Tradition, fragrance, and beauty are obvious reasons to choose a flower bouquet ; but if you want to make every gesture count, then choose flowers with meanings that represent appropriate virtues or sentiments.
The language of flowers is century old and began with herbs that had ancient symbolic meaning in Chinese, Greek, Roman, Turkish, and Egyptian cultures. In the early 1600s, John Parkinson, a French herbalist and physician, gave meaning to diminutive nosegays of fragrant flowers and leaves. The tradition continued and by the Victorian era the art of sending symbolic messages by gifts of flowers, called florigraphy , was all the rage.
Many experts disagree on the "true meaning" of many flowers and most have different meanings to different people. But we all believe in flower power whatever message they convey. Here are some of the more traditional flower meanings,. See, if you agree, and remember, a gift of flowers for a special someone will always create its own personal meaning, too.
FLOWERS
SYMBOLIC MEANING
Anthurium
Lover
Aster
Elegance
Alium
Strength
Agpanthus
Love
Baby’s breath
Modesty of beauty
Broom
Humility
Bells of Ireland
Good Luck
Carnations
Pure love
Carnation (Red)
Admiration, Fascination
Carnations (White)
Remembrance, Ardent Love, Good Luck
Carnation (Pink)
Mother’s/ Woman’s Love
Camellia
Longing for You
Chrysanthemum
Cheerfulness, Supple and resistant
Chrysanthemum
( small)
Nothing is too small to merit its
attention
Chrysanthemum
(White)
Truth, Loyal Love
Chrysanthemum
(Yellow)
Slighted Love
Cornflower
Delicacy
Calla Lily
Magnificent Beauty
Daisy ( Gerbera)
Innocence, Frankness, Loyal Love
Deffodil
Regard
Fern
Fascination, sincerity
Forget-Me-Not
True Love, Memories
Gladiolus
Receptivity, Flower of the Gladiators
Hyacinth
Games and Sports, Rashness, Flower
Dedicated to Apollo
Hydrangea
Thank You for Understanding, Frigidity,
Iris
Aristocracy of beauty - so
perfect a form as to compel
admiration
Ivy
Friendship, fidelity, and marriage
Jasmine
Purity, True purity is fragrant
Lily of vally
Purity, peace, and return of happiness
You've Made My Life Complete
Lily ( Tiger)
Wealth , Pride
Lily (White)
Virginity, Purity, Majesty, It's
Heavenly to be with You
Lily (Yellow)
I'm Walking on Air
Lavender
Devotion, acknowledgment of love
Lady’s lace
Purity – can only obtained by the
absence of desires
Larksper
Lightness
Lupin
Dejection
Lotus
Eloquence
Lilac
The first string of love, light
and graceful
Narcissus
Self Admiration
Orchids
Love, Beauty, Refinement, Beautiful
Lady, Chinese Symbol for Many Children
