Dream it with flowers Dream Meanings

In Victorian America and Europe, flowers were attributed with specific meanings by young men and women who used them during courtship to send messages to each other, whether in a forthright manner or by more clandestine means. Straightforward romantic or poetic thoughts were conveyed by the presentation of a single bloom, whilst lengthier messages were communicated by larger arrangements.

Love and happiness were not the only feelings expressed by these floral epistles. Infidelity, jealousy, disdain and rejection were also expressed by a suitably chosen bloom. Whilst a simple flower may have been sent to a young lady to propose marriage, another seemingly innocuous blossom may have been sent in response, telling the gentleman caller to ‘get lost’. The color of the flower was extremely significant; to cite a few examples, red usually meant love, yellow indicated friendship, lavender suggested enchantment, and orange fascination.

As far as dream interpretation goes, the list of meanings is seemingly endless, as nearly every flower has been attributed with a specific meaning at some point in time. In Victorian times, the range of available flowers was limited, and so certain flowers had specific meanings; today, with so many flower choices, there are no rules—it’s the sentiment and personal association that gives the flower meaning to you in a dream. For those interested in the historic or generally accepted meanings of flowers, the list below has been compiled from a variety of different sources, including the American Society of Florists.

Historic and generally accepted meanings of flowers Acacia: Concealed love, chaste love

Agapanthis: Secret love

Alstroemeria: Aspiration

Amaryllis: Pride, drama

Ambrosia: Your love is returned

Anemone: Sincerity, fragility

Apple blossom: Promises

Arbutus: Thee only do ı love

Aster: Symbol of love, daintiness, contentment

Azalea: Take care of yourself for me, abundance, symbol of womanhood (china)

Baby’s breath: Festivity

Bachelor’s button: Anticipation

Begonia: Deep thoughts

Bells of Ireland: Good luck

Bittersweet: Truth

Black-eyed Susan: Encouragement

Bluebell: Humility

Cactus: Endurance

Caladium: Great joy, delight

Camellia (general): Graciousness, good-luck gift for a man

Camellia (pink): Passionate longing

Camellia (red): A flame in the heart

Camellia (white): Admiration

Carnation (general): Fascination, women, love

Carnation (pink): Gratitude, ı’ll never forget you

Carnation (purple): Caprice, whimsy

Carnation (red): Passion, drama, admiration

Carnation (solid color): Affirmation

Carnation (striped): Refusal, sorry ı can’t be with you, wish ı could be with you

Carnation (white): Sweetness and loveliness, innocence, pure love, remembrance, woman’s good-luck gift

Carnation (yellow): Cheerful for all occasions (except in matters of the heart, when it means rejection)

Cattail: Peace, prosperity

Chrysanthemum (general): Cheerfulness, rest

Chrysanthemum (bronze): Excitement

Chrysanthemum (red): Sharing

Chrysanthemum (white): Truth

Chrysanthemum (yellow): Slighted love, secret admirer

Cosmos: Peace

Crocus: Foresight, cheerfulness, gladness

Cyclamen: Resignation, good-bye

Daffodil: Chivalry, respect, regard, unrequited love

Daisy: Innocence, loyalty, loveliness, purity

Dandelion: Faithfulness, happiness

Delphinium: Boldness

Fern: Magic, fascination, confidence, shelter

Fir: Time

Flax: Domestic symbol

Forget-me-not: True love, good memories

Forsythia: Anticipation

Freesia: Full of spirit, trust

Gardenia: Joy

Geranium: Comfort

Ginger: Pride

Gladioli: Sincerity, strength of character, flower of the gladiators

Gloxinia: Love at first sight

Heather (lavender): Admiration, solitude

Heather (white): Protection, wishes will come true

Holly: Defense, domestic happiness

Honeysuckle: Happiness

Hyacinth (general): Sincerity

Hyacinth (blue): Constancy

Hyacinth (purple): Sorrow

Hyacinth (red/pink): Play

Hyacinth (white): Loveliness

Hyacinth (yellow): Jealousy

Hydrangea: Perseverance

Iris: Inspiration

Ivy: Wedded love, fidelity, friendship, affection

Jasmine: Grace and elegance

Jonquil: Desire for affection returned

Larkspur: Beautiful spirit

Lavender: Distrust

Lily (calla): Regal beauty

Lily (day): Enthusiasm, emblem for mother (china)

Lily (Eucharis): Charms

Lily (tiger): Wealth, pride

Lily (white): Virginity, purity, majesty

Lily (yellow): I’m walking on air

Lily of the valley: Sweetness, return to happiness, humility

Magnolia: Nobility

Marigold: Jealousy

Monkshood: Beware, a deadly foe is near

Moss: Maternal love, charity

Myrtle: Love, emblem of marriage

Narcissus: Egotism

Nasturtium: Conquest, victory in battle

Oleander: Caution

Orange blossom: Innocence, eternal love, marriage and fruitfulness

Orange mock: Deceit

Orchid (general): Love, beauty, refinement, symbol for many children (china)

Orchid (Cattleya): Mature charm

Palm leaves: Victory, success

Passion flower: Burning passion

Peony: Healing, happy life, happy marriage

Petunia: Resentment, anger

Pine: Hope, pity

Poppy (general): Eternal sleep, consolation, imagination

Poppy (red): Pleasure

Poppy (white): Consolation

Poppy (yellow): Wealth, success

Primrose: Longing

Primrose (evening): Inconstancy

Queen Anne’s lace: Delicate femininity

Ranunculus: Radiance

Rhododendron: Beware

Rose (bridal): Happiness, love

Rose (dark crimson): Mourning

Rose (Hibiscus): Delicate beauty

Rose (leaf): You may hope

Rose (pink): Friendship

Rose (red): Love, ı love you

Rose (tea): I’ll remember always

Rose (thornless): Love at first sight

Rose (white): Innocence and purity

Rose (white and red mixed): Unity, flower emblem of england

Rose (yellow): Decrease of love, jealousy

Rosebud (general): Beauty and youth

Rosebud (moss): Confessions of love

Rosebud (red): Pure and lovely

Rosebud (white): Girlhood

Roses (bouquet of mature blooms): Gratitude

Roses (single full bloom): I love you, ı still love you

Smilax: Loveliness

Snapdragon: Presumption

Spider flower: Run away with me

Star of Bethlehem: Hope

Statice: Success

Stephanotis: Happiness in marriage, desire to travel

Stock: Bonds of affection, you’ll always be beautiful to me

Sunflower: Pride, sunshine, adoration

Sweetpea: Shyness, thank you for a lovely time

Tulip (general): Love, flower emblem of holland

Tulip (pink): Caring

Tulip (purple): Royalty

Tulip (red): Declaration of love

Tulip (variegated): Beautiful eyes

Tulip (white): Forgiveness

Tulip (yellow): Passionate longing

Violet (general): Modesty, faithfulness

Violet (blue): Watchfulness, faithfulness, ı’ll always be true

Violet (white): Adventure, risk taking

Viscaria: Celebration

Wisteria: Welcome, steadfast

Zinnia (magenta): Lasting affection, thoughts of friends

Zinnia (mixed): Thinking (or in memory) of an absent friend

Zinnia (scarlet): Constancy

Zinnia (white): Goodness

Zinnia (yellow): Daily remembrance