You’ve no doubt seen variations of listings of the language of flowers. This one is from the year 1884 and is a wonderful guide to the meaning of flowers. This is a great way to send a really thoughtful gift. Find a packet of seeds of one of the flowers below that match the sentiment you wish to express, then wrap it nicely and enclose a letter explaining the meaning of that flower in 1884.
SENTIMENT AND LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS.
| Amaranth |
Immortality. |
| Amaryllis |
Beautiful, but timid. |
| Aster, double |
Variety. |
| Aster, German |
Afterthought. |
| Arbutus |
Thee only do I love. |
| Acacia |
Friendship. |
| Apple Blossom |
Preference. |
| Asphodel |
Remembered after death. |
| Arbor Vitæ |
Unchanging friendship. |
| Alyssum |
Worth beyond beauty. |
| Anemone |
Your love changes. |
| Azalea |
Pleasant recollections. |
| Argeratum |
Worth beyond beauty. |
| Balsam |
Impatience. |
| Blue Bell |
Constancy. |
| Balm |
Pleasantry. |
| Bay-leaf |
I change but in death. |
| Bachelor’s Button |
Hope. |
| Begonia |
Deformed. |
| Bitter Sweet |
Truth. |
| Buttercup |
Memories of childhood. |
| Brier, Sweet |
Envy. |
| Calla |
Feminine Modesty. |
| Carnation |
Pride. |
| Clematis |
Mental Excellence. |
| Cypress |
Disappointment, Despair |
| Crocus |
Happiness. |
| Columbine |
I cannot give thee up. |
| Cresses |
Always cheerful. |
| Canterbury Bell |
Constancy. |
| Cereus, Night-blooming |
Transient beauty. |
| Candytuft |
Indifference. |
| Chrysanthemum |
Heart left desolate. |
| Clover, White |
I promise. |
| Clover, Four-leaved |
Be mine. |
| Crown Imperial |
Authority. |
| Camellia |
Spotless purity. |
| Cissus |
Changeable. |
| Centaurea |
Your looks deceive me. |
| Cineraria |
Singleness of heart. |
| Daisy, Field |
I will think of it. |
| Dahlia |
Dignity. |
| Daffodil |
Unrequited love. |
| Dandelion |
Coquetry. |
| Everlasting |
Always remembered. |
| Everlasting Pea |
Wilt thou go with me. |
| Ebony |
Blackness. |
| Fuchsia |
Humble love. |
| Foxglove |
Insincerity. |
| Fern |
Sincerity. |
| Fennel |
Strength. |
| Forget-me-not |
For ever remembered. |
| Fraxinella |
Fire. |
| Geranium, Ivy |
Fond of dancing. |
| Geranium, Oak |
A melancholy mind. |
| Geranium, Rose |
I prefer you. |
| [Pg 78]Geranium, Scarlet |
Stillness. |
| Gladiolus |
Ready armed. |
| Golden Rod |
Encouragement. |
| Gillyflower |
Promptness. |
| Hyacinth |
Benevolence. |
| Honeysuckle |
Devoted love. |
| House Leek |
Domestic economy. |
| Heliotrope |
I adore you. |
| Hibiscus |
Delicate beauty. |
| Hollyhock |
Ambition. |
| Hydrangea |
Vain glory. |
| Ice Plant |
Your looks freeze me. |
| Ivy |
Friendship. |
| Iris, German |
Flame. |
| Iris, Common Garden |
A message for thee. |
| Jonquil |
Affection returned. |
| Jessamine, White |
Amiability. |
| Jessamine, Yellow |
Gracefulness. |
| Larkspur |
Fickleness. |
| Lantana |
Rigor. |
| Laurel |
Words though sweet may deceive. |
| Lavender |
Mistrust. |
| Lemon Blossom |
Discretion. |
| Lady Slipper |
Capricious beauty. |
| Lily of the Valley |
Return of happiness. |
| Lilac, White |
Youth. |
| Lilac, Blue |
First emotions of love. |
| Lily, Water |
Eloquence. |
| May Flower |
Welcome. |
| Marigold |
Sacred affection. |
| Marigold and Cypress |
Despair. |
| Mandrake |
Rarity. |
| Mignonette |
Your qualities surpass your charms. |
| Morning Glory |
Coquetry, Affectation. |
| Mock Orange |
Counterfeit. |
| Myrtle |
Love in absence. |
| Mistletoe |
Insurmountable. |
| Narcissus |
Egotism. |
| Nasturtium |
Patriotism. |
| Oxalis |
Reverie. |
| Orange Blossom |
Purity. |
| Olive |
Peace. |
| Oleander |
Beware. |
| [Pg 79]Primrose |
Modest worth. |
| Pink, White |
Pure love. |
| Pink, Red |
Devoted love. |
| Phlox |
Our hearts are united. |
| Periwinkle |
Sweet memories. |
| Pæony |
Ostentation. |
| Pansy |
You occupy my thoughts. |
| Poppy |
Oblivion. |
| Rhododendron |
Agitation. |
| Rose, Bud |
Confession of love. |
| Rose, Bud White |
Too young to love. |
| Rose, Austrian |
Thou art all that is lovely. |
| Rose, Leaf |
I never trouble. |
| Rose, Monthly |
Beauty ever new. |
| Rose, Moss |
Superior merit. |
| Rose, Red |
I love you. |
| Rose, Yellow |
Infidelity. |
| Rosemary |
Remembrance. |
| Sensitive Plant |
Modesty. |
| Snow-Ball |
Thoughts in heaven. |
| Snow-Drop |
Consolation. |
| Sumach |
Pride and poverty. |
| Sweet William |
Gallantry. |
| Syringa |
Memory. |
| Sunflower |
Lofty thought. |
| Tuberose |
Purity of mind. |
| Thyme |
Activity. |
| Tulip, var |
Beautiful eyes. |
| Tulip, Red |
Declaration of love. |
| Tritoma |
Fiery temper. |
| Verbena, Sensibility. |
| Verbena, Purple |
I weep for you. |
| Verbena, White |
Pray for me. |
| Violet, Blue |
Faithfulness. |
| Violet, White |
Purity, candor. |
| Woodbine |
Fraternal love. |
| Wall Flower |
Fidelity in misfortune. |
| Wistaria |
Close friendship. |
| Wax Plant |
Artificial beauty. |
| Yucca |
Your looks pierce me. |
| Yew |
Sadness. |
| Zinnia |
I mourn your absence. |
