The Language of Flowers

by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

“Starwort means welcome. By giving you a bouquet of starwort, I’m welcoming you to my home, to my life.”

Daisy means innocence,

Red roses mean love; yellow roses infidelity.

“There’s rosemary; that’s for remembrance.

columbine, desertion; holly, foresight; lavender, mistrust.”

“That’s an almond tree. Its spring blossoms are the symbol of indiscretion—nothing you need to know about.

“Sunflowers?” I asked, surprised. False riches. It wouldn’t be my wedding flower of choice,

“some believe lily of the valley brings a return of happiness.”

Periwinkle, I thought, tender recollections.

Mistletoe. I surmount all obstacles.

Peppermint blossoms mean warmth of feeling.”

Snapdragon. Presumption.

Poplar, white. Time.

Under the faded yellow rose was the word jealousy.

Heliotrope, she said. Devoted affection.

“The flower you’re looking for is clearly the common thistle, which symbolizes misanthropy. Misanthropy means hatred or mistrust of humankind.”

Victoria’s Dictionary of Flowers Abutilon (Abutilon) … Meditation Acacia (Acacia) … Secret love Acanthus (Acanthus) … Artifice Agapanthus (Agapanthus) … Love letter Allium (Allium) … Prosperity Almond blossom (Amygdalus communis) … Indiscretion Aloe (Aloe vera) … Grief Alstroemeria (Alstroemeria) … Devotion Alyssum (Lobularia maritima) … Worth beyond beauty Amaranth (Amaranthus) … Immortality Amaryllis (Hippeastrum) … Pride

Anemone (Anemone) … Forsaken Angelica (Angelica pachycarpa) … Inspiration Apple (Malus domestica) … Temptation Apple blossom (Malus domestica) … Preference Aster (Aster) … Patience Azalea (Rhododendron) … Fragile and ephemeral passion Baby’s breath (Gypsophila paniculata) … Everlasting love Bachelor’s button (Centaurea cyanus) … Single blessedness Basil (Ocimum basilicum) … Hate Bay leaf (Laurus nobilis) … I change but in death Begonia (Begonia) … Caution Bellflower (Campanula) … Gratitude Bells of Ireland (Moluccella laevis) … Good

luck Bird of paradise (Strelitzia reginae)… Magnificence Blackberry (Rubus)… Envy Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia)… Justice Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) … Constancy Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spectabilis) … Passion Bouvardia (Bouvardia) … Enthusiasm Broom (Cytisus) … Humility Buttercup (Ranunculus acris) … Ingratitude Cabbage (Brassica oleracea) … Profit Cactus (Opuntia)… Ardent love Calla lily (Zantedesch...

Canterbury bells (Campanula medium) … Constancy Carnation, pink (Dianthus caryophyllus) … I will never forget you Carnation, red (Dianthus caryophyllus) … My heart breaks Carnation, striped (Dianthus caryophyllus) … I cannot be with you Carnation, white (Dianthus caryophyllus) … Sweet and lovely Carnation, yellow (Dianthus caryophyllus) … Disdain Celandine (Chelidonium majus) … Joys to come Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) … Energy in adversity Cherry blossom (Prunus cerasus) … Imp...

Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum) … Truth Cinquefoil (Potentilla) … Beloved daughter Clematis (Clematis) … Poverty Clove (Syzygium aromaticum) … I have loved you and you have not known it Clover, white (Trifolium) … Think of me Cockscomb (Celosia) … Affectation Columbine (Aquilegia) … Desertion Coreopsis (Coreopsis) … Always cheerful Coriander (Coriandrum sativum) … Hidden worth Corn (Zea mays) … Riches Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus) … Joy in love and life Cowslip (Primula veris) … Pensiveness Crab-apple blossom (Malus hupehensis) ...

Cyclamen (Cyclamen) … Timid hope Cypress (Cupressus) … Mourning Daffodil (Narcissus) … New beginnings Dahlia (Dahlia) … Dignity Daisy (Bellis) … Innocence Daisy, Gerber (Gerbera) … Cheerfulness Dandelion (Taraxacum) … Rustic oracle Daphne (Daphne) … I would not have you otherwise Daylily (Hemerocallis) … Coquetry Delphinium (Delphinium) … Levity Dianthus (Dianthus) … Make haste Dittany (Dictamnus albus) …...

Edelweiss (Leontopodium alpinum) … Noble courage Elder (Sambucus) … Compassion Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus) … Protection Euphorbia (Euphorbia) … Persistence Evening primrose (Oenothera biennis) … Inconstancy Everlasting pea (Lathyrus latifolius) … Lasting pleasure Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) … Strength Fern (Polypodiophyta) … Sincerity Fern, maidenhair (Adiantum capillus-veneris) … Secrecy Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) … Warmth Fig (Ficus carica) … Argument

Flax (Linum usitatissimum) … I feel your kindness Forget-me-not (Myosotis) … Forget me not Forsythia (Forsythia) … Anticipation Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) … Insincerity Freesia (Freesia) … Lasting friendship Fuchsia (Fuchsia) … Humble love Gardenia (Gardenia) … Refinement Gentian (Gentiana) … Intrinsic worth Geranium, oak-leaf (Pelargonium) … True friendship Geranium, pencil-leaf (Pelargonium) … Ingenuity Geranium, scarlet (Pelargonium) … Stupidity Geranium, wild (Pelargonium) … Steadfast piety Ginger (Zingiber) … Strength Gladiolus (Gladiolus) … You pierce my heart

Goldenrod (Solidago) … Careful encouragement Grapevine (Vitis vinifera) … Abundance Grass (Poaceae) … Submission Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) … Hope Hazel (Corylus) … Reconciliation Heath (Erica) … Solitude Heather (Calluna vulgaris) … Protection Helenium (Helenium) … Tears Heliotrope (Heliotropium) … Devoted affection Hibiscus (Hibiscus) … Delicate beauty Holly (Ilex) … Foresight Hollyhock (Alcea) … Ambition Honesty ...

Hyacinth, purple (Hyacinthus orientalis) … Please forgive me Hyacinth, white (Hyacinthus orientalis) … Beauty Hydrangea (Hydrangea) … Dispassion Ice plant (Carpobrotus chilensis) … Your looks freeze me Impatiens (Impatiens) … Impatience Iris (Iris) … Message Ivy (Hedera helix) … Fidelity Jacob’s ladder (Polemonium) … Come down Jasmine, Carolina (Gelsemium sempervirens) … Separation ...

Jonquil (Narcissus jonquilla) … Desire Laburnum (Laburnum anagyroides) … Pensive beauty Lady’s slipper (Cypripedium) … Capricious beauty Lantana (Lantana) … Rigor Larch (Larix decidua) … Audacity Larkspur (Consolida) … Lightness Laurel (Laurus nobilis) … Glory and success Lavender (Lavandula) … Mistrust Lemon (Citrus limon) … Zest Lemon blossom (Citrus limon) … Discretion Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) … Coldheartedness Liatris (Liatris...

Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) … Return of happiness Linden tree (Tilia) … Conjugal love Lisianthus (Eustoma) … Appreciation Lobelia (Lobelia) … Malevolence Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) … Purity Love-in-a-mist (Nigella damascena) … Perplexity Love-lies-bleeding (Amaranthus caudatus) … Hopeless but not helpless Lungwort (Pulmonaria) … You are my life Lupine (Lupinus) … Imagination Magnolia (Magnolia) … Dignity Marigold (Calendula) … Grief Marjoram (Origanum) … ...

Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) … Uselessness Michealmas daisy (Aster amellus) … Farewell Mignonette (Reseda odorata) … Your qualities surpass your charms Mimosa (Mimosa) … Sensitivity Mistletoe (Viscum) … I surmount all obstacles Mock orange (Pittosporum undulatum) … Counterfeit Monkshood (Aconitum) … Chivalry Morning glory (Ipomoea) … Coquetry Moss (Bryopsida) … Mate...

Narcissus (Narcissus) … Self-love Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) … Impetuous love

Nettle (Urtica) … Cruelty Oats (Avena sativa) … The witching soul of music Oleander (Nerium oleander) … Beware Olive (Olea europaea) … Peace Orange (Citrus sinensis) … Generosity Orange blossom (Citrus sinensis) … Your purity equals your loveliness Orchid (Orchidaceae) … Refined beauty Oregano (Origanum vulgare) … Joy Pansy (Viola) … Think of me Parsley (Petroselinum crispum) … Festivity Passionflower (Passiflora) … Faith Peach (Prunus persica) … Your charms are unequaled

Peach blossom (Prunus persica) … I am your captive Pear (Pyrus) … Affection Pear blossom (Pyrus) … Comfort Peony (Paeonia) … Anger Peppermint (Mentha) … Warmth of feeling Periwinkle (Vinca minor) … Tender recollections Persimmon (Diospyros kaki) … Bury me amid nature’s beauty Petunia (Petunia) … Your presence soothes me Phlox (Phlox) … Our souls are united Pineapple (Ananas comosus) … You are perfect Pink (Dianthus) … Pure love Plum (Prunus domestica) … Keep your promises Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) … Be of good cheer Polyanthus (Primula) … Confidence Pomegranate (Punica granatum) … Foolishness Pomegranate blossom (Punica granatum) … Mature elegance Poplar, black (Populus nigra) … Courage Poplar, white (Populus alba) … Time Poppy (Papaver) … Fantastic extravagance Potato (Solanum tuberosum) … Benevolence Potato vine (Solanum jasminoides) … You are delicious Primrose (Primula) … Childhoo...

Raspberry (Rubus) … Remorse Redbud (Cercis) … Betrayal Rhododendron (Rhododendron) … Beware Rhubarb (Rheum) … Advice Rose, burgundy (Rosa) … Unconscious beauty Rose, moss (Rosa) … Confession of love Rose, orange (Rosa) … Fascination Rose, pale peach (Rosa) … Modesty Rose, pink (Rosa) … Grace Rose, purple (Rosa) … Enchantment Rose, red (Rosa) … Love Rose, white (Rosa) … A heart una...

Saffron (Crocus sativus) … Beware of excess Sage (Salvia officinalis) … Good health and long life Saint-John’s-wort (Hypericum perforatum) … Superstition Saxifraga (Saxifraga) … Affection Scabiosa (Scabiosa) … Unfortunate love Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis) … Change Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus) … Presumption Snowdrop (Galanthus) … Consolation and hope Sorrel (Rumex acetosa) … Parental affection Speedwell (Veronica) … Fidelity Spirea (Spiraea) … Victory Star-of-Bethlehem (Ornithogalum umbellatum) … Purity Starwort (Stellaria) … Welcome Stephanotis (Stephanotis floribunda) … Happiness in marriage Stock (Malcolmia maritima) … You will always be beautiful to me Stonecrop (Sedum) … Tranquility Strawberry (Fragaria) … Perfection Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) … False riches Sweet briar (Rosa rubiginosa) … Simplicity Sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus) … Delicate pleasures Sweet William (Dianthus barbatus) … Gallantry Tansy (Tanacetum) … I declare war against you Thistle, common (Cirsium) … Misanthropy Thrift (Armeria) … Sympathy Thyme (Thymus) … Activity Trachelium (Trachelium) … Neglected beauty Trillium (Trillium) … Modest beauty Trumpet vine (Campsis radicans) … Fame Tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa) … Dangerous pleasures Tulip (Tulipa) … Declaration of love Turnip (Brassica rapa) … Charity Verbena (Verbena) … Pray for me Vetch (Vicia) … I cling to thee Violet (Viola) … Modest worth Wallflower (Cheiranthus) … Fidelity in adversity Water lily (Nymphaea) … Purity of heart Waxfl...