The language of flowers is a means of cryptological communication through the use or arrangement of flowers. Meaning has been attributed to flowers for thousands of years.
| Flower | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Acacia rose or white | Secret Love |
| Acacia yellow | Elegance |
| Acanthus | Art |
| Agrimony | Thankfulness, gratitude |
| Allium | Patience, good fortune, prosperity, unity |
| Almond | Promise |
| Aloe | Grief |
| Amaranth | Immortality [1] |
| Amaranth (Globe) | Immortal love |
| Amaryllis | Pride |
| Ambrosia | Love is reciprocated |
| Anemone | Forsaken, sickness, anticipation, undying love |
| Angrec | Royalty |
| Anthurium | Hospitality, happiness, abundance |
| Apple blossom | Preference |
| Arborvitae | Everlasting friendship |
| Arbutus | You are the only one I love |
| Arum | Faith, purity |
| Asphodel | My regrets follow you to the grave |
| Aster | Symbol of love, daintiness, talisman of love, trusting |
| Azalea | Take care, temperance, fragile, gratitude, passion, Chinese symbols of womanhood |
| Baby’s breath | Innocence, purity of heart |
| Bachelor’s button | Happy or blessed celibacy, good luck, wealth |
| Balm | Sympathy |
| Balsam | Ardent love |
| Balsamine | Impatience |
| Basil | Success |
| Bay wreath | Glory |
| Begonia | Beware, a fanciful nature |
| Bellflower | Unwavering love |
| Bells of Ireland | Luck |
| Bird of paradise flower | Liberty, magnificence, good perspective, joyfulness, faithfulness (when given by a man to a woman) |
| Bird’s-foot trefoil | Revenge |
| Black Dahlia | Betrayal and dishonesty |
| Black-eyed Susan | Justice |
| Blackthorn | Fate, protection, hope against adversity, good fortune |
| Bluebell | Loyalty, constancy, humility & gratitude |
| Borage | Courage |
| Bouvardia | Enthusiasm |
| Box | Constancy |
| Broom | Humility |
| Bulrush | Docility |
| Bumblebee Orchid | Industry |
| Buttercup | Riches |
| Cabbage | Profit |
| Calla Lily | Magnificence and beauty |
| Camellia | Unpretending excellence |
| Campanula | Gratitude |
| Canterbury Bells | Gratitude |
| Carnation general | Fascination; distinction; love |
| Carnation green | Secret symbol of the followers of Oscar Wilde |
| Carnation mauve | Dreams of fantasy |
| Carnation pink | A woman’s love, a mother’s love |
| Carnation purple | Capriciousness, whimsical, changeable, unreliability |
| Carnation red | Deep romantic love, passion |
| Carnation solid color | Yes, affirmative |
| Carnation striped | Refusal |
| Carnation white | Sweet and lovely, innocence, pure love, faithfulness |
| Carnation yellow | Rejection, disdain, disappointment |
| Celandine | Joys to come |
| Cherry blossom | A good education |
| Chestnut | Do me justice, Chastity |
| China aster | Love of variety, fidelity |
| Chrysanthemum general | fidelity, optimism, joy and long life |
| Chrysanthemum red | Love |
| Chrysanthemum white | Truth, loyal love |
| Chrysanthemum yellow | Slighted love |
| Cinquefoil | Beloved daughter |
| Clove | Undying love |
| Clovenlip Toadflax | Please notice my love/feelings for you |
| Columbine | The emblem of deceived lovers, ingratitude, faithlessness |
| Coreopsis | Always cheerful |
| Coriander | Lust |
| Cowslip | Winning grace |
| Creeping Willow | Love forsaken |
| Crocus | Youthful joy, love, abuse not, Lupercalia |
| Cypress | Death, mourning, despair, sorrow. |
| Daffodil | Uncertainty, chivalry, respect or unrequited love, return my affection; new beginnings |
| Dahlia | Elegance and dignity |
| Daisy general | Innocence, loyal love, purity, faith, cheer, simplicity; or, dissembling as in Shakespeare’s Hamlet |
| Daisy red | Beauty unknown to possessor |
| Dandelion | Overcoming hardship |
| Delphinium | Levity, fun, generosity, ardent attachment, joy |
| Dill | Passion |
| Edelweiss | Devotion, courage |
| Eglantine rose | A wound to heal |
| Elderflower | Compassion |
| Fennel | Strength; cuckoldry, as in Shakespeare’s Hamlet, [2] |
| Fern | Magic, enchantment, confidence, sincerity & shelter |
| Forget-me-not | True love, don’t forget me |
| Foxglove | Insecurity[3] |
| Freesia | Innocence, thoughtfulness |
| Fungus | Resilience, loneliness, solitude, disgust |
| Gardenia | Secret love, joy, sweet love, good luck |
| Geranium | Gentility, determination |
| Gladiolus | Strength of character, honor, conviction |
| Goldenrod | Encouragement |
| Gorse | Love in all seasons |
| Hawthorn | Hope, fertility |
| Heather purple | Solitude, beauty, admiration |
| Heather white | Protection |
| Heliotrope | Devotion |
| Hibiscus | Rare and delicate beauty |
| Hollyhock | Ambition |
| Honeysuckle | Devoted affection, bonds of love |
| Houseleek | Domestic economy |
| Hyacinth blue | Constancy |
| Hyacinth purple | Sorrow; Please forgive me |
| Hyacinth red or pink | Playfulness |
| Hyacinth white | Loveliness |
| Hyacinth yellow | Jealousy |
| Hydrangea | Frigidity, heartlessness; heartfelt gratitude for being understood |
| Hyssop | Cleanliness, sacrifice |
| Iris blue | Faith, hope |
| Iris general | Eloquence, good news |
| Iris purple | Wisdom, compliments |
| Iris white | Purity |
| Iris yellow | Passion |
| Ivy | Dependence, endurance, faithfulness |
| Jasmine | Unconditional and eternal love, monetary wealth. (in the Philippines and Hinduism) |
| Jonquil | Return my affection |
| Larkspur | Levity, lightness; fickleness, haughtiness |
| Laurel | Ambition, success, renown |
| Laurestine | A token |
| Lavender | Happiness, love, devotion, peace, distrust |
| Lemon blossom | Discretion |
| Lily of the valley | Sweetness, humility, returning happiness, Trust |
| Lily orange | Desire, passion; hatred |
| Lily scarlet | Lofty aspirations |
| Lily White | Purity |
| Lime blossom | Fornication |
| Lobelia | Malevolence |
| Lotus | Purity, chastity and eloquence; rebirth |
| Love lies bleeding | Hopelessness |
| Magnolia | Love of nature |
| Mallow | Consumed by love |
| Marigold | Pain and grief |
| Mayflower | Welcome |
| Meadowsweet | Beauty, happiness, peace, protection |
| Mignonette | Worth |
| Mint | Suspicion |
| Moonflower | Dreaming of love |
| Morning glory | Love in vain; affection |
| Mullein | Good-nature |
| Myrtle | Good luck and love in marriage |
| Narcissus | Unrequited love, selfishness |
| Nasturtium | Patriotism, conquest |
| Nettle (stinging) | life and death, protection[4] as in Shakespeare’s Hamlet |
| Oak leaf | Strength |
| Oats | Music |
| Olive | Peace |
| Orange blossom | Good fortune, good luck in marriage |
| Orchid | Refined beauty |
| Ox-eye daisy | Patience |
| Pansy | Thoughtfulness, remembrance |
| Peach blossom | Long-life, generosity, bridal hope |
| Pear blossom | Lasting friendship |
| Peony | Shame, bashfulness, anger |
| Peruvian Lily | Wealth, fortune, prosperity, friendship |
| Phlox | Harmony |
| Pitch pine blossom | Philosophy |
| Plum blossom | Beauty and longevity |
| Plumeria | Perfection, springtime, new beginnings |
| Poppy General | Eternal sleep, oblivion, imagination |
| Poppy Red | Pleasure, sacrifice, remembrance |
| Poppy Rose | Wealth, success |
| Poppy White | Consolation, dreams, modern, peace |
| Primrose | Eternal love |
| Protea | Courage, transformation, daring, resourcefulness, diversity |
| Purple Lilac | First love |
| Queen Anne’s Lace | Haven, sancutaury; complexity, delicateness |
| Rainflower | I love you back, I must atone for my sins, I will never forget you |
| Red Clover | Industry |
| Rhododendron | Warning, beware |
| Rose black | Death, hatred, despair, sorrow, mystery, danger, obsession |
| Rose blue | Mystery, attaining the impossible, love at first sight |
| Rose bud | Beauty, purity, love, youth |
| Rose burgundy | Unconscious beauty |
| Rose coral or orange | Desire, passion |
| Rose dark pink | Gratitude |
| Rose dried white | Sorrow |
| Rose lavender or violet | Love at first sight |
| Rose light pink | Desire, passion, joy of life, youth, energy |
| Rose pink | Grace |
| Rose red | True love |
| Rose red and white together | United |
| Rose red and yellow together | Joy, happiness and excitement |
| Rose thornless | Love at first sight |
| Rose white | Silence or innocence, wistfulness, virtue, purity, secrecy, reverence and humility |
| Rose yellow | Friendship, apology, intense emotion, undying love; extreme betrayal, a broken heart, infidelity, jealousy |
| Rosemary | Remembrance |
| Rue | Regret, sorrow, repentance |
| Sage | Health, wisdom, respect |
| Sensitive plant | Sensitivity, modesty |
| Shamrock | Good luck |
| Snapdragon | Graciousness, strength; deception |
| Snowdrop | Consolation or hope |
| Speedwell | Travel, kindness, loyalty, protection |
| Star of Bethlehem | Atonement, reconciliation |
| Statice | Remembrance, sympathy, success |
| Sticky Catchfly | Invitation to dance |
| Stock | Lasting beauty, a happy life, bonds of affection |
| Straw | United |
| Sunflower | Pure and lofty thoughts, adoration, longevity, loyalty |
| Sweetbrier | Simplicity |
| Sweetpea | Gratitude, tenderness, farewell |
| Tansy | I declare war on you |
| Thistle | Nobility, endurance, warning [5] |
| Thorn-apple | Disguise |
| Thyme | Courage, thriftiness |
| Tulip black | Power, Strength, Supreme elegance |
| Tulip blue | Respect, Tranquility, Trust |
| Tulip orange | Understanding, Appreciation, Truest love |
| Tulip pink | Caring, Good wishes, Friendship, Joyful Occasions, Confidence |
| Tulip purple | Nobility/Royalty, Rebirth, Spring |
| Tulip red | Undying love, Passion, Perfect love |
| Tulip variegated | Beautiful eyes |
| Tulip white | Forgiveness, Remembrance, Worthiness, Sincerity |
| Tulip yellow | Cheerful thoughts, Sunshine, Hope |
| Tulip-tree | Fame |
| Valerian | Readiness |
| Vervain | Pray for me, protection against evil |
| Violet blue | Faithfulness |
| Violet purple | Daydreaming, Love between two women |
| Violet white | Modesty |
| Wheat | Wealth and prosperity |
| White Clover | I promise |
| White Lilac | Youthful innocence, humility |
| Winged seeds (any kind) | Messengers |
| Wisteria | Welcoming |
| Witch-hazel | A magic spell |
| Wolfsbane | Misanthropy |
| Wormwood | Absence, bitter sorrow |
| Yarrow | Healing, inspiration |
| Ylang-Ylang | Never-ending love |
| Zinnia | Thinking of you; remembering absent friends, sentimentality |