 |
The language of flowers is a special way to communicate with people close to your heart. Learn more about Posies and the History of the Language of Flowers. Here's a sampling of the meanings associated with particular plants.
| Flower |
Meaning |
| Agapanthus |
Love letters |
| Allium |
Unity, Patience |
| Almond |
Hope, lover's charm |
| Alstromeria |
Friendship |
| Alyssum, sweet |
 |
Worth beyond beauty |
| Amaranth, globe |
Immortality |
| Amaryllis |
Splendid beauty, pride |
| Anemone |
Truth, sincerity |
| • |
Garden |
Faith, belief |
| • |
Japanese |
Refusal |
| Angelica |
Inspiration |
| Anthurium |
The heart |
| Arborvitae |
Unchanging friendship, tree of life |
| Artemisia, Silver King |
Power, dignity |
| Aster |
Variety, afterthought, beauty in retirement |
| • |
Monte Cristo |
Enthusiasm |
| Astilbe |
I'll still be waiting, worldly pleasures |
| Azalea |
 |
Love, romance, first love |
| Baby's Breath |
pure heart, festivity, gaiety |
| Bachelor's-button, cornflower |
felicity, healing properties, delicacy |
| Balloon Flower |
return of a friend is desired |
| Balm, lemon |
Sharpens wit and understanding, healing, love, fun & relief |
| Bamboo |
Loyalty, steadfastness, strength |
| Basil |
Best wishes |
| Batchelor's-button |
Healing properties |
| Bayberry/wax myrtle |
Good luck |
| Bee Balm/Monarda |
Compassion, sweet virtues |
| Begonia |
 |
Highly popular, long beautiful |
| Bellflower/campanula |
Gratitude, constancy |
| Bells-of-Ireland |
Whimsy |
| Bergamot |
Your wiles are irresistible! |
| Bittersweet |
Truth |
| Blackberry |
Dangerous Pride |
| Black-eyed Susan |
Justice |
| Bleeding Heart |
 |
Elegance, fidelity |
| Borage |
Courage, bluntness |
| Bouvardia |
Enthusiasm |
| Box |
Stoicism |
| Broom, genista |
Humility, safety |
| Buds |
Promise of good things to come |
| Burnet, salad |
A merry heart, joy |
| Buttercup |
 |
Rich in charms, cheerfulness |
| Butterfly Bush/buddlea |
rashness, wantonness |
| Caladium |
Great Joy and delight |
| Calendula |
Health, joy, remembrance |
| Calla lily |
Magnificent beauty, panache, feminine modesty |
| Camellia |
 |
Excellence, beauty |
| Caraway |
Infidelity prevented |
| Cardinal flower |
Distinction and splendor |
| Chamomile |
Energy in adversity, comfort, patience |
| Cherry, flowering |
Nobility, chivalry |
| Chestnut, horse |
Luxury |
| Chives, garlic |
Courage, strength, protection |
| Chrysanthemum |
Cheerfulness, optimism, long life |
| • |
red |
I love you |
| • |
white |
Truth |
| • |
yellow |
Cheerfulness |
| Cicely, sweet |
Gladness, sincerity |
| Cinnamon |
Love, beauty |
| Clematis |
Mental beauty, ingenuity |
| Clover |
Good luck, good education, hard work |
| Cockscomb/celosia |
Silliness, humor |
| Comfrey |
Home sweet home |
| Coneflower |
Skill, capability |
| Coral Bells |
 |
Challenge, hard work |
| Coreopsis |
Always cheerful |
| Cosmos |
Modesty, pure love of a virgin |
| Creeping Jennie/lysimachia |
Forgiveness, womb plant |
| Crocus |
youthful gladness, pleasure of hope |
| Daffodil |
Gracefulness, respect |
| Dahlia |
Gratitude, dignity |
| • |
white |
Gratitude to parents |
| Daisy, gerbera |
Sadness, friendship |
| Delphinium |
Well-being, sweetness |
| Dill |
Soothing |
| Dogwood |
Faithfulness |
| Elderberry |
Kindness, compassion |
| Euonymus |
Long life |
| Fennel |
worthy of praise, force, strength |
| Fern |
Fascination, sincerity |
| Feverfew |
Good health, warmth |
| Fig |
Peace & prosperity, longevity |
| Fleur-de-lis/iris |
Ardor, eloquence, promise |
| Forget-me-not |
 |
True love, hope, remembrance |
| Forsythia |
Good nature |
| Freesia |
Innocence |
| Galax |
Friendship, encouragement |
| Gardenia |
Transport of joy, ecstasy, feminine charm |
| Garlic |
Protection, strength |
| Geranium, red |
 |
Comfort, health |
| • |
scented |
Preference, gentility, comfort |
| • |
white |
Gracefulness |
| Ginger |
Safe, pleasant, comforting, warming |
| Gladiolus |
Generosity, strength of character |
| Grape |
Domestic happiness |
| Grass |
The fleeting quality of life, submission |
| Heather |
Admiration, wishes come true |
| • |
white |
Good luck |
| Holly |
Good will, domestic happiness |
| Holly berries |
 |
Christmas joy, protection |
| Holly, Sea |
Graceful, attractive |
| Hops |
Rest, sleep |
| Hosta |
Devotion |
| Hyacinth |
Play, games, sport |
| Hydrangea |
Devotion, remembrance |
| Hyssop |
Cleansing |
| Iris/fleur-de-lis |
 |
Eloquence, promise, Ardor |
| Ivy |
Wedded love, fidelity, constancy, friendship |
| Jasmine |
 |
Transport of joy, amiability |
| Jessamine (Cestrum) |
Transient joy |
| Johnny-jump-up/heartsease |
Happy thoughts |
| Juniper |
Welcome to new home, protection |
| Kalanchoe |
Popularity |
| Lamb's-ears |
Softness, surprise, support |
| Laurel |
Success, personal achievement, glory |
| Lavender |
Luck, success, happiness, devotion |
| Lemon |
Fidelity in love |
| Lilac |
Youth, love, beauty |
| • |
purple |
First emotions of love |
| • |
white |
youthful innocence, purity |
| Lily |
 |
Purity, fruitfulness |
| • |
Peruvian |
Friendship |
| • |
yellow |
Gaiety, happiness |
| Lily-of-the-valley |
Return of happiness, purity, delicacy |
| Linden |
Marital virtues |
| Lisianthus |
Showy |
| Loosestrife, Gooseneck |
Wishes granted |
| Lovage |
Strength |
| Magnolia |
Sweetness, beauty, perseverance |
| Maple |
Reserve, elegance |
| • |
Japanese |
Baby's hands |
| Marigold, pot/ Calendula |
Health, joy, remembrance, constancy |
| • |
French |
Jealousy |
| Marjoram, sweet |
Consolation, joy, happiness, kindness |
| Mint, lemon |
Virtue, hominess, cheerfulness |
| Mock orange |
Brotherly love |
| Moss |
Maternal love |
| Mountain laurel |
Ambition |
| Myrtle |
Love, marriage, married bliss, fidelity, passion |
| Narcissus |
 |
Self-esteem |
| Nasturtium |
Patriotism |
| Oak |
Hospitality, strength, independence |
| Olive |
Peace, reconciliation |
| Orange |
Bridal festivities, marriage, happy outcome |
| Orchid |
Luxury, love, refinement, nobility |
| • |
Catleya |
Mature charms, matronly grace |
| • |
Cymbidium |
Magnificence, luxury, love, beauty |
| • |
Lady's Slipper |
Capricious beauty, desirable |
| • |
Moth/phalaenopsis |
Evening joy |
| Pansy |
Loving thoughts |
| Parsley |
Festivity, thanks, gratitude |
| Passion Flower |
Christian Faith |
| Pea, sweet |
Delicate pleasures, tender memory |
| Peach |
Longevity, feminine softness |
| Pear |
Affection, health, hope, longevity |
| Pennyroyal |
Flee away |
| Peony |
 |
Beauty, welcome, hands full of cash, complete Life, Humility, Return of Happiness, and Sweetness |
| Peppermint |
Warmth |
| Phlox |
Proposal of love, sweet dreams |
| Pine |
Loyalty, vigorous life, endurance |
| Pine cone |
Fertility, life |
| Plantain |
Pilgrimage |
| Plum |
Courage, happiness, hardiness, perseverance |
| Pomegranate |
Royalty, mature elegance, posterity |
| Pussy-willow |
Never-ceasing remembrance, recovery from illness |
| Queen Anne's Lace |
 |
Haven, protection |
| Quince |
Cheers my soul |
| Ranunculus |
Attraction, charming |
| Reed, flowering |
Confidence in heaven |
| Rose |
 |
Love, beauty, congratulations, reward of virtue, friendship |
| • |
champagne |
Vitality, devotion |
| • |
cherry-red |
Merriment, sweetness of character |
| • |
coral |
Good fortune, longevity |
| • |
cream |
Richness, perfection |
| • |
gilded |
Excess |
| • |
gold |
Absolute achievement |
| • |
green |
Freshness, health, liberty |
| • |
lavender |
Rarity, dignity |
| • |
peach |
Immortality, unequaled charm |
| • |
pink |
Grace, beauty |
| • |
purple |
Sorrow |
| • |
red |
I love you, passion, desire, beauty, joy, charm |
| • |
red & white |
Creative force, joy, unity |
| • |
rose-colored |
Shyness, beauty, pride, love |
| • |
white |
Unity, silence, love, respect, beauty |
| • |
yellow |
friendship, highest mark of distinction |
| Rosebud |
Beauty & Youth |
| • |
pink |
Grace, beauty, gentleness, a young girl |
| • |
red |
Innocent hope, young and beautiful |
| • |
white |
A heart untouched by love, purity |
| Rosemary |
Remembrance, fidelity, devotion, wisdom |
| Rue |
Grace, repentance, clear vision |
| Safflower |
Marriage, welcome |
| Sage |
Domestic virtue, wisdom, skill |
| • |
Jerusalem/phlomis |
Pride of ownership, earthly delights |
| • |
Mexican |
Eloquence, spectacular |
| • |
pineapple |
Hospitality, esteem |
| • |
purple-leaf |
Gratitude |
| Salvia, blue |
 |
Wisdom |
| • |
red |
Energy |
| Shamrock |
Luck, light-heartedness, Ireland |
| Snapdragons |
desire, strength |
| Snowdrop |
 |
Consolation |
| Snowflake/leucojum |
Purity, herald of spring |
| Sorrel, wood |
Maternal love |
| Speedwell/veronica |
Female fidelity |
| Spirea |
Victory, conceit |
| Spruce |
Farewell |
| Spurge/euphorbia |
Welcome |
| St. Johns-wort |
Protection |
| Statice |
Never ceasing remembrance |
| Stephanotis/flora Dora |
Wedding |
| Stock |
Promptness, lasting beauty |
| Stonecrop/sedum |
Tranquility |
| Sunflower |
 |
Loyalty, adoration |
| Sweet William |
Childhood, memory |
| Thistle |
Austerity, independence |
| Thyme |
Activity, bravery, courage |
| Tuberose |
Dangerous love, voluptuousness |
| Tulip |
Fame, charity, happy years, memory |
| • |
pink |
Love, imagination, dreaminess |
| • |
red |
Declaration of ardent love |
| • |
variegated |
Beautiful eyes |
| • |
white |
Lost love |
| • |
yellow |
Hopeless love |
| Verbena |
Faithfulness, marriage, fertility |
| Verbena, lemon |
Responsibility |
| • |
pink |
Family union |
| • |
scarlet |
Sensibility |
| • |
white |
Pray for me, pure and guileless |
| Vervain |
Good fortune |
| Violet |
Modesty, faithfulness, simplicity |
| Wallflower |
Lasting beauty |
| Walnut |
Intellect, strength of mind |
| Weigela |
Accept a faithful heart |
| Wheat |
Friendliness, prosperity, riches |
| Willow |
Freedom, serenity, friendship |
| • |
willow, pussy |
Friendship, recovery from illness |
| Windflower, anemone |
Expectation, anticipation |
| Wisteria |
 |
Welcome stranger, daughter's sweetness |
| Yarrow |
Cure for heartache, health, sorrow, heals wounds |
| Yew |
Sorrow, penitence |
| Zinnia |
 |
Thoughts of absent friends |
| Flower |
Meaning |
|
