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The Society of American Florists has compiled these lists of flowers meanings from a variety of sources:
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Flower & Plant Information and Photos -
Meanings of Flowers
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In Victorian times, certain flowers had specific meanings because the flower selection was limited and people used more symbols and gestures to communicate than words. But today, with so many flower choices, there are no rules - it's the sentiment that gives the gift its meaning. Your florist can help you send the right message. Many people assign their own personal meanings - a flower or color that might remind them of a special event or moment in their lives. For those interested in the historic meanings of flowers, the Society of American Florists has compiled this list from a variety of different sources:
| Alstroemeria |
aspiring |
| Amaryllis |
dramatic |
| Anemone |
fragile |
| Apple Blossom |
promis |
| Aster |
contentment |
| Azalea |
abundance |
| Baby's Breath |
festivity |
| Bachelor Button |
anticipation |
| Begonia |
deep thoughts |
| Black-Eyed Susan |
encouragement |
| Camellia |
graciousness |
| Carnation |
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| pink |
gratitude |
| red |
flashy |
| striped |
refusal |
| white |
remembrance |
| yellow |
cheerful |
| Chrysanthemum |
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| bronze |
excitement |
| white |
truth |
| red |
sharing |
| yellow |
secret admirer |
| Cosmos |
peaceful |
| Crocus |
foresight |
| Daffodil |
chivalry |
| Delphinium |
boldness |
| Daisy |
innocence |
| Freesia |
spirited |
| Forget-Me-Not |
remember me forever |
| Gardenia |
joy |
| Geranium |
comfort |
| Ginger |
proud |
| Gladiolus |
strength of character |
| Heather |
solitude |
| Hibiscus |
delicate beauty |
| Holly |
domestic happiness |
| Hyacinth |
sincerity |
| Hydrangea |
perseverance |
| Iris |
inspiration |
| Ivy |
fidelity |
| Jasmine |
grace and elegance |
| Larkspur |
beautiful spirit |
| Lavender |
distrust |
| Lilac |
first love |
| Lily |
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| Calla |
regal |
| Casablanca |
celebration |
| Day |
enthusiasm |
| Stargazer |
ambition |
| Lisianthus |
calming |
| Magnolia |
dignity |
| Marigold |
desire for riches |
| Nasturtium |
patriotism |
| Orange Blossom |
fertility |
| Orchid |
delicate beauty |
| Pansy |
loving thoughts |
| Passion flower |
passion |
| Peony |
healing |
| Poppy |
consolation |
| Queen Anne's Lace |
delicate femininity |
| Ranunculus |
radiant |
| Rhododendron |
beware |
| Rose |
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| pink |
friendship |
| red |
passionate love |
| red & white |
unity |
| white |
purity |
| yellow |
zealous |
| Snapdragon |
presumptuous |
| Star of Bethlehem |
hope |
| Stephanotis |
good luck |
| Statice |
success |
| Sunflower |
adoration |
| Sweetpea |
shyness |
| Tuberose |
pleasure |
| Tulip |
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| pink |
caring |
| purple |
royalty |
| red |
declaration of love |
| white |
forgiveness |
| yellow |
hopelessly in love |
| Violet |
faithfulness |
| Wisteria |
steadfast |
| Yarrow |
good health |
| Zinnia |
thoughts of friends
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Flower & Plant Information and Photos -
Meanings of Flowers
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State
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Flower
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Alabama
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Camellia
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Alaska
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Forget-me-not
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Arizona
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Saguaro Cactus blossom
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Arkansas
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Apple blossom
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California
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California Poppy
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Colorado
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Rocky Mountain Columbine
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Connecticut
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Mountain laurel
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Delaware
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Peach blossom
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Florida
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Orange blossom
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Georgia
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Cherokee Rose
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Hawaii
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Hawaiian hibiscus (ma‘o hau hele)
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Idaho
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Mock Orange
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Illinois
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Purple Violet
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Indiana
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Peony
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Iowa
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Wild Prairie Rose
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Kansas
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Sunflower
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Kentucky
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Goldenrod
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Louisiana
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Magnolia
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Maine
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White pine cone and tassel
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Maryland
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Black-eyed susan
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Massachusetts
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Mayflower
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Michigan
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Apple blossom
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Minnesota
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Pink and white lady's slipper
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Mississippi
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Magnolia
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Missouri
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Hawthorn
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Montana
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Bitterroot
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Nebraska
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Goldenrod
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Nevada
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Sagebrush
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New Hampshire
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Purple lilac
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New Jersey
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Violet
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New Mexico
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Yucca flower
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New York
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Rose
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North Carolina
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American Dogwood
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North Dakota
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Wild Prairie Rose
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Ohio
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Scarlet Carnation
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Oklahoma
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Oklahoma Rose
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Oklahoma
(Floral Emblem)
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Mistletoe
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Oklahoma (Wildflower)
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Indian Blanket
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Oregon
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Oregon grape
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Pennsylvania
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Mountain Laurel
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Rhode Island
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Violet
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South Carolina
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Yellow Jessamine
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South Dakota
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Pasque flower
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Tennessee
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Iris
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Texas
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Bluebonnet
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Utah
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Sego lily
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Vermont
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Red Clover
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Virginia
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American Dogwood
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Washington
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Coast Rhododendron
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West Virginia
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Rhododendron
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Wisconsin
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Wood Violet
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Wyoming
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Indian Paintbrush
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Flower & Plant Information and Photos -
Meanings of Flowers
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 Vanessa Diffenbaugh's novel "The Language of Flowers" tells the story of Victoria, a young woman from the foster-care system who uses the Victorian language of flowers to communicate with others and make sense of her troubled past.
Diffenbaugh created Victoria's Flower Dictionary by reviewing several dictionaries - "The Flower Vase" by Miss S. C. Edgarton, "Language of Flowers" by Kate Greenaway, "The Language and Sentiment of Flowers" by James D. McCabe, and "Flora's Lexicon" by Catharine H. Waterman - and scanning the meanings, selecting the definition that occurred most often or she liked the best.
"My goal was to create a usable, relevant dictionary for modern readers, Diffenbaugh said. "I deleted plants from the Victorian dictionaries that are no longer common, and added flowers that were rarely used in the 1800s but are more popular today."
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Meanings of Flowers
