Back in the day, people would send bouquets fraught with meaning. You could buy little handbooks with lists of the language of flowers, so you could anxiously decipher the bouquet sent to you. You’d better hope that you and the sender were using the same system, because some of these meanings are different than the ones on other lists… Thank goodness we have emojis nowadays!

Cornflower—riches
Daisy—attachment
Hundred-leaved rose — sincere love
Violet—modesty
Convolvulus (bind weed)—tender love
Heather—solitude
Geranium—sincerity
Nettle—defiance
Lily of the valley—sensitiveness
Yellow rose—contentment
Rhododendron—strength
Narcissus (daffodil)—pride
Jasmine—faithfulness
Gentian—gratitude
Edelweiss—cleanliness
Pansy—messenger of love
White rose—purity
Pink—hope

Rhododendron—strength
Poppy—relaxation
Daisy—innocence
Geranium—sincerity
Sunflower—loyalty
Jasmine—faithfulness
Carnation—affection
Gentian—gratitude
Rose—love
Narcissus (daffodil)—renewal
Orchid—grace
Alstroemeria—friendship

Lilac—youthful innocence
Asiatic Lily—majesty
Oriental Lily—majesty
Lisianthus—outgoing
Various Orchids—a belle
Peony—bashful
King Protea—daring
Queen Anne’s Lace—sanctuary
Ranunculus—radiant
Roses—love
Snapdragon—desire
Statice (everlasting)—remembrance
Stock—lasting beauty
Sunflower—pure thoughts
Sweet pea—delicate pleasure
Tulips—declaration of love

White rose—innocence Genistra—goodness Tulip—elegant love Rosemary—remembrance Daisy—cheerfulness

Light pink rose—grace Alstroemeria—devotion Orchid—refined beauty Seeded eucalyptus—protection Dark pink rose—romance Orange rose—appreciation

Sage—health Lavender rose—enrichment Thyme—resourcefulness Source: Home Made Simple

It’s curious that none of these lists include the forget-me-not (Vergissmeinnicht in German) whose name records its symbolic meaning.

Then there’s “rosemary for remembrance” and “pansies, that’s for thoughts” (a pun on French pensées, thoughts) mentioned by Ophelia in Shakespeare’s Hamlet.

For more flower meanings, check out Patti Wigington’s article on the language of flowers.

Another article at Sacred Wicca has a list syncretized from many different Victorian lists and closely matched to the characteristics of the flowers.

The queer language of flowers

Many flowers have specific queer meanings too. The rose signified same sex love in many cultures. Oscar Wilde famously used the green carnation to signify same sex love. Pansies are also associated with same sex love and have been wonderfully used by Paul Harfleet in The Pansy Project to reclaim places where homophobic violence has occurred. Violets are associated with both lesbians (partly because Sappho references them) and gay men. Lavender is associated with both lesbians and gay men.

The Pagan language of flowers

In Pagan and polytheist symbolism, flowers are associated with deities, and sometimes named after them.

Roses are associated with Venus (both because the pattern described in the sky by her orbit looks like a rose, and because she is the goddess of love and roses are the flowers of love).

The Narcissus (daffodil) is associated with the demigod Narcissus, who fell in love with his own reflection.

A species of ranunculus known as pheasant’s eye or Adonis flower is associated with Adonis, because it is said to have sprung from the blood that he shed on the ground.

Flora is the Roman goddess of flowers, and her festival is from 28 April to 3 May. She is especially associated with may-flower and roses.

It would be interesting to know if Celtic and Germanic deities were associated with specific flowers.