ARBUTUS: Thee only do I love.

ASPARAGUS FERN: Fascination.

ASTER: Variety, elegance, daintiness.

BABY'S BREATH: Innocence.

BACHELOR BUTTON: Single blessedness.

BALSAM: Ardent love.

BEGONIA: Beware.

BELLS OF IRELAND: Good luck.

BIRD OF PARADISE: Magnificence.

BITTERSWEET: Truth.

BLUEBELL: Humility, constancy.

BLUE VIOLET: Faithfulness.

BOUVARDIA: Enthusiasm.

BROOM: Humility.

BUTTERCUP: Childishness.

CACTUS: Endurance.

CALENDULA: Grief, jealousy. Also the birthflower for October.

CALLA LILY: Magnificent beauty. Associated with the sixth wedding anniversary.

CAMELLIA: Gratitude.

CAMELLIA, PINK: Longing for you.

CAMELLIA, RED: You're a flame in my heart.

CAMELLIA, WHITE: You're adorable.

CARNATION: Fascination, distinction, divine love, woman, yes. Also the birthflower for January.

CARNATION, PINK: A woman's love, I'll never forget you, mother's love.

CARNATION, PURPLE: Capriciousness.

CARNATION, RED: Alas for my poor heart, admiration, my heart aches for you, fascination.

CARNATION, STRIPED: Refusal, No, sorry I can't be with you.

CARNATION, WHITE: Innocence, faithfulness, sweet and lovely, pure love, ardent love, good luck. These lovely flowers have lasting qualities, and are often handed out on Mother's Day to symbolize the purity and strength of motherhood. They were handed out at the first Mother's Day service in 1908.

CARNATION, YELLOW: Disdain, rejection, you have disappointed me.

CATTAIL: Peace, prosperity.

CHRYSANTHEMUM: Cheerfulness, optimism, rest, truth. Considered to be a noble flower in Asian culture, mums are used as an object of meditation per a suggestion by Confucius. Also the birthflower for November.

CHRYSANTHEMUM, RED: I love.

CHRYSANTHEMUM, WHITE: Truth, loyal love.

CHRYSANTHEMUM, YELLOW: Slighted love.

CLEMATIS: Clever, intellectual. Associated with the eighth wedding anniversary.

CORNFLOWER: Delicacy.

COSMOS: Modesty. Associated with the 2nd wedding anniversary.

CROCUS: Cheerfulness, abuse not.

CYCLAMEN: Resignation, good-bye.

DAFFODIL: Regard, rebirth, new beginnings, unrequited love, you're the only one, chivalry. Associated with the tenth wedding anniversary. Also the birthflower for March.

DAFFODIL, SINGLE: Misfortune.

DAFFODIL, SEVERAL: Joy, happiness.

DAHLIA: Instability. Associated with the fourteenth wedding anniversary.

DAISY: Innocence, loyal love, I'll never tell, purity. Associated with the fifth wedding anniversary.

DANDELION: Faithfulness, happiness, love's oracle.

DAY LILY: Coquetry, Chinese emblem for mother. Associated with the twentieth wedding anniversary.

DELPHINIUM: Big-hearted, fun.

EBONY: Blackness.

EREMURUS: Endurance.

EUPHORBIA: Persistence.

FERN: Sincerity, magic, fascination, confidence, shelter.

FILBERT: Reconciliation.

FIR: Time.

FLAX: Domestic symbol.

FLYTRAP: Deceit.

FORGET-ME-NOT: True love, hope, remembrance, memories.

FORSYTHIA: Anticipation.

FOUR-LEAF CLOVER: Good luck, be mine.

FOXGLOVE: Insincerity.

FREESIA: Innocence, thoughtfulness.

FUSCHIA: Taste. Associated with the third wedding anniversary.

GARDENIA: You're lovely, secret love, joy, sweet love, good luck.

GERANIUM: Stupidity, folly, comfort, gentility. Associated with the fourth wedding anniversary.

GINGER: Strength.

GLADIOLUS: Strength of character, remembrance, infatuation, splendid beauty, give me a break, I'm really sincere, flower of the Gladiators, admiration, tells recipients that they pierce the heart like a sword. Because the gladiolus has blade-shaped leaves, the name comes from the Latin word gladius which means sword. Also the birthflower for August.

GLOXINIA: Love at first sight.

HEATHER, LAVENDER: Admiration, solitude, beauty.

HEATHER, WHITE: Protection, wishes will come true.

HIBISCUS: Delicate beauty.

HOLLY: Foresight, defense, domestic happiness, enchantment.

HOLLYHOCK: Ambition, fruitfulness. Associated with the thirteenth wedding anniversary.

HONEYSUCKLE: Bonds of love.

HUCKLEBERRY: Simple pleasure.

HYACINTH: Sport, play, games, rashness, flower dedicated to Apollo.

HYACINTH, BLUE: Constancy.

HYACINTH, PURPLE: I am sorry, sorrow, please forgive me.

HYACINTH, RED OR PINK: Play.

HYACINTH, WHITE: Loveliness, I'll pray for you.

HYACINTH, YELLOW: Jealousy.

HYDRANGEA: Thank you for understanding, frigidity, heartlessness, heartless.

IRIS: Wisdom, Fleur-de-lis, emblem of France, your friendship means so much to me, faith, hope, valor, my compliments.  Associated with the twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.

IRIS, BLUE: Faith, hope.

IRIS, PURPLE: Wisdom, compliments.

IRIS, YELLOW: Passion.

IRIS, WHITE: Purity.

IVY: Fidelity, wedded love, friendship, affection, marriage.

IXIA: Happiness.

JACK-IN-THE-PULPIT: Associated with the seventh wedding anniversary.

JASMINE, WHITE or INDIAN: Amiability , I attach myself to you, sensuality, attachment.

JASMINE, SPANISH: Sensuality.

JASMINE, YELLOW: Grace, elegance.

JONQUIL: Sympathy , love me, affection returned, desire.

LADY SLIPPER: Capricious beauty.

LARKSPUR: Fickleness, ardent attachment, levity, lightness. Also the birthflower for July.

LARKSPUR, PINK: Fickleness.

LARKSPUR, PURPLE: First love.

LAVENDER: Devotion.

LEATHERLEAF FERN: Fascination.

LILAC: Youthful, humility, confidence.

LILY: Majesty, wealth, pride, innocence, purity.

LILY, WHITE: Purity, modesty, virginity, majesty, it's heavenly to be with you. The white lily is linked to Juno, the queen of the gods in Roman mythology, by the story that while nursing her son Hercules, some excess milk fell from the sky creating the group of stars we call the Milky Way, and lilies were created from what milk fell to the earth. The Easter lily is also known as the symbol of the Virgin Mary.

LILY, ORANGE: flame, I burn for you.

LILY, YELLOW: I'm walking on air, false, gay.

LILY OF THE VALLEY: Return of happiness, purity of heart, sweetness, tears of the Virgin Mary, you've made my life complete, humility, happiness. The legend of the lily of the valley is that it sprang from Eve's tears when she was kicked out of the Garden of Eden. It is also believed that this flower protects gardens from evil spirits. Also known as the flower of May.

LOTUS BLOSSUM: Estranged love.

MAGNOLIA: Dignity, love of nature, nobility.

MARIGOLD: Affection, cruelty, grief, jealousy. The marigold was called Mary's Gold by early Christians who placed garlands of marigolds by statues of the Virgin Mary.

MARIGOLD, POT: Grief, despair.

MIMOSA: Sensitivity.

MINT: Virtue.

MISTLETOE: Kiss me, affection, to surmount difficulties, sacred plant of India.

MONKSHOOD: Beware, a deadly foe is near, danger.

MORNING GLORY: Loves you. Associated with the eleventh wedding anniversary.

MOSS: Maternal love, charity.

MYRTLE: Love, Hebrew emblem of marriage.

NARCISSUS: Egotism, conceit, self love, self admiration, formality, stay as sweet as you are. Also known as the birthflower for December.

NASTURTIUM: Conquest, victory in battle. Associated with the fortieth wedding anniversary.

OAK LEAVES: Bravery.

OLEANDER: Caution.

OLIVE BRANCH: Peace.

ORANGE BLOSSUM: Purity, innocence, eternal love, marriage and fruitfulness, fertility.

ORANGE, MOCK: Deceit.

ORCHID: Rare beauty, love, refinement, beautiful lady, Chinese symbol for many children, mature charm, beauty, long life. Associated with twenty-eighth wedding anniversary.

PALM LEAVES: Victory, success.

PANSIES: Receipient is being thought about. The flower's name comes from the French word pens�e which means thought or remembrance. Associated with the first wedding anniversary.

PAPERWHITE: Aphrodisiac due to its intoxicating scent. It is also the national flower of Wales because it often blooms on March 1st which is St. David's feast day, Wales' patron saint.

PEONY: Bashfulness, shame, happy life, happy marriage, good health, prosperity. Associated with the twelfth wedding anniversary.

PEPPERMINT: Cordiality.

PERIWINKLE: Friendship.

PETUNIA: Resentment, anger, your presence soothes me.

PHLOX: Unanimity.

POPPY: Eternal sleep, oblivion, imagination. Associated with ninth wedding anniversary.

POPPY, RED: Pleasure, consolation.

POPPY, WHITE: Consolation, sleep, rest.

POPPY, YELLOW: Wealth, success.

PRIMROSE: I can't live without you.

PRIMROSE, EVENING: Happy love.

QUEEN ANNE'S LACE: Haven.

RANUCULUS: You are radiant with charm, radiant charm.

RHODODENDRON: Danger, caution.

ROSE: Love, passion, perfection. The rose was named for the Latin word rosa which means red. It has been a symbol of love since ancient times. Associated with the fifthteenth wedding anniversary. It is also known as the birthflower of June.

ROSE, BURGUNDY: Beauty within.

ROSE, CORAL: Desire.

ROSE, DARK CRIMSON: Mourning.

ROSE, HIBISCUS: Delicate beauty.

ROSE, LAVENDER: Love at first sight, enchantment.

ROSE, LEAF: You may hope.

ROSE, MOSS: Confessions of love.

ROSE, ORANGE: Fascination, display feeling of enthusiasm.

ROSE, PEACH: Desire, gratitude, apprecation, admiration, sympathy, modesty.

ROSE, PINK: Happiness, appreciation, admiration, friendship, sympathy.

ROSE, DARK PINK: Thankfulness.

ROSE, LIGHT PINK: Grace, gladness, joy, perfect happiness, please believe me, gratitude, admiration, gentility.

ROSE, RED: Love, passion, respect, courage, I love you, beauty, pure and lovely, prosperity.

ROSE, DEEP RED: Un-selfconscious beauty.

ROSE, SINGLE, FULL BLOOM: I love you, I still love you, new love.

ROSE, BUD, SMALL: Pure and lovely, beauty and youth, a heart innocent of love.

ROSE, THORNLESS: Love at first sight.

ROSE, WHITE: Innocence, purity, secrecy, I am worthy of you, silence, friendship, truth, virtue, girlhood, humility spiritual love, but of the soul, reverence, charm, happy love.

ROSE, WHITE, DRIED: Death is preferable to loss of virtue.

ROSE, YELLOW: Joy, friendship, true love, decrease of love, jealousy, try to care, freedom, slighted love, shows "I care", joy, gladness.

ROSES, BOUQUET, MATURE: Gratitude.

ROSES, RED & WHITE TOGETHER: Unity, flower emblem of England.

ROSES, YELLOW & RED TOGETHER: Happiness, congratulations.

ROSES, YELLOW & ORANGE TOGETHER: Passionate thoughts.

ROSEMARY: Remembrance, purity, rebirth.

SAGE: Virtue.

SALAL: Zest.

SCABIOUSA: Unfortunate love.

SMILAX: Loveliness.

SNAPDRAGON: Deception, gracious lady, presumption.

SPEARMINT: Warm sentiment.

SPIDER FLOWER: Elope with me.

STAR OF BETHLEHEM: Purity.

STATICE: Sympathy, remembrance, success.

STEPHANOTIS: Happiness in marriage, desire to travel.

STOCK: Lasting beauty, bonds of affection, promptness, you'll always be beautiful to me.

SUNFLOWER: Follows the sun as it grows, adoration, haughtiness.

SWEET PEA: Lasting pleasure, good-bye, departure, blissful pleasure, thank you for a lovely time, I think of you. Supposedly this delicate flower was named by the poet John Keats. Associated with the thirtieth wedding anniversary. Also known as the birthflower of April.

SWEET WILLIAM: Gallantry, smile, finesse.

THYME: Activity.

TUBEROSE: Dangerous pleasure.

TULIP: Perfect lover, frame, flower emblem of Holland.

TULIP, RED: Believe me, declaration of love, fame.

TULIP, VARIEGATED: Beautiful eyes.

TULIP, YELLOW: Hopeless love, there's sunshine in your smile.

VIOLET: Modesty, faithfulness, innocence, understated beauty. Worn by the ancient Greeks to induce sleep and to calm tempers. Associated with the fifieth wedding anniversary. Also known as the birthflower of February.

VIOLET, BLUE: Watchfulness, faithfulness, I'll always be true.

VIOLET, PURPLE: Thoughts of you, blue love.

VIOLET, WHITE: Let's take a chance, youthful innocence.

VIOLET, YELLOW: Love of country.

WATER LILY: Purity of heart.

WEEPING WILLOW: Mourning.

WHEAT: Friendliness.

YARROW: Healing, sorrow.

ZINNIA: Thoughts of absent friends, in memory of an absent friend.

ZINNIA, SCARLET: Constancy.

ZINNIA, WHITE: Goodness.

ZINNIA, YELLOW: Daily remembrance.