Flowers & Sentiments

If you have received a floral message, you can decode it here.

The following entries of flowers and their meanings were selected from a compilation of flower dictionaries such as those used in the Victorian Era. This list contains only a fraction of possible sentiments. For a much more expansive look at Victorian flowers and sentiments, pick up a copy of an authentic flower dictionary from your local library ( My first was “The Language and Sentiment of Flowers” by James McCabe) or visit an online flower dictionary. Vanessa Diffenbaugh has a good resource accompanying her novel here .

Abatina
Fickleness

Acanthus
The arts

Aconite (Wolfsbane)
Misanthropy

Adonis (Pheasant’s Eye)
Sorrowful remembrance

Agrimony
Thankfulness, Gratitude

Almond, Flowering
Hope

Alstroemeria,
Devotion, Loyalty

Alyssum, Sweet
Worth beyond beauty

Amaranth, Globe
Unchangeable

Amaranthus
(Love Lies Bleeding)
Hopeless, heartless

Amaryllis
Pride, Splendid Beauty

Anemone, Garden
Forsaken

Angelica
Inspiration

Apple
Temptation

Apple Blossom
Preference

Artemisia
Absence

Aspen Tree
Lamentation

Asphodel
My regrets follow you
to the grave

Bachelor’s Buttons
(Corn Flower)
Delicacy

Balm
Sympathy

Balsam, Yellow
Impatient

Basil
Hatred

Bay Tree
Glory

Bearded Crepis
Protection

Bindweed, Great
Inspiration

Birdsfoot Trefoil
Revenge

Blackthorn
Difficulty

Branch of Currants
You please all

Bulrush
Indiscretion, Docility

Buttercup (Kingcup)
Ingratitude, Childishness,
Desire for riches

Butterfly Weed
Let me go

Cactus
Endurance

Camellia Japonica, White
Perfected loveliness

Candytuft, Everflowering
Indifference

Cardamine
Paternal error

Cardinal Flower
Distinction

Carnation, Mixed Colors
Pride & Beauty,
Health & Energy

Carnation, Red
Yes

Carnation, Striped
Maybe, indecision

Carnation, Yellow
No!

Cedar of Lebanon
Incorruptible

Celandine, Lesser
Joys to come

Chrysanthemum, Chinese
Cheerfulness under adversity

Cinquefoil
Maternal affection,
beloved daughter

Citron
Ill-natured beauty, sadness

Clotbur
Rudeness, Pertinacity

Clover, Four-leaved
Be mine

Cockscomb, Celosia
Foppery, Affectation, Singularity

Coltsfoot
(Tussilage, sweet-scented)
Justice shall be done

Convolvulus. Major
Extinguished hopes

Coreopsis
Always cheerful

Coreopsis Arkansa
Love at first sight

Corn
Riches

Corn Flower
(Bachelor’s Buttons)
Delicacy

Coronella
Success crown your wishes

Cranberry
Hardiness

Cress
Stability

Crocus
Abuse not

Crocus, Saffron
Mirth

Crowfoot
Ingratitude

Crowfoot, Aconite-leaved
Lustre

Crowsbill
Envy

Currant
You please all

Dahlia
Dignity, Instability, My gratitude exceeds your care

Daisy
Innocence

Daisy, Garden
I share your sentiments

Daisy, Michaelmas
Farewell, Afterthought

Daisy, Wild
I will think of it

Daphne Odora
Desire to please,
Sweets to the sweet

Datura
Deceitful Charms

Dragonswort
Horror

Elm
Dignity

Everlasting
Never-ceasing
remembrance

Fern
Sincerity

Fern, Maidenhair
Discretion, Secrecy

Fig Tree
Prolific

Filbert
Reconciliation

Foxglove
A Wish, Insincerity

Fritillary, Chequered
Persecution

Frog Ophrys
Disgust

Fuchsia
Taste

Galirum
Patience

Geranium, Oak-leaved
True friendship

Geranium, Scarlet
Comforting, Stupidity

Grass
Submission, Utility

Hand Flower Tree
Warning

Hawkweed
Quick sightedness

Heath
Solitude

Heather, White
Good luck

Heliotrope
Devotion, Faithfulness

Hellebore
Scandal, Calumny

Hemlock
You will be my death

Hepatica
Confidence

Hollyhock
Ambition, Fecundity

Honeysuckle
Bonds of love, Generous and devoted affection

Honeysuckle, Wild
Inconsistency

Hop
Injustice

Houstonia
Content

Ivy
Friendship, Fidelity, Marriage

Jasmine, Spanish
Sensuality

Judas Tree
Unbelief, Betrayal

Kingcup
Desire for riches

Lady’s Slipper
Capricious beauty

Larkspur
Lightness, Levity

Larkspur, Double
(Delphinium)
Haughtiness

Larkspur, Single
Fickleness

Laurel (Bay Tree)
Glory

Laurel, Mountain
Ambition

Laurestina (Libernum)
I die if neglected

Leaves, Dead
Sadness

Lettuce
Coldheartedness

Lily of the Valley
Return of happiness

Lily, White
Purity, Sweetness

Lobelia, Cardinalis
Distinctive

Locust Tree
Elegance

Loosestrife (Lythrum)
Pretension

Love Lies Bleeding
(Amaranthus)
Hopeless, not heartless

Marigold
Despair, Grief

Marigold, African
Uneasiness

Marigold, French
Jealousy

Marjoram
Blushes, Delusion, Illusion

Moschatel
Weak but winning

Mignionette
Your qualities surpass
your charms

Milkvetch
Your presence softens
my pains

Mimosa (Sensitive Plant)
Sensitive, Bashful, Modesty

Mint
Virtue

Mistletoe
I surmount all difficulties

Money Plant
(Love in a mist, Nigelia)
Perplexity

Monkshood (Helmet Flower)
Chivalry, Knight-errantry

Moonflower
Night, Instability

Motherwort
Concealed love

Mugwort
Happiness

Mulberry Tree, White
Wisdom

Mushroom
Suspicion

Narcissus
Egotism

Nettle, Burning
Slander

Oak Leaves
Bravery

Oak Tree
Hospitality

Oleander (Rosebay)
Beware

Olive Branch
Peace

Oregano
Birth

Ox Eye
(Buphthalmum)
Patience

Palm
Victory

Passion Flower
Faith, Belief

Pea, Everlasting
An appointed meeting,
Lasting pleasure

Pea, Sweet
Departure, Delicate pleasures

Peach
Your qualities, like your charms, are unequalled

Pear
Affection

Pear Tree
Comfort

Peppermint
Warmth and cordiality

Pheasant’s Eye (Adonis)
Sorrowful Remembrance

Pineapple, Mini
Welcome!

Pink (Dianthus)
Boldness

Pink, China
Aversion

Pink, Variegated
Refusal

Pink, White
Ingeniousness, Talent

Plane Tree
Genius

Plum Tree
Keep your promise

Plum, Indian
Privation

Poplar, White
Time

Queen Ann’s Lace
Regal, Sanctify

Ranunculus
You are radiant,
I am dazzled by your charms

Raspberry
Remorse

Rhododendron, Rosebay
Danger, Beware

Rhubarb
Advice

Rose of Sharon,
(Syrian Mallow, Althaea)
Consumed by love

Rose, Dog
Pleasure and pain

Rose, Full-blown
(placed over two buds)
Secrecy

Rose, Guelder
Winter, Age

Rose, Japan
Beauty is your only attraction

Rose, Musk
Capricious beauty

Rose, Musk (cluster)
Charming

Rose, Peach/Coral
Appreciation, Congratulations

Rose, Purple/LavenderEnchantment

Rose, Red
Love

Rose, White and Red (together)
Unity

Rose, Yellow
Forgive & Forget,
Jealousy, Infidelity
Happiness, Affection, Joy

Rosemary
Remembrance

Rudbeckia
Justice

Rue
Disdain

Rushes
Calm, Docility

Rye Grass
Changeable disposition

Saffron
Beware of excess

Saffron, Crocus
Mirth

Sage
Long Life, Esteem, Health

Sainfoin
Agitation

Sensitive Plant (Mimosa)
Sensitive, Bashful, Modesty

Senvy
Indifference

Snakesfoot
Horror

Snapdragon
Presumption

Snowball
Bound

Snowdrop
Consolation, Hope

Solomon’s Seal
Secret, Discretion

Sorrel
Parental affection

Sorrel, Wood
Joy, Maternal tenderness

Southernwood
Jest, Bantering

Spearmint
Warmth of sentiment

Stephanotis
Marital bliss

Stock
Contentment
Bonds of affection

Strawberry
Perfect goodness

Sunflower, Dwarf
Admiration, Gratitude

Sunflower, Tall
Pride, Appreciation

Sweet Pea
Delicate pleasures,
Departure

Sweet William
Gallantry, A smile

Sweetbrier, Yellow
Decrease of love

Sycamore
Curiosity

Syringa
Memory

Tansy, Wild
Resistance,
I declare against you

Thorn, Evergreen
Solace in adversity

Thrift
Sympathy

Thyme
Activity

Trefoil, Birdsfoot
Revenge

Trumpet Flower, ash-leaved
Separation

Tuberose
Dangerous pleasures,
Voluptuousness

Tulips, red
Declaration of Love

Tussilage, sweet-scented, (Coltsfoot)
Justice shall be
done to you

Venus’ Trap
Deceit

Verbena (Vervain)
Enchantment, Sensibility

Vervain (Verbena)
Enchantment, Sensibility

Vetch
I cling to you

Viburnum (Laurestina)
I die if neglected

Willow
Forsaken

Willow, Weeping
Mourning

Wolfsbane (Aconite)
Misanthropy

Zephyr Flower
Expectation

Zinnia
Thoughts of
absent friends

Bibliography

Adamich Laufer, G. (1993). Tussie-Mussies: The Victorian Art of Expressing Yourself in the Language of Flowers . New York: Workman Publishing Company.

Connolly, S. (2004). The Secret Language of Flowers. New York: Rizzoli International.

Diffenbaugh, V. (2012). The Language of Flowers: A Novel. New York City: Balantine Books.

Gray, S. (2015). The Secret Language of Flowers. London: Ryland Peters & Small.

Greenaway, K. (1864). Language of Flowers. London: George Routledge and Sons.

Hale, S. (1850). Flora’s Interpreter, and Fortuna Flora. Boston: Benjamin B. Mussey and Company.

Jenkins Kleager, B. (2013). Secret Meanings of Flowers: Including Trees, Shrubs, Vines and Herbs. Treasured Secrets.

Kirkby, M. (2011). A Victorian Flower Dictionary: The Language of Flowers Companion. New York: Balantine Books.

Lehner, E. J. (2003). Folklore and Symbolism of Flowers, Plants and Trees (Dover Pictorial Archive). Mineola, NY: Dover Publications.

McCabe, J. (2003). The Language and Sentiment of Flowers. Carlisle, Massachusetts: Applewood Books.

Miller, T. (1860). The Romance of Nature; or the Poetical Language of Flowers. New York: J.C. Riker.

Powell, C. (1979). The Meaning of Flowers. Boulder: Shambhala Publications.

Roof, Larry, and Annette Hatley Roof. Languageofflowers.com. Language of Flowers (licensed brand). Web. June 14, 2015.

Seaton, B. (1995). The Language of Flowers, A History. Charlottesville and London: University Press of Virginia.

The Talking Petals Project

Say it with flowers.

Flowers & Sentiments

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