Many flowers have important symbolic meanings. The flower symbolism for many flowers has been obscured by time and may remain only as a few key phrases or words. Flowers have been given as gifts for special occasions and to celebrate holidays throughout history. The practice of assigning meanings to flowers is known as floriography. Some of the more common examples include:
| Flower | Meaning Of Flower |
| ACACIA | Concealed Love, Beauty in Retirement, Chaste Love |
| 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 |
| BAMBOO | Longevity, Strength and Grace. |
| BEGONIA | Beware |
| BELLS OF IRELAND | Good Luck |
| BITTERSWEET | Truth |
| BLUEBELL | Humility |
| CACTUS | Endurance |
| CAMELLIA (PINK) | Longing for you |
| CAMELLIA (RED) | You're a Flame in My Heart |
| CAMELLIA (WHITE) | You're Adorable |
| CARNATION (GENERAL) | Fascination, Woman Love, A Symbol of Betrothal or Engagement. |
| CARNATION (PINK) | I'll Never Forget You |
| CARNATION (RED) | My Heart Aches For You, Admiration |
| CARNATION (PURPLE) | Capriciousness |
| CARNATION (SOLID COLOR) | Yes |
| CARNATION (STRIPED) | No, Refusal, Sorry I Can't Be With You, Wish I 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, The National Symbol of Japan |
| CHRYSANTHEMUM (WHITE) | Truth |
| CHRYSANTHEMUM (YELLOW) | Slighted Love |
| CLOVERS | Four-leafed clovers represent Luck. |
| 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 |
| FERN | Magic, Fascination, Confidence and Shelter |
| FIR | Time |
| FLAX | Domestic Symbol |
| FORGET-ME-NOT | True Love, Memories |
| FORSYTHIA | Anticipation |
| GARDENIA | You're Lovely, Secret Love |
| GERANIUM | Stupidity, Folly |
| GLADIOLI | Give Me a Break, I'm Really Sincere, 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 | Symbol of Love and Generosity. |
| 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 Valor, My Compliments |
| IVY | Wedded Love, Fidelity, Friendship, Affection |
| JASMINE (WHITE) | White Flower is a Hindu Symbol for Love. |
| JONQUIL | Love Me, Affection Returned, Desire, Sympathy, Desire for Affection Returned |
| JUNIPER | Symbolizes Chastity, Christ, and Eternity. |
| LARKSPUR (PINK) | Fickleness |
| LILY (GENERAL) | Purity, Chastity, and Innocence |
| LILY (WHITE) | Virginity, Purity, Majesty, It's Heavenly to be with You |
| LILY (YELLOW) | I'm Walking on Air, False and Gay |
| LILY (CALLA) | Beauty |
| LILY (DAY) | Coquetry, Chinese Emblem for Mother |
| LILY (EUCHARIS) | Maiden Charms |
| LILY (TIGER) | Wealth, Pride |
| LILY OF THE VALLEY | Sweetness, Tears of the Virgin Mary, Return to Happiness, Humility, You've Made My Life Complete |
| LOTUS | The flower symbolizes Birth and Rebirth; symbol for Fertility, Creation, and Purity. |
| MAGNOLIA | Nobility |
| MARIGOLD | Cruelty, Grief, Jealousy |
| MISTLETOE | Kiss me, Affection, To Surmount Difficulties, Sacred Plant of India, Standing under the mistletoe at Christmas gives anyone the opportunity to kiss you. |
| 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 |
| OLEANDER | Caution |
| ORANGE BLOSSOM | Innocence, Eternal Love, Marriage and Fruitfulness |
| ORANGE MOCK | Deceit |
| ORCHID | Love, Beauty, Refinement, Beautiful Lady, Chinese Symbol for Many Children, Symbolizes Perfection |
| ORCHID (CATTLEYA) | Mature Charm |
| PALM LEAVES | Victory and Success |
| PEONY | Shame, Happy Life, Happy Marriage |
| PETUNIA | Resentment, Anger, Your Presence Sooths Me |
| PINE | Hope, Pity |
| POPPY (GENERAL) | Eternal Sleep, Oblivion, Imagination, Symbol of Consolation in Time of Death. |
| 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 (DARK CRIMSON) | Mourning |
| ROSE (HIBISCUS) | Delicate Beauty |
| ROSE (LEAF) | You May Hope |
| ROSE (PINK) | Perfect Happiness, Please Believe Me |
| ROSE (RED) | Love, I Love You |
| ROSE (TEA) | I'll Remember Always |
| ROSE (THORNLESS) | Love at First Sight |
| ROSE (WHITE) | Innocence and Purity, I am Worthy of You, You're Heavenly, Secrecy and Silence |
| ROSE (WHITE AND RED MIXED) | Unity, Flower Emblem of England |
| ROSE (WHITE-DRIED) | Death is Preferable to Loss of Virtue |
| ROSE (YELLOW) | Decrease of Love, Jealousy, Try to Care |
| ROSEBUD | Beauty and Youth, A Heart Innocent of Love |
| ROSEBUD (RED) | Pure and Lovely |
| ROSEBUD (WHITE) | Girlhood |
| ROSEBUD (MOSS) | Confessions of Love |
| ROSES (Bouquet of Mature Blooms) | Gratitude |
| ROSES (Single Full Bloom) | I Love You, I Still Love You |
| 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 |
| SUNFLOWERS | flowers symbol of Infatuation or Foolish Passion. |
| SWEETPEA | Good-bye, Departure, Blissful Pleasure, Thank You for a Lovely Time |
| THISTLE | It is the National Symbol of Scotland. Its thorns symbolize both Evil and Protection. In Christianity it represents the Suffering of Christ. |
| TULIP (GENERAL) | Perfect Lover, Frame, Flower Emblem of Holland |
| TULIP (RED) | Believe Me, Declaration of Love |
| TULIP (VARIEGATED) | Beautiful Eyes |
| TULIP (YELLOW) | There's Sunshine in Your Smile |
| VIOLET (GENERAL) | Modesty, Faithfulness, Humility, and Chastity |
| VIOLET (BLUE) | Watchfulness, Faithfulness, I'll Always Be True |
| VIOLET (WHITE) | Let's Take a Chance |
| ZINNIA (MAGENTA) | Lasting Affection |
| ZINNIA (MIXED) | Thinking (or In Memory) of an Absent Friend |
| ZINNIA (SCARLET) | Constancy |
| ZINNIA (WHITE) | Goodness |
| ZINNIA (YELLOW) | Daily Remembrance |
Many cultures around the world have a marked tendency to associate flowers with femininity. The beauty and feminine quality of flowers also inspired the tradition of naming girls after flower names. This tradition has existed in many cultures throughout history and continues today. Popular girls' names related to flowers include Rose, Daisy, Lily, Holly, Violet, Heather, Fern, Jasmine, Myrtle, and Lavender.