Gentry/The Floriographer/Flower Language

Flower Language

The information on this page was derived from Mandy Kirkby's "A Victorian Flower Dictionary: the Language of Flowers Companion" as well as another book Annapurna doesn't have handy right now.

~ A ~

Abutilon (Abutilon) - Meditation

Acacia (Acacia) - Secret Love

Acanthus (Acanthus) - Artifice

Agapanthus (Agapanthus) - Love Letter

Agrimony (Agrimonia) - Gratitude

Allium (Allium) - Prosperity

Almond Blossom (Amygdalus communis) - Indiscretion

Aloe (Aloe vera) - Grief

Alstroemeria (Alstroemeria) - Devotion

Alyssum (Lobularia maritima) - Worth Beyond Beauty

Amaranth (Amaranthus) - Immortality

Amaryllis (Hippeastrum) - Pride

Anemone (Anemone) - Forsaken, Abandonment, Love That is Fleeting & Will Not Last

Angelica (Angelica pachycarpa) - Inspiration

Apple (Malus domestica) - Temptation

Apple Blossom (Malus domestica) - Preference

Aster (Aster) - Patience

Azalea (Rhododendron) - Fragile & Ephemeral Passion

~ B ~

Baby's Breath (Gypsophila paniculata) - Everlasting Love

Bachelor's Button (Centaurea cyanus) - Single Blessedness

Basil (Ocimum basilicum) - Hate

Bay Leaf (Laurus nobilis) - I Change Only in Death

Begonia (Begonia) - Caution

Bellflower (Campanula) - Gratitude

Bells of Ireland (Moluccella laevis) - Good Luck

Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae) - Magnificence

Blackberry (Rubus) - Envy

Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia) - Justice

Bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta) - Constancy

Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spectabilis) - Passion

Bouvardia (Bouvardia) - Enthusiasm

Broom (Cytisus) - Humility

Buttercup (Ranunculus acris) - Ingratitude

~ C ~

Cabbage (Brassica oleracea) - Profit

Cactus (Opuntia) - Ardent Love

Calla Lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica) - Modesty

Camellia (Camellia) - My Destiny Is In Your Hands; Love, Singular & All-Embracing

Candytuft (Iberis) - Indifference

Canterbury Bells (Campanula medium) - Constancy; Faith (esp. religious)

Carnation [pink] (Dianthus caryophyllus) - I Will Never Forget You

Carnation [red] (Dianthus caryophyllus) - My Heart Breaks; Strong Avowal of Love

Carnation [striped] (Dianthus caryophyllus) - I Cannot Be With You

Carnation [white] (Dianthus caryophyllus) - Sweet & Lovely; Tender Affection

Carnation [yellow] (Dianthus caryophyllus) - Disdain

Celandine (Chelidonium majus) - Joys to Come

Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) - Energy in Adversity; Courage to Survive

Cherry Blossom (Prunus cerasus/Prunus serrulata) - Impermanence; Life is Fleeting; Enjoy the "now"; Celebrate the Present Moment

Cherry, Winter (Physalis alkekengi) - Deception

Chervil (Anthriscus) - Sincerity

Chestnut (Castanea sativa) - Do Me Justice

Chicory (Cichorium intybus) - Frugality

Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum) - Truth; Perfection; Honest Character (esp. if white)

Cinquefoil (Potentilla) - Beloved Daughter

Clematis (Clematis) - Poverty

Clove (Syzygium aromaticum) - I Have Loved You & You Have Not Known It

Clover [white] (Trifolium) - Think of Me

Cockscomb (Celosia) - Affectation

Columbine (Aquilegia) - Desertion

Coneflower [purple] (Echinacea purpurea) - Strength & Health

Coreopsis (Coreopsis) - Always Cheerful

Coriander (Coriandrum sativum) - Hidden Worth

Corn (Zea mays) - Riches

Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus) - Joy in Love & Life

Cowslip (Primula veris) - Pensiveness

Crab-Apple Blossom (Malus hupehensis/Malus sylvestris) - Ill-Tempered

Cranberry (Vaccinium) - Cure for Heartache

Crocus (Crocus) - Youthful Gladness

Currant (Ribes) - Thy Frown Will Kill Me

Cyclamen (Cyclamen) - Timid Hope

Cypress (Cupressus) - Mourning; Grief; Perpetual Loss/Grief; Mortality & End Thereof

~ D ~

Daffodil (Narcissus) - New Beginnings; Renewal; Hope after Unlucky Things

Dahlia (Dahlia) - Dignity

Daisy (Bellis) - Innocence; Lack of Worldliness; Purity; Contempt for Worldly Goods

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) - Rustic Oracle

Daphne (Daphne) - I Would Not Have You Otherwise

Day Lily (Hemerocallis) - Coquetry

Delphinium (Delphinium) - Levity

Dianthus (Dianthus) - Make Haste

Dittany (Dictamnus albus) - Childbirth

Dogwood (Cornus) - Love Undiminished by Adversity

Dragon Plant (Dracaena) - You Are Near a Snare

~ E ~

Edelweiss (Leontopodium alpinum) - Noble Courage

Eglantine (Rosa rubiginosa) - I Wound to Heal; Pleasure; Pain [a.k.a. Sweet Briar/Briar Rose]

Elder (Sambucus) - Compassion

Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus) - Protection

Euphorbia (Euphorbia) - Persistence

Evening Primrose (Oenothera) - Inconstancy

Everlasting Pea (Lathyrus latifolius) - Lasting Pleasure

~ F ~

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) - Strength

Fern (Polypodiophyta) - Sincerity

Fern, Maidenhair (Adiantum capillus-veneris) - Secrecy

Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) - Warmth

Fig (Ficus carica) - Argument

Flax (Linum usitatissimum) - I Feel Your Kindness

Forget-Me-Not (Myosotis) - Forget Me Not

Forsythia (Forsythia) - Anticipation

Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) - Insincerity

Freesia (Freesia) - Lasting Friendship

Fuchsia (Fuchsia) - Humble Love

~ G ~

Gardenia (Gardenia) - Refinement

Gentian (Gentiana) - Intrinsic Worth

Geranium [oak-leaf] (Pelargonium) - True Friendship

Geranium [pencil-leaf] (Pelargonium) - Ingenuity

Geranium [scarlet] (Pelargonium) - Stupidity

Geranium [wild] (Geranium) - Steadfast Piety

Gerber Daisy (Gerbera) - Cheerfulness

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) - Strength

Gladiolus (Gladiolus) - You Pierce My Heart

Goldenrod (Solidago) - Careful Encouragement

Grapevine (Vitis vinifera) - Abundance

Grass (Poaceae) - Submission

~ H ~

Hawthorn

Hazel

Heath

Heather

Helenium

Heliotrope

Hibiscus

Holly

Hollyhock

Honesty

Honeysuckle

Hyacinth [blue]

Hyacinth [purple]

Hyacinth [white]

Hydrangea

~ I ~

Ice Plant

Impatiens

Iris

Ivy

~ J ~

Jacob's Ladder

Jasmine [Carolina]

Jasmine [Indian]

Jasmine [white]

Jonquil

~ L ~

Laburnum

Lady's Slipper

Lantana

Larch

Larkspur

Laurel

Lavender

Lemon

Lemon Blossom

Lettuce

Liatris

Lichen

Lilac

Lily

Lily of the Valley

Linden Tree

Lisianthus

Lobelia

Lotus

Love-in-a-Mist

Love-Lies-Bleeding

Lungwort

Lupin

~ M ~

Magnolia

Marigold

Marjoram

Marsh Marigold

Meadow Saffron

Meadowsweet

Michaelmas Daisy

Mignonette

Mimosa

Mistletoe

Mock Orange

Monkshood

Morning Glory

Moss

Moss Rose

Mullein

Mustard

Myrtle

~ N ~

Narcissus

Nasturtium

Nettle

~ O ~

Oats

Oleander

Olive

Orange

Orange Blossom

Orchid

Oregano

~ P ~

Pansy

Parsley

Passionflower

Peach

Peach Blossom

Pear

Pear Blossom

Peony

Peppermint

Periwinkle

Persimmon

Petunia

Phlox

Pineapple

Pink

Plum

Poinsettia

Polyanthus

Pomegranate

Pomegranate Blossom

Poplar [black]

Poplar [white]

Poppy

Potato

Potato Vine

Primrose

Protea

~ Q ~

Queen Anne's Lace

Quince

~ R ~

Ranunculus

Raspberry

Redbud

Rhododendron

Rhubarb

Rose [burgundy]

Rose [orange]

Rose [pale peach]

Rose [pink]

Rose [purple]

Rose [red]

Rose [white]

Rose [yellow]

Rosemary

~ S ~

Saffron

Sage

Saxifrage

Scabious

Scarlet Pimpernel

Snapdragon

Snowdrop

Sorrel

Spiraea

Speedwell

St. John's Wort

Star of Bethlehem

Starwort

Stephanotis

Stock

Stonecrop

Strawberry

Sunflower

Sweet Pea

Sweet William

~ T ~

Tansy

Thistle

Thrift

Thyme

Trachelium

Trillium

Trumpet Vine

Tuberose

Tulip

Turnip

~ V ~

Verbena

Vetch

Violet

~ W ~

Wallflower

Water Lily

Waxflower

Weeping Willow

Wheat

Willowherb

Wisteria

Witch Hazel

~ Y ~

Yarrow

~ Z ~

Zinnia