by Sandra Merville Hart
While researching the secret language of the fan, I discovered some fascinating facts about the hidden meaning of flowers. As a writer of inspirational historical romance novels, I’m always searching for fun facts lost in time.
My grandmother wore a plain silver wedding band. The painted orange blossoms that originally decorated it had long since faded by the time I was born. A century ago, orange blossoms were often part of wedding decorations. Blossoms might have been worn in the bride’s hair or included in the bouquet. Orange blossoms symbolized fidelity, chastity, and loving thoughts.
The gift of flowers held deeper meaning in bygone eras. The type of flower and its shade varied in meaning.
Even the way they were given held hidden meaning. If the giver extended the flowers in the right hand, it meant “yes” while the left hand meant “no.”
There are a myriad of floral meanings—and not all of them are good. Here is a list of popular flowers with their own language:
Amaryllis—Pride
Azalea—Temperance, womanhood
Baby’s Breath—Pure heart, everlasting love
Begonia—Beware
Bluebell—Humility
Borage—Bravery, bluntness
Calla Lily, white—Sophistication, seduction
Carnation, pink—I’ll never forget you, a mother’s undying love, beauty, pride
Carnation, red—Deep love
Carnation, striped—Refusal of love
Carnation, yellow—Rejection, Disdain, Disappointment
Chamomile—Wisdom, patience
Chrysanthemum, red—Love
Chrysanthemum, yellow—Slighted love
Cornflower—Delicacy, felicity, unity
Dahlia—Good taste
Daisy—Innocence, simplicity, gentleness, loyal love
Dandelion—Wishes come true
Eucalyptus—Protection
Forget-me-not—Remembrance, true love, good memories
Gardenia—Secret love, ecstasy
Geranium, red—Comfort, beauty without virtue
Goldenrod—Encouragement, precaution
Hyacinth, purple—Sorrow
Hyacinth, yellow—Jealousy
Hyacinth, white—Loveliness, prayers for someone
Hydrangea—Thanks for understanding, boastfulness
Iris—Faith, wisdom, valor, hope, trust
Jasmine, yellow—Grace, elegance
Larkspur—An open heart
Lavender—Devotion, luck, success
Linden branches—Romance
Lily, orange—Hatred
Lily, tiger—Wealth, pride
Magnolia—Perseverance, sweetness, love of nature
Marigold—Remembrance, grief
Mint—Warmth of feeling, protection from illness
Mistletoe—Fertility
Morning Glory—Affection
Peach blossom—Captive heart
Peony—Wedded bliss, aphrodisiac
Petunia—Don’t despair
Phlox—Proposal of love, agreement
Rose, golden—Jealousy
Rose, lavender—Love at first sight, rarity, wonder, enchantment
Rose, orange—Energy, desire, enthusiasm, fascination
Rose, peach—Sincerity, modesty, gratitude
Rose, pink—Grace, beauty, youth, innocent love, elegance, sweetness
Rose, red—Love, passion
Rose, yellow—Joy, friendship, I love another, jealousy
Sweet Basil—Best wishes
Sweet Pea—Delicate pleasures, birth, goodbye
Thistle—Sternness
Tuberose—Dangerous pleasures
Tulip, white—Lost love
Tulip, yellow—Hopeless love
Verbena—May you get your wish
Zinnia—Thoughts of an absent friend
Those who gave and received floral bouquets would have been aware of the hidden meanings behind the gift two hundred years ago. It’s fun to learn—or perhaps re-learn—about the hidden meaning of flowers.
Sources:
Boeckmann, Catherine. “What Does Each Flower Symbolize?” Almanac, 2025/04/21 https://www.almanac.com/flower-meanings-language-flowers.
“Rose Color Meanings,” Fifty Colors, 2025/04/22 https://fiftyflowers.com/blogs/flowers/rose-color-meanings.
Hawkins, Linda J. The Unspoken Language of Fans & Flowers, Heart to Heart Publishing, 2007.
Sandra Merville Hart 