Flower Meanings | Learn the Language of Flowers

Did you know the many kinds of flower meanings? When you learn the language of flowers, you can be thoughtful, mysterious, and creative all at once when you share a nosegay that you’ve arranged according to the Victorian-era “language of flowers.” Suitors in that era would pick certain flowers according to their “flower dictionary” definitions, and the recipients might spend days decoding the floral message.

Today, you could give a theme bouquet as a special treat for a friend, family member, or romantic interest, along with leads for deciphering your meaning. For example, a friend facing a job interview could be the recipient of a posy made of chamomile (energy in adversity), hollyhock (ambition), and basil (good wishes). Or you could present tickets for a date to spice up a longtime relationship, and present a small bouquet of fern (fascination), hyacinth (sport, game, or play), and chickweed (rendezvous) alongside. Best of all, many of the most meaningful flowers are blooms you can cultivate yourself or find in a vacant lot, so you can indulge often—and the arrangements are far more original than most anything you’d find at the florist. Here are 20 flower meanings from Kate Greenaway’s Language of Flowers (1885).

FLOWER MEANINGS | LEARN THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS

FLOWER		MEANING
Alyssum, sweet		Worth beyond beauty
Amaryllis		Pride, timidity, splendid beauty
Azalea		Temperance
Basil, sweet		Good wishes
Carnation		Woman’s love
Chamomile		Energy in adversity
Chickweed		Rendezvous
Chrysanthemum (white)		Truth
Columbine (red)		Anxious and trembling
Coreopsis		Always cheerful
Daffodil		Regard
Elm		Dignity
Fern		Fascination
Hibiscus		Delicate beauty
Holly		Foresight
Hollyhock		Ambition, fecundity
Honeysuckle		Generous and devoted affection
Hyacinth		Sport, game, play
Ivy		Fidelity, marriage
Lilac (purple)		First emotions of love
Lily of the valley		Return of happiness
Moss		Maternal love
Nasturtium		Patriotism
Periwinkle (blue)		Early friendship
Primrose		Early youth
Rhubarb		Advice
Sage, garden		Esteem
Shamrock		Lightheartedness
Sweet pea		Departure
Tulip (red)		Declaration of love
Tulip (variegated)		Beautiful eyes
Tulip (yellow)		Hopeless love
Violet (blue)		Faithfulness
Zinnia		Thoughts of absent friends

How many of these flower meanings did you know?

Excerpt from 1,001 Old-Time Household Hints—brought to you by Skyhorse Publishing and the editors of Yankee Magazine.

This post was first published in 2011 and has been updated.

SEE MORE: The Handkerchief Flirting Code Valentine’s Day Guide to Roses Make Flower Arrangements Last Longer

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