We at creationsbyhelen.com often receive calls from our customers and the public at large wanting to know the meaning of flowers. We suppose that translated simply it would be the “Language of Flowers” that they are concerned with.
Flowers speak volumes and in Victorian times the practice of sending floral gifts wasn’t just for their fragrance and color but also for specific and sometimes secret messages. Flower language in those times added wit, charm, piquancy and delicate intrigue to everyday life.
“Secret love” according to some sources was expressed by the yellow acacia , “Suspicion” with a gift of champignon and “fidelity” by a sprig of ivy.
There are great benefits with flower language, for example the tongue tied lover only needed to send the appropriate flower to overcome his timidity and yet get the message across in the most gentle of ways.
The meanings found below will hopefully open a happy new dimension to your love and appreciation of flowers. Keep in mind however that different sources provide different meanings. The following were compiled back in 1963 and many varieties of flowers have come and gone but the basics stay the same.
creationsbyhelen.com is pleased to present this series of pages of information on the language of flowers.
| Saffron …… |
Beware of excess |
| Saffron crocus |
Mirth |
| Saffron, Meadow |
My Happiest days are past |
| Sage |
Domestic Virtue |
| Sage, garden |
Esteem |
| Sainfoin |
Agitation |
| Saint John’s Wort |
Animosity: Superstition |
| Sardony |
Irony |
| Saxifrage, mossy |
Affection |
| Scabious |
Unfortunate love |
| Scabious, sweet |
Widowhood |
| Scarlet lychnis |
Sunbeaming eyes |
| Schinus |
Religious enthusiasm |
| Scotch fir |
Elevation |
| Sensitive plant |
Sensibility: delicate feelings |
| Senvy |
Indifference |
| Shamrock |
Light heartedness |
| Snakesfoot |
Horror |
| Snapdragon |
Presumption |
| Snowball |
Bound |
| Snowdrop |
Hope |
| Sorrel |
Affection |
| Sorrell, wild |
Wit ill-timed |
| Sorrel, wood |
Joy |
| Southernwood |
Jest, Bantering |
| Spanish Jasmine |
Sensuality |
| Spearmint |
Warmth of sentiment |
| Speedwell |
Female fidelity |
| Speedwell, Germander |
Facility |
| Speedwell, spiked |
Semblance |
| Spider Ophrys |
Adroitness |
| Spiderwort |
Esteem not love |
| Spiked willow herb |
Pretention |
| Spindle tree |
Your charms are engraven on my heart |
| Star of Bethlehem |
Purity |
| Starwort |
Afterthought |
| Starwort, America Stock |
Cheerfulness in old age
Afterthought
|
| Stock, ten week |
Promptness |
| Stonecrop |
Tranquility |
| Straw, Broken |
Rupture of contract |
| Straw, Whole |
Union |
| Strawberry tree |
Esteem and love |
| Sumach, Venice |
Splendour: Intellectual elegance |
| Sunflower, Dwarf |
Adoration |
| Sunflower, tall |
Haughtiness |
| Swallow-wort |
Cure for Heartache |
| Sweet Basil |
Good wishes |
| Sweetbrier, American |
Simplicity |
| Sweetbrier, European |
I wound to heal |
| Sweetbrier, Yellow |
Decrease of Love |
| Sweet Pea |
Delicate pleasures |
| Sweet Sultan |
Felicity |
| Sweet William |
Gallantry |
| Sycamore |
Curiosity |
| Syringa |
Memory |
| Syringa, Carolina |
Disappointment |
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