flowers for u

 “Any man that walks the mead
In a bud, or blade, or bloom, may find
A meaning suited to his mind.”
                           English Poet Alfred Tennyson


  “Flowers are food for the soul.”
         Prophet Mohammed


Everyone knows that red roses signify love, but what about other flowers?

Most of us today still give flowers, but have forgotten or are unaware of the 'language of flowers.' During the Victorian times when standards restricted open communication, various flowers and their combinations were used to convey feelings and messages both positive and negative. Knowing the 'language of flowers' was considered 'fashionable' and 'classy,' and many dictionaries of “florigraphy” were published to allow detailed and precise communication using flowers.

This website is an attempt to revive and expand the Victorian tradition of the 'language of flowers.' Yes flowers are sensuous and aesthetic on their own, but being knowledgeable about the flowers can add more dimensions to the physical flower. Weaving together these background stories and symbology of these flowers as ingredients, you can create your own special flower-story for your loved ones.

I am no flower-expert, but this website is the result of research using internet and books some dating back to the Victorian Period itself. There are multiple dictionaries for the florigraphy just within the English tradition, and several other 'language of flowers' exist in other countries as well, which complicates compiling a universal flower dictionary.

Some meanings of the same flower may even seem contradictory, but I have tried to reconcile the differences between various sources. In the end, the information I provide here are all just stories and you can pick and choose the ones you like and disregard the ones you don't. Who cares if they are wrong as long as you are happy?

The classification I use of: flower language, emblem, mythology/ folklore, history/ modern use, and literature/ arts may seem somewhat arbitrary, but I just split into these categories for convenience and let me know if these classifications bother you.

I would like this library of flower stories to grow so feel free to contact me if you have any more stories you would like to add, and I also appreciate feedback at leej5@wharton.upenn.edu.

Have fun with this website!

Special Thank You's to these Flower story donors:

(Be the first One!)

Language of flowers

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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For the indie pop band, see Language of Flowers (band). For the song written by the composer Edward Elgar, see The Language of Flowers.

Purple lilac symbolizes "first emotions of love" in the language of flowers.

The language of flowers, sometimes called floriography, was a Victorian-era means of communication in which various flowers and floral arrangements were used to send coded messages, allowing individuals to express feelings which otherwise could not be spoken. This language was most commonly communicated through Tussie-Mussies, an art which has a following today.
The nuances of the language are now mostly forgotten, but red roses still imply passionate, romantic love and pink roses a lesser affection; white roses suggest virtue and chastity and yellow roses still stand for friendship or devotion. Also commonly known meanings are sunflowers, which can indicate either haughtiness or respect – they were the favorite flower of St. Julie Billiart for this reason. Gerbera (daisy) means innocence or purity. The iris, being named for the messenger of the gods in Greek mythology, still represents the sending of a message. A pansy signifies thought, a daffodil regard, and a strand of ivy; fidelity.

Contents [hide] 1 History 2 Symbolic meaning of flowers 3 See also 4 Notes 5 External links 5.1 Lists of flower meanings

[edit] History

Though most popular in the Victorian period, the symbolic use of flowers dates back to antiquity. In medieval and Renaissance culture, flowers were often given moral meanings. This is most apparent in art in which saints are often depicted with flowers that are symbolic of their virtues. Liana DeGirolami Cheney notes that "some of the Christian symbols for Virginity or Chastity are the white rose, the myrtle, a vessel or vase, the lily, and the unicorn".^[1] Victorian sources also used flowers to describe moral, spiritual, or emotional truths.^[2]
The Turkish "Salem", or language of objects, was developed to communicate any message without the need to write.
There is also an independent Japanese flower language, called hanakotoba.^[3]

roses back ground

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Some Interesting Facts About Roses

• The birthplace of the cultivated Rose was probably Northern Persia, on the Caspian, or Faristan on the Gulf of Persia.
• Historically, the oldest Rose fossils have been found in Colorado, dating back to more than 35 million years ago.
• Roses were considered the most sacred flowers in ancient Egypt and were used as offerings for the Goddess Isis. Roses have also been found in Egyptian tombs, where they were formed into funeral wreaths.
• Rose flower bouquets are widely used as gifts as it is considered as the most beautiful flower. Special rose flower arrangements are made for weddings and anniversaries. White rose flower is used as symbol for sympathy or humility, red rose for deep emotions especially love. Whereas Yellow Rose flower is used as symbol of friendship. For Valentine’s Day rose flower baskets are widely used all over the world.
• Confucius, 551 BC to 479 BC, reported that the Imperial Chinese library had many books on Roses.
• Ancient Sumerians of Mesopotamia (in the Tigris-Euphrates River Valley) mentioned Roses in a cuneiform tablet (a system of writing) written in approximately 2860 BC.
• The English were already cultivating and hybridizing Roses in the 15th Century when the English War of Roses took place. The winner of the war, Tudor Henry VII, created the Rose of England (Tudor Rose) by crossbreeding other Roses.
• While no Black Rose yet exists, there are some of such a deep Red color as to suggest Black.
• Roses are universal and grown across the world.
• The Netherlands is the world's leading exporter of Roses.

The Netherlands, with about 8000 hectares of land under Rose cultivation, is the global leader in Rose cultivation. 54 per cent (about 5000 hectares) of the cultivated land in Ecuador is under Rose cultivation!! Zambia, a small nation, had 80 per cent of its cultivated land under Roses.

Classification of Roses

Broadly, Roses are divided into three classes-

Species Roses

Species Roses are often called Wild Species Roses. Species Roses often have relatively simple, 5-petaled flowers followed by very colorful hips that last well into the winter, providing food for birds and winter color.
The most popular Rose species for sale today is Rosa rugosa owing to its superior hardiness, disease resistance, and extremely easy maintenance. Species roses are widely hybridized. Wild Species Roses include many different varieties. Wild Species Roses usually bloom once in the summer.

Old Garden Roses

Old Garden Roses have a delicate beauty and wonderful perfume, not often found in modern hybrid tea roses. Old Garden Roses are a diverse group from the those with a wonderful fragrance and great winter hardiness to the tender and lovely tea roses, which are best suited for warm climates.
Old Garden Roses comprise a multifaceted group that in general are easy to grow, disease-resistant and winter-hardy. Old Garden Roses grow in several shrub and vine sizes. Although colors do vary, this class of Roses are usually white or pastel in color. These "antique Roses" are generally preferred for lawns and home gardens. Several groupings of Roses classified as Old Garden Roses are China Roses, Tea Roses, Moss Roses, Damask Roses, Bourbon Roses, etc.

jasmine

jasmine
Jasminum sambac
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Lamiales
Family:	Oleaceae
Tribe:	Jasmineae
Genus:	Jasminum L. (1753)
Type species
Jasminum officinale L. +
Species
More than 200 species, see List of Jasminum species Sources: ING,[1] CPN,[2] UniProt[3]

Jasminum auriculatum at Talakona forest, in Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh, India.

A double-flowered cultivar of Jasminum sambac in flower with an unopened bud. The flower smells like the tea as it opens.

Jasmine (Jasminum, pronounced /ˈdʒæzmɨnəm/,^[4] from Old French^[5] Jasmine which is from the Arabic from Persian yasmin, i.e. "gift from God",^{[6][7] [8]}) is a genus of shrubs and vines in the olive family (Oleaceae), with about 200 species, native to tropical and warm temperate regions of the Old World. Most species grow as climbers on other plants or are trained in gardens on chicken wire, trellis gates or fences, or made to scramble through shrubs of open texture. The leaves can be either evergreen (green all year round) or deciduous (falling in autumn).

[edit] Cultural importance and other information

The White Jasmine Branch, painting of ink and color on silk by Chinese artist Zhao Chang, early 12th century

• In Syria, jasmine is the symbolic flower of Damascus, which is called the City of Jasmine.

• In Thailand, jasmine flowers are used as a symbol of the mother.

Jasmine is the national flower of the following countries:

• Indonesia, where the variety Jasminum sambac is the "puspa bangsa" (national flower), and goes by the name "Melati Putih". It is the most important flower in wedding ceremonies for ethnic Indonesians, especially in the island of Java.
• Pakistan, where Jasminum officinale is known as the "Chambeli" or "Yasmine" is the national flower.
• Philippines, where it is known as "Sampaguita", and is usually strung on garlands which are then used to adorn religious images.

[edit] As a weed

Jasminum fluminense, which is sometimes known by the inaccurate name "Brazilian Jasmine", is an invasive species in Hawaii and Florida^[13]. J. dichotomum, also called Gold Coast Jasmine, is also an invasive weed in Florida.^[14]

[edit] Gallery

Jasminum auriculatum at Talakona forest, in Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh, India.	Jasminum auriculatum at Talakona forest, in Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh, India.	Jasmine bud in Chennai. This variety produces large flowers, but too few to be commercially viable.	Jasminum sambac flowers harvested for Malligai - Raama Baanam
Summer Jasmine Blossoms - fresh jasmine flowers from Taimu Mountain.	Jasmine Flower Green Tea - blossoms are poured onto green tea to make dragon pearl tea.

about jasmine flowers

Jasminum Sambac - History and Facts (by Mike) ||

Small paragraph

History and uses in different countries

Some botanists now agree that the plant originated from India -- from the northern parts of the Himalayan valleys, although it is grown throughout India today. Others place the origins of the sampaguita even farther off to Egypt and Persia or present-day Iran. Since ancient times Jasmine has been thought of as the 'queen of flowers'. The name Jasmine is derived from the Persia 'yasmin', meaning a fragrant flower. It's also a Persian girl name. Plant must have been introduced into Egypt prior to the time of the XXI dynasty (around 1000 BC). It was said that a Chinese emperor of the Sung dynasty (960-1279 AD) had Jasmine in his palace grounds so he could enjoy its fragrance. In the 1400s, Jasmine was planted for kings of Afghanistan, Nepal and Persia. Varieties of Jasmine used in perfume, found their way to places across the seas -- beginning from areas along the Arabian Sea, such as Persia and India then crossing the Red Sea into Egypt. They reached into the territory around the Aegean Sea into Turkey and Greece. And, they spread to areas along the Mediterranean Sea from Africa through Egypt, Algeria and Morocco -- reaching Western Europe through Spain by Moors in 1600, and France and Italy. The plant was introduced into Britain in the latter part of the 17th century.

Jasmine sambac ("Maid of Orleand" single variety), sampaguita, is the national flower of Phillipines. It is a symbol of purity, simplicity, humility and strangth.
Referring to famous Swedish botanist Linnaeus, he wrote that the natives of India used the young leaves and flowers to make a putty, which was mixed and eaten with rice to dry scabies and other skin eruptions.

In India some varieties are used as religious offerings symbolizing divine hope. The Hindus string the flowers together as neck garlands for honoured guests. The flowers of one of the double varieties ("Belle of India") are held sacred to Vishnu and are used as votive offerings in Hindu religious ceremonies. Pictures: Left - many Indian women wear garlands of Jasmine flowers in their hair. This woman was stringing some garlands in a market. Below: Jasmine sambac ornament

The variety Jasminium sambac, is a clustered flower of equally strong scent known in Hawai'i as the "Pikake". It was a favorite of Princess Kaiulani who was also very fond of Peacocks, thus the name of the flower pronounced as pea-cock-kay". Jasmine sambac is one of Indonesia national flowers. It is used in Indonesia as a popular garnish. The existence of the Jasmine flower is described comprehensively in the script called Siwaratrikalpa (old Javanese literature) composed around XV AD when Adi Suprabawa governed the Majapahit kingdom, East Java. This flower was called "menur" in this script. It also stated that Jasmine has already existed in Indonesia since XV AD and this is a good flower to worship Ciwa in the new moon of the seventh month or the month of Magha. This is the holy night to worship Ciwa to wipe out one's sin. Magha comes once a year or every 420 days according to the Balinese calendar. The Ciwa worshippers use Jasmine flowers in their offerings. It is believed that this flower brings forgiveness and blessing and eventually they will be able to be united with Ciwa in heaven.

The Jasmine flower is called by different names in Indonesia or Bali - menur, melur, menuh, melati and melate. In Javanese weddings, this flower is commonly used for hair and dagger decorations for the bride and the groom. On the contrary it is not used in Balinese weddings. In Bali other flowers are used for the wedding such as the yellow and white Champak flower including Kenanga. The Jasmine flower can also be used to cure fevers as well as to flavor tea or to make perfume. In Bali people plant this in themain temples or the family temples. Jasmine is a good flower to use as a medium of praying to worship the god Iswara. The color of this god is white and located in the east. This flower is also used for the big ceremonies such as Tawur Agung - the ceremony to bless the whole world. In Borneo it is the custom among the women to roll up Jasmine blossoms in their well-oiled hair at night.

history of rose flowers

History Of Roses

From the earliest times, indeed throughout the history of civilization, people from around the world have held the rose close to their hearts. The earliest known gardening was the planting of roses along the most travelled routes of early nomadic humans. Earliest roses are known to have flourished 35 million-years ago and hips have been found in Europe and petrified rose wreaths have been unearthed from ancient Egyptian tombs.

Roses in Ancient Historic Period

• The Romans outdid the Greeks when Nero, the hedonistic emperor, 1st century AD, dumped tons of rose petals on his dinner guests.
• Cleopatra had her living quarters filled with the petals of roses so that when Marc Antony met her, he would long remember her for such opulence and be reminded of her every time he smelt a rose. Her scheme worked for him. Such is the power of roses.
• Not only in Christian literature, also in ancient Confucian and Buddhist religious documents we find references to the rose.
• The Romans cultivated this great beauty and named it Rosa Gallica. Newly married couples were often crowned with roses.

Roman high society women used petals much like currency believing that they could banish wrinkles if used in poultices. Rose petals were often dropped in wine because it was thought that the essence of rose would stave off drunkenness and victorious armies would return to be showered with rose petals from the civilians that crowded the balconies above the streets.

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Roses in Medieval Period

• The first known paintings of a rose are actually frescoes. The earliest example was discovered in Crete around 1600 B.C.
• The apothecary rose, R. Gallica Officinalis, first recorded in the 13th century, was the foundation of a large industry near the city of Provins, France. Turned into jellies, powders and oils, this rose was believed to cure a multitude of illnesses.

In ancient Mesopotamia, Sargon I, King of the Akkadians (2684-2630 B.C.) brought "vines, figs and rose trees" from a military expedition beyond the River Tigris.

War of Roses

The war started when the nobles of York rose against Henry VI of Lancaster who was a feeble ruler. Edward IV, of York, replaced Henry as king. Later, Henry again became king, but lost his crown once more to Edward after the battle of Tewkesbury in 1471. The Yorkists held power until Richard III lost his throne to the Lancastrian Henry Tudor. Henry Tudor married into the House of York. This personal union ended the conflict, and a new famous dynasty, the Tudors, emerged.
The War of the Roses was a civil war in England that lasted from 1455-1487. The House of York adopted a white rose (R. alba), the House of Lancaster decided to take a red rose (R. Gallica). The winner of this war, Tudor Henry VII, merged his Lancastrian rose with the red rose of his York bride and thus created the Tudor Rose, the Rose of England.

rose flower bookeys

Rose Flower Meanings

Ever wondered about rose flower meanings before you gift roses to your beloved?
Roses have inspired people over ages to develop a language of roses by ascribing meanings to color, variety and number of roses being gifted. Traditionally, the rose is considered the flower of love. Nothing beats red roses in saying "I Love You" on Valentine's Day.
It is always good to know the symbolic meanings associated with roses when you gift them to your loved ones. When you consciously choose a certain color, variety or number of roses for someone, you bring a whole new depth to the gesture of gifting roses. The Flower Expert compiles a concise list of rose flower meanings below.

Rose Flower Meanings based on Color

Color of Roses	Rose Color Meaning
	Red Roses: A red rose is an unmistakable expression of love. Red Roses convey deep emotions - be it love, longing or desire. Red Roses can also be used to convey respect, admiration or devotion. A deep red rose can be used to convey heartfelt regret and sorrow. The number of red roses has special romantic meanings associated with them. 12 red roses is the most popular of all which conveys "Be mine" and "I love you"
	White Roses: White is the color of purity, chastity and innocence. White flowers are generally associated with new beginnings and make an ideal accompaniment to a first-time bride walking down the isle. White flowers can be used to convey sympathy or humility. They also are indicative of spirituality. Hence, White roses also follow suit.
	Yellow Roses: Yellow roses are an expression of exuberance. Yellow roses evoke sunny feelings of joy, warmth and welcome. They are symbols of friendship and caring. The yellow rose, like the other roses, does not carry an undertone of romance. It indicates purely platonic emotions.
	Pink Roses: There are a lot of variations of the pink rose. Over all, pink roses are used to convey gentle emotions such as admiration, joy and gratitude. Light pink rose blooms are indicative of sweetness and innocence. Deep pink rose blooms convey deep gratitude and appreciation. Pink roses also connote elegance and grace.
	Orange Roses: While a yellow rose reminds us of the sun, an orange rose reminds us of a fiery blaze. These fiery blooms signify passion and energy. Orange roses can be used to express intense desire, pride and fervor. They also convey a sense of fascination. These flowers rival only the red roses as messengers of passion in romance.
	Lavender Roses: A Lavender rose like its color conveys enchantment. It also expresses "love at first sight" . Darker shades of lavender roses (close to purple) convey a sense of regal majesty and splendor. These roses are used to express fascination and adoration.
	Blue Roses: A perfectly blue rose is still elusive like the perfectly black rose. Blue roses cannot be achieved naturally so they represent the unattainable or the mysterious. Blue roses therefore embody the desire for the unattainable. They say "I can't have you but I can't stop thinking about you"
	Green roses: Green is the color of harmony, of opulence, of fertility. It is also a color indicative of peace and tranquility. Green roses (these are off-white roses with shades of green) can symbolize best wishes for a prosperous new life or wishes for recovery of good health
	Black Roses: Black is the color of death and farewell. A black rose, like the blue rose remains elusive. What we know as black roses are actually really dark red roses. Black roses convey the death of a feeling or idea. Sending black roses to someone indicates the death of the relationship.
	Mixed Roses: By mixing rose blooms of different colors purposefully, you can create a bouquet of emotions. For example, a bouquet of red and white roses would mean “I love you intensely and my intentions are honourable”. A random mix of roses would convey mixed feelings or send a message: "I don't know what my feelings are yet but I sure do like you enough to send you roses."

Rose Flower Meanings based on Rose Variety

Image of Rose	Rose Variety	Meaning of the Rose Variety
	Moss Rosebud	Confession of love
	Thorn-less Rose	Love at first sight, early attachment
	Leaf Rose	“You may hope”
	Hibiscus Rose	Delicate Beauty
	Burgundy Rose	Unconscious Beauty
	Christmas Rose	Relieve my anxiety
	Dog rose	Pleasure & Pain
	Damask Rose	Freshness, Persian ambassador of Love
	Garden Rose	“I am from Mars”
	Tea Rose	“I will remember – Always”
	Rose of Sharon	Consumed by Love
	Carmine Rose	Deceitful Desire (not true to color)
	Cardinal Red Rose	Sublime Desire
	Amaranth Red Rose	Long standing Desire
	Wild Rose	Simplicity
	Musk Rose	Capricious Beauty
	Rosa mundi	Variety

A withered white rose symbolizes death or loss of innocence and a faded rose indicates beauty is fleeting

Rose Flower Meanings based on Number

A single rose says a lot and a lot more distinctly. Find out it what it says in different colors.

• A single red rose says: “I love you”
• A single white rose says: “My feelings are pure”
• A single yellow rose says: “You bring joy to my life” “Let’s be friends”
• A single pink rose says: “I like you”
• A single orange rose says: “I am proud of you”
• A single peach rose says: “Thank you” “I sympathize with you”
• A single lavender rose says: “I am enchanted by you”
• A single blue rose says: “You seem like an unattainable dream”

A crown of roses indicates reward of virtue, a bouquet of roses in full bloom indicates gratitude and rose in a tuft of grass indicates there is everything to be gained by good company.

The number symbolism in case of Roses is especially associated with red roses and by that association romantic involvement. So when you send a bunch of red roses or receive it… count the blooms and read below what the numbers are saying:

A single Red Rose – “I Love you” “You are the one for me” Buy Single Red Rose

No of Red Roses	Meaning of the Rose	Online Red Rose Collection
	“I Love you” “You are the one for me”	Buy Single Red Rose
	“Let us be together”	Currently Not Available
	“You and me and our love for company”	Buy Three Red Roses
	I am half-way in love with you”	Currently Not Available
	“Be mine”	Buy Twelve Red Roses
	"I am yours"	Currently Not Available
	“My love for you is limitless”	Buy Fifty Red Roses

Twenty-five red roses are traditionally used to say “Congratulations”. However, now that you have some idea of color symbolism in roses you may creatively substitute another color to further enliven the message.

If you accept the rose with your right hand, it conveys that you are in agreement with the other person and your affirmation. If you do so with the left hand, it shows your disagreement.