Luanne Reilly Oda asked:


The Victorian Language of Flowers

Did you know you can convey your sentiments to someone without ever saying a word? That is of course if they happen to speak the Language of Flowers. Everyone loves beautiful flowers and it appears since ancient times that they had special symbolism. In the book Song of Solomon in the Bible you will find the loved one calling herself a Rose of Sharon and the Lily of the Valley. Authors and poets often use flowers in their writings. The language of flowers became especially significant in the romantic Victorian era.

As I became interested in collecting and now selling vintage ladies handkerchiefs I found that you can tell a story or express a message to someone by giving them handkerchiefs with certain flowers embroidered or printed on them. Hankies are great gifts to send to far away friends in birthday, get well, or friendship cards. Hopefully this list will help you out in determining the meaning of certain flowers you will find on your ladies handkerchiefs. Enjoy!

 Acacia - Secret love

 Acorn - Nordic symbol of life and immortality

 Agapanthus - Love letters, love.

 Alium – Strength

 Aloe - Grief

 Allspice - Compassion

 Alstromeria - Wealth, prosperity, fortune

 Alyssum (sweet) - Worth beyond beauty

 Ambrosia - Love returned

 Amaryllis - Pride; Timidity

 Anemone - Unfading love, forsaken

 Angelica - Inspiration

 Aniseed - Restoration of youth

 Anthurium - Lover

 Apple - Preference

 Apple Blossom – Good Fortune, state flower of Arkansas & Michigan

 Arbutis – Thee only do I love

 Artemesia - Symbol of Dignity

 Asparagus Fern – Fascination

 Aster - Love; daintiness

 Azalea - Take care of yourself for me, fragile passion; Chinese symbol of womanhood

 Bachelor Button - Celibacy

 Baby’s Breath - Everlasting Love, happiness

 Balsam - Ardent love

 Basil - Best Wishes, Love

 Bay Leaf - Strength

 Begonia - Beware

 Bells Of Ireland - Good luck

 Bird Of Paradise - Magnificence

 Bittersweet - Truth

 Bluebell - Humility; constancy

 Borage - Courage

 Bouquet of withered flowers - Rejected love

 Bouvardia: Enthusiasm

 Broom - Humility

 Burnet - A merry heart

 Buttercup - Cheerfulness

 Cactus – Endurance, warmth

 Calendula - Joy

 Calla Lilly - Magnificent beauty, associated with the sixth wedding anniversary.

 Camellia – Admiration, perfection, good luck gift to a man, state flower of Alabama

 Camellia Pink - Longing for you.

 Camellia Red - You’re a flame in my heart.

 Camellia White - You’re adorable.

 Candytuft - indifference

 Carnation (in general) Bonds of affection, health and energy, fascination, woman love, also the birthday flower for January

 Carnation (pink) - I’ll never forget you, A Mother’s Love

 Carnation (purple) – Capriciousness, whimsical, changeable

 Carnation (red) - My heart aches for you, admiration ,state flower for Ohio

 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, often handed out on Mother’s Day to symbolize the purity and strength of motherhood.

 Carnation (yellow) – Rejection, disdain, you disappoint me

 Cattail – Peace, prosperity

 Chamomile – Patience, attracts wealth

 Chrysanthemum (in general) - Cheerfulness; You’re a wonderful friend ,also the birthday flower for November

 Chrysanthemum (red) - I love

 Chrysanthemum (white) - Truth

 Chrysanthemum (yellow) -Slighted love

 Clematis - Clever, intellectual, associated with the eighth wedding anniversary.

 Columbine – Mental beauty, Colorado state flower

 Coreopsis - Always cheerful

 Coriander - Lust

 Cornflower - Delicacy

 Cosmos – Modesty, associated with the 2nd wedding anniversary.

 Cowslip – Pensiveness, winning grace

 Crocus – Cheerfulness, abuse not

 Cyclamen - Resignation and goodbye

 Clover - Good luck

 Daffodil - Respect, chivalry, associated with the tenth wedding anniversary, also the birthday flower for March.

 Daisy – Innocence, He loves me he loves me not, associated with the fifth wedding anniversary

 Dahlia – Instability, associated with the fourteenth wedding anniversary

 Dandelion - Wishes come true

 Day Lily - Coquetry, Chinese emblem for mother, associated with the twentieth wedding anniversary

 Delphinium - Big-hearted, fun

 Dogwood – Durability, state flower for North Carolina & Virginia

 Ebony - Blackness

 Edelweiss: Daring, Noble Courage

 Eremurus - Endurance.

 Euphorbia - Persistence

 Eucalyptus – Protection

 Fennel - Worthy of all praise

 Fern – Sincerity

 Fern - (Magic) – Fascination, confidence and shelter

 Fern- (Maidenhair) - Secret bond of love

 Feverfew - Protection

 Fir - Time

 Flax - Domestic symbol; fate

 Flytrap - Deceit.

 Forget-me-not - True love, memories, hope, state flower of Alaska

 Forsythia - Anticipation

 Four Leaf Clover - Good luck, be mine.

 Foxglove- Insincerity.

 Freesia - Innocence, thoughtfulness.

 Fuschia – Taste, associated with the third wedding anniversary

 Gardenia - You’re lovely; secret love, joy, sweet love, good luck

 Garland of roses - Reward of virtue

 Garlic - Courage; strength

 Geranium (Scented) – Preference, melancholy, associated with the fourth wedding anniversary.

 Gladiolus - Love at first sight, tells recipients that they pierce the heart like a sword. Because the gladiolus has blade-shaped leaves, the name comes from the Latin word gladius, which means sword, also the birthday flower for August.

 Gloxina - Love at first sight

 Grass - Submission; utility

 Heather (lavender) – Admiration, solitude

 Heather (white) – Protection, wishes will come true

 Hibiscus - Delicate beauty

 Holly - Good will, Defense, domestic happiness; foresight

 Hollyhock -: Ambition, fruitfulness, associated with the thirteenth wedding anniversary.

 Honeysuckle - Generous and devoted affection, sweet disposition

 Hyacinth (general) - Games and sports; rashness, flower dedicated to Apollo

 Hyacinth (blue) - Constancy

 Hyacinth ( purple) - I’m 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

 Hyssop - Wards away evil spirits

 Iris - Faith; hope, wisdom and valor, Fleur-de-lis, emblem of France, your friendship means so much to me, my compliments, associated with the twenty-fifth wedding anniversary, state flower for Tennessee

 Ivy - Fidelity and friendship

 Ivy - sprig of white tendrils - Anxious to please, affection

 Jack in the pulpit - Associated with the seventh wedding anniversary

 Jasmine – Amiability, attracts wealth, sensuality

 Jasmine (Yellow) - Grace, elegance.

 Jonquil - Love me, affection returned, desire, sympathy, desire for a return of affection

 Juniper Protection

 Lady Slipper - Capricious beauty, state flower for Minnesota

 Larkspur – Fickleness, also the birthday flower for July

 Larkspur purple - First love.

 Lavender – Devotion, distrust, Induces sleep

 Lemon - Zest

 Lemon Balm - Brings love

 Lemon verbena - Attracts opposite sex

 Lilac - Youthful, humility, confidence, state flower of New Hampshire

 Lily (general) - Keeps unwanted visitors away

 Lily (calia) - Beauty

 Lily (day) - Coquetry

 Lily (eucharis) - Maiden charms

 Lily (orange) – I burn for you

 Lily (tiger) – Wealth, pride

 Lily (white) – Virginity, purity; majesty, it’s heavenly to be with you, The Easter lily is also known as the symbol of the Virgin Mary.

 Lily (yellow) - I’m walking on air; false and gay

 Lily of the valley – sweetness, return to happiness; humility, purity, you’ve made my life complete, birthday flower for May, Legend says that Mary’s tears turned into Lily of the valley at the foot of the cross

 Magnolia - Sweetness; beauty, love of nature, state flower for Louisiana & Mississippi

 Marigold - Comforts the heart, grief

 Mint - Protection from illness; warmth of feeling

 Marjoram (sweet) - Joy and happiness

 Mimosa - Sensitivity

 Mistletoe - Kiss me, affection, to surmount difficulties, sacred plant of India, state flower for Oklahoma

 Monkshood - Beware, a deadly foe is near, chivalry

 Morning Glory - Loves you, associated with the eleventh wedding anniversary.

 Moss - Maternal love, charity

 Myrtle – Love, Hebrew emblem of marriage

 Narcissus - Egotism; formality, stay as sweet as you are

 Nasturtium – Conquest, victory in battle, maternal love, charity, patriotism, associated with fortieth wedding anniversary

 Oleander – Caution, beware

 OLIVE BRANCH - Peace

 Orange Generosity

 Orange Blossom - Brings wisdom, state flower for Florida

 Orange Mock – Deceit, state flower of Idaho

 Orchid - Love; beauty; refinement, beautiful lady, Chinese symbol for many children Orchid (cattleya) - Mature charm, associated with twenty-eighth wedding anniversary

 Palm leaves - Victory and success

 Pansy – Thoughts, love, recipient is being thought about. The flower’s name comes from the French word pensée, which means thought or remembrance, associated with the first wedding anniversary

 Paperwhite - Aphrodisiac due to its intoxicating scent. It is also the national flower of Wales because it often blooms on March 1st, which is St. David’s feast day, Wales’ patron saint.

 Peach Blossom – Longevity, Generosity and Bridal Hope, state flower of Delaware

 Pear Blossom: Health and Hope

 Peony – bashfulness, Aphrodisiac, happy marriage, associated with the twelfth wedding anniversary, state flower for Indiana

 Petunia – Resentment, anger, oblivious, imagination

 Phlox – Unanimity, agreement,

 Poinsettia - Be of Good Cheer, Traditional Christmas flower

 Poppy - extravagance, associated with ninth wedding anniversary

 Poppy (red) – Pleasure, consolation

 Poppy (white) – Consolation, sleep

 Poppy( yellow) – Wealth, success

 Poppy (orange) State Flower of California

 Prickly Pear - Satire

 Primrose - I can’t live without you; early youth

 Primrose(evening) - Inconstancy

 Queen Anne’s Lace - Fantasy

 Rose (general) – Love, I love you, associated with fifteenth wedding anniversary, state flower for New York

 Rose (black) –Death

 Rose(burgundy) – Mourning

 Rose(damask) - Brilliant complexion

 Rose (lavender)- Love at first sight

 Rose (orange) - Fascination, display feeling of enthusiasm

 Rose (peach) - Desire, gratitude, appreciation, admiration, sympathy, modesty.

 Rose (pink) - Perfect happiness, please believe me, friendship

 Rose (red) I love you, courage, beauty

 Rose (red and white) – Together, unity

 Rose( white) - Eternal Love, innocence, heavenly, secrecy and silence, purity

 Rose(Yellow) - Friendship , jealousy, try to care, decrease of love, infidelity

 Rose(thorn less) - Love at first sight

 Rose( single, full bloom) - I love you, I still love you, simplicity

 Rose bud - Beauty and youth, a heart innocent of love

 Rose bud (red) - Pure and lovely

 Rose bud(white) - Girlhood

 Rosebud (moss) - Confessions of love

 Roses (Bouquet of full bloom) - Gratitude

 Roses( Garland or crown of) - Beware of virtue, reward of merit, crown, symbol of superior merit

 Roses ( musk cluster) - Charming

 Rose(tea) - I’ll always remember

 Rose(cabbage) - Ambassador of love

 Rose(Christmas) - Tranquilize my anxiety, anxiety

 Rose(hibiscus) - Delicate beauty

 Rose leaf - You may hope

 Rosemary - Remembrance

 Sage Wisdom - long life

 Salvia -(blue) I think of you

 Smilax - Loveliness

 Snapdragon - Deception; gracious lad, presumption

 Snowdrop- Hope and Consolation

 Spiderflower - Elope with me

 Stephanotis - Happiness in marriage, desire to travel

 Stock - Lasting beauty

 Strawberry - Perfect goodness

 Sunflower - Loyalty; wishes, worshipped by the Inca Indians as a symbol of the sun, haughtiness

 Sweetpea - Goodbye; departure, blissful pleasure, Thank you for a lovely time, associated with thirtieth wedding anniversary

 Sweet William - Gallantry, smile, finesse

 Thyme - Strength and courage; ensures restful sleep

 Tulip (general) - Fame, charity, perfect lover, emblem of Holland

 Tulip (red) - Believe me; declaration of love

 Tulip (variegated) - Beautiful eyes

 Tulip (yellow) - Hopeless love

 Violet – Modesty, calms tempers, associated with the fiftieth wedding anniversary. Also known as the birthday flower of February, state flower of Illinois, New Jersey & Rhode Island

 Violet (blue) – Watchfulness, faithfulness, I’ll always be true

 Violet (white) - Let’s take a chance on happiness

 Viscaria - Will you dance with me?

 Wallflower:-Friendship, Adversity

 Water Lily – Purity of heart

 Woodruff - sweet humility

 Yarrow – healing, sorrow

 Zinnia - Thoughts of friends

 Zinnia (magenta) - Lasting affection

 Zinnia (mixed) - Thinking of an absent friend

 Zinnia (scarlet) - Constancy

 Zinnia(white) - Goodness

 Zinnia(yellow) - Daily remembrance

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Edwin