Flower Trivia

Flower Meanings

Alstroemeria

Alstroemeria

Named after Swedish botanist Baron Klas von Alstroemer. He collected seeds on a trip to Spain in 1753, among which were seeds of this South American flower.


Anemone

Anemone

Or windflower, as it was believed wind made the blossoms open. Another legend says it grew for the gods on Mount Olympus, where prevailing winds blew.


Anthurium

Anthurium
 From a Greek word meaning flower tail (anthus meaning flower, oura meaning tail). Also known as the painted tongue and sometime in jest referred to as the “little boy flower” (we’ll let you figure this one out for yourself).

Aster

Aster

In Greek it means star, for its star-like blossoms. Legend says that it was created from stardust when Virgo looked down from the heavens and wept.


Baby’s Breath

babys breath, gysophilia

Appropriately named for its small, softly-scented blossoms and it’s scent. The botanical name, gypsophila, means love chalk, referring to its preference for chalky soil.


Birch Leaves

Birch Leaves
Given to a man by a woman as a show of encouragement.

Bird-Of-Paradise

Bird of Paradise
 Strelitzia as it is also called, is named after actual birds-of-paradise, which are the most beautiful birds in the world, with brightly coloured plumage and fan like tails.

Carnation

CarnationFrom an old Italian word meaning complexion. The earliest carnations bore flesh-coloured flowers, which gave rise to the name.

Carnation – White

Carnation - White
Pure and ardent love. Good luck to give to a woman.


Calla Lily

Calla LilyBeauty

Chrysanthemum 

Chrysanthemum
From a Greek word meaning gold flower. In the language of flowers, red shades speak of love, white of truth, and yellow of slighted love. Also cheerfulness and optimism.

Daffodil

DaffodilOrnarcissus. In Greek mythology, Narcissus fell in love with his own reflection. He was turned into a flower, to nod into the water at his reflection forever. Also means “The sun is always shining when I’m with you, regard.”


Daisy

DaisyFrom the Old English phrase day’s eye – many open in the morning, revealing the centre disc and close again each night. The disc is made up of hundreds of tiny flowers.

Delphinium

Delphinium
The name is derived from the Greek word for dolphin because of the fancied resemblance of the flower spurs (or partly opened buds) to a dolphin’s head.


 Dendrobium Orchid

Dendrobium Orchid
Dendron means tree. These orchids grow on trees and areepiphytes, which means they depend on the tree for structural support but not nutrition.


 Forget-me-not

Forget-me-not
Faithful love and undying memory, good luck to give to a woman.


 Freesia 

Freesia
Named after German botanist Friedrich H. T. Freese. He was a pupil of Dr. Christian P. Ecklon who named this genus for Freese.


 Gardenia

Gardenia
“I love you in secret”. Good luck to give to a man.


 Gerbera Daisy

Gerbera Daisy
Named after Truagott Gerber, a German botanist and naturalist who traveled extensively in Russia and wrote an important monograph on Russian specimens. Also known as gladiator, because of its sword-shaped leaves, derived from a Latin word meaning little sword. Referred to in history as the sword lily.


 Honeysuckle    

Honeysuckle
A wedding will follow shortly.


 Iris  

Iris
“I have a message for you.”


 Lilac – mauve 

Lilac - mauve
“Do you still love me?”

 Lily

Lily
Throughout the ages, the lily has stood for purity and sweetness, modesty, whiteness and fragility. Various species are widely referenced in Greek mythology.


 Lily of the Valley 

Lily of the Valley
“Let’s make up.”


 Moss

Moss
Maternal love, charity.


 Nerine

Nerine
Named after the Nereids in Greek mythology. The Nereids were sea nymphs, daughters of the sea god Nereus.


 Jonquil

Jonquil
Love Me, Desire, Sympathy, Desire For a Return of Affection


 Petunia

Petunia
“I am furious!”


 Protea

Protea
Named after the sea god Proteus who could assume different shapes. And, indeed the protea comes in many forms, from tiny dwarf flowers, to shrubs, to trees.


 Rose

Rose
Romans believed white roses grew where the tears of Venus fell, as she mourned the loss of her beloved Adonis. Her son Cupid, stung by a bee, shot arrows in the rose garden. The sting of the arrows became thorns. Venus pricked her foot on a thorn, and the droplets of blood dyed the roses red. A single, full bloom means: I still love you; (Pink) – please believe me; (Red) – love and desire; (Yellow) – infidelity and jealousy [but now often means friendship]; (White and Red together) – unity and warmth of heart. Go to our dedicated rose page for much more information on roses.


 Rosemary

Rosemary
Fidelity and love, remembrance.


 Snapdragon

Snapdragon
So named because of its snout-like blossoms. A light pressure on either side of a single blossom will make the jaws of the dragon open.


 Statice

StaticeStatice
Or sea-lavender because it grows wild in salt-marshes. The Greek word statice means causing to stand as the spikes stand fresh-looking for months.


 Tulip

Tulip
Named so because it resembled the colourful Turkish tulband (turban).The word was later corrupted to tulipan, and much later, abbreviated to tulip. Means declaration of love, symbol of perfect lover; (Red) – believe me; (Variegated [bicolour]) – beautiful eyes.


 Violet 

Violet
“I return your love”, good luck to give to a woman.


Zinnia

ZinniaLasting affection.