Rosebud (white)—Girlhood
Rose (damask)—Persian ambassador of love
Rose (dark crimson)—Mourning
Rose (pink)—Perfect happiness, please
believe me
Rose (red)—Love, I love you
Rose (tea)—I’ll remember always
Rose (thornless)—Love at first sight
Rose (white)—Innocence and purity, I am worthy
of you, you’re heavenly, secrecy and silence
Rose (white and red mixed)—
mixed)—Unity, flower
emblem of England
Rose (white, dried)—Death is preferable to loss
of virtue
Rose (white, withered)—Transient impression,
fleeting beauty, you made no impression
Rose (yellow)—Decrease of love, jealousy,
try to care
Roses (bouquet of mature blooms)—Gratitude
Rose leaf—
leaf—You may hope
Smilax—Loveliness
Snapdragon—Deception, gracious lady
Stephanotis—Happiness in marriage, desire
to travel
Stock—Bonds of affection, promptness, you’ll
Stock—
always be beautiful to me
Sweetpea—Good-bye, departure, blissful
pleasure, thank you for a lovely time
Tiger lily—
lily—Wealth, pride
Tulip (general)—Perfect lover, fame, flower
emblem of Holland
Tulip (red)—
(red)—Believe me, declaration of love
Tulip (variegated)—
(variegated)—Beautiful eyes
Tulip (yellow)—There’s sunshine in your smile
Violet—Modesty
Violet (blue)—
(blue)—Watchfulness, faithfulness,
I’ll always be there
Wisteria—Will you dance with me?
Wisteria—
Zinnia (magenta)—Lasting affection
Zinnia (mixed)—Thinking (or
in memory) or an absent friend
Zinnia (scarlet)—Constancy
Zinnia (white)—Goodness
For more information
Heilmeyer, Marina. The Language of Flowers:
Symbols and Myths. 2001.
Hill, Thos. E. Hill’s Manual of Social and
Business Forms. 1883.
Robinson, Nugent. Collier’s Cyclopedia of
Commercial and Social Information and
The
Treasury of Useful and Entertaining
Knowledge. 1892.
Scoble, Gretchen with Ann Field and Holly
Language
Lindem. The Meaning of Flowers. 1998.
Tsang, Fu Ji. The Meaning of Flowers. 2004
of Flowers
Also check these Web sites:
ISU Extension Distribution Center
(online store)—
www.extension.iastate.edu/store
ISU Extension Publications—
www.extension.iastate.edu/pubs
ISU Horticulture—
www.YardandGarden.extension.iastate.edu
Reiman Gardens—
www.reimangardens.iastate.edu
Prepared by Ann Marie VanDerZanden,
extension horticulturist; Diane Nelson,
communication specialist; and Jane Lenahan,
extension graphic designer.
File: Hort and LA 2-1
… and justice for all
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination
in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national
origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual
orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases
apply to all programs.) Many materials can be made available in
alternative formats for ADA clients. To file a complaint of discrimi-
nation, write USDA, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten
Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC
20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964.
Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8
and June 30, 1914 in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agri-
culture. Stanley R. Johnson, director, Cooperative Extension Service,
Iowa State University of Science and Technology, Ames, Iowa.
RG 325 April 2005
N early every sentiment can be expressed by Chrysanthemum (yellow)—Slighted love Hydrangea—Thank you for understanding,
flowers. It’s been said that, “Flowers are a perfect Cleome—Elope with me frigidity, heartlessness
replica of human life: Planting, growth, bloom, Coreopsis—Always cheerful
Coreopsis— Iris—Your friendship means so much to me,
Iris—
withering.” The following list includes some of Crocus—Cheerfulness faith, hope
the most common flowers and their meanings, Cyclamen—Resignation and good-bye Ivy—Wedded love, fidelity, friendship, affection
Ivy—
realizing there are multiple sources with this Jonquil—Love me, affection returned, desire,
Daffodil—Regard, unequalled love, you’re
information and sometimes flowers can have the only one, the sun is always shining when sympathy, desire for affection returned
multiple meanings. Next time you give flowers I’m with you Larkspur (pink)—Fickleness
to someone, consider selecting particular ones Daisy—Innocence, loyal love, I’ll never tell, Lily (orange)—Hatred
to express your sentiment. purity Lily (white)—
(white)—Virginity, purity, majesty, it’s
Dandelion—Faithfulness, happiness heavenly to be with you
Amaryllis—Pride, pastoral poetry Lily (yellow)—I’m walking on air, false and gay
Daylily—Coquetry, Chinese
Anemone—Forsaken emblem for mother Lily-of-the-valley—Sweetness, tears of the
Arbutus—Thee only do I love Dead leaves—Sadness Virgin Mary, return to happiness, humility,
Aster—Symbol of love, daintiness Evening primrose—Inconstancy you’ve made my life complete
Azalea—Take care of yourself for me, Fern—Magic, fascination, confidence Magnolia—Nobility
temperance, fragile passion, Chinese symbol and shelter Marigold—Cruelty, grief, jealousy
of womanhood Mistletoe—Kiss me, affection
Fern (Maidenhair)—Secret bond of love
Bachelor button—Single blessedness Mock orange—Deceit
Fir—Time
Begonia—
Begonia—Beware Monkshood—Beware, a deadly foe is near
Monkshood—
Flax—Domestic symbol
Bells-of-Ireland—Good luck Moss—Maternal love, charity
Forget-me-not—True love, memories
Bittersweet—Truth Myrtle—Love, Hebrew emblem of marriage
Forsythia—
Forsythia—Anticipation
Bluebell—Humility Narcissus—Egotism, formality, stay as sweet
Gardenia—You’re lovely, secret love
Gardenia—
Bouquet of withered flowers—Rejected love as you are
Garlic—Courage, strength
Cactus—Endurance Nasturtium—Conquest, victory in battle
Geranium—Stupidity, folly
Calla—
Calla—Beauty Oleander—Caution
Gladioli—Give me a break, I’m really
Camellia (pink)—Longing for you sincere, flower of the gladiators Orange blossom—Innocence, eternal love,
Camellia (red)—
(red)—You’re a flame in my heart Gloxinia—Love at first sight marriage and fruitfulness
Camellia (white)—
(white)—You’re adorable Grass—Submission Orchid—Love, beauty, refinement, beautiful
Candytuft—Indifference lady, Chinese symbol for many children
Heather (lavender)—
(lavender)—Admiration, solitude
Carnation (general)—Fascination, Peony—Shame, happy life, happy marriage
Heather (white)—Protection, wishes will
women love come true Petunia—Resentment, anger,
Carnation (pink)—I’ll never forget you your presence soothes me
Hellebore—Tranquilize my anxiety, anxiety
Carnation (red)—My heart aches for you, Pine—Hope, pity
Hibiscus—Delicate beauty
admiration Poppy (general)—Eternal sleep,
Holly—Defense, domestic happiness
Carnation (purple)—Capriciousness oblivion, imagination
Hyacinth (general)—Games and sports,
Carnation (solid color)—
color)—Yes Poppy (red)—Pleasure
rashness
Carnation (striped)—No, refusal, sorry I can’t Poppy (white)—Consolation
Hyacinth (blue)—Constancy
be with you, wish I could be with you Poppy (yellow)—
(yellow)—Wealth, success
Hyacinth (purple)—I am sorry, please forgive
Carnation (white)—Sweet and lovely, me, sorrow Primrose—I can’t live without you
innocence, pure love, woman’s good luck gift Rosebud—Beauty and you, a heart innocent
Rosebud—
Hyacinth (red)—Play
Cattail—Peace, prosperity of love
Hyacinth (white)—Loveliness, I’ll pray for you
Chrysanthemum (red)—I love you Rosebud (moss)—Confessions of love
Hyacinth (yellow)—
(yellow)—Jealousy
Chrysanthemum (white)—Truth Rosebud (red)—Pure and lovely