Flowers and their Stories
Categories: Giddy Tales, Meanings & Symbols08 Feb 2017
The Meanings Of Flowers
In Victorian times, the meanings of flowers - or floriography - allowed people to communicate with hidden messages. Based on a Turkish language, known as a Persian Selam, flowers were carefully selected and combined to convey secret codes, especially during courtship. Even the way flowers were held had meaning; a bunch held in the right hand meant 'yes', and in the left hand meant 'no'.
Long before the Victorian 'language of flowers' many cultures had special meanings associated with myths, customs, folklore, religion or historical events, and in addition to the rich tapestry of floriography, flowers also tell very personal stories. The perfume, colour or sight of a flower may mean something unique to you, or remind you of a treasured time, place or person in the story of your life.
There are many different lists of flower meanings available. Charlotte de Latour's 1819 Le Langage Des Fleurs was the first widely accepted book of flower meanings and we've picked a few floral favourites here:
DAISY - Gentleness and Innocence FORGET-ME-NOTS - Faithful Love and Undying Memory
FRANGIPANIS - Shelter or Protection ("Frangipani" was an Italian perfume created by Marquis Frangipani in the 16th century to scent gloves. The perfume of the flower reminded people of the scented gloves so they called the flower frangipani!)
ROSE - Love... but be aware, each colour has a meaning too!
SCOTTISH THISTLE - Defiance and Surliness... and the flower emblem of Scotland
ACACIA - Concealed Love, Beauty in Retirement, Chaste Love AGAPANTHIS - Secret Love
AMBROSIA - Your Love is Given Back/Returned
AMARYLLIS - Pride, Pastoral Poetry
ANEMONE - Forsaken, sincerity
ARBUTUS - Thee Only Do I Love
ASTER - Symbol of Love, Daintiness
AZALEA - Take Care of Yourself for Me, Temperance, Fragile Passion, Chinese Symbol of Womanhood
BACHELOR BUTTON - Single Blessedness
BEGONIA - Beware
BELLS OF IRELAND - Good Luck
BITTERSWEET - Truth BLUEBELL - Humility
CACTUS - Endurance
CALADIUM - Great joy and delight
CAMELLIA - Good luck gift for a man
CAMELLIA (PINK) - Longing for you
CAMELLIA (RED) - You're a Flame in My Heart
CAMELLIA (WHITE) - You're Adorable
CARNATION (GENERAL) - Fascination, Woman Love
CARNATION (PINK) - I'll Never Forget You
CARNATION (RED) - My Heart Aches For You, Admiration
CARNATION (PURPLE) - Capriciousness, Whimsical
CARNATION (SOLID COLOR) - Yes
CARNATION (STRIPED) - No, Refusal, Sorry I Can't Be With You, Wish I Could Be With You
CARNATION (WHITE) - Sweet and Lovely, Innocence, Pure Love, Woman's Good Luck Gift
CARNATION (YELLOW) - You Have Disappointed Me, Rejection
CATTAIL - Peace, Prosperity
CHRYSANTHEMUM (GENERAL) - You're a Wonderful Friend, Cheerfulness and Rest. CHRYSANTHEMUM (WHITE) - Truth
CHRYSANTHEMUM (YELLOW) - Slighted Love
CROCUS - Cheerfulness, gladness
CYCLAMEN - Resignation and Good-bye
DAFFODIL - Respect, Regard, Unrequited Love, You're the Only One, The Sun is Always Shining when I'm with You
DAISY - Gentleness and Innocence
DANDELION - Faithfulness, Happiness
FERN - Magic, Fascination, Confidence and Shelter
FIR - Time FLAX - Domestic Symbol
FORGET-ME-NOT - Faithful Love and Undying Memories
FORSYTHIA - Anticipation
FRANGIPANI - Shelter or Protection
FREESIA - Trust
GARDENIA - You're Lovely, Secret Love
GERANIUM - Stupidity, Folly
GLADIOLI - Give Me a Break, I'm Really Sincere, Flower of the Gladiators
GLOXINIA -Love at First Sight
HEATHER (LAVENDER) - Admiration, Solitude
HEATHER (WHITE) - Protection, Wishes Will Come True
HOLLY - Defence, Domestic Happiness
HONEYSUCKLE - Happiness
HYACINTH (GENERAL) - Games and Sports, Rashness, Flower Dedicated to Apollo
HYACINTH (BLUE) - Constancy
HYACINTH (PURPLE) - I am Sorry, Please Forgive Me, Sorrow
HYACINTH (RED OR PINK) - Play
HYACINTH (WHITE) - Loveliness, I'll Pray for You
HYACINTH (YELLOW) - Jealousy
HYDRANGEA - Thank You for Understanding, Frigidity, Heartlessness
IRIS - Fleur-de-lis, Emblem of France, Your Friendship Means so Much to Me, Faith, Hope, Wisdom and Valour, My Compliments
IVY - Wedded Love, Fidelity, Friendship, Affection
Oh My Giddy Aunt's range of keep-forever flower keepsakes and jewellery is a beautiful way to tell your story, or the story of those you love.
