This list of floral trivia gives the meanings, messages or myths associated
with various flowers. Share it with your friends and other flower lovers
or save it for a game of Trivial Pursuit!
| Flower Name
|
|
|
| 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 |
 |
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 |
 |
From a Greek word meaning flower tail (anthus
meaning flower, oura meaning tail). Also known as the painted tongue. |
| 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 |
 |
Appropriately named for its small, softly-scented
blossoms. The botanical name, gypsophila, means love chalk, referring
to its preference for chalky soil. |
| Birch
Leaves |
 |
Given to a man by a woman as a show of encouragement. |
| 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 fanlike tails. |
| Carnation |
 |
From an old Italian word meaning complexion.
The earliest carnations bore flesh-coloured flowers, which gave rise
to the name. |
| Carnation,
white |
 |
Pure and ardent love. Good luck to give to
a woman. |
| Calla
Lily |
 |
Beauty |
| 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 |
 |
Or narcissus. 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 |
 |
From 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 |
 |
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 |
 |
Dendron means tree. These orchids grow on trees
and are epiphytes, which means they depend on the tree for structural
support but not nutrition. |
| Forget-me-not |
 |
Faithful love and undying memory, good luck
to give to a woman. |
| 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 |
 |
"I love you in secret". Good luck to give to
a man. |
| Gerbera
Daisy |
 |
Named after Truagott Gerber, a German botanist
and naturalist who travelled extensively in Russia and wrote an important
monograph on Russian specimens. |
| Gerbera
Daisy |
 |
As in gladiator, because of its sword-shaped
leaves, derived from a Latin word meaning little sword. Also referred
to in history as the sword lily. |
| Honeysuckle |
 |
A wedding will follow shortly. |
| Iris |
 |
"I have a message for you." |
| Lilac,
mauve |
 |
"Do you still love me?" |
| 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 |
 |
"Let's make up." |
| Moss |
 |
Maternal love, charity. |
| Nerine
|
 |
Named after the Nereids in Greek mythology.
The Nereids were sea nymphs, daughters of the sea god Nereus. |
| Petunia |
 |
"I am furious!" |
| 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 |
 |
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. |
| Rosemary |
 |
Fidelity and love, remembrance. |
| 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 |
 |
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 |
 |
Named so because it resembled the colourful
Turkish tulband (turban). The word was later corrupted to tulipan,
and much later, abbreviated to tulip. Also - declaration of love,
symbol of perfect lover; (Red) - believe me; (Variegated [bicolour])
- beautiful eyes. |
| Violet |
 |
"I return your love", good luck to give to
a woman. |
| Zinnia |
 |
Lasting affection. |