my beutiful roses: February 2011

Flower Symbols Around the World

Since antiquity, flower symbolism has been a significant part of cultures around the world. Flowers accompany us in every major event in life--birth, marriage, holidays, graduations, illness, and finally death. Flowers have been grown in decorative gardens and used as adornment for centuries on virtually every continent on earth. Finding the right flower to give to someone your love is an art. Make sure to include a note about the meaning of the flower!

Ancient Roots of Flower Symbolism

Flower symbolism began with many ancient religions. Many flowers were originally linked to ancient deities including Venus, Diana, Jupiter and Apollo. During the Renaissance, nature was viewed as a reflection of the divine. Flower symbolism was included in much of the religious art of the day and medieval gardens were often created with both the symbolic meaning of flowers and spiritual symbolism in mind. (See article on Mary Gardens.) Flower symbols were used in the religious art of the Middle Ages and Renaissance, and reached the highest level of development in the Victorian era.

The Victorian Language of Flowers

Although the legendary associations and religious meanings of flower symbolism have existed for centuries, the use of the symbolic meaning of flowers to represent emotions was developed to a high degree during Victorian times. Due to the strict protocol of the times, emotions, wishes and thoughts were not openly expressed between men and women. Instead, an elaborate language based on flower symbolism was developed. Gifts of either single flowers or bouquets conveyed clear messages to the recipient.

During the Victorian era, flowers adorned nearly everything--hair, clothing, jewelry, home decor, china plates, stationary, wallpaper, furniture and more. Even the scents of flowers had their own meanings in the language of flowers. For example, a scented handkerchief might be given in place of actual flowers.

With the increasing complexity of flower symbolism, handbooks were written to guide the understanding of the symbolic meaning of flowers. The first book written on flower symbolism in modern times was Le Language des Fleurs by Madame Charlotte de la Tour in 1819. The most popular book on flower symbolism, which remains a prominent resource today, is Kate Greenaway's Language of Flowers (1884). See recommended books below.

Modern Symbolism of Flowers

Flowers are still used today to convey feelings in a more general way than in Victorian times. Many florists provide information on the language of flowers to encourage the practice of helping modern gift-givers to "say it with flowers." The flower symbolism for many flowers has been obscured by time and may remain only as a few key phrases or words. Flowers have been given as gifts for special occasions and to celebrate holidays throughout history. (Visit FloristOne to see flowers for all occasions.)

The beauty and feminine quality of flowers also inspired the tradition of naming girls after flower names. This tradition has existed in many cultures throughout history and continues today. Popular girls' names related to flowers include Rose, Daisy, Lily, Holly, Violet, Heather, Fern, Jasmine, Myrtle, and Lavender.

More Resources for Flower Symbols

For a quick reference to flowers by meaning (such as hope, love, etc.), please see our article Find Flowers By Meaning. For a guide to the origin of flower names, please see Meanings of Flower Names. For information on the symbolic flowers in gardens honoring Mother Mary, see Mary Garden Flower Symbolism. For symbolism related to popular garden flowers, see Garden Flower Symbolism. See other related articles below.

For more on flower symbolism, see recommended books from Amazon below :
Kate Greenaway's Language of Flowers
Folklore and Symbolism of Flowers, Plants and Trees
The Language of Flowers: Symbols And Myths
The Language of Flowers
The Meaning of Flowers
Forget-Me-Not: A Floral Treasury Sentiments and Plant Lore from the Language of Flowers

Pictures of Flowers and Their Meanings

Pictures of flowers and their meanings and other fascinating facts about flower symbols and plants from around the world are included in the following illustrated list of the symbolic

Acacia Flower Symbolism

The symbolic meanings of acacia flowers are friendship, secret love, beauty in retirement and chaste love. Yellow acacia flowers symbolize secret love. Acacia is a genus of pod-bearing shrubs and trees. The leaves typically have a large amount of tannins, which are astringent substances that play a role in the ripening of fruit and aging of wine. Most species of acacia are native to Australia. Acacia seeds and shoots can be used for food. Acacia honey is considered to be a delicacy and acacia is an ingredient in a number of soft drinks and chewing gum. (Photo courtesy of Stan Shebs, Wikimedia Commons)

More Information on this Website
Learn about the meaning of the name acacia.

Recommended Books
For more information, see the following books on Amazon:
Lives of the Trees: An Uncommon History
The Meaning of Trees: Botany, History, Healing, Lore
The Acacia Tree

Alyssum Flower Symbolism

The meaning of alyssum flowers is beauty. Alyssum is a perennial plant with yellow, white, pink or purple flowers. Occasionally alyssum are grown as small shrubs. Alyssum are in the mustard family and are native to Eurasia. Alyssum produce a notched fruit and seeds with wings and embryonic roots. English variant spelling of Spanish Alicia, meaning "noble sort." Also from Latin alyssum and Greek alysson, meaning "not rabies," as the plant was believed to cure rabies.

Recommended Books
For more information, see the following books on Amazon:
Rock Garden Plants: A Color Encyclopedia
Guide to Wild Foods and Useful Plants

Amaryllis Flowers Meanings

The meaning of amaryllis flowers is pride, timidity and splendid beauty. There are two types of amaryllis. One is the true amaryllis or Amaryllis belladona, a native of South Africa. The other is Hippeastrum, a plant that is often forced to bloom indoors in the winter months. These bulbs are sold to bloom over the winter holidays. (Photo courtesy of Digigalos, Wikimedia Comoons.)

More Information on this Website
See other flowers meaning love.
Learn meaning of amaryllis flower name.

Recommended Books
For more information, see the following books on Amazon:
The Gardener's Guide to Growing Asters
How to Grow Asters: A Manual on Asters
Popular Garden Flowers
The Language of Flowers: Symbols And Myths

Aster Flower Symbolism

The flower symbolism associated with asters is daintiness, love, from Greek word for "star." Asters are believed to have healing properties. Asters were laid on the graves of French soldiers to to symbolize the wish that things had turned out differently. There are many varieties of asters that are popular garden plants. Asters grow in all hardiness zones.

More Information on this Website
See other flowers meaning love.

Recommended Books
For more information about asters, see the following books on Amazon:
The Gardener's Guide to Growing Asters
How to Grow Asters: A Manual on Asters
Popular Garden Flowers
The Language of Flowers: Symbols And Myths

Azalea Flower Symbolism

The flower symbolism associated with azaleas is temperance, passion, womanhood (China), take care of yourself for me and fragility. Azaleas are members of the rhododendron family (see rhododendrons below). Azaleas grow as shrubs and small trees with large, showy flowers and are popular as ornamental plants in landscaping. The English name derived from the Greek word azaleos, meaning "dry."

More Information on this Website
See other flowers meaning passion.

Recommended Books
For more information, see the following books on Amazon:
Success With Rhododendrons and Azaleas
American Azaleas
Azaleas
The Meaning of Flowers

Baby's Breath Flower Symbolism

The flower symbolism associated with baby's breath is purity of heart, innocence, and the breath of the Holy Spirit. Baby's breath is white with dense, delicate clusters of flowers. They are native to Europe, but have been naturalized throughout the eastern United States. Baby's breath is often used as ornamental garden plants and as filler in bouquets.

More Information on this Website
See article featuring other flowers with unusual meanings.

Recommended Books
For more information, see the following books on Amazon:
The Ever-Blooming Flower Garden: A Blueprint for Continuous Color
Popular Garden Flowers
The Language of Flowers: Symbols And Myths
Roses Love Garlic: Companion Planting and Other Secrets of Flowers

Bachelor Button Flower Symbolism

The flower symbolism associated with bachelor buttons is celibacy, single, blessedness, hope in love, delicacy. The bachelor's button is also known as the cornflower, basket flower and boutonniere flower. Bachelor buttons are blue and have been prized historically for their pigment. According to folklore, a young man would wear a bachelor button flower to indicate his love for a young woman, If the love was unrequited, the flower would fade quickly. The bachelor button, or blue cornflower, is the national flower of Poland.

More Information on this Website
See article featuring other flowers with unusual meanings.

Recommended Books
For more information, see the following books on Amazon:
The Ever-Blooming Flower Garden: A Blueprint for Continuous Color
The Language of Flowers: Symbols And Myths
Roses Love Garlic: Companion Planting and Other Secrets of Flowers

Bauhinia Flower Symbolism

The bauhinia flower is a symbol of harmony. The orchid-like flowers are purple-red flower and surrounded by thick leaves. Bauhinia flowers bloom from November to March. The Bauhinia flower is featured on the flag of Hong KIong with five petals and stars in white surrounded by a red background. Bauhinia has a double-lobed leaf similar to a heart shape.

Recommended Books
For more information, see the following books on Amazon:
The Ever-Blooming Flower Garden: A Blueprint for Continuous Color
Roses Love Garlic: Companion Planting and Other Secrets of Flowers
The Language of Flowers: Symbols And Myths

Begonia Flower Symbolism

The flower symbolism associated with begonias is fanciful nature and beware. Begonias are large shrubs which grow in subtropical and tropical moist climates, in South and Central America, Africa and southern Asia. Because of their showy flowers of white, pink, scarlet or yellow color and often attractively marked leaves, many species and innumerable hybrids of begonias are cultivated.

More Information on this Website
See article featuring other flowers with unusual meanings.

Recommended Books
For more information about begonias, see recommended books on Amazon:
Begonias
Begonias: Cultivation, Identification, and Natural History
The Language of Flowers: Symbols And Myths
Summer Bulbs: Simple Steps for Growing Beautiful Dahlias, Begonias and Other Bulbs

Bird of Paradise Flower Symbolism

The flower symbolism associated with the bird of paradise flower is freedom, good perspective, faithfulness (when given from a woman to a man). The bird of paradise flower is so-named because of a resemblance to the actual bird of paradise. In South Africa it is commonly known as a "crane" flower. The leaves are large, 30-200 cm long and 10-80 cm broad, similar to a banana leaf but with a longer petiole, and arranged to form a fan-like crown of evergreen foliage.

Bluebell Flower Symbolism

The flower symbolism associated with bluebells is humility, constancy and gratitude. Bluebells are closely linked to the realm of fairies and are sometimes referred to as "fairy thimbles." To call fairies to a convention, the bluebells would be rung. Bluebells can be found in North America, Western Europe and North Africa. In some areas they are referred to as wild hyacinths.

More Information on this Website
Read more in our article about bluebells.

Buttercup Flower Symbolism

The flower symbolism associated with buttercups is humility, neatness, childishness. Buttercups are part of a large genus of 400 species. Buttercups usually flower in April or May but may be found throughout the summer. In the Pacific Northwest (USA) the buttercup is called ‘Coyote’s eyes.’ The legend is that a coyote was tossing his eyes up in the air and catching them again when an eagle snatched them. Unable to see, coyote made eyes from the buttercup.

Cactus Flower Symbolism

The flower symbolism associated with the cactus flower is endurance, my heart burns with love, maternal love. Cacti are distinctive and unusual plants, adapted to extremely arid and hot climates, with a wide range of features which conserve water. Their stems have expanded into green succulent structures containing the chlorophyll necessary for life and growth, while the leaves have become the spines for which cacti are so well known.

Recommended Books
For more information about cactus, see recommended books on Amazon:
Cacti and Succulents: Step-By-Step to Growing Success
Cactus Growing for Beginners
Growing Classic Cacti

Calendula Flower Symbolism

The flower symbolism associated with the calendula is grief, despair and sorrow. Calendula blossoms in wine are said to ease indigestion. Calendula petals are used in ointments to cure skin irritations, jaundice, sore eyes and toothaches. The marigold is also part of the calendula family.

More Information on this Website
See article featuring other flowers with unusual meanings. Read our article about marigolds.

Calla Lily Flower Symbolism

The flower symbolism associated with the calla lily is magnificent beauty. Calla lilies are native to southern Africa. The calla lily is visible in many of Diego Rivera's works of art. Georgia O'Keeffe's sensual flowers redefined the flower as a pure, almost geometric form. Her painting "Calla Lilies with Red Anemone" (1928) recently was sold for $6.2 million at a Christie's auction in New York.

More Information on this Website
For more about the history of the flower in art, see Flower Paintings Through the Ages. Learnmore about calla lilies here.

Recommended Books
For more information about calla lilies, see recommended books on Amazon:
Georgia O'Keefe and the Calla Lily in American Art, 1860-1940
The Floral Collection: Calla Lily

Camellia Flower Symbolism

The symbolic meaning of camellia flowers is admiration, perfection, good luck gift for a man, gratitude, nobility of reasoning. The colors have specific symbolic meanings including innate worth, adoration, perfection and loveliness (white); longing, longing for a man (pink); and you're a flame in my heart or excellence (red). The English name is derived from the Latin name of the flowering evergreen shrub, camellia, named after the Czech-born missionary and botanist George Josef Kamel, whose name was originally derived from the word kamel, meaning "camel."

More Information on this Website
Learn more about camellias.

Recommended Books
For more information about camellias, see recommended books on Amazon:
Camellias: The Gardener's Encyclopedia
Camellias (New Plant Library)
The Language of Flowers: Symbols And Myths
Growing Camellias in Cold Climates

Carnation Flower Symbolism

The flower symbolism associated with the carnation is fascination, impulsiveness, capriciousness, joy, devoted love; disdain, refusal (white only). Carnations were used in Greek ceremonial crowns. The name carnation may come from the Greek carnis (flesh) and refer to the incarnation of God made flesh. The English name derived from the flower name, from French carnation, meaning "complexion," from Italian carnagione, meaning "flesh-colored."

Recommended Books
For more information about carnations, see these books on Amazon:
Carnations and Pinks: Their True History and Complete Cultivation
Carnations and Pinks The Language of Flowers: Symbols And Myths
The Book of the Carnation (Gardening in America)

Cattail Flower Symbolism

The flower symbolism associated with the cattail is peace and prosperity. Cattails or bulrushes are wetland plants with spongy, strap-like leaves and starchy, creeping stems. The thick root can be ground to make a flour substitute. The spread of cattails is an important part of the process of open water bodies being converted to vegetated marshland and eventually to dry land.

Resources
For gorgeous stock photos of plants and flowers for art, design and crafts, see Dreamstime for high quality digital images. Find garden supplies of all types at Nature Hills Nursery, Inc .

Recommended Books
For more information about cattails, see recommended books on Amazon:
The Color Encyclopedia of Ornamental Grasses
Grasses: Versatile Partners for Uncommon Garden Design The Language of Flowers: Symbols And Myths

Chamomile Flower Symbolism

The flower symbolism associated with the chamomile flower is energy in action. The extract of German chamomile is taken as a strong tea. It has been used in herbal medicine as a a digestive aid and has anti-inflammatory properties. It is also used in ointments and lotions, and as a mouthwash against infections of mouth and gums.

Cherry Blossom Flower Symbolism

The flower symbolism associated with the cherry blossom is education. In China, the cherry blossom is also a symbol of feminine beauty. It also represents the feminine principle and love. In Japan, cherry blossoms symbolize the transience of life because of their short blooming times. Falling blossoms are metaphors for fallen warriors who died bravely in battle. This connotation links them with the samarai.

Recommended Books