NationStates Jolt Archive

Giving flowers to someone in February (I won’t mention that silly, unromantic, commercialized holiday by name)? Once upon a time there was a great deal of meaning attached to specific flowers. Victorians sent rather elaborate messages when they gave flowers.

Be a little uncommon and go for something other than roses. Combine flowers to send a more specific message. Here are the meanings of some flowers:

Amaryllis - Pride; Timidity

Baby's Breath - Everlasting Love
Bouquet of withered flowers - Rejected love
Buttercup – Cheerfulness

Camellia - Admiration; perfection; good luck gift to a man
Carnation (in general) Bonds of affection; health and energy; fascination; woman love
Carnation (pink) - I'll never forget you
Carnation (purple) - Capriciousness; whimsical; changeable
Carnation (red) - My heart aches for you; admiration
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) - Rejection; disdain
Chrysanthemum (in general) - Cheerfulness; You're a wonderful friend Chrysanthemum (red) - I love
Chrysanthemum (white) - Truth
Chrysanthemum (yellow) -Slighted love

Daffodil - Respect
Daisy - Innocence
Dandelion - Wishes come true

Forget-Me-Not - True love

Gardenia - You're lovely; secret love
Geranium (Scented) – Preference
Gladiolus - Love at first sight
Heather (lavender) - Admiration; solitude
Heather (white) - Protection; wishes will come true
Hibiscus - Delicate beauty
Holly - Good will, Defense;domestic Happiness; foresight
Honeysuckle - Generous and devoted affection
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

Iris - Faith; hope; wisdom and valor

Jasmine - Amiability; attracts wealth
Jonquil - Love me; affection returned; desire; sympathy; desire for a return of affection

Lavender – Devotion
Lily (general) - Keeps unwanted visitors away
Lily (calia) – Beauty
Lily (day) – Coquetry
Lily (eucharis) - Maiden charms
Lily (orange) – Hatred
Lily (tiger) - Wealth; pride
Lily (white) - Virginity; purity; majesty; it's heavenly to be with you
Lily (yellow) - I'm walking on air; false and gay
Lily of the valley - sweetness; return to happiness; humility

Marigold - Comforts the heart

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

Oleander - Caution; beware
Orchid - Love; beauty; refinement; beautiful lady; Chinese symbol for many children

Petunia - Resentment; anger; your presence soothes me
Poppy (general) - Eternal sleep ; oblivion; imagination
Poppy (red) -Pleasure; consolation
Poppy (white) - Consolation; sleep
Poppy ( yellow) - Wealth; success
Primrose - I can't live without you; early youth
Primrose (evening) – Inconstancy

Rose (general)(Red) - Love ; I love you
Rose (white) - Eternal Love ; innocence; heavenly; secrecy and silence
Rose (pink) - Perfect happiness; please believe me
Rose (Yellow) - Friendship ; jealousy; try to care
Rose (Black) –Death
Rose (red and white) - Together; unity
Rose (thornless) - Love at first sight
Rose (single, full bloom) - I love you; I still love you
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 (damask) - Brilliant complexion
Rose (dark crimson) – Mourning
Rose (hibiscus) - Delicate beauty

Sunflower - Loyalty; wishes

Tulip (general) - Fame,charity; perfect lover
Tulip (red) - Believe me; declaration of love
Tulip (variegated) - Beautiful eyes
Tulip (yellow) - Hopeless love

Violet - Modesty; calms tempers; induces sleep
Violet (blue) - Watchfulness; faithfulness; I'll always be true
Violet (white) - Let's take a chance on happiness

Zinnia - Thoughts of friends
Zinnia (magenta) - Lasting affectionZinnia(mixed) - Thinking of an absent friend
Zinnia (scarlet) – Constancy
Zinnia (white) – Goodness
Zinnia (yellow) - Daily remembrance

http://www.pioneerthinking.com/flowerlanguage.html
http://www.apocalypse.org/pub/u/hilda/flang.html

I worked at a flowershop for a short time and I learned a lot about the 'language of flowers'. It's really very interesting, except that it's like speaking a language no one else understands ;)

The French believe if you give someone a chrysanthemum you are wishing for him or her to die.

They mean you did something to piss her off and you're hoping she won't be too angry when she finds out.

The French believe if you give someone a chrysanthemum you are wishing for him or her to die.
Yea, in France you only give those flowers to somebody on All Saints' Day (day of respect for dead)

I thought Roses were meant to symbolise vaginas (I'm being serious), in days of yore anyway.

I thought Roses were meant to symbolise vaginas (I'm being serious), in days of yore anyway.
*is suddenly reminded of Georgia O'Keefe's paintings* ^^

Any message is wasted if it's not received.

I despise red and pink roses. I find them very unoriginal and boring.

Birds of Paradise on the other hand are gorgeous in my opinion, and also my favourite flower :)

I despise red and pink roses. I find them very unoriginal and boring.

Birds of Paradise on the other hand are gorgeous in my opinion, and also my favourite flower :)

Ah, but what do they mean?

Flowers are the dead genitalia of a plant. Romantic. :)

I dont remember the last time I got flowers....... :(

tulips are my favorite flower.

Ah, but what do they mean?

"Love" and "Perfect happiness" I know, but a red rose to me screams:

"I'm unoriginal and put no thought into getting you these flowers."

If he REEAAALLLY loves me, he'll know what flowers to get.

"Love" and "Perfect happiness" I know, but a red rose to be screams:

"I'm unoriginal and put no thought into getting you these flowers."

If he REEAAALLLY loves me, he'll know what flowers to get.

Grr, I meant what do Birds of Paradise mean.

Grr, I meant what do Birds of Paradise mean.

Apparently they mean "joyfulness"

Well according to this site: http://www.annssecretgarden.com/meaning.asp

Grr, I meant what do Birds of Paradise mean.

According to the link provided giving the Bird Of Paradise means "Magnificence." Exactly what is being deemed magnificent is, I would imagine, between the giver and the receiver, although what man would not swell with pride to receive such an endorsement from a woman?

http://www.pioneerthinking.com/flowerlanguage.html

According to the link provided the Bird Of Paradise means "Magnificence."

http://www.pioneerthinking.com/flowerlanguage.html

Indeed.

Meaning
Freedom, Magnificance, Good perspective

Fun for Nothin's
Bird of Paradise is a large herb native to South Africa. Its large blue and orange blossom resembles an exotic bird. "Strelitzia," as it is also called, is named after actual birds-of-paradise, which are the most beautiful birds in the world, with brightly coloured plumage and fanlike tails. The bird-of-paradise flower belongs to the banana family, Strelitziaceae.

Origin & History
Botanists are divided on how this remarkable flower got its name. Some maintain that the flower's brilliant orange and blue blossom, which resembles a bird in flight, is named after the bird of paradise itself - one of the most beautiful bird species in the world. However, since this flower is also known as the strelitzia, some believe that it was named after England's Queen Charlotte, who was born Charlotte Mecklenber-Strelitz.

I like irises best - not so much the big bearded ones, but the wild flag irises and Japanese irises and that sort. Worst thing a guy could give me would be daisies (or similar flowers) because I have an irrational hatred for them. Red roses are very cliche (although still pretty); white would be much better. :)

my favourite flower is lily of the valley, I never knew it said so much about me