Today, flowers tend to be associated with an overall gesture, whether it is one of romance on Valentine's Day, filial love on Mother's Day, or a "get well soon" when someone is ill. Throughout the centuries however, flowers have been attributed far deeper significance, even going so far as to have their own "language", referred to as floriography.

Not only have flowers been deigned to have more symbolic meanings than the romantic or congratulatory tokens we associate them with in modern times, they can also express particular phrases and emotions.

It was the Victorians who used flowers as a form of language, when to speak one's emotions out loud would have been inappropriate. The flower could express a feeling, or a verbal communication. In this way, the Victorians could create a bouquet of flowers specifically to reveal an unspoken message to the recipient denoted through the colour, arrangement, and number of flowers.

To express your feelings to a loved one in unique and thoughtful way, see what message you can create with the language of flowers. After all, the rose is not the only flower of love, but nor do all flowers express pleasant sentiment.

Moreover, the right flower in the wrong colour can express exactly the opposite of what you intended. So, say it with flowers, but be careful what it is you are actually saying.

Here is a guide to help get you started:

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

• Acacia - Beauty in Retirement, Concealed Love
• Amaryllis - Pride
• Ambrosia - Love Returned
• Aster - Daintiness, Symbol of Love

B

• Baby's Breath - Everlasting Love, Happiness, Pure in Heart
• Begonia - Beware
• Bells of Ireland - Good Luck
• Bird of Paradise - Magnificence
• Bittersweet - Truth

C

• Carnation - The Victorians used the carnation as a good luck token given to women.
  • Pink = Mother's Day
  • Red = Passion
  • White = Good Luck, Lovely, Sweet
  • Striped = Refusal
• Chrysanthemum - You're a Good Friend, Cheerfulness, Rest
  • White = Truth
  • Yellow = Slighted Love
• Cyclamen - Diffidence, Resignation, Goodbye

D

• Daffodil - Deceit, Regard, Respect, Unrequited Love
• Dahlia - Good Taste, Instability
• Daisy - Innocence, I'll Never Tell, Loyal Love, Purity
• Delphinium - Airy

E

• Edelweiss - Daring, Noble Courage
• Eucalyptus - Protection

F

• Forget-Me-Not - True Love, Memories, Forget Me Not
• Forsythia - Anticipation
• Fuchsia - Good Taste

G

• Gardenia - You're Lovely, Secret Love
• Geranium - Stupidity, Folly
• adiolus - Love at First Sight, Strength of Character, Generosity, Ready-armed

H

• Heather
  • Lavender = Admiration, Solitude
  • Pink = Good Luck
  • White = Good Luck, Protection, Your Wishes Will Come True
• Hibiscus - Delicate Beauty
• Honeysuckle - Generous, Devoted Affection, Sweet Disposition
• Hyacinth
  • Blue = Constancy
  • Purple = I'm Sorry, Please Forgive Me, Sorrow
  • Red or Pink = Play
  • White = Loveliness, I'll Pray for You
  • Yellow = Jealousy

I

• Iris - Faith, Hope, Wisdom, My Compliments, Eloquence

J

• Jasmine - Amiability, Wealth, Elegance, Grace

L

• Lavender - Devotion, Distrust
• Lilac - First True Love/First Flush of Love
• Lily - Symbols of fertility used in weddings, and symbols of death when placed on graves. Legend has it that lilies appeared on the graves on people who were executed for crimes they did not commit. To dream of lilies in spring foretells marriage, happiness and prosperity, while dreaming of them in winter connotes frustrated hopes and a loved one's premature death. In the Medieval ages, lilies were a symbol of feminine sexuality.
  • Lavender = Admiration, Solitude
  • White = Virginity, Purity, Majesty, Heavenly to be With You
  • Yellow = I'm Walking on Air, False, Cheer
  • Calla = Beauty
  • Day = Coquetry, Chinese Emblem for Mother
  • Eucharis = Maiden Charms
  • Tiger = Wealth, Pride
  • Lily of the Valley = Sweetness, Tears of the Virgin Mary, Return to Happiness, Humility, Beauty, Gaiety, You've Made my Life Complete

M

• Magnolia - Nobility, Dignity
• Morning Glory - Affectation
• Myrtle - Love in Absence, Remembrance, Hebrew Emblem of Marriage

N

• Narcissus - Egotism, Formality, Self Esteem
• Nasturtium - Conquest, Victory in Battle, Maternal Love, Charity, Patriotism

O

• Orange Blossom - Eternal Love, Wisdom, Purity
• Orchid - Love, Beauty, Thoughtful, Charm, Chinese Symbol for Many Children Cattleya = Mature Charm

P

• Peach Blossom - Longevity, I am Your Captive
• Poinsettia - Be of Good Cheer
• Poppy - Eternal Sleep, Oblivion, Imagination
  • Red = Pleasure
  • White = Consolation
  • Yellow = Wealth, Success
• Primrose - Can't Live Without You, Young Love, Early Youth

Q

• Queen Anne's Lace - Fantasy

R

• Rose - Particularly with roses, certain meanings can be conveyed with the colour, shape, and number of petals. The French hold that white roses are for love, red for passion, and yellow for friendship. Pink roses signify grace, gratitude and gentleness, and lilac roses should be given to express love at first sight.
  • White = Innocence, Purity, Beauty, Secrecy, Silence, Charm, I am Worthy of You, You Are Heavenly
  • White Dried = Death is Preferable to Loss of Virtue
  • Red = Love, Passion
  • Red and White Mix = Unity, Flower of England
  • Pink = Happiness, Please Believe Me
  • Crimson = I'm Glad I Found You, Mourning
  • Yellow = Jealousy, Decrease of Love, Try to Care
  • Blue = Achieving the Impossible
  • Gold = Pinnacle of Achievement
  • Bridal = Happy Love
  • Hibiscus = Delicate Beauty
  • Tea = I'll Remember Always
  • Thornless = Love at First Sight

S

• Snowdrop - Hope
• Spider Flower - Elope With Me
• Sunflower - Pride, Sunshine

T

• Tulip
  • Red = Believe Me, Declaration of Love
  • Variegated = Beautiful Eyes
  • Yellow = Sunshine in Your Smile, Hopeless Love

V

• Violet - Modesty
  • Blue = Watchfulness, Faithfulness, I'll Always Be There
  • White = Let's Take a Chance

X

• Xeranthemum - Cheerfulness in Adversity

Y

• Yarrow - Health, Healing

Z

• Zinnia
  • Magenta = Lasting Affection
  • Scarlet = Constancy
  • White = Goodness
  • Yellow = Daily Remembrance
  • Mixed = Thoughts of an Absent Friend