What does each flower symbolize? Which flowers represent love, hope, healing, loss, and good luck? See the Almanac’s complete list of Flower Meanings and Plant Symbolism. Whether you are picking out a flower bouquet for a wedding, choosing a single flower for a loved one, or planting a garden, discover the secret language of flowers!
Jump to the full list of flower meanings by clicking here.
The History of Flower Meanings
The symbolic language of flowers has been recognized for centuries in many countries throughout Europe and Asia. They even play a large role in William Shakespeare’s works. Mythologies, folklore, sonnets, and plays of the ancient Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, and Chinese are peppered with flower and plant symbolism—and for good reason. Nearly every sentiment imaginable can be expressed with flowers. The orange blossom, for instance, means chastity, purity, and loveliness, while the red chrysanthemum means “I love you.”
Flowery Language of the Victorian Era
Learning the special symbolism of flowers became a popular pastime during the 1800s. Nearly all Victorian homes had, alongside the Bible, guidebooks for deciphering the “language,” although definitions shifted depending on the source.
In the Victorian era, flowers were primarily used to deliver messages that couldn’t be spoken aloud. In a sort of silent dialogue, flowers could be used to answer “yes” or “no” questions. A “yes” answer came in the form of flowers handed over with the right hand; if the left hand was used, the answer was “no.”
Plants could also express aversive feelings, such as the “conceit” of pomegranate or the “bitterness” of aloe. Similarly, if given a rose declaring “devotion” or an apple blossom showing “preference,” one might return to the suitor a yellow carnation to express “disdain.”
How flowers were presented and in what condition were important. If the flowers were given upside down, then the idea being conveyed was the opposite of what was traditionally meant. How the ribbon was tied said something, too: Tied to the left, the flowers’ symbolism applied to the giver, whereas tied to the right, the sentiment was in reference to the recipient. And, of course, a wilted bouquet delivered an obvious message!
More examples of plants and their associated human qualities during the Victorian era include bluebells and kindness, peonies and bashfulness, rosemary and remembrance, and tulips and passion. The meanings and traditions associated with flowers have certainly changed over time, and different cultures assign varying ideas to the same species, but the fascination with “perfumed words” persists just the same.
What Does Each Flower Symbolize?
See our list below for symbolic meanings of herbs, flowers, and other plants. (Please note: There are many meanings for flowers over the centuries; our chart below reflects mainly Victorian symbolism.)
Click on linked plant names for a photo and growing guide.
Symbolic Meanings of Herbs, Flowers and Other Plants | |
---|---|
Abatina | Fickleness |
Acanthus | The fine art, artifice |
Aloe | Affection, also grief |
Amaryllis | Pride |
Anemone | Forsaken, sickness |
Angelica | Inspiration |
Apple blossom | Preference |
Arborvitae | Unchanging friendship |
Aster | Symbol of Love, Daintiness |
Bachelor’s button | Single blessedness |
Sweet Basil | Good wishes |
Bay tree | Glory |
Begonia | Beware, dark thoughts |
Belledonna | Silence |
Bittersweet | Truth |
Black-eyed Susan | Justice |
Bluebell | Humility, constancy |
Borage | Bluntness, directness |
Butterfly weed | Let me go |
Camellia, pink | Longing For You |
Camellia, red | You’re a Flame in My Heart |
Camellia, white | You’re Adorable |
Candytuft | Indifference |
Carnation | Women, Love |
– Red carnation | Alas for my poor heart, my heart aches |
– White carnation | Innocence, pure love, women’s good luck gift |
– Pink carnation | I’ll never forget you |
– Striped | Refusal |
– Yellow carnation | Disdain, disappointment, rejection |
Chamomile | Patience in adversity |
Chives | Usefulness |
Chrysanthemum, red | I love you |
Chrysanthemum, yellow | Slighted love |
Chrysanthemum, white | Truth |
Clematis | Mental beauty |
Clematis, evergreen | Poverty |
Clover, white | Think of me |
Columbine | Foolishness, folly |
Columbine, purple | Resolution |
Columbine, red | Anxious, trembling |
Coreopsis | Always cheerful |
Coriander | Hidden worth/merit |
Crab blossom | Ill nature |
Crocus, spring | Youthful gladness |
Cyclamen | Resignation, diffidence |
Daffodil | Regard, Unequalled Love |
Dahlia, single | Good taste |
Daisy | Innocence, hope |
Dill | Powerful against evil |
Edelweiss | Courage, devotion |
Fennel | Flattery |
Fern | Sincerity, humility; also, magic and bonds of love |
Forget-me-not | True love memories, do not forget me |
Gardenia | Secret love |
Geranium, oak-leaved | True friendship |
Gladiolus | Remembrance |
Goldenrod | Encouragement, good fortune |
Heliotrope | Eternal love, devotion |
Hibiscus | Delicate beauty |
Holly | Foresight |
Hollyhock | Ambition |
Honeysuckle | Bonds of love |
Hyacinth | Sport, game, play |
– Blue Hyacinth | Constancy |
– Purple Hyacinth | Sorrow |
– Yellow Hyacinth | Jealousy |
– White Hyacinth | Loveliness, prayers for someone |
Hydrangea | Gratitude for being understood; frigidity and heartlessness |
Hyssop | Sacrifice, cleanliness |
Iris | A message |
Ivy | Friendship, fidelity, marriage |
Jasmine, white | Sweet love, amiability |
Jasmine, yellow | Grace and elegance |
Lady’s Slipper | Capricious beauty |
Larkspur | Lightness, levity |
Lavender | Distrust |
Lemon balm | Sympathy |
Lilac | Joy of youth |
Lily, calla | Beauty |
Lily, day | Chinese emblem for mother |
Lily-of-the-valley | Sweetness, purity, pure love |
Lotus Flower | Purity, enlightenment, self-regeneration, and rebirth |
Magnolia | Love of nature |
Marigold | Despair, grief, jealousy |
Marjoram | Joy and happiness |
Mint | Virtue |
Morning glory | Affection |
Myrtle | Good luck and love in a marriage |
Nasturtium | Patriotism |
Oak | Strength |
Oregano | Substance |
Pansy | Thoughts |
Parsley | Festivity |
Peony | Bashful, happy life |
Pine | Humility |
Poppy, red | Consolation |
Rhododendron | Danger, beware |
Rose, red | Love, I love you |
Rose, dark crimson | Mourning |
Rose, pink | Happiness |
Rose, white | I’m worthy of you |
Rose, yellow | Jealousy, decrease of love, infidelity |
Rosemary | Remembrance |
Rue | Grace, clear vision |
Sage | Wisdom, immortality |
Salvia, blue | I think of you |
Salvia, red | Forever mine |
Savory | Spice, interest |
Snapdragon | Deception, graciousness |
Sorrel | Affection |
Southernwood | Constancy, jest |
Spearmint | Warmth of sentiment |
Speedwell | Feminine fidelity |
Sunflower, dwarf | Adoration |
Sunflower, tall | Haughtiness |
Sweet pea | Delicate pleasures |
Sweet William | Gallantry |
Sweet woodruff | Humility |
Tansy | Hostile thoughts, declaring war |
Tarragon | Lasting interest |
Thyme | Courage, strength |
Tulip, red | Passion, declaration of love |
Tulip, yellow | Sunshine in your smile |
Valerian | Readiness |
Violet | Loyalty, devotion, faithfulness, modesty |
Wallflower | Faithfulness in adversity |
Willow | Sadness |
Yarrow | Everlasting love |
Zinnia | Thoughts of absent friends |
Flower Meanings by Color
Flowers provided an incredibly nuanced form of communication. Some plants, including roses, poppies, and lilies, could express a wide range of emotions based on their color alone.
Take, for instance, all of the different meanings attributed to variously colored carnations: Pink meant “I’ll never forget you”; red said “my heart aches for you”; purple conveyed capriciousness; white was for the “the sweet and lovely”; and yellow expressed romantic rejection.
Likewise, a white violet meant “innocence,” while a purple violet said that the bouquet giver’s “thoughts were occupied with love.” A red rose was used to openly express feelings of love, while a red tulip was a confession of love. The calla lily was interpreted to mean “magnificent beauty,” and a clover said “think of me.”
Unsurprisingly, the color of the rose plays a huge role. Red roses symbolize love and desire, but roses come in a variety of colors and each has their own meaning.
- White rose: purity, innocence, reverence, a new beginning, a fresh start.
- Red rose: love, I love you
- Deep, dark crimson rose: mourning
- Pink rose: grace, happiness, gentleness
- Yellow rose: jealousy, infidelity
- Orange rose: desire and enthusiasm
- Lavender rose: love at first sight
- Coral rose: friendship, modesty, sympathy
What Wedding Flowers Mean
One tradition is to select the flowers of a wedding bouquet based on plant symbolism. As an example, look to the royal flower bouquet in the wedding of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, to Kate Middleton (now Catherine, Ducchess of Cambridge). Her all-white bouquet had lily-of-the-valley (representing trustworthiness, purity), sweet William (gallantry), hyacinth (loveliness), myrtle (love in marriage), and ivy (continuity). Altogether, these flowers’ meanings reveal the hope of a loving, everlasting marriage.
The groom, too, wears a flower that appears in the bridal bouquet in his button-hole. This stems from the Medieval tradition of wearing his Lady’s colors, as a declaration of his love.
One fun modern idea is to give each bridesmaid a bouquet featuring a signature flower whose meaning suits her personality.
There is a language, little known,
Lovers claim it as their own.
Its symbols smile upon the land,
Wrought by nature’s wondrous hand;
And in their silent beauty speak,
Of life and joy, to those who seek
For Love Divine and sunny hours
In the language of the flowers.
–The Language of Flowers, London, 1875
Another important area of flower symbolism is the meaning of birth month flowers.
Reader Comments
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Stock (Matthiola incana) is a
Stock (Matthiola incana) is a lovely flowering plant that means "bonds of affection."
looling for the meaning of
looling for the meaning of yellow roses and purple tulips.
Roses were my grandmothers favorited and tulips were my grandfathers.
Flowers can symbolize
Flowers can symbolize whatever memory you wish. For example, these flowers may simply symbolize your grandmother and your grandfather.
Traditionally. yellow roses have had mixed symbolism--from joy and friendship to jealousy. (Red roses symbolize love; white roses symbolize innocence and purity; pink roses symbolize happiness and appreciation.)
Tulips generally symbolize "Perfect Lover." (Red tulips symbolize love, yellow tulips symbolize "sunshine in your smile.")
The color purple often symbolize enchantment, love at first sight, majesty, and royalty.
Yellow roses are for
Yellow roses are for sympathy.
Yellow roses are for
Yellow roses are for friendship. I sent to a coworker then had to show her boyfriend what they meant from a gardening book.
What does the pink rose
What does the pink rose symbolize? They are my bf favorite flower.
Pink roses symbolize "perfect
Pink roses symbolize "perfect happiness."
Is there a meaning for the
Is there a meaning for the Columbine flower? It was my fathers favorite.
The columbine has a long
The columbine has a long history of symbolism starting with the Greek and Roman cultures. In Celtic culture, the flowers were supposed to open the door to the other world.
Symbolism of columbine flowers is often combined with symbolic numbers. In the Christian tradition, the spurs on the flowers were thought reminiscent of five doves sitting together and thus of the Holy Spirit. The tripartite leaves were seen as symbols of Trinity, seven columbine flowers can be interpreted as the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. A motif of three columbine flowers, which is often found, symbolizes the three Christian virtues: fides, spes, and caritas (faith, hope, and love or charity).
The blue/purple color has often been associated passion and penance. So sometimes in literature, this flower will have symbolism that falls on both sides of penance (infidelity versus faith).
Do you know what an oak
Do you know what an oak symbolizes?
Thank you
The Oak Tree symbolizes great
The Oak Tree symbolizes great strength, endurance, and lasting power.
This is a lovely site. I find
This is a lovely site. I find it interesting as well as a good resource to many. I would like to know and I didn't find it above or I could have overlooked it. Is there a flower which means hidden, hidden beauty or something along that meaning. Thanks
Hi Chi, Thank you! The
Hi Chi, Thank you! The "Gardenia" symbolizes "secret love." The Acacia (Blossom) symbolizes concealed love or a chaste love. I hope this helps.
This question was mine also.
This question was mine also. Gardenia is one of my favorite flowers thank you for this place <3
Thank you, that was some
Thank you, that was some useful information, I can't wait to tease my friends when they give others flowers. I have a few questions though
1)what does the lily-of-the-nile represent?
2)is there a flower that means 'friends and rivals' or something similar?
3) A flower that means 'unrequited love'?
4) A flower that represents secrets or 'secret keeper' , or 'secret keeping'. I've heard that a wallflower represents this, is that true?
Thank you again, and I'm sorry for the trouble.
Lily of the Nile represents
Lily of the Nile represents "lasting love." In terms of your other questions, the closest answers are: A fern means "secret bond of love." Gardenia is "secret love." Acacia (Blossom) is "concealed love" or "chaste love."
I'm looking, not for
I'm looking, not for "foresight" but for insight, perception, awareness, et cetera. Not necessarily knowledge or wisdom. Relating to the present, not the future or past- Anything for that?
I'm designing a character
I'm designing a character with a mail-carrier theme in mind. I'm looking for a plant or flower with any of the bellow meanings in mind;
"safely delivered"
"feelings on the wind"
"written thoughts"
...ect?
Recommendations are really appreciated. :)
~Thanks!
I am curious about daylilies.
I am curious about daylilies. The flower only last one day.
That is why they are called
That is why they are called day lilies. Each flower lasts one day, but the plant produces flowers for quite a while.
In the language of flowers,
In the language of flowers, daylily (Hemerocallis) can mean coquetry. The plant is native to Asia. In China, people grew certain species for their edible buds, and also used the plant for medicine. In that country, the flower worn by expectant mothers was thought to encourage the birth of a boy. It was also thought that it could lessen sorrow by causing forgetfulness. The plant can also symbolize one's respect for and devotion to one's mom. The genus name, Hemerocallis, is derived from two Greek words meaning "day" and "beauty."
Interesting! Happy
Interesting! Happy Valentine's Day to everyone!
Do you know of any flowers
Do you know of any flowers that mean something along the lines of "you changed my life" or something like that?
The lily of the valley means
The lily of the valley means "you made my life complete."
I'm looking for something to
I'm looking for something to symbolize Happy memories, platonic devotion, or adoption, and ideally wouldn't sound to out of place as someone's name. can you help?
We do not know of a flower
We do not know of a flower that symbolizes adoption, however, the LOTUS flower symbolizes rebirth; Egyptians saw that the lotus flower closes and sinks underwater at night, and then rises and blossoms again at dawn.
The Egyptian "Lotus" was translated into "LILY" flowers down the line. "Lily" means purity or restored purity and has many biblical and spiritual meanings as well.
Also meaning Lily is the Hebrew "Shohanna" which gave us the names Susanna, Susan, Suzette, etc. (all meaning “lily”, too).
The forget-me-knot symbolizes memories.
We hope this gets you started.
What flower symbolizes
What flower symbolizes strength. Strength love hope and loyalty
Gladiolus is strength of
Gladiolus is strength of character. Thyme is strength and courage.
I found this website, it may
I found this website, it may be a good resource for you... one of the ones that stood out to me was alstroemeria. (for a woman or girl shorten to Emeria?) Anyway, the website is language of flowers . com (no spaces)
Good luck!
What about impatiens?
What about impatiens?
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