With Valentine’s Day coming up soon, this is a good time to look at the meaning of flowers. Different kinds of blooms may have special meanings. Doubtless everyone knows that red roses stand for love. However, there is a lot more to the meaning of flowers than that.

The language of flowers was a popular idea during Victorian times. In this lexicon, each kind had its own special meaning. That was necessary during that era when a limited number of blooms were available. Through this language, each particular color could symbolize something.

The Victorians used various kinds of flowers to express messages. This was done through several kinds of arrangements, including bouquets, and nosegays or tussie-mussies. We can still do this today if we choose each kind of flower very carefully.

During that era, there were a number of books on the language of flowers. Even today, there are still lots of sources of information explaining the different meanings of the various kinds.

The flowers and plants listed below are suitable for Valentine’s Day. In addition, each separate color may have its own special meaning. This is especially true for roses.



FLOWER MEANING
Agapanthus secret love
Ambrosia reciprocated love
Apple blossom esteem, promise
Aster contentment, love
Azalea first love
Begonia deep thoughts
Black-eyed Susan encouragement
Caladium delight, joy
Calla beauty, regal
Camellia loveliness
Carnation, white remembrance
Cheddar pink pure love
Chervil sincerity
Clover, four-leaved Be mine. Good fortune
Clover, white Think of me
Cornflower and bachelor button anticipation, tenderness
Crocus cheerfulness, gladness
Daisy, any loyal love, innocence
Daisy, colored beauty
Dandelion happiness, faithfulness
Everlasting eternal love
Forget-me-not sincere love, remember me for all eternity
Forsythia anticipation
Freesia innocence
Gardenia joy, secret untold love
Ginger proudness
Globe amaranth immortal love
Gloxinia love at first sight
Greenbrier (Smilax) loveliness
Heliotrope devotion
Hibiscus delicate beauty
Holly happiness
Hyacinth, white loveliness, sincerity
Hydrangea perseverance
Iris faithfulness
Ivy wedded love
Jasmine elegance, grace
Lavender constancy
Lilac first love
Lily, white purity, sweetness
Lily of the valley unconscious sweetness, happiness
Mum, bronze excitement
Mum, red sharing, love
Mum, white truth
Mum, yellow secret admirer
Myrtle love
Orange blossoms marriage, fertility, eternal love, faithfulness
Orchid delicate beauty, love
Pansy loving thoughts
Passion flower passion
Peony happy marriage
Poppy pleasure
Queen Anne’s lace delicate femininity
Ranunculus radiant
Rose bud, any color confession of love
Rose, burgundy unconscious beauty
Rose, orange or coral desire and passion
Rose, pink perfect love
Rose, red passionate love
Rose, single in love
Rose, white purity
Rosemary remembrance, fond memory
Saxifrage affection
Shamrock faithfulness
Stephanotis happiness in marriage
Stock beauty
Sunflower adoration
Sweet alyssum beauty beyond worth
Sweet pea shyness
Tulip, pink caring
Tulip, red love
Tulip, yellow love
Veronica fidelity
Violet faithfulness, affection
Wallflower passionate affection, faithfulness
Water lily simplicity, purity of heart
Zinnia, magenta lasting affection
Zinnia, red faithfulness
Zinnia, white goodness