Anemone

Various versions of Greek myths attributed this flower to the beautiful youth Adonis, but no matter whether there had been a dispute between Aphrodite (goddess of love) and Persiphone (queen of the underworld) over him, or the youth had bragged about his love affair with Aphrodite among his friends, Adonis died early in a boar hunt. Anemone grew from his blood as Aphrodite grieved and cried over his dead body.

Aster

It is said that this kind of flowers began to grow from the tears of Asterea, the Greek goddess of the starry sky (also known as Virgo in Rome), who cried because she saw no star when she looked down upon the earth.

Christmas Rose

In Greek mythology, Melampus the great seers used this plant as a herb to cure the madness of King Proetus' daughters and other Greek women, who lost their hair and roamed wildly through mountains and desert of Tiryns, thinking themselves to be cows. Melampus and his brother Bias gained a fortune (two thirds of King Proetus' kingdom) as a result, becoming the husbands of the princesses.

Hyacinth

A well-known Greek myth tells of a handsome Spartan youth called Hyacinthus, loved by the god Apollo, was accidentally killed when the two were casting discus together. Broken hearted, Apollo created the hyacinth flower out of the blood of his friend that bore on its petal the Greek syllables of lament ai ai, meaning "woe."

Iris

Since Iris is the Greek goddess of messenger of love, her sacred flower is considered the symbol of communication and message. Greek men would often plant iris on the graves of their beloved women as attribute to the goddess Iris, whose duty it was to take the souls of women to the Eysian fields.

Lily

According to the Roman myth, when Juno, the queen of the gods and goddess of marriage, was nursing her son Hercules, excess milk fell from the sky. Part of it stayed in the heavens, creating the Milky Way, and part of it fell to earth, creating the lilies. In Rome, lilies were known as Rosa junonis, or Juno's rose.

Narcissus

Extreme egotism finds its way to Greek mythology through a person named Narcissus, a ravishly beautiful youth who spurned all his suitors of both sexes, including the tragic Echo. However, he was fated to come by a spring on the heights of Mount Helicon one day, and when he saw his reflection in the water, he fell in love with it and would not want to leave it. As a result, he wasted away there, and became the flower Narcissus which always bow down its head to its image in the water at its feet.

Peony

It is believed that Peony is named for Paeon (also known as Paean), who seemed to be a deity of healing as he had healed Hades and Ares of wounds. The flower myth concerning about him says that Paeon was a student of Asclepius, the god of medicine and healing. He was once instructed by Leto (Apollo's mother and goddess of fertility) to obtain a magical root growing on Mount Olympus that would soothe the pain of women in childbirth. Asclepius became jealous and threatened to kill his pupil. Zeus saved Paeon from the wrath of Asclepius by changing him into the peony flower.

Rose

The ancients explained the beauty of the rose through myths of godly creation. The Greek goddess Chloris stumbled upon a beautiful dead nymph and turned her into a flower; Aphrodite added beauty, the three graces added brilliance, joy, and charm. Dionysious donated fragrant nectar, while Zephyrus the west wind blew away the clous so Apollo could shower the rose in sun. The flower was then given to Eros, the deity of love, and named the "queen of flowers".

The Romans had their own ideas on the rose's origin. According to their legend, many suitors were lined up to marry a beautiful woman named Rodanthe, but she had little interest in any of them. These men were so full of love and desire that they became rowdy and eventually broke down the doors to her house. This episode angered the goddess Diana, who turned the woman into a flower and her suitors into thorns to teach them a lesson.

Sunflower

Clytie was a nymph who loved Helius (the god of the Sun), but he scorned her in favour of another girl called Leucothoe. In a fit of jealousy Clytie told the affair to Leucothoe's father, King Orchamus of Persia, who then buried his daughter alive as a punishment. Helius hated Clytie even more, and poor Clytie wasted away and became the sunflower, whose head turns to follow the course of the sun across the sky each day.

Venus-Looking-Glass (Bellflower)

It is said that Venus, the goddess of love and beauty or Rome, had lost her magic mirror that anyone who looked in it would see nothing but beauty. A poor shepherd boy found it, but would not give it back because he had become entranced with his own image. Venus therefore sent Cupid down to get it back, and in his haste, Cupid struck the shepherd's hand. The mirror shattered, and everywhere a piece of it landed, a Venus-looking-glass flower began to grow.

Yarrow

Also known as the Achillea, it is named after the hero Achilles of Homer's Iliad, who was said to have given this plant to his soldiers to help stanch the flow of blood from their wounds during the Trojan War. Modern tests on the plan have found that it does indeed contain chemicals that help blood to clot. It is also called "devil's plaything" because people in the past believed that placing yarrow under the pillow will cause one to dream of matters of love.

Floral Language

ACACIA BLOSSOM -
Concealed Love; Beauty in Retirement; Chaste Love

ACORN
Nordic Symbol of Life and immortality

AMBROSIA
Your Love is Reciprocated

AMARYLLIS
Pride; Pastoral Poetry

ANEMONE
Forsaken

ARBUTUS
Thee Only Do I Love

ASTER
Symbol of Love: Daintiness

AZALEA
Take Care of Yourself for Me; Temperance; Fragile Passion;
Chinese Symbol of Womanhood

BACHELOR BUTTON
Single Blessedness

BEGONIA
Beware

BELLS OF IRELAND
Good Luck

BITTERSWEET
Truth

BLUEBELL
Humility

BOUQUET OF WITHERED FLOWERS
Rejected Love

CACTUS - Endurance

CAMELLIA
Admiration; Perfection; Good Luck, Gift to a Man

CAMELLIA Pink
Longing for You

CAMELLIA Red
You're a Flame in My Heart

CAMELLIA White
You're Adorable

CANDY TUFT
Indifference

CARNATION General
Fascination; Divine Love

CARNATION Pink
I'll Never Forget You

CARNATION, Purple
Capriciousness

CARNATION Red
My Heart Aches for You; Admiration

CARNATION Solid Colour
Yes

CARNATION Striped
No; Refusal; Sorry I Can't Be with You:
Wish l Could Be with You

CARNATION White
Sweet and Lovely; Innocence; Pure Love;
Woman's Good Luck Gift

CARNATION Yellow
You Have Disappointed Me; Rejection

CATTAIL
Peace; Prosperity

CHRYSANTHEMUM General
You're A Wonderful Friend; Cheerfulness and Rest

CHRYSANTHEMUM Red
Love

CHRYSANTHEMUM White
Truth

CHRYSANTHEMUM Yellow
Slighted Love

COREOPSIS
Always Cheerful

CROCUS
Cheerfulness

CYCLAMEN
Resignation and Good-bye

DAFFODIL
Regard; Unrequited Love; You're the Only One;
The Sun is Always Shining When I'm with You

DAISY
Innocence; Loyal Love; I'll Never Tell; Purity

DANDELION
Faithfulness; Happiness

DEAD LEAVES
Sadness

FERN
Magic; Fascination; Confidence and Shelter

FERN Maidenhair
Secret Bond of Love

FIR
Time

FLAX
Domestic Symbol

FORGET-ME-NOT
True Love; Memories

FORSYTHIA
Anticipation

GARDENIA
You're Lovely: Secret Love

GARLIC
Courage; Strength

GERANIUM
Stupidity; Folly

GLADIOLUS
Give Me a Break . I'm Really Sincere; Flower of the Gladiators

GLOXINIA
Love at First Sight

GRASS - Submission

HEATHER Lavender
Admiration; Solitude

HEATHER White
Protection; Wishes will Come True

HOLLY
Defense; Domestic Happiness

HYACINTH General
Games and Sports; Rashness: Flower Dedicated to Apollo

HYACINTH Blue
Constancy

HYACINTH Purple
I Am Sorry; Please Forgive Me: Sorrow

HYACINTH Red or Pink
Play

HYACINTH White
Loveliness; I'll Pray for You

HYACINTH Yellow
Jealousy

HYDRANGEA
Thank You for Understanding; Frigidity; Heartlessness

IRIS
Fleur-de-Lis, Emblem of France: Your Friendship Means So Much to Me;
Faith; Hope; Wisdom and Valour; My Compliments

IVY
Wedded Love; Fidelity; Friendship; Affection

IVY SPRIG OF WHITE TENDRILS
Anxious to Please; Affection

JONQUIL
Love Me; Affection Returned; Desire; Sympathy; Desire for Affection Returned

LARKSPUR Pink
- Fickleness

LILY Calla
Beauty

LILY Day
Coquetry; Chinese Emblem for Mothers

LILY Eucharis
- Maiden Charms

LILY Orange
Hatred

LILY Tiger
Wealth; Pride

LILY White
Virginity; Purity; Majesty; It's Heavenly to Be with You

LILY Yellow
I'm Walking on Air; False and Gay

LILY-0F-THE-VALLEY
Sweetness; Tears of the Virgin Mary;
Return to Happiness; Humility;
You've Made My Life Complete

MAGNOLIA
Nobility

MARIGOLD
Cruelty: Grief Jealousy

MISTLETOE
Kiss me; Affection; To Surmount Difficulties;
Sacred Plant of India; Magic Plant of the Druids

MONKSHOOD
Beware; A Deadly Foe is Near

MOSS
Maternal Love; Charity

MYRTLE
Love; Hebrew Emblem of Marriage

NARCISSUS
Egotism; Formality; Stay as Sweet as You Are

NASTURTIUM
Conquest; Victory in Battle

NUTS
Stupidity

OLEANDER
Caution

ORANGE BLOSSOM
Innocence; Eternal Love; Marriage and Fruitfulness

ORANGE MOCK Deceit

ORCHID Love; Beauty; Refinement; Beautiful Lady;
Chinese Symbol for Many Children

ORCHID
Cattleya Mature Charm

PALM LEAVES
Victory and Success

PEONY
Shame; Gay Life; Happy Marriage

PETUNIA
Resentment; Anger; Your Presence Soothes me

PINE Hope; Pity

POPPY General
Eternal Sleep; Oblivion; Imagination

POPPY Red
Pleasure

POPPY White
Consolation

POPPY Yellow
Wealth; Success

PRIMROSE
I Can't Live Without You

PRIMROSE
Evening - Inconstancy

ROSE Bridal
Happy Love

ROSE Christmas
Tranquilize My Anxiety; Anxiety

ROSE Coral
Desire

ROSE Damask
Persian Ambassador of Love

ROSE Dark Crimson
Mourning

ROSE Dark Pink
Thankfulness

ROSE Lavender
Enchantment

ROSE LEAF
You May Hope

ROSE Orange
Fascination

ROSE
Pale Peach - Modesty

ROSE Pale Pink
Grace, Joy

ROSE Red
Love, Respect

ROSE Single Full Bloom
I Love You; I Still Love You

ROSE Tea
I'll Remember; Always

ROSE Thorn less
Love at First Sight

ROSE White
Innocence and Secrecy

ROSE White and Red Together
Unity

ROSE Yellow
Joy, Friendship

ROSEBUD
Beauty and Youth; A Heart Innocent of Love

ROSEBUD Moss
Confessions of Love

ROSEBUD Red
Pure and Lovely

ROSEBUD White
Girlhood

ROSES Bouquet of Full Bloom
Gratitude

ROSES Garland or Crown of
Reward of Merit; Crown Symbol of Superior Merit

ROSES Musk Cluster
Charming

SMILAX
Loveliness

SNAPDRAGON
Deception; Gracious Lady

SPIDER FLOWER
Elope with Me

STEPHANOTIS
Happiness in Marriage; Desire to Travel

STOCK
Bonds of Affection; Promptness; You'll Always Be Beautiful to Me

SWEET PEA
Good-bye; Departure; Blissful Pleasure; Thank You for a Lovely Time

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

VIOLET
Modesty

VIOLET Blue
Watchfulness; Faithfulness; I'll Always Be True

VIOLET White
Let's Take a Chance on Happiness

VISCARIA
Will You Dance with Me?

ZINNIA Magenta
Lasting Affection

ZINNIA Mixed
Thinking (or in Memory) of an Absent Friend

ZINNIA Scarlet
Constancy

ZINNIA White
Goodness

ZINNIA Yellow
Daily Remembrance