Mrs. Lorrie Flem

Throughout history, men and women have given flowers to each other as a token of their longing, devotion, and love. The language and meaning of flowers has evolved through the years.

When choosing a flower as a gift, consider how special the flower is to your lover and what message it communicates. Use this guide to the language and meaning of flowers to make sure your meaning is crystal clear.

I like to attach a note to the flowers telling them the meaning of the bouquet. It adds a special caring touch that you don’t often see. I printed the following list and put it in my car so when I am on my way to visit someone and stop to purchase flowers, I have the meanings with me. From home I often give Calla Lillies; they are my favorite flower and also my wedding bouquet. It is fun to give them some lilies with a note telling them how this flower makes me smile with its elegant beauty. And that my hope is that it brings a smile to their face and puts a skip in their step.

ALYSSUM: Worth beyond beauty.

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

CARNATION: Fascination, distinction, divine love, woman, yes. Also the birth flower 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, friendship, pride, 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.

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

CHRYSANTHEMUM, RED: I love.

CHRYSANTHEMUM, WHITE: Truth, loyal love.

CHRYSANTHEMUM, YELLOW: Slighted love.

DAFFODIL: Regard, rebirth, new beginnings, unrequited love, you’re the only one, chivalry, eternal life. Associated with the tenth wedding anniversary. Also the birth flower for March.

DAFFODIL, SEVERAL: Joy, happiness.

DAHLIA: Dignity, forever, good taste. Associated with the fourteenth wedding anniversary.

DAISY: Innocence, loyal love, I’ll never tell, purity, love that conquers all. Associated with the fifth wedding anniversary.

DANDELION: Faithfulness, happiness, love’s oracle.

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

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

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, heartlessness, heartless.

IRIS: Wisdom, Fleur-de-lis, emblem of France, valued friendship, faith, hope, valor, my compliments, passion. 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.

LILAC: Youthful, humility, confidence.

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

LILY, WHITE: Purity, modesty, majesty, it’s heavenly to be with you. 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.

ROSE, ORANGE: Fascination, display feeling of enthusiasm.

ROSE, PEACH: Desire, gratitude, appreciation, 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: Unself-conscious 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, confession of love.

ROSE, THORNLESS: Love at first sight.

ROSE, WHITE: Innocence, purity, 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”, 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.

SUNFLOWER: Follows the sun as it grows, adoration, haughtiness, devotion. “I don’t think there’s anything on this planet that more trumpets life than the sunflower. For me that’s because of the reason behind its name. Not because it looks like the sun but because it follows the sun. During the course of the day, the head tracks the journey of the sun across the sky. A satellite dish for sunshine. Wherever light is, no matter how weak, these flowers will find it. And that’s such an admirable thing. And such a lesson in life.” – quote from a movie.

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.