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The Language of Plants Text Version Throughout the ages, people have attributed certain meanings and characteristics to flowers and plants. Often these have been used to send messages, usually to a loved one, but also to send warnings and even "hate mail". There are often several different meanings associated with one flower but I am mainly going to use the meanings I found in two places. The first is from a short list that was clipped out of a book or magazine by my mother many, many years ago. It is yellowed with age and there is just a portion of the page so I have no idea where it came from; it was tucked into a small notebook I found among her effects. Acacia  -  Concealed Love      Hyacinth  -  Jealousy Amaranth  -  Immortality      Iris  -  Message Ambrosia  -  Love Returned      Ivy  -  Friendship Anemone  -  Expectation      Jonquil  -  Return My Affection Apple Blossom  -  Preference      Lady's-Slipper  -  Capricious Beauty Bachelor's-Button  -  Hope in Love      Larkspur  -  Fickleness Buttercup  -  Richness      Lavender  -  Distrust Calla Lily  -  Feminine Beauty      Lilac  -  First Emotion of Love Camellia  -  Pity      Lily  -  Purity, Modesty Carnation, Yellow  -  Disdain      Maidenhair  -  Discretion China Aster  -  I'll Think of It      Magnolia  -  Peerless and Proud China Pink  -  Aversion      Marigold  -  Cruelty Chrysanthemum, Rose  - In Love      Morning-Glory  -  Coquetry Chrysanthemum, White  -  Truth      Orange Blossom  -  Marriage Cornflower  -  Delicacy      Pansy  -  Think of Me Daffodil  -  Chivalry      Sweet Pea  -  Departure Dahlia  -  Forever Thine      Peony  -  Anger Daisy, White  -  Innocence      Pink  -  Pure Affection Dandelion  -  Coquetry      Poppy  -  Consolation of Sleep Forget-Me-Not  -  True Love      Primrose  -  Early Youth Foxglove  -  Insincerity      Rose  -  Beauty Gladiolus  -  Ready Armed      Shamrock  -  Loyalty Goldenrod  -  Encouragement      Snapdragon  -  Presumption Hawthorn  -  Hope      Sumac  -  Splendor Heliotrope  -  Devotion      Tulip  -  Declaration od Love Heather  -  Loneliness      Verbena  -  Sensibility Honeysuckle  -  Bond of Love      Woodbine  -  Fraternal Love   Now, just to confuse the issue, here is another collection - a little more modern than the previous one. If you are planning to send any floral messages to people you had better make sure they are using the same language set you are. Again, this was a page torn from a small booklet so I'm afraid I can't give credit to whoever compiled this one either. Almond  -  Hope    Red Tulip  -  Love declaration Apple Blossom  -  Temptation    Red Rose  -  Love Blue Hyacinth  -  Constancy    Red Poppy  -  Solace Bluebell  -  Gratitude    Red Geranium  -  Comfort Camellia  -  Excellence    Red Carnation  -  Forgiving Daffodil  -  Consideration    Rhododendron  -  Danger Dahlia  -  Splendor    Rosebud  -  Young love Daisy  -  Innocence    Rosemary  -  Memory Fennel  -  Flattery    Satin Flower  -  Honesty Flowering Sage  -  Energy    Snapdragon  -  Refusal French Marigold  -  Jealousy    Snowdrop  -  Solace and hope Fuchsia  -  Grace    Striped Carnation  -  Refusal Giant Bellflower  -  Constancy    Sunflower  -  Arrogance Heather  -  Solitude    Violet  -  Modesty Honesuckle  -  Generous affection    Virgin's Bower  -  Spiritual beauty Ivy  -  Friendship    Wallflower  -  Affection Jasmine  -  Kindness    Water Lily  -  Purity of heart Larkspur  -  Unfaithfulness    White Lily  -  Purity Lavender  -  Mistrust    White Chrysanthemum  -  Truth Lilac  -  First love    White Rose  -  Worthy Lily of the Valley  -  Return of luck    White Carnation  -  Disdain Magnolia  -  Love of nature    White Poppy  -  Sleep Mint  -  Wisdom    Wild Hyacinth  -  Constancy Myrtle  -  Love    Windflower  -  Forgetfulness Narcissus  -  Self-interest    Yellow Tulip  -  Impossible love Pansy  -  Thoughts    Yellow Lily  -  Falsehood Purple Hyacinth  -  Pain    Yellow Chrysanthemum  -  Diminished love Red Chrysanthemum  -  I love you    Yellow Rose  -  Jealousy   The months of the year on the western calendar have also been assigned floral symbols. These flowers are often included in bouquets and floral arrangements given on birthdays and anniversaries. January  -  Carnation      July  -  Larkspur February  -  Violet      August  -  Gladiolus March  -  Jonquil      September  -  Aster April  -  Sweet Pea      October  -  Calendula May  -  Lily of the Valley      November  -  Chrysanthemum June  -  Rose      December  -  Narcissus

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