Meanings of flower
From the beginning of recorded history, men and women have assigned special significance to different flowers.
Did you know that in the Middle Ages flowers were used as a vital part of lengthy courtships?
Since different flowers are deemed to convey different messages, lovers could express themselves without the fear of being overheard. The flowers could even be symbolically arranged to communicate different feelings of love, attraction, affection or even disdain. Flowers were all part of a secret code _ and a beautiful code at that...
These days, whether you're male or female, romantic or practical, if you do decide to give the age-old gift flowers it will mean so much more if you brush up on some of the meanings beforehand.
Think of it like looking up to the stars and not only knowing the different constellations, but the ancient myths behind them. In the same way, imagine giving that special someone a bouquet of purple irises, crocuses, and ivy on Valentine's Day, and being able to tell them that it was a traditional bouquet given in Medieval times because the iris meant "heat aflame," the crocus, "joy," and the ivy ensured the recipient was wanted "above all others."
Or, imagine giving them a bunch of marigolds without realising the marigold means cruelty, grief and jealousy...
Over the centuries, some individual meanings have changed and evolved and many experts now disagree on the subtleties of some of the connotations. Moreover, every true lover of flowers knows they can mean different things to different people. Traditionally, the Sunflower conveys the message of ‘haughtiness'
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A |
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Acacia |
concealed love, beauty in retirement, chaste love |
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Acanthus |
art or artistic; the fine arts; artifice |
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Achillea Millefolia |
war |
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Aconite (Wolf's Bane) |
misanthropy |
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Acorn |
nordic symbol of life and immortality |
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Agapanthus |
love letters |
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Agnus Castus |
coldness, indifference |
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Allspice |
compassion |
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Almond Blossom |
hope, lover's charm |
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Aloe |
grief |
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Alstroemeria |
devotion, friendship |
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Alyssum |
worth beyond beauty |
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Ambrosia |
your love is reciprocated |
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Amaryllis |
pride, pastoral poetry |
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Amaranth |
fidelity |
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Amaryllis |
pride, timidity, splendid beauty |
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Anemone |
forsaken, unfading love, truth, sincerity, anticipation |
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Angelica |
inspiration |
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Aniseed |
restoration of youth |
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Apple Blossoms |
hope, good fortune, better things to come |
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Arbor Vitae |
true friendship |
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Arbutus |
thee only do i love |
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Artemisia |
dignity |
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Arbutus |
thee only do i love |
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Asphodel |
my regrets follow you to the grave |
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Aster |
symbol of love, daintiness |
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Azalea |
take care of yourself for me, temperance, fragile passion, chinese symbol of womanhood, fragility |
B |
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Baby's Breath |
everlasting love, pure in love |
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Bachelor Button |
single blessedness, celibacy, hope in love |
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Basil |
best wishes, love, hatred |
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Bay Leaf |
strength, I change but in death |
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Bear's Breeches |
art or artistic, the fine arts, artifice |
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Begonia |
beware |
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Betony |
surprise |
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Bellflower |
gratitude |
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Bells of Ireland |
good luck |
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Bilberry |
treachery |
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Bird of Paradise |
magnificence |
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Bittersweet |
truth |
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Bluebell |
humility, constancy |
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Blue Periwinkle |
friendship |
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Borage |
courage, bluntness |
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Bouquet of Withered Flowers |
rejected love |
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Broom |
humility, neatness |
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Bulrush |
indiscretion, docility |
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Burnet |
a merry heart |
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Buttercup |
childishness, cheerfulness |
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C |
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Cactus |
endurance |
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Calendula |
joy |
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Calla Lily |
splendid beauty |
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Camellia (general) |
admiration, perfection, good luck gift to a man |
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Camellia (pink) |
longing for you |
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Camellia (red) |
you're a flame in my heart |
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Camellia (white) |
you're adorable |
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Camomile |
energy in adversity |
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Candytuft |
indifference |
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Carnation (general) |
fascination, woman love, bonds of affection, health and energy, carnation |
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Carnation (red) |
my heart aches for you, admiration |
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Carnation (purple) |
capriciousness, whimsical |
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Carnation (solid color) |
yes |
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Carnation (striped) |
no, refusal, sorry i can't be with you, wish i could be with you |
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Carnation (white) |
sweet and lovely, innocence, pure love, woman's good luck gift |
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Carnation (yellow) |
you have disappointed me, rejection |
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Cattail |
peace, prosperity |
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Cedar |
i live for thee, think of me |
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Chamomile |
patience, attracts wealth |
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Chrysanthemum (general) |
you're a wonderful friend, cheerfulness and rest. |
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Chrysanthemum (red) |
I love you |
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Chrysanthemum (white) |
truth |
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Chrysanthemum (yellow) |
slighted love |
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Cinnamon |
my fortune is yours |
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Clover (four leaf) |
good luck, be mine |
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Columbine |
folly |
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Corn |
riches |
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Cornflower |
delicacy, refinement |
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Coriander |
lust |
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Cowslip |
pensiveness, winning grace |
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Coxcomb |
foppery |
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Crocus |
cheerfulness |
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Cyclamen |
resignation and goodbye |
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D |
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Daffodil |
regard, respect, unrequited love, you're the only one, the sun is always shining when i'm with you |
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Dahlia |
good taste, instability |
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Daisy |
innocence, loyal love, faith, cheer, simplicity |
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Dandelion |
faithfulness, devotion, happiness, wishes come true |
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Delphinium |
airy |
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Dogwood |
durability |
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E |
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Edelweiss |
daring, noble courage |
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Elder |
zealousness |
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Elm |
dignity |
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Eucalyptus |
protection |
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F |
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Fennel |
worthy of all praise, strength |
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Fern |
magic, fascination, confidence and shelter |
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Fern (maidenhair) |
secret bond of love |
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Fig |
argument |
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Fir |
time |
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Flax |
domestic symbol, fate |
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Forget |
me |
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not |
true love, memories |
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Forsythia |
anticipation, expectation |
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Foxglove |
insincerity |
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Fuschia (scarlet) |
fast |
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G |
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Gardenia |
you're lovely, secret love |
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Garland of roses |
reward of virtue |
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Garlic |
courage, strength |
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Geranium (rose) |
preference |
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Geranium (scented) |
stupidity, folly, comfort |
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Gillyflower |
bonds of affection |
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Gladioli |
profess sincerity, flower of the gladiators |
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Gladiolus |
love at first sight, ready |
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armed, strength of character, generosity |
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Gloxinia |
love at first sight |
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Golden rod |
precaution |
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Guelder rose |
winter, age |
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Grass |
surrender |
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H |
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Harebell |
submission, grief |
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Hawthorn |
hope |
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Hazel |
reconciliation |
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Heather (lavender) |
admiration, solitude |
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Heather (pink) |
good luck |
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Heather (white) |
protection, wishes will come true |
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Helenium |
tears |
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Hemlock |
you will be my death |
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Hibiscus |
delicate beauty |
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Holly |
defense, domestic happiness |
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Honeysuckle (yellow) |
bonds of love |
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Hyacinth (general) |
games and sports, rashness, flower dedicated to apollo |
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Hyacinth (blue) |
constancy |
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Hyacinth (purple) |
i am sorry, please forgive me, sorrow |
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Hyacinth (red or pink) |
play |
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Hyacinth (white) |
loveliness, i'll pray for you |
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Hyacinth (yellow) |
jealousy |
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Hydrangea |
thank you for understanding, frigidity, heartlessness |
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I |
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Ice Plant |
your looks freeze me |
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Iris |
fleur |
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de |
lis, emblem of france, your friendship means so much to me, warmth of affection, faith, hope, wisdom and valor, my compliments |
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Ivy |
love, fidelity, marriage, friendship |
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J |
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Jasmine |
amiability, sensuality, transport of joy, grace and elegance |
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Jonquil |
love me, affection returned, desire, sympathy, desire for affection returned |
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Judas Tree |
unbelief, betrayal |
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L |
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Larkspur (pink) |
fickleness |
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Lavender |
devotion, distrust |
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Leaves (all colours) |
melancholy |
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Lemon |
zest |
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Lemon Balm |
brings love |
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Lemon Blossom |
fidelity |
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Lilac (purple) |
first emotions of love |
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Lilac (white) youthful innocence, purity, sweetness |
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Lily (calla) |
beauty |
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Lily (day) |
coquetry, chinese emblem for mother |
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Lily (orange) |
hatred |
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Lily (tiger) |
wealth, pride |
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Lily (white) |
virginity, purity, majesty, it's heavenly to be with you |
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Lily (yellow) |
i'm walking on air, false and gay |
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Lily (eucharis) |
maiden charms |
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Lily (tiger) |
wealth, pride |
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Lily of the Valley |
sweetness, tears of the virgin mary, return to happiness, humility, you've made my life complete |
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Love In A Mist |
perplexity |
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Love Lies Bleeding |
hopeless, not heartless |
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M |
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Magnolia |
perserverance, dignity, nobility |
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Marigold |
cruelty, grief, jealousy |
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Meadowsweet |
uselessness |
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Mimosa |
sensitivity |
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Mint |
virtue |
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Mistletoe |
kiss me, affection, to surmount difficulties, sacred plant of india |
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Monkshood |
beware, a deadly foe is near |
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Morning Glory |
affectation |
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Moss |
maternal love, charity |
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Myrtle |
love, remembrance, hebrew emblem of marriage |
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N |
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Narcissus |
egotism, formality, stay as sweet as you are, self |
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esteem |
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Nasturtium |
conquest, victory in battle, patriotism |
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Nightshade |
truth |
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O |
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Oak Leaves |
bravery |
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Oleander |
caution |
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Orange Blossom |
innocence, eternal love, marriage and fruitfulness, wisdom |
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Orange Mock |
deceit |
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Orchid |
love, magnificence, rare beauty, refinement, beautiful lady, chinese symbol for many children |
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Orchid (cattleya) |
mature charm |
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P |
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Palm Leaves |
victory and success |
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Pansy (all colours) |
thoughts, love and happiness |
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Parsley |
festivities |
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Peach Blossoms |
i am your captive, longevity |
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Peppermint |
warmth of feelings |
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Peony |
bashfulness, shame, indignation, happy life, happy marriage |
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Periwinkle (blue) |
early friendship |
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Periwinkle (white) |
pleasures of memory |
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Petunia |
resentment, anger, your presence soothes me |
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Phlox |
we are united |
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Pine |
hope, pity |
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Poinsettia |
be of good cheer |
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Polyanthus |
pride of riches |
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Poppy (general) |
eternal sleep, oblivion, imagination |
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Poppy (red) |
pleasure, fantastic extravagance |
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Poppy (white) |
sleep, consolation |
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Poppy (yellow) |
wealth, success |
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Pink |
i'll never forget you |
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Prickly Pear |
satire |
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Primrose |
I can't live without you |
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Primrose (evening) |
inconstancy |
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Q |
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Quaking Grass |
agitation |
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Queen Anne's Lace |
fantasy |
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Quince |
temptation |
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R |
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Rose (black) |
death |
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Rose (bridal) |
happy love |
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Rose (dark crimson) |
mourning, |
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Rose (deep red) |
passion, bashful shame |
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Rose (hibiscus) |
delicate beauty |
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Rose (leaf) |
you may hope |
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Rose (orange) |
desire |
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Rose (pink) |
perfect happiness, please believe me, simplicity, grace |
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Rose (red) |
love, I love you |
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Rose (tea) |
I'll remember always |
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Rose (thornless) |
love at first sight, attachment |
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Rose (white) |
innocence and purity, I am worthy of you, you're heavenly, secrecy and silence |
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Rose (white & red mixed) |
unity, flower emblem of england |
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Rose (white |
dried) |
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death is preferable to loss of virtue |
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Rose (white with ivy) |
purity of intentions and promise of fidelity |
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Rose (withered white) |
transient impression |
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Rose (yellow) |
decrease of love, jealousy, try to care |
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Rosebud |
beauty and youth, a heart innocent of love |
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Rosebud (red) |
pure and lovely |
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Rosebud (white) |
girlhood, a heart ignorant of love |
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Rosebud (moss) |
confessions of love |
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Roses (bouquet of mature blooms) |
gratitude |
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Roses (single full bloom) |
I love you, I still love you |
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Rosemary |
remembrance, fidelity |
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S |
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Saffron |
beware of excess |
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Sage |
wisdom, long life, domestic virtue |
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Shamrock |
lightheartedness |
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Smilax |
loveliness |
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Snapdragon |
deception, gracious lady |
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Snowdrop |
hope |
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Spearmint |
warmth of sentiment |
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Spider Flower |
elope with me |
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Stephanotis |
happiness in marriage, desire to travel |
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Stock |
bonds of affection, promptness, you'll always be beautiful to me |
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Strawberry |
perfect goodness |
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Sunflower |
haughtiness |
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Sweetpea |
goodbye, departure, blissful & delicate pleasure, thank you for a lovely time |
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Sweet William |
a smile, gallantry |
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T |
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Tamarisk |
crime |
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Thrift |
sympathy |
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Thyme |
strength and courage, activity |
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Tulip (general) |
perfect lover, frame, flower emblem of holland |
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Tulip (red) |
believe me, declaration of love |
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Tulip (variegated) |
beautiful eyes |
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Tulip (yellow) |
there's sunshine in your smile, hopeless love |
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V |
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Vernal Grass |
poor but happy |
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Violet Tulip |
modesty |
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Violet (blue) |
watchfulness, faithfulness, i'll always be true, modesty |
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Violet (white) |
let's take a chance |
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W |
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Wallflower |
faithfulness |
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Water lily |
purity of heart |
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Wistaria |
I cling to you |
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Woodruff |
sweet humility |
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Z |
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Zinnia (magenta) |
lasting affection |
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Zinnia (mixed) |
thinking (or in memory) of an absent friend |
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Zinnia (scarlet) |
constancy |
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Zinnia (white) |
goodness |
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Zinnia (yellow) |
daily remembrance |