As every flower lover knows, flowers have a language of their own. Every sentiment is expressed in one form or another by these delicate blooms. Of course, even the experts disagree on the "true meaning" of many flowers and most have different meanings to different people. So, while all flowers convey thoughtfulness and love, here are some of the more traditional flower meanings, according to one source. See, if you agree. And, remember, a gift of flowers for a special someone will always create its own personal meaning, too.
ACACIA - Concealed Love, Beauty in Retirement, Chaste Love AMBROSIA - Your Love is Reciprocated AMARYLLIS - Pride, Pastoral Poetry ANEMONE - Forsaken ARBUTUS - Thee Only Do I Love ASTER - Symbol of Love, Daintiness AZALEA - Take Care of Yourself for Me, Temperance, Fragile Passion, Chinese Symbol of Womanhood BACHELOR BUTTON - Single Blessedness BEGONIA - Beware BELLS OF IRELAND - Good Luck BITTERSWEET - Truth BLUEBELL - Humility CACTUS - Endurance CAMELLIA (PINK) - Longing for you CAMELLIA (RED) - You're a Flame in My Heart CAMELLIA (WHITE) - You're Adorable CARNATION (GENERAL) - Fascination, Woman Love CARNATION (PINK) - I'll Never Forget You CARNATION (RED) - My Heart Aches For You, Admiration CARNATION (PURPLE) - Capriciousness CARNATION (SOLID COLOR) - Yes CARNATION (STRIPED) - No, Refusal, Sorry I Can't Be With You, Wish I Could Be With You CARNATION (WHITE) - Sweet and Lovely, Innocence, Pure Love, Woman's Good Luck Gift CARNATION (YELLOW) - You Have Disappointed Me, Rejection CATTAIL - Peace, Prosperity CHRYSANTHEMUM (GENERAL) - You're a Wonderful Friend, Cheerfulness and Rest. CHRYSANTHEMUM (WHITE) - Truth CHRYSANTHEMUM (YELLOW) - Slighted Love CROCUS - Cheerfulness CYCLAMEN - Resignation and Good-bye DAFFODIL - Regard, Unrequited Love, You're the Only One, The Sun is Always Shining when I'm with You DAISY - Innocence, Loyal Love, I'll Never Tell, Purity DANDELION - Faithfulness, Happiness FERN - Magic, Fascination, Confidence and Shelter FIR - Time FLAX - Domestic Symbol FORGET-ME-NOT - True Love, Memories FORSYTHIA - Anticipation GARDENIA - You're Lovely, Secret Love GERANIUM - Stupidity, Folly GLADIOLI - Give Me a Break, I'm Really Sincere, Flower of the Gladiators GLOXINIA - Love at First Sight HEATHER (LAVENDER) - Admiration, Solitude HEATHER (WHITE) - Protection, Wishes Will Come True HOLLY - Defense, Domestic Happiness HYACINTH (GENERAL) - Games and Sports, Rashness, Flower Dedicated to Apollo HYACINTH (BLUE) - Constancy HYACINTH (PURPLE) - I am Sorry, Please Forgive Me, Sorrow HYACINTH (RED OR PINK) - Play HYACINTH (WHITE) - Loveliness, I'll Pray for You HYACINTH (YELLOW) - Jealousy HYDRANGEA - Thank You for Understanding, Frigidity, Heartlessness IRIS - Fleur-de-lis, Emblem of France, Your Friendship Means so Much to Me, Faith, Hope, Wisdom and Valor, My Compliments IVY - Wedded Love, Fidelity, Friendship, Affection JONQUIL - Love Me, Affection Returned, Desire, Sympathy, Desire for Affection Returned LARKSPUR (PINK) - Fickleness LILY (WHITE) - Virginity, Purity, Majesty, It's Heavenly to be with You LILY (YELLOW) - I'm Walking on Air, False and Gay LILY (CALLA) - Beauty LILY (DAY) - Coquetry, Chinese Emblem for Mother LILY (EUCHARIS) - Maiden Charms LILY (TIGER) - Wealth, Pride LILY OF THE VALLEY - Sweetness, Tears of the Virgin Mary, Return to Happiness, Humility, You've Made My Life Complete MAGNOLIA - Nobility MARIGOLD - Cruelty, Grief, Jealousy MISTLETOE - Kiss me, Affection, To Surmount Difficulties, Sacred Plant of India MONKSHOOD - Beware, A Deadly Foe is Near MOSS - Maternal Love, Charity MYRTLE - Love, Hebrew Emblem of Marriage NARCISSUS - Egotism, Formality, Stay as Sweet as You Are NASTURTIUM - Conquest, Victory in Battle OLEANDER - Caution ORANGE BLOSSOM - Innocence, Eternal Love, Marriage and Fruitfulness ORANGE MOCK - Deceit ORCHID - Love, Beauty, Refinement, Beautiful Lady, Chinese Symbol for Many Children ORCHID (CATTLEYA) - Mature Charm PALM LEAVES - Victory and Success PEONY - Shame, Happy Life, Happy Marriage PETUNIA - Resentment, Anger, Your Presence Sooths Me PINE - Hope, Pity POPPY (GENERAL) - Eternal Sleep, Oblivion, Imagination POPPY (RED) - Pleasure POPPY (WHITE) - Consolation POPPY (YELLOW) - Wealth, Success PRIMROSE - I Can't Live Without You PRIMROSE (EVENING) - Inconstancy ROSE (BRIDAL) - Happy Love ROSE (DARK CRIMSON) - Mourning ROSE (HIBISCUS) - Delicate Beauty ROSE (LEAF) - You May Hope ROSE (PINK) - Perfect Happiness, Please Believe Me ROSE (RED) - Love, I Love You ROSE (TEA) - I'll Remember Always ROSE (THORNLESS) - Love at First Sight ROSE (WHITE) - Innocence and Purity, I am Worthy of You, You're Heavenly, Secrecy and Silence ROSE (WHITE AND RED MIXED) - Unity, Flower Emblem of England ROSE (WHITE-DRIED) - Death is Preferable to Loss of Virtue ROSE (YELLOW) - Decrease of Love, Jealousy, Try to Care ROSEBUD - Beauty and Youth, A Heart Innocent of Love ROSEBUD (RED) - Pure and Lovely ROSEBUD (WHITE) - Girlhood ROSEBUD (MOSS) - Confessions of Love ROSES (Bouquet of Mature Blooms) - Gratitude ROSES (Single Full Bloom) - I Love You, I Still Love You SMILAX - Loveliness SNAPDRAGON - Deception, Gracious Lady SPIDER FLOWER - Elope with Me STEPHANOTIS - Happiness in Marriage, Desire to Travel STOCK - Bonds of Affection, Promptness, You'll Always Be Beautiful to Me SWEETPEA - Good-bye, Departure, Blissful Pleasure, Thank You for a Lovely Time TULIP (GENERAL) - Perfect Lover, Frame, Flower Emblem of Holland TULIP (RED) - Believe Me, Declaration of Love TULIP (VARIEGATED) - Beautiful Eyes TULIP (YELLOW) - There's Sunshine in Your Smile VIOLET - Modesty VIOLET (BLUE) - Watchfulness, Faithfulness, I'll Always Be True VIOLET (WHITE) - Let's Take a Chance ZINNIA (MAGENTA) - Lasting Affection ZINNIA (MIXED) - Thinking (or In Memory) of an Absent Friend ZINNIA (SCARLET) - Constancy ZINNIA (WHITE) - Goodness ZINNIA (YELLOW) - Daily Remembrance
