Perception is Reality
Flowers and Their Meanings
-courtesy of www.theknot.com

From the Victorian era, the language of flowers created an ultra-romantic language for lovers, in which flowers were better able to convey meaning than words could express. We’ve compiled this list so that you best know how to say “I Love You!”

Anemone
Meaning: Expectation
Best For: Bouquets and Arrangements
Scent: None
Season: Fall to Spring
Price: Moderate
Fact: Blooms come in both single and double blossoms

Baby’s Breath
Meaning: Innocence
Best For: Filler in Bouquets, Corsages, and Boutonnieres
Scent: None
Season: Year-Round
Price: Inexpensive

Calla Lily
Meaning: Magnificent Beauty
Best For: Bouquets and Arrangements
Scent: Lightly Fragrant
Season: Spring and Summer
Price: Expensive
Fact: Tropical Flower, very popular

Carnation
Meaning: Pink—Boldness, Red—Love, White--Talent
Best For: Bouquets, Boutonnieres and Arrangements
Scent: Depends on variety, light to no fragrance
Season: Year-Round
Price: Inexpensive

Chrysanthemum
Meaning: Wealth, Abundance, Truth
Best For: Bouquets and Arrangements
Scent: None
Season: Year-Round
Price: Inexpensive
Fact: Name means “golden flower”

Daffodil
Meaning: Regard
Best For: Garden Settings, in Pots
Scent: None
Season: Spring
Price: Inexpensive in season

Daisy
Meaning: Share Your Feelings
Best For: Bouquets
Scent: None
Season: Year-Round
Price: Inexpensive

Delphinium
Meaning: Swiftness, Lightness
Best For: Arrangements
Scent: Lightly Fragrant
Season: Summer
Price: Moderate

Freesia
Meaning: Innocence
Best For: Bouquets
Scent: Very Fragrant
Season: Spring and Summer
Price: Inexpensive in season

Gardenia
Meaning: Purity, Joy
Best For: Bouquets and Boutonnieres
Scent: Very Fragrant
Season: Year-Round
Price: Expensive

Hydrangea
Meaning: Understanding
Best For: Bouquets and Arrangements
Scent: None
Season: Fall to Spring
Price: Expensive

Iris
Meaning: Faith and Wisdom
Best For: In Arrangements or Potted
Scent: Fragrant
Season: Spring
Price: Moderate
Fact: Traditionally blue or white, but many exotics like purple also.

Lilac
Meaning: Love’s First Emotion
Best For: A Filler in Arrangements
Scent: Very Fragrant
Season: French Lilacs are available year-round
Price: Moderate
Fact: The local lilac is grown like a bush and used as a filler because of its greenery. The French Lilac is more flower-like and can be used as such in bouquets and arrangements

Lily
Meaning: Majesty, Truth, Honor
Best For: Bouquets and Arrangements
Scent: Fragrant
Season: Summer
Price: Moderate

Lily of The Valley
Meaning: Happiness
Best For: Bouquets and Arrangements
Scent: Fragrant
Season: Spring and Summer
Price: Expensive
Fact: Considered traditional marriage flowers

Magnolia
Meaning: Love of Nature
Best For: Arrangements
Scent: Depends on Variety
Season: Spring and Summer
Price: Expensive
Fact: Common in southern style weddings

Orchid
Meaning: Love, Beauty
Best For: Bouquets, Corsages, and Boutonnieres
Scent: None
Season: Year-Round
Price: Expensive
Fact: Exotic Flowers in many varieties

Peony
Meaning: Bashfulness, The American Spirit of Ambition and Determination
Best For: Arrangements
Scent: Lightly Fragrant
Season: Late Spring
Price: Expensive

Rose
Meaning: Love, Joy, Beauty
Best For: Bouquets, Arrangements, Corsages, Boutonnieres
Scent: Depends on Variety
Season: Year-Round
Price: Moderate
Fact: The most popular wedding flower

Stephanotis
Meaning: Marital Happiness
Best For: Bouquets and Arrangements
Scent: Very Fragrant
Season: Year-Round
Price: Moderate
Fact: Trumpet-Shaped Blossoms, very traditional

Stock
Meaning: Lasting Beauty
Best For: Filler in Arrangements
Scent: Very Fragrant
Season: Year-Round
Price: Inexpensive

Sunflower
Meaning: Short Stem means adoration, Long Stem symbolize haughtiness
Best For: Carrying a single stem down the aisle, potted arrangements
Scent: None
Season: Fall
Price: Moderate

Sweet Pea
Meaning: Pleasure
Best For: Garden Setting, Vases
Scent: Fragrant
Season: Late Spring and Early Summer
Price: Moderate

Tulip
Meaning: Love, Passion
Best For: Arrangements and Bouquets
Scent: None
Season: Late Spring
Price: Expensive

Flower Snafus
Christmas Rose: Scandal
Fig: Idleness
Larkspur: Infidelity
Lavender: Distrust
Marigold: Grief
Mulberry: I shall not survive you
Raspberry: Remorse
Red Carnation: Alas for my poor heart
Red Poopy: Consolation
Rhododendron: Danger
Striped Carnation: Refusal
White Poppy: Sleep
Yellow Carnation: Disdain
Yellow Chrysanthemum: Slighted love
Yellow Lily: Falsehood
Yellow Rose: Jealousy