Flowers and their meaning
From: ae498@yfn.ysu.edu (Dawn Bott) this whole
flower language started in Constantinople in the 1600s, and was brought
to England in 1716 by Lady Mary Wortley Montagu who had spent time in Turkey
with her husband. The interest then moved to France (of course) where the
Book Le Langage des Fleurs was printed with over 800 floral signs. Many
were toned down in the English translation at the time of Queen Victoria
because they were quite lusty and risque! (aww..wish i could get my hands
on an original Frence copy!!) anyway...here are a few "nice" ones..
-
White rosebud - heart ignorant of love
-
Crocus - abuse not
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Rhubarb (!) - advice
-
Indian jasmine - attachment
-
Holly - Am I forgotten
-
Deep red carnation - Alas! for my poor heart
-
Deep red rose - bashful shame
-
Full red rose - beauty
-
Burgundy rose - unconscious beauty (hmm?)
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Unique rose - call me not beautiful
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Turnip(!) - charity
-
Chrysanthemum - cheerfulness in old age
-
Buttercup - childishness
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Great yellow daffodil - chivalry
-
Lettuce - coldheartedness (i guess! [iceberg..get
it?] ;)
-
Moss rosebud - confession of love
-
Red poppy - consolation
-
Red tulip - declaration of love
-
Yellow sweetbrier or yellow rose - decrease
of love
-
Mistletoe - difficulties, I surmount
-
Yellow carnation - rue, distain
-
Thornless rose - early attachment
-
Anemone - expectation
-
Scarlet poppy - extravagance, fantastic
-
Blue violet - faithfulness
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Purple lilac - first emotions of love
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Forget-me-not - hmm....gee?
-
Damask rose - freshness
-
White rose - i am worthy of you
-
Peach blossom - i am your captive
-
Iris - i have a message for you
-
White daisy - innocence
-
Yellow rose - jealousy
-
Dandelion - love's oracle
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Lotus flower - estranged love
-
Ivy - marriage
-
Provence rose - my heart is in flames
-
Yellow iris - passion
-
Dog rose - pleasure and pain
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Christmas rose - relieve my anxiety
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Filbert - reconciliation
-
Spanish jasmine - sensuality
-
Peony - shame
-
White poppy - sleep
-
Yellow chrysanthemum - slighted love
-
Amarylis - splendid beauty
-
Honeyflower - sweet and secret love
-
Pansy - thoughts
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Zinnia - thoughts of absent friends
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Forget-me-not also means true love
-
White and red rose together - unity
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Parsley - useful knowledge
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Pink carnation - woman's love
-
Lady slipper - win me and wear me (i swear
that's what it says!)
-
Marigold - vulger minded
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Rosemary - your presence revives me
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Ice plant - your looks freeze me
Excerpted from the alt.romance FAQ. More flower
meanings there.
Flowers
-
Red rose Love
-
Yellow rose Friendship
-
White rose Fear
-
Pink rose Indecision
-
Blue rose Uniqueness
Arrangements
-
Reversed flower Meaning is also reversed
-
Rosebud with leaves but no thorns "I fear
no longer; I hope."
-
Rosebud with neither leaves nor thorns "There
is nothing to hope or fear."
-
Full blown rose over two buds Secrecy
-
Laurel leaf twined around bouquet "I am"
-
Ivy leaf folded together "I have"
-
Leaf of Virginia creeper "I offer you"
Carnations
Color
Messages
For
the most part, carnations express love, fascination, and distinction. Light
red carnations represent admiration, while dark red denote deep love and
affection. White carnations indicate pure love and good luck; striped symbolize
a regret that a love cannot be shared. Green carnations are for St. Patrick's
Day; purple carnations indicate capriciousness.
Pink
carnations have the most symbolic and historical significance. According
to Christian legend, carnations first appeared on Earth as Jesus carried
the Cross. The Virgin Mary shed tears at Jesus' plight, and carnations
sprang up from where her tears fell. Thus the pink carnation became the
symbol of a mother's undying love, and in 1907 was chosen by Ann Jarvis
as the emblem of Mother's Day, now observed in the United States and Canada
on the second Sunday in May. |
The Language of Flowers
Flowers may be combined and arranged so as to express
even the nicest shades of sentiment. If a flower is offered "reversed",
its direct signification is likewise reversed, so that the flower now means
the opposite. A rosebud divested of its thorns, but retaining its leaves,
convays the sentiment, "I fear no longer; I hope." Stripped of leaves and
thorns, it signifies, "There is nothing to hope or fear." A full-blown
rose places over two buds, signifies "Secrecy." "Yes", is implied by touching
the flower given to the lips; "No," by pinching off a petal and casting
it away. "I am", is expressed by a laurel leaf twined arround the bouquet;
"I have", "by an ivy leaf folded together; "I offer you", by a leaf of
Virginia creeper.
Combinations
-
Moss Rosebud and Myrtle. - A confession of
love.
-
Mignonette and Coloured Daisy. - Your qualities
surpass your charms of beauty.
-
Lily of the Valley and Ferns. - Your unconscious
sweetness has fascinated me.
-
Yellow Rose, Broken Straw and Ivy. - Your
jealousy has broken our friendship.
-
Scarlet Geranium, Passion Flower, Purple Hyacinth,
and Arbor Vitae. - I trust you will find consolation, through faith,
in your sorrow; be assured of my unchanging friendship.
-
Columbine, Day Lily, Broken Straw, Witch Hazel
and Coloured Daisy. - Your folly and coquetry have broken the spell
of your beauty.
-
White Pink, Canary Grass and Laurel. - Your
talent and perseverance will win you glory.
-
Golden-rod, Monkshead, Sweet Pea and Forget-me-not.-
Be cautious; danger is near; I depart soon; forget me not.
More Flowers and their meaning
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ABOR VITAE - Unchanging friendship.
-
CAMELIA, WHITE. - Loveliness.
-
CANDY-TUFF. - Indifference.
-
CARNATION, DEEP RED. - Alas! for my poor heart.
-
CARNATION, WHITE. - Distain.
-
CHINA-ASTER. - Variety.
-
CLOVER, FOUR-LEAF. - Be mine.
-
CLOVER, WHITE. - Think of me.
-
CLOVER, RED. - Industry.
-
COLUMBINE. - Folly.
-
COLUMBINE, PURPLE. - Resolved to win.
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DAISY. - Innocence.
-
DEAD LEAVES. - Sadness.
-
DEADLY NIGHTSHADE. - Falsehood.
-
FERN. - Fascination.
-
FORGET-ME-NOT. - True love. Forget me not.
-
FUCHSIA, SCARLET. - Taste.
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GERANIUM, SCARLET. - Consolation.
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GERANIUM, ROSE. - Preference.
-
GOLDEN-ROD. - Be cautious.
-
HELIOTROPE. - Devotion.
-
HONEY-FLOWER. - Love, sweet and secret.
-
HYACINTH, WHITE. - Unobtrusive loveliness.
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IVY. - Fidelity.
-
LADY'S SLIPPER. - Win me and wear me.
-
LILY, DAY. - Coquetry
-
LILY, WHITE. - Sweetness.
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LILY, YELLOW. - Gaiety.
-
LILY OF THE VALLEY. - Return of happiness.
-
MIGNONETTE. - Your qualities surpass your charms.
-
MONKSHEAD. - Danger is near.
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MYRTLE. - Love.
-
OATS. - The witching soul of music.
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ORANGE BLOSSOMS. - Chastity.
-
PANSY. - Thoughts.
-
PASSION FLOWER. - Faith.
-
PEACH BLOSSOM. - I am your captive.
-
PEAR. - Affection.
-
PRIMROSE. - Inconstancy.
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QUAKING GRASS. - Agitation.
-
ROSE. - Love.
-
ROSE, DEEP RED. - Bashful shame.
-
ROSE, YELLOW. - Jealousy.
-
ROSE, WHITE. - I am worthy of you.
-
ROSEBUD, MOSS. - Confession of love.
-
SHAMROCK. - Lightheartedness.
-
STRAW. - Agreement.
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STRAW, BROKEN. - Broken agreement.
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SWEEP PEA. - Depart.
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TUBEROSE. - Dangerous pleasures.
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VERBENA. - Pray for me.
-
WITCH HAZEL. - A spell.
The
Language of Flowers
Flowers may be combined and arranged so as to express
even the nicest shades of sentiment. If a flower is offered "reversed",
its direct signification is likewise reversed, so that the flower now means
the opposite. A rosebud divested of its thorns, but retaining its leaves,
convays the sentiment, "I fear no longer; I hope." Stripped of leaves and
thorns, it signifies, "There is nothing to hope or fear." A full-blown
rose places over two buds, signifies "Secrecy." "Yes", is implied by touching
the flower given to the lips; "No," by pinching off a petal and casting
it away. "I am", is expressed by a laurel leaf twined arround the bouquet;
"I have", "by an ivy leaf folded together; "I offer you", by a leaf of
Virginia creeper. |