Meaning of flowers

Multiple Flowers with Multiple Meanings

/ sandramervillehart

by Sandra Merville Hart

Floral bouquets are heartwarming gifts, as welcome today as in previous eras. Yet deeper thought was put into both the color and flower choices in the nineteenth century because both held meaning.

Even different shades of the same flower varied in meaning. Both the giver and receiver understood these nuances in bygone centuries.

Various shades of carnations, chrysanthemums, hyacinths, jasmine, lilies, and roses altered the hidden message of the bouquet.

Carnation, light red—Admiration

Carnation, pink—I’ll never forget you, a mother’s undying love, beauty, pride

Carnation, purple—Capriciousness

Carnation, red—Deep love

Carnation, striped—Refusal of love

Carnation, yellow—Rejection, Disdain, Disappointment

Carnation, white—Symbol of democracy, pure love, good luck, innocence, sweet love

Chrysanthemum, red—Love

Chrysanthemum, yellow—Slighted love

Chrysanthemum, white—Truthfulness

Hyacinth, blue—Constancy

Hyacinth, purple—Sorrow

Hyacinth, yellow—Jealousy

Hyacinth, white—Loveliness, prayers for someone

Jasmine, yellow—Grace, elegance

Jasmine, white—Sweet love, amiability

Lily, orange—Hatred

Lily, tiger—Wealth, pride

Lily, yellow—Happy

Lily, white—Purity, virginity

Rose, amethyst—I will love you forever

Rose, blue—Mystery, uniqueness

Rose, coral—Admiration, desire, longevity

Rose, cream—Perfection

Rose, golden—Jealousy

Rose, green—Growth, abundance

Rose, ivory—Grace, charm

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, rose—Pride, shyness

Rose, white—Innocence, young love, birth, beauty and respect, silence, keep my secret

Rose, yellow—Joy, friendship, I love another, jealousy

Rose, white/pink—Unity, commitment

It’s fun to learn the hidden meaning of flowers. These are fun facts that I, as an author of inspirational historical romances, love to incorporate into my novels!

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.

The Hidden Meaning of Flowers

/ sandramervillehart

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, blue—Constancy

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.

The Symbolism of the Color of Flowers

/ sandramervillehart

by Sandra Merville Hart

I learned as a child that the color of flowers was significant when it came to giving a bouquet. My mother knew what some colors meant—my grandmother knew more. It mattered more to her.

When it comes to gifts, the color of the bouquet was more important a century or two ago in the United States. The significance of the type of flower and its color dates back to ancient Greece and Egypt.

Colors can help create a mood and stimulate or calm our spirits. My parents painted their bedroom red to darken the room when I was a little girl. He worked nights and hoped that the dark room would enable him to sleep during the day. I believe it did help him to sleep. Unfortunately, that room was dark and depressing for the whole family. No one liked it. My mom repainted it to a pale peach, and it brightened not only that room but the entire home.

On the other hand, red is a beautiful choice for flowers. In the nineteenth century, a woman receiving a red bouquet recognized the silent declaration of love. It also could mean passion, strength, respect, and courage. The same young lady might have been disappointed at a gift of yellow flowers because they signified friendship, joy, and health.

A gift of purple flowers signified admiration, success, and tradition while green flowers suggest new life, rebirth, youthfulness, good fortune, and good health.

Blue flowers, representing relaxation, intimacy, and openness, always capture my attention because other colors are more common. A patch of blue morning glories was visible from my grandmother’s window, making them my favorite as a little girl.

A gift of pink flowers would have pleased most recipients because they symbolized happiness, grace, gentleness, and innocence for centuries.

Orange flowers add a splash of color to any room. They stand for warmth, enthusiasm, and joy.

White flowers signify honesty and purity.

In the Victorian era, young ladies would have known the meaning of the different floral colors. As an author of inspirational historical romances, I love discovering tidbits like these for my novels!

Sources:

Boeckmann, Catherine. “What Does Each Flower Symbolize?” Almanac, 2025/04/21 https://www.almanac.com/flower-meanings-language-flowers.

Ellis, Mary Ellen. “Flower Color Symbolism: What do Flower Colors Mean?” Gardening Know How, 2025/04/22 https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/info/flower-color-symbolism.htm.

“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.

The Meaning of the Color of Roses

/ sandramervillehart

by Sandra Merville Hart

When I was a little girl, my mother told me that receiving a bouquet of roses had different meanings, depending on the color. Back then, I preferred yellow roses. Had someone given me a yellow rose at ten, it would have symbolized friendship.

That discussion sparked my interest all those years ago. Here is a list compiled from a couple of sources:

Rose, amethyst—I will love you forever

Rose, blue—Mystery, uniqueness

Rose, coral—Admiration, desire, longevity

Rose, cream—Perfection

Rose, golden—Jealousy

Rose, green—Growth, abundance

Rose, ivory—Grace, charm

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, rose—Pride, shyness

Rose, white—Innocence, young love, birth, beauty and respect, silence, keep my secret

Rose, yellow—Joy, friendship, I love another, jealousy

Rose, white/pink—Unity, commitment

Additionally, giving a single rose symbolizes simplicity and perpetual love. A rose bud symbolizes hope and innocence.

In the Victorian era, young ladies would have known the meaning of the different rose colors. I’m an author of inspirational historical romances. I love discovering tidbits like these for my novels!

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.