Flowers have had meanings attached to them as far back as biblical times.
Early cultures used flowers to express sentiments in much the way that we do today.
During the Victorian era, flowers truly "blossomed" as a way to express feelings without speaking.
During this time, scents became as important as clothing.
Women would send letters or handkerchiefs with the scent of a particular flower to their sweetheart as a way to express desire or love.
Using flowers to express emotions continues today.
We send flowers to express sorrow, love, congratulations and sympathy.
We all know that a red rose expresses love, but did you also know that a striped carnation is a way to tell someone that you can't be with them? The next time you are thinking about sending a flower bouquet or arrangement, take the time to pick flowers that truly express what you want to say by using the following list brought to you by Flower Places: Absinth/Wormwood: Separation and Torment of Love Acacia: Platonic Love, concealed love Aconite/Monkshood: Misanthropy and Poisonous Words Adams's Needle: A Friend in Need Adonis: Recollection of Life's Pleasure Almond: Virginity and Fruitfulness Almond Blossom: Hope and Watchfulness Aloe: Wisdom and Integrity Allspice: Compassion Alstroemeria: Wealth, Prosperity, Fortune Alyssum (sweet): Worth beyond beauty Amaranth: Fidelity Amaranth, Globe: Unchangeable Amaryllis: Pastoral Poetry, Pride Ambrosia: Your Love is reciprocated Anemone: Refusal and Abandonment, Forsaken Anthurium: Hospitality Apple: Symbol of Perpetual Concord Apricot Blossom: Timid Love Abor Vitae: True Friendship Arbutus: Thee only do I Love Artemesia: Symbol of Dignity Asphodel: Languor and Regret Aster: Daintiness, Symbol of Love Azalea: Fragile and Ephemeral Passion Baby's Breath: Happiness Bay Wreath: Reward of Merit Begonia: "Beware! I am fanciful!" Bindweed: Coquette and Busybody Bird of Paradise: Joyfulness, Magnificence Bittersweet: Truth Blackthorn/Sloe: Difficulty and Austerity Blue Bell: Delicacy and Humility Bouquet of Withered Flowers: Rejected love Burdock: Importunity and Boredom Buttercup: Childishness Cactus: Bravery and Endurance Camellia: Excellence and Steadfastness Camellia, red: You're a flame in my heart Camellia, white: You're adorable Camomile: Initiative and Ingenuity Candytuft: Indifference Canterbury Bell: Constancy and Warning Cardinal Flower: Distinction and Splendor Carnation: Fascination Carnation, Pink: Emblem of Mother's Day, I will never forget you Carnation, Purple: Antipathy and Capriciousness Carnation, Red: Admiration, my heart aches for you Carnation, Striped: No, Sorry, I cannot be with you Carnation, White: Pure Love, Sweet Love, Innocence Carnation, Yellow: Disdain and Rejection Cedar Leaf: "I live for thee" Chestnut: Independence and Injustice China Aster: Jealousy and After-thought Chrysanthemum: You are a wonderful friend Chrysanthemum, Red: I love you Chrysanthemum, Chrysanthemum,White: Truth Chrysanthemum, Yellow: Slighted Love Cinnamon: Love and Beauty Clematis: Artifice and Ingenuity Clove: Dignity and Restraint Clover: Fertility and Domestic Virtue Clover, Four leafed: Symbol Of Good Luck Clover, Five leafed: Symbol Of Bad Luck Cockscomb/Celosia: Silliness or Foppery Coltsfoot: Maternal Love and Care Columbine: Cuckoldry and Deserted Love Convolvulus: Humble Perseverance Coreopsis: Always cheerful Cornflower: Delicacy Crane's-bill/Wild Geranium: Constancy and Availability Crocus: Youthful Gladness, Attachment, Cheerfulness Crown Imperial: Majesty and Power Cyclamen: Resignation & Goodbye Daffodil: Emblem of Annunciation/Regard, Unrequited love Dahlia: Good Taste Daisy: Gentleness, Innocence, Loyal love Daises: Beauty, Innocence Dandelion: Oracle of Time and Love, Faithfulness, Happiness Day Lily/Hemerocallis: Emblem Of The Mother Delphinium: Airy Dogwood: Durability Edelweiss: Daring & Noble Courage Eglantine: Spring & Poetry Elderberry Blossom: Humility and Kindness Everlasting: Constancy Fennel: Strength Fern: Sincerity, Magic, Fascination, Confidence, Shelter Fir: Time & Evaluation Forget-me-not: Faithful Love, Memories Forsynthia: Anticipation Freesia: Thoughtfulness Fuchsia: Amiability Gardenia: "I love you in secret" Geranium, Oak-leaf: Friendship Geranium, Rose: Preference Gillyflower, Pink: Bonds Of Affection Gladiolus: Strength Of Character, I am really sincere Gloxinia: Love at first sight Goldenrod: Treasure And Good Fortune Heather, Purple: Admiration, Beauty and Solitude Heather, Pink: "Good Luck" Heather, White: Protection From Danger Heliotrope: Devotion, Eternal Love Hibiscus: Delicate Beauty Holly: Foresight Hollyhock: Ambition and Liberality Honeysuckle: Sweetness Of Disposition Hyacinth: Games & Sports Hyacinth, purple: I am sorry, Please forgive me, Sorrow Hyacinth, white: Loveliness, I will pray for you Hyacinth, yellow: Jealousy Hydrangea: Vanity, Thank you for understanding, Frigidity Iris: Faith, Wisdom, Valor, Your Friendship means so much to me Ivy: Friendship, Wedded love, Fidelity, Friendship, Affection Jasmine, Red: Folly and Glee Jasmine, White: Amiability and Cheerfulness Jasmine, Yellow: Timidity and Modesty Jonquil: Violent Sympathy and Desire, Love me, Affection returned Lady's Slipper: Capricious Beauty Larkspur: Open Heart Laurel: Success and Renown Lavender: Constancy Lilac, Mauve: "Do You Still Love Me" Lilac, Pink: Youth and Acceptance Lilac, White: "My First Dream Of Love" Lily, Calla: Majestic Beauty Lily, Day: Coquetry Lily, Orange: Hatred and Disdain, Wealth, Pride Lily, White: Majesty and Purity, Virginity Lily-Of-The-Valley: Purity and Humility, Sweetness Lotus: Mystery and Truth Love-In-The-Mist/Nigell: Delicacy and Perplexity Magnolia: Dignity, Splendid Beauty Marigold: Sacred Affection, Cruelty, Grief, Jealousy Marjoram: Comfort and Consolation Marvel-Of-Peru: Flame of Love Mistletoe: Affection and Love Mimosa: Sensitivity Myrtle: Love, Mirth and Joy Narcissus: Egotism, Formality Nasturtium: Patriotism Oleander: Beauty and Grace Orange Blossom: Your Purity Equals Your Loveliness, Innocence, Eternal Love Orange Mock: Deceit Orchid: Magnificence, Love, Beauty, Refinement Pansy: Thoughtful Recollection Passionflower: Faith and Piety Peach Blossom: Generosity and Bridal Hope Pear Blossom: Health and Hope Peony: Healing, Life, Happy Marriage, Gay life Peppermint: Warmth of Feelings Periwinkle, Blue: Early Friendship Periwinkle, White: Pleasures of Memory Petunia: Anger and Resentment Phlox: Sweet Dreams Plum Blossom: Beauty and Longevity Poinsettia: "Be of Good Cheer" Poppy: Imagination, Dreaminess, Eternal sleep Poppy, yellow: Wealth, Success Primrose: Young Love, I cannot live without you Primrose, evening: Inconstancy Protea: Daring, Resourcefulness Queen Anne's Lace: Fantasy Rose, Bridal: Happy Love Rose, Carolina: Love Is Dangerous Rose, Christmas: Peace and Tranquility Rose, Coral/Orange: Enthusiasm, Desire Rose, Dark Pink: Thank you Rose, Light Pink: Admiration Rose, Musk: Capricious Beauty Rose, Pale: Friendship Rose, Peach: Let's get together, Closing of the deal Rose, Pink: Love, Grace, Gentility, You're so Lovely, Perfect Happiness, Please believe me Rose, Pink & White: I love you still and always will Rose, Red: Love, Desire, Respect, Courage, Job well done Rose, Red & Yellow: Congratulations Rose, White: Charm, Secrecy, Silence, You're Heavenly, Reverence, Humility, Youthfulness and Innocence Rose, White on Red: Unity/Flower Emblem of England Rose, Yellow: Infidelity, Joy, Gladness, Friendship, Jealousy, Welcome Back, Remember me Rose, Yellow & Orange: Passionate thoughts Rosemary: Constancy, Fidelity and Loyalty Salvia, Blue: "I Think of You" Smilax: Lovely Snapdragon: Presumption, Deception, Gracious lady Snowdrop: Hope and Consolation Spearmint: Warmth of Sentiment Spider Flower: Elope with me Statice: Lasting Beauty Stephanotis: Happiness in marriage Stock: Bonds of affection, You will always be beautiful to me Sunflower: Homage and Devotion Sweet Basil: Good Luck Sweet Pea: Departure, Blissful pleasure, Thanks for a lovely time Sweet William: Gallantry, Finesse and Perfection Thrift: Sympathy Thyme: Courage and Activity Tiger Lily: Wealth and Pride Tuberose: Dangerous Pleasures Tulip: Symbol of The Perfect Lover Tulip, Red: Believe me, Declaration of love Tulip, Variegated: Beautiful eyes Violet: Modesty and Simplicity Viscaria: Will you dance with me? Wallflower: Friendship and Adversity Water Lily: Eloquence and Persuasion Wisteria: Youth and Poetry Xeranthemum: Eternity and Immortality Yarrow: Healing Zinnia: Thoughts of Absent Friends Zinnia, Pink: Lasting Affection