What does the flower mean?

One frequent asked question is about the color of the flower and its meaning. Everyone has a different interpretation and one should always keep in mind that it's the thought that is the most important when sending flowers. Here below are some of the more traditional meanings of specific flowers. Please note that not all places around the world have the same interpretation. For example, white might mean pure and elegant to Americans but for chinese, white is used for funerals. So please make this a consideration when you send flowers, especially to another culture!

ACACIA - Concealed Love, Beauty in Retirement, Chaste Love
AMBROSIA - Your Love is Reciprocated
AMARYLLIS - Pride, Pastoral Poetry
ANEMONE - Forsaken
ARBUTUS - Thee Only Do I Love
ASTER - Symbol of Love, Daintiness
AZALEA - Take Care of Yourself for Me, Temperance, Fragile Passion, Chinese Symbol of Womanhood
BACHELOR BUTTON - Single Blessedness
BEGONIA - Beware
BELLS OF IRELAND - Good Luck
BITTERSWEET - Truth
BLUEBELL - Humility
CACTUS - Endurance
CAMELLIA (PINK) - Longing for you
CAMELLIA (RED) - You're a Flame in My Heart
CAMELLIA (WHITE) - You're Adorable
CARNATION (GENERAL) - Fascination, Woman Love
CARNATION (PINK) - I'll Never Forget You
CARNATION (RED) - My Heart Aches For You, Admiration
CARNATION (PURPLE) - Capriciousness
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
CARNATION (YELLOW) - You Have Disappointed Me, Rejection
CATTAIL - Peace, Prosperity
CHRYSANTHEMUM (GENERAL) - You're a Wonderful Friend, Cheerfulness and Rest.
CHRYSANTHEMUM (WHITE) - Truth (Chinese use white chrysanthemums usually for funerals)
CHRYSANTHEMUM (YELLOW) - Slighted Love
CROCUS - Cheerfulness
CYCLAMEN - Resignation and Good-bye
DAFFODIL - Regard, Unrequited Love, You're the Only One, The Sun is Always Shining when I'm with You
DAISY - Innocence, Loyal Love, I'll Never Tell, Purity
DANDELION - Faithfulness, Happiness
FERN - Magic, Fascination, Confidence and Shelter
FIR - Time
FLAX - Domestic Symbol
FORGET-ME-NOT - True Love, Memories
FORSYTHIA - Anticipation
GARDENIA - You're Lovely, Secret Love
GERANIUM - Stupidity, Folly
GLADIOLI - Give Me a Break, I'm Really Sincere, Flower of the Gladiators
GLOXINIA - Love at First Sight
HEATHER (LAVENDER) - Admiration, Solitude
HEATHER (WHITE) - Protection, Wishes Will Come True
HOLLY - Defense, Domestic Happiness
HYACINTH (GENERAL) - Games and Sports, Rashness, Flower Dedicated to Apollo
HYACINTH (BLUE) - Constancy
HYACINTH (PURPLE) - I am 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
IRIS - Fleur-de-lis, Emblem of France, Your Friendship Means so Much to Me, Faith, Hope, Wisdom and Valor, My Compliments
IVY - Wedded Love, Fidelity, Friendship, Affection
JONQUIL - Love Me, Affection Returned, Desire, Sympathy, Desire for Affection Returned
LARKSPUR (PINK) - Fickleness
LILY (WHITE) - Virginity, Purity, Majesty, It's Heavenly to be with You
LILY (YELLOW) - I'm Walking on Air, False and Gay
LILY (CALLA) - Beauty
LILY (DAY) - Coquetry, Chinese Emblem for Mother
LILY (EUCHARIS) - Maiden Charms
LILY (TIGER) - Wealth, Pride
LILY OF THE VALLEY - Sweetness, Tears of the Virgin Mary, Return to Happiness, Humility, You've Made My Life Complete
MAGNOLIA - Nobility
MARIGOLD - Cruelty, Grief, Jealousy
MISTLETOE - Kiss me, Affection, To Surmount Difficulties, Sacred Plant of India
MONKSHOOD - Beware, A Deadly Foe is Near
MOSS - Maternal Love, Charity
MYRTLE - Love, Hebrew Emblem of Marriage
NARCISSUS - Egotism, Formality, Stay as Sweet as You Are
NASTURTIUM - Conquest, Victory in Battle
OLEANDER - Caution
ORANGE BLOSSOM - Innocence, Eternal Love, Marriage and Fruitfulness
ORANGE MOCK - Deceit
ORCHID - Love, Beauty, Refinement, Beautiful Lady, Chinese Symbol for Many Children
ORCHID (CATTLEYA) - Mature Charm
PALM LEAVES - Victory and Success
PEONY - Shame, Happy Life, Happy Marriage
PETUNIA - Resentment, Anger, Your Presence Sooths Me
PINE - Hope, Pity
POPPY (GENERAL) - Eternal Sleep, Oblivion, Imagination
POPPY (RED) - Pleasure
POPPY (WHITE) - Consolation
POPPY (YELLOW) - Wealth, Success
PRIMROSE - I Can't Live Without You
PRIMROSE (EVENING) - Inconstancy
ROSE (BRIDAL) - Happy Love
ROSE (DARK CRIMSON) - Mourning
ROSE (HIBISCUS) - Delicate Beauty
ROSE (LEAF) - You May Hope
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) - Unity, Flower Emblem of England
ROSE (WHITE-DRIED) - Death is Preferable to Loss of Virtue
ROSE (YELLOW) - Decrease of Love, Jealousy, Try to Care
ROSEBUD - Beauty and Youth, A Heart Innocent of Love
ROSEBUD (RED) - Pure and Lovely
ROSEBUD (WHITE) - Girlhood
ROSEBUD (MOSS) - Confessions of Love
ROSES (Bouquet of Mature Blooms) - Gratitude
ROSES (Single Full Bloom) - I Love You, I Still Love You
SMILAX - Loveliness
SNAPDRAGON - Deception, Gracious Lady
SPIDER FLOWER - Elope with Me
STEPHANOTIS - Happiness in Marriage, Desire to Travel
STOCK - Bonds of Affection, Promptness, You'll Always Be Beautiful to Me
SWEETPEA - Good-bye, Departure, Blissful Pleasure, Thank You for a Lovely Time
TULIP (GENERAL) - Perfect Lover, Frame, Flower Emblem of Holland
TULIP (RED) - Believe Me, Declaration of Love
TULIP (VARIEGATED) - Beautiful Eyes
TULIP (YELLOW) - There's Sunshine in Your Smile
VIOLET - Modesty
VIOLET (BLUE) - Watchfulness, Faithfulness, I'll Always Be True
VIOLET (WHITE) - Let's Take a Chance
ZINNIA (MAGENTA) - Lasting Affection
ZINNIA (MIXED) - Thinking (or In Memory) of an Absent Friend
ZINNIA (SCARLET) - Constancy
ZINNIA (WHITE) - Goodness
ZINNIA (YELLOW) - Daily Remembrance

More deeper meanings

Achillea
Named after the Greek mythological character, Achilles, who used the flower to treat cuts and bruises on his wounded soldiers. War.
Agapanthus
Comes from the Greek agape, meaning love and anthos meaning flower, flower of love.
Alstroemeria
Named after the Swedish Baron, Jonas Alstomer, by his friend Carolus Linnaeus in 1753. Wealth, prosperity, fortune.
Amaryllis
Pride, splendid beauty, timidity, pastoral poetry.
Amaranth
Immortality.
Anemone
From the Greek word, anemos meaning wind. Love, lust, abandonment and daintiness.
Anigozanthus
Comes from the Greek word anisus meaning unequal and anthos meaning flower, Plant with the unusual flower.
Anthurium
Hard working, think of me.
Aster
Comes from the Greek word meaning star. Symbol of love, daintiness, after thought.
Astrantia
Astrantia is an old plant name with the origin unknown. Since the flower is star shaped, it has been assumed that the Greek word astron meaning star plays a role in the origin of the name.
Baby`s Breath
Innocence, pure of heart.
Bachelor's Button
Delicacy, hope in love, blessedness.
Bamboo
Based on Chinese tradition, the ingredients to a happy life are happiness, wealth and longevity.
Bells of Ireland
Good Luck, Luck of the Irish.
Bouvardia
Named after Louis XIII's physician, Charles Boubard. Enthusiasm.
Bupleurum
From the Greek word boupleurs meaning Oxen rib.
Calla Lily
Named for Francesco Zantedeschia. Beauty.
Camellia
Many different meanings for different colors. Red means excellence. White means adorable and lovely. Pink means I long for your touch. Blue means you are the flame in my heart.
Carnation
Fascination, admiration, pure love, my heart yearns for you, a mother's love.
Cosmos
Comes from the Latin word kosmos meaning beautiful.
Daffodil
Based on the Greek mythology character, Narcissus, who was known to be so arrogant that when he looked into a mirror he fell in love with his reflection. He was later said to have been turned into the flower. Chivalry, respect, you are my only one, the sun shines when I'm with you, unrequited love.
Dahlias
Named for the Swedish botanist Dr. Anders Dahl. Dignity, elegance, good taste, instability.
Delphinium
Comes from the Greek word, delphis meaning dolphin. Flight of fancy, ardent attachment, agility.
Dianthus
Comes from the Greek words Dios meaning god and Anthos meaning flower.
English Lavender
Comes from the Latin word lavare meaning to wash.
Equisetum
Comes from the Latin word equis meaning horse and seta meaning bristle.
Eucalyptus
Comes from the Greek word eu meaning well and kalypto to cover.
Forget-me-not
Faithful love, undying love, do not forget, memories.
Freesia
Named after a German physician , Dr. Friedrich Reese. Love, calm, careful, passion, rushed.
Gardenia
Named after a Dr. Alexander Garden a physician and botanist in South Carolina. Secret love, lovely.
Gerbera Daisy
Named for a German naturalist Traugott Gerber. Purity and strength.
Ginger
Diversity, unlimited wealth.
Gladiolus
Gladiolus is Latin for sword. Graceful, strong sense of character.
Godetia
Named for Captain William Clark. Pleasing.
Golden Rod
Comes from the Latin word solido which means to make whole or strengthen.
Golden Craspedia
Edged and Frigid.
Heather
Your wishes will come true, admiration for another.
Heliconia
Great returns.
Hyacinth
Named for the Greek mythology character, Hyakinthos, who was loved by the god of the sun, Apollo. Jealousy, on part of the god of the west wind, injured Hyakinthos causing blood to be shed. From the blood, the flower grew and Apollo named it for Hyakinthos. Consistency, please forgive me, jealousy, loveliness.
Hydrangea
Thank you for your understanding, heartlessness, arrogance, aloofness.
Iris
Named after the Greek goddess of the rainbow. Your friendship means the world to me, faith, hope, wisdom.
Kalanchoe
Endurence, lasting affection.
Leptospermum
Comes from the Greek words leptos meaning slender and sperma meaning seeds.
Lilac
Love or Absence of Passion.
Liatris
Enthusiasm.
Lily
Most colors have different meanings. Orange means hatred. Yellow means false or gay and walking on air. White means purity, virginity, majesty.
Lily of the Valley
Sweetness, you complete my life, return of happiness.
Limonium
Comes from the Greek word leumon which means meadow. Sympathy, remembrance, lasting beauty.
Lisianthus
Comes from the Greek word lysis meaning dissolution and anthos meaning flower .
Matsumoto Asters
Comes from the Latin word meaning star.
Narcissus
Comes from the Greek word Narcissus meaning numbness. Self-esteem and vanity.
Nerine
Named for the Nereids in Greek mythology. The nereids were sea nymphs and daughters of the sea god, Nereus.
Orchid
Comes from the Greek work orchis meaning testicle. Love, beauty, refinement.
Ornithogalum
Comes from the Greek word ornis meaning bird and gala meaning milk. Named for the star of Bethlehem that appeared in the biblical account of the birth of Jesus Christ.
Peonies
Happy marriage, prosperity. in Jamaica, the word for peony is sho yu meaning most beautifu.l
Phlox
Our souls are united. Means flame in Latin.
Pittosporum
Comes from the Greek word pitt meaning pitch seed.
Platycodon
Named balloon flower because buds look like inflated balloons ready to burst.
Poppy
Remembrance, wealth, pleasure, imagination, eternal sleep.
Pincushion Protea
Comes from the Greek God, Proteus who was known to be able to change into different shapes.
King Protea
Comes from the Greek god, Proteus who was known to be able to change into different shapes.
Queen Anne's Lace
Haven, self-reliance.
Ranunculus
Comes from the Latin word ranunculus meaning little frog. You are in attractions.
Salal
Zest.
Salvia
Comes from the Latin word salvia which means to heal.
Sandersonia
Named for John Sanderson, who discovered the plant in 1851 in South Africa.
Snapdragon
Comes from the Greek word anti meaning like and rhin meaning nose. Gracious lady, presumption, graciousness.
Solidaster
Solid aster is named for its parents, Aster and solidago (golden rod).
Stephanotis
Comes from the Greek words stephanos meaning crown and otos meaning ear, a crown of ears. Luck, prosperity, wedding.
Stock
You will always be beautiful to me, lasting beauty, promptness.
Sweet pea
Delicate pleasures.
Strawflower
Comes from the Greek words helisso meaning to turn around and chyrsos meaning gold. Never ending remembrance.
Scabiosa
Comes from the Greek word scabies meaning to itch.
Sunflower
Comes from the Greek word helios meaning sun and anthos meaning flowers. Adoration, pride, sunshine.
Trachelium
Comes from the Greek word meaning rough throat because of the medicinal uses to treat neck and throat pain. Neglected beauty.
Tuberose
Comes from the Greek word polis meaning white and anthos meaning flower. Voluptuousness.
Tulip
Like the rose, colors of tulips have different meanings. Red means declaration of love, believe me. Yellow means hopeless love, sunshine in your smile. General means perfect lover, frame, beautiful eyes.
Veronica
The origin of the name is disputed. It is unknown whether it was honoring St. Veronica or the markings of the same species of the flower resembled the markings on her sacred handkerchief she handed to Christ while he was carrying the Cross.
African Corn Lily
Comes from the Greek work Ixia meaning bird lime because of its sugary sticky sap.
Waxflower
Named Geraldaton wax after the town in Australia where the flower originated. Happiness in Marriage.
Zinnia
Like the rose, Zinnias color represents different meanings such as red means constancy. White means goodness. Yellow means daily remembrance. Mixed means in memory of a dear friend. General means thoughts of an absent friend. Pink means lasting affection.
Birds of Paradise
Named for King George III's wife, Charlotte of Macklenberg-Streliz, who was crowned Queen of England in 1761. Freedom, Good Perspective.
Chrysanthemum
Named by Carolis Linnaeus in the 17th Century. Cheerfulness, you're a wonderful friend, rest, loveliness, optimisim, abundance, wealth. Red means love. Yellow means slighted love and white means truth.
Daisy
Named by Carolis Linnaeus in the 17th Century. Cheerfulness, you're a wonderful friend, rest, loveliness, optimisim, abundance, wealth. Red means love. Yellow means slighted love and white means truth.
Violet
Named for Baron Walter Von Saint Paul Illaire who discovered the plant in Tanzania in 1892. Modesty, faithfulness, virtue.
Rose
All roses are symbolic for love, however each color has a separate meaning. Red means love, respect, courage. Pink means grace, perfect happiness. Dark pink means gratitude. Light pink means admiration, sympathy. White means innocence, purity, secrecy, I'm worthy of you, you're heavenly, humility. Yellow means undying lover, platonic love, friendship. Orange means passion, desire. Blue means extraordinary, mystery. Red and White. means unity.
Spray Rose
All roses are symbolic for love, however each color has a separate meaning. Red means love, respect, courage. Pink means grace, perfect happiness. Dark pink means gratitude. Light pink means admiration, sympathy. White means innocence, purity, secrecy, I'm worthy of you, you're heavenly, humility. Yellow means undying lover, platonic love, friendship. Orange means passion, desire. Blue means extraordinary, mystery. Red and White. means unity.