Flower and Life

Imagine, chrysanthemums have been cultivated in Chinese gardens for almost 3000 years! The name chrysanthemum comes from the Greek chrysos (gold) and anthos (flower). Today some of the meanings associated with this flower are: innocence, cheerfulness and loyal love.

R
RAGGED-ROBIN - Wit
RANUNCULUS - I am Dazzled by your Charms
REEDS - Music
RHUBARB - Advice
RHODODENDRON - Danger, Beware, I am Dangerous
ROSE (BRIDAL) - Happiness
ROSE (BURGANDY) - Unconscious Beauty
ROSE (CHRISTMAS)- Relieve my anxiety
ROSE (CORAL) - Desire
ROSE (DAMASK) - Freshness, Persian Ambassador of Love
ROSE (DARK CRIMSON) - Mourning
ROSE (DOG) - Pleasure & Pain
ROSE (GREEN) - I am from Mars
ROSE (HIBISCUS) - Delicate, Beauty
ROSE (LEAF) - You may Hope
ROSE (LAVENDER) - Enchantment
ROSE (ORANGE) - Fascination
ROSE (PINK) - Perfect Happiness, Secret Love, Grace & Sweetness, Indecision
ROSE (DARK PINK) - Thankfulness
ROSE (PALE PINK) - Grace, Joy
ROSE (PEACH) - Immortality, Modesty
ROSE (RED) - Love, I love you, Respect, Beauty
ROSE (DEEP RED) - Bashful, Shame
ROSE (TEA) - I'll Remember - Always
ROSE (THORNLESS) - Love at first sight, Early Attachment
ROSE (WHITE) - Innocence, Purity, Humility, I am Worthy of You, Secrecy, Silence
ROSE (WHITE & RED TOGETHER) - Unity, Flower Emblem of England
ROSE (WHITE-DRIED) - Death is Preferable to Loss of Virtue
ROSE (YELLOW) - Joy, Jealousy, Friendship (one yellow rose with 11 red ones means love & passion)
ROSEBUD - Beauty & Youth, A Heart Innocent of Love
ROSEBUD (RED) - Pure & Lovely
ROSEBUD (WHITE) - Girlhood, Heart Ignorant of Love
ROSEBUD (MOSS) - Confessions of Love
ROSES (Bouquet of full bloom) - Gratitude
ROSES (Single full bloom) - I truly love you, Simplicity.
ROSES (GARLAND or CROWN OF) - Beware of Virtue, Reward of Merit, Symbol of Superior Merit
ROSE (MUSK CLUSTER) - Charming
ROSE-OF-SHARON - Consumed by Love
ROSEMARY - Remembrance
RUSH/HORSE-TAIL - Docility

S
SAGE - Wisdom, Great Respect, Speedwell Female Fidelity
SATIN-FLOWER - Sincerity
SENSITIVE PLANT - Timidity
SHAMROCK - Lightheartedness
SLOE - Difficulty, AusteritySMILAX - Loveliness
SNAPDRAGON - Gracious Lady, Strength
SNOWBALL - Thoughts of Heaven
SNOWDROP - Hope, Consolation
SPEARMINT - Warm Sentiment
SPIDER FLOWER - Elope with me
SOLIDAGO - Success
STAR OF BETHLEHEM - Atonement, Reconciliation
STARWORT - Welcome to a Stranger
STEPHANOTIS - Marital Happiness, Desire to Travel
STOCK- Bonds of Affection, Promptness, You'll Always Be Beautiful to Me
STONECROP - Tranquility
STRAW FLOWER - Agreement
STRAW (BROKEN) - Broken agreement
SYTINGIA/MOCK ORANGE/LILAC - Memory
SUNFLOWER (TALL) - False riches, Pride
SUNFLOWER ( DWARF) - Adoration
SWEETPEA - Good-by, Departure, Blissful Pleasure, Thank You for a Lovely Time
SWEET-SULTAN - Felicity, Happiness
SWEET-WILLIAM - Grant me one smile, Gallantry

T
TEASEL (Dipscaus) - Misanthropy
THORNAPPLE - I dreamed of thee
THRIFT (ARMERIA) - Sympathy
TRAVELER'S JOY - Rest, Safety
TRUMPET FLOWER/ANGEL'S TRUMPET/DATURA - Separation
TULIP (GENERAL) - Perfect Lover, Fame, Flower Emblem of Holland
TULIP (RED) -Believe me, Declaration of Love
TULIP (VARIEGATED) - Beautiful eyes
TULIP (YELLOW) - There's Sunshine In Your Smile
TURNIP - Charity

V
VALERIAN - Accommodating Disposition
VENUS FLYTRAP - Caught at Last
VENUS' LOOKING GLASS - Flattery
VERBENA - Pray for me, Sensibility
VERONICA SPEEDWELL - Fidelity
VERVAIN - Enchantment
VINE - Intoxicating
VIOLET - Modesty, Virtue, Affection
VIOLET (BLUE) - Watchfulness, Faithfulness, Love
VIOLET (WHITE) - Let's Take A Chance On Happiness
VIRGIN'S BOWER/CLEMATIS - Filial Love (Filial: referring to a son or daughter)
VISCARIA - Will You Dance With Me?

W
WALL FLOWER/GILLY FLOWER - Faithful in Adversity, Fidelity, Lasting Beauty
WINDFLOWER - Sincerity, Symbol of Love
WINTERGREENS - Harmony
WISTERIA - Welcome
WITCH HAZEL - A spell
WOLFBANE/ACONITE/TURK'S CAP/FRIAR'S CAP/BEAR'S FOOT - Misanthropy, Chivalry, Knight
WOODBINE - Fraternal Love
WORMWOOD/ARTEMISIA - Absence, Do not be discouraged

Y
YARROW - Cure for heartache

Z
ZEPHYR FLOWER- Sincerity, Symbol of Love
ZINNIA (MAGENTA) - Lasting Affection
ZINNIA (MIXED) - Thinking (or in memory) of an Absent Friend
ZINNIA (SCARLET) - Constancy
ZINNIA (WHITE) - Goodness
ZINNIA (YELLOW) - Daily Remembrance

H
HAREBELL/CAMPANULA - Humility, Grief
HEART'S EASR/PURPLE/JOHNNY JUMP UP - You Occupy My Thoughts
HEPATICA (Anemone nobilis) - Confidence
HEATHER (LAVENDER) - Admiration, Solitude
HEATHER (WHITE) - Protection, Wishes will come true
HELIOTROPE - Devotion
HENBANE - For Males to Attract Love from Females
HIBISCUS - Consumed by Love, Delicate Beauty
HOLLY - Defense, Domestic Happiness, Am I forgotten
HOLLYHOCK - Fruitfulness
HOLLYHOCK (WHITE) - Female Ambition
HONESTY/LUNARIA/DOLLAR PLANT/MONEY PLANT - Sincerity
HONEYFLOWER - Sweet, Secret love, Generous Affection, Sweetness of Disposition
HONEYSUCKLE - The Bond of Love
HONEYSUCKLE (CORAL) - I Love You
HOUSTONIA/BLUET/QUAKER LADIES - Content
HOYA/WAX PLANT - Sculpture
HUCKLEBERRY - Faith, Simple Pleasures
HYACINTH (GENERAL) - Games & Sports, Rashness, Flower dedicated to Apollo
HYACINTH (BLUE) - Consistency
HYACINTH (PURPLE) - Sorry, Please forgive me, Sorrow
HYACINTH (RED OR PINK) - Playful Joy
HYACINTH (WHITE) - Unobtrusive Loveliness, I'll pray for you
HYACINTH (YELLOW) - Jealousy
HYDRANGEA - Thank you for understanding, frigidity, heartlessness

I
IPOMACA - I Attach Myself to You
INDIAN CRESS/NASTURTIUM - Resignation
IRIS - Faith, Wisdom, Promise in Love, Hope, Wisdom & Valor
IRIS (YELLOW) - Passion
IRIS (GERMAN) - Flame
IVY - Wedded Love, Fidelity, Friendship, Affection
IVY (SPRIG OF WHITE TENDRILS)- Anxious to please, Affection

J
JAPONICA - Sincerity, Symbol of Love
JASMINE (INDIAN) - Attachment
JASMINE (SPANISH) - Sensuality
JASMINE (YELLOW) - Modesty, Grace, Elegance
JASMINE (WHITE) - Amiability
JERUSALEM OAK - Your Love is Reciprocated
JONQUIL - Love Me, Affection Returned, Desire, Sympathy

K
KENNEDIA - Intellectual Beauty

L
LADY'S SLIPPER - Win me, Capricious Beauty
LANTANA - Rigor
LARKSPUR - Levity, An Open Heart, Lightness
LAURISTINUS - Cheerful in Adversity
LAVENDER - Love, Devotion,
LEMON BLOSSOM - Fidelity in Love; I Promise to be True
LILAC (GENERAL) - Beauty, Pride
LILAC (PURPLE) - First emotions of love
LILAC (WHITE) - Youthful Innocence
LILY (GENERAL) - Majesty & Honor, Purity of Heart
LILY (ORANGE) - Hatred, Dislike
LILY (WHITE) - Virginity, Purity, Majesty, It's Heavenly to be with You, Youth
LILY (YELLOW) - I'm Walking On Air, False, Gay, Gratitude
LILY (CALLA) - Beauty
LILY (DAY) - Coquetry, Chinese Emblem For Mother
LILY (EUCHARIS) - Maiden Charms
LILY (TIGER) - Wealth, Pride, Prosperity
LILY OF THE VALLEY - Sweetness, Tears Of The Virgin Mary, Happiness, Humility
LIVERWORT - Confidence
LOVE IN A MIST - You Puzzle Me
LOVE-LIES-BLEEDING/AMARANTHUS - Hopeless, Not Heartless, Desertion
LOTUS - Estranged love, Forgetful of the Past
LUCERNE - Life
LUNGWORT - Thou Art My Life
LUPINE - Imagination
LYCHNIS/CAMPION/MALTESE CROSS - Religious Enthusiasm

A
APPLE BLOSSOM - Preference, Better Things to Come, Good Fortune
ARBUTUS - Thee Only Do I Love
ARUM - Ardor
ASPARAGUS FERN - Fascination
ASPHODEL - My Regrets Follow You to the Grave
ASTER - Symbol of Love, Daintiness, Talisman of Love
ASTER (CHINA) - Fidelity, Variety, I Will Think of Thee
AZALEA - Take Care, Temperance, Fragile, Passion, Chinese Symbols of Womanhood

B
BABY'S BREATH - Innocence, Pure of Heart
BACHELOR BUTTON - Single blessedness, Celibacy
BALM - Sympathy
BALSAM - Ardent Love
BEGONIA - Beware, A Fanciful Nature
BELLS OF IRELAND - Good luck
BIRD OF PARADISE - Often given today from a woman to man as a symbol of faithfulness
BITTERSWEET - Truth
BLACK BRYONT/LADY'S SEAL - Be My Support
BLUEBELL/BELL FLOWER - Humility, Constancy, Gratitude
BROOM - Humility, Neatness
BUCK BEAN - Calm repose
BUTTERCUP - Childishness, Riches

C
CACTUS - Endurance, My Heart Burns with Love
CALYCANTHUS/CAROLINA ALLSPICE/SWEET SHRUB - Benevolence
CALLA LILY - Magnificent Beauty
CAMELLIA - Admiration, Perfection, Good Luck Gift for a Man, Gratitude
CAMELLIA (PINK) - Longing
CAMELLIA (RED) - You're a flame in my heart
CAMELLIA (WHITE) - Adoration, Perfection, Loveliness
CANDYTUFT - Indifference
CANTERBURY BELLS/BELL FLOWER - Gratitude
CARDINAL FLOWER/SCARLET LOBELIA - Distinction
CARNATION (GENERAL) - Fascination, Devoted Love
CARNATION (PINK) - I'll never forget you, Women's Love
CARNATION (RED) - My heart aches for you, Admiration
CARNATION (DEEP RED) - Alas! for my poor heart
CARNATION (PURPLE) - Capriciousness
CARNATION (SOLID COLOR) - Yes
CARNATION (STRIPED) - No, Refusal, Sorry I can't be with you, Wish I could be with you
CARNATION (WHITE) - Sweet & Lovely, Innocence, Pure Love, Woman's Good Luck Gift
CARNATION (YELLOW) - Disapointment, Rejection
CATCHFLY (RED) - Youthful Love, I Fall Victim
CATTAIL - Peace, Prosperity
CATTLEYA - Mature charms
CEDAR - I live but for thee, Think of Me
CELANDINE/PILEWORT/FIGWORT - Future Joy
CHAMOMILE/GOLDEN MARGUERITE/ANTHEMIS - Energy in Action
CHERRY BLOSSOM (SINGLE) - Education
CHICKWEED - I Cling to Thee
CHICORY - Frugality
CHRISTMAS ROSE/HELLEBORUS - Relieve My Anxiety
CHRYSANTHEMUM (GENERAL) - Abundance & Wealth,
Cheerfulness, You're a wonderful friend
CHRYSANTHEMUM (RED) - Love
CHRYSANTHEMUM (WHITE) - Truth
CHRYSANTHEMUM (YELLOW) - Slighted Love
CINQUEFOIL - Beloved Child
CLEMATIS - Artifice (ingenuity)
CLOVER (FOUR-LEAF) - Be Mine
CLOVER (WHITE) - Think of Me
CLOVER (RED) - Industry
COLCHICUM (MEADOW SAFFRON) - My Best Days Fled
COLUMBINE (PURPLE) - Resolved to Win
COLUMBINE (RED) - Anxious
COMPASS FLOWER - Faith
CONVOLVUS MINOR/BINDWEED - Uncertainty
CORCHORUS - Impatience of Happiness
COREOPSIOS - Always Cheerful
CORNFLOWER - Delicacy, refinement,
CORONILLA/CROWN VETCH - Success to You
COWSLIP - Rusticity, Winning Grace, Healing, Youth, Pensiveness
COXCOMB - Foppery, Unfading Love
CROCUS - Cheerfulness, Abuse not, Gladness
CROWN IMPERIAL/FRITILLARIA - Majesty
CYCLAMEN - Resignation and Good-Bye

Primary Significance: Gifts of radiant warmth, sunflowers are the happiest of flowers, and their meanings include loyalty and longevity. They are unique in their ability to provide energy in the form of nourishment and vibrance, an attribute which mirrors the sun and the energy provided by its heat and light.



Meanings of Sunflowers
No flower can lift spirits quite like sunflowers can. Bright and cheery, bold yet comfortable, the sunflower is a warm and caring gift. With brilliant yellow petals that surround the flower's center, sunflowers have an unmistakable sun-like appearance that has made them a passionate flower choice for many. Sunflowers come in a number of varieties, ranging from small to large and from daylight yellows to sunset reds.


Sunflowers originated in the Americas in 1000B.C., where for centuries they were cultivated as a valuable food source. The use of sunflower images as religious symbols has also been documented in some native societies. With the European exploration of the New World, the sunflower was brought to new areas, and the flower's popularity eventually spread as the rest of the world began to appreciate its beauty and sustenance. Artists throughout history have appreciated the sunflower’s unique splendor, and those of the Impressionist era were especially fixated on the flower. Today, sunflowers continue to provide a resource for commonly used seeds and oil, but they have also become recognized as a floral symbol of great significance.



Much of the meaning of sunflowers stems from its namesake, the sun itself. Wild sunflowers are often photographed with their tall stalks and bright petals stretched towards the sun. This unique behavior, known as phototropism, is a motif that has appeared in many ancient myths and is viewed as a symbol of loyalty and constancy. Their physical resemblance to the sun has also influenced their meanings. The sunflower’s petals have been likened to bright yellow rays of sunshine, which evoke feelings of warmth and happiness. In addition, the sunflower is often associated with adoration and longevity.

For a flower which reflects so many of the sun's positive characteristics, it is little surprise that people enjoy basking in the sunflower’s warming glow. With the sense of brightness and warmth that sunflowers naturally impart, they have become an ideal choice for sending sentiments of cheerfulness and sunny thoughts.