Ready Reference Files

Symbolism of Flowers or, the Language of Flowers

While there is no uniformity of agreement concerning the symbolism of flowers, the following is a list of flowers and plants to which poetry, tradition, or usage has attached particular meanings.

• Amaranth - Immortality
• Anemone - Anticipation, Frailty
• Apple Blossom - Admiration
• Aspen Leaf - Fear
• Asphodel - Death, Memorial sorrow
• Bay - The poet's crown
• Begonia - Dark thoughts.
• Blue violet - Faithfulness
• Buttercup - Wealth
• Calla - Magnificent beauty, pride
• Camelia, White - Innate worth
• Candytuft - Indifference
• Cardinal Flower - Distinction
• Chrysanthemum - Cheerfulness and optimism.
• Cornflower - Delicacy
• Cowslip - Youthful Beauty
• Crocus - Good cheer
• Cyclamen - Diffidence
• Cypress - Mourning
• Daffodil - Unrequited love
• Daisy - Fidelity and innocence; simplicity
• Dandelion - multiple meanings: grief and bitterness; symbol of the sun; symbol of coquetry; used by Flemish and German painters to symbolize the suffering of Christ.
• Everlastings - Unfading love
• Fern - Sincerity
• Fir Tree - Time
• Forget-me-not - True love; Friendship and fidelity as well as remembrance.
• Four-leafed Clover - Good luck
• Foxglove - Insincerity
• Gentian - Virgin pride
• Geranium - Gentility
• Goldenrod - Encouragement
• Heather - Loneliness
• Heather, White - Good fortune
• Heliotrope - Devotion
• Hepatica - Anger
• Hollyhock - Ambition
• Honeysuckle - Friendship
• Hyacinth - Sorrow
• Ivy - Truthfulness, Wedded love
• Larkspur - Lightness, laughter
• Laurel - Fame
• Lavender - Purity; Silence
• Lilac - Fastidiousness
• Lily, White - Purity
• Lotus - Forgetfulness, estranged love
• Lunaria - Prosperity, honesty
• Marigolds - Happiness
• Marjoram and Lily of the valley - Love; purity;happiness
• Morning Glory - Symbol of the transience of man's life.
• Myrtle - Beauty's crown, wedded love
• Narcissus - Vanity
• Oak Leaf - Patriotism, Hospitality
• Olive Branch - Peace
• Orange Blossom - Marriage
• Oxalis - Pangs of regret
• Palm Leaf - Victory
• Pansy - Symbol of the loved one, memories, loving thoughts and souvenirs.
• Phlox - Symbol of sweet dreams and implies a proposal of marriage.
• Pink Carnation - I'll never forget you.
• Poppy, White - Oblivion
• Primrose - Youth
• Red Carnation - I'm carrying a torch for you.
• Rose - Love
• Rosebuds - Pure and lovely
• Rosemary - Rememberance
• Sage - Domestic bliss
• Shamrock - Loyalty
• Snowdrop - Friend in Need
• Sting Nettle - Slander
• Sweet William - Gallantry
• Thyme - Courage, energy
• Tulip - in Persia the tulip is the symbol of love
• Violet - Modesty
• Water Lily - Purity of heart

See also: Lehner, Ernst, Folklore and Symbolism of Flowers, Plants and Trees. New York, Tudor Pub. Co., 1960 (R 581.6 L52)

Source: Lincoln Library of Essential Information, Frontier Press, 1968.
Jones, Julia Country Diary of Garden Lore NY: Summit Books, 1990

Verified by: GM, 6/98

Disclaimer:
While the Library has verified the information presented in these files in what it considers to be reliable and authoritative sources, it cannot take responsibility for nor guarantee the accuracy of the information presented.