A Victorian Flower Dictionary - Mandy Kirkby [35]
Two pigeons flying high
Chinese vessel sailing by
Weeping willow hanging o’er
Bridge with three men, if not four.
Chinese temples there they stand
Seem to take up all the land
Apple trees with apples on
A pretty fence to end my song.
ANON.
THE DICTIONARY
~ A ~
abutilon (Abutilon) meditation
acacia (Acacia) secret love
acanthus (Acanthus) artifice
agapanthus (Agapanthus) love letter
agrimony (Agrimonia) gratitude
allium (Allium) prosperity
almond blossom
(Amygdalus communis) indiscretion
aloe (Aloe vera) grief
astroemeria (Alstroemeria) devotion
alyssum (Lobularia maritima) worth beyond beauty
amaranth (Amaranthus) immortality
amaryllis (Hippeastrum) pride
anemone (Anemone) forsaken
angelica (Angelica pachycarpa) inspiration
apple (Malus domestica) temptation
apple blossom
(Malus domestica) preference
aster (Aster) patience
azalea (Rhododendron) fragile and ephemeral passion
~ B ~
baby’s breath
(Gypsophila paniculata) everlasting love
bachelor’s button
(Centaurea cyanus) single blessedness
basil (Ocimum basilicum) hate
bay leaf (Laurus nobilis) I change but in death
begonia (Begonia) caution
bellflower (Campanula) gratitude
bells of Ireland
(Moluccella laevis) good luck
bird of paradise
(Strelitzia reginae) magnificence
blackberry (Rubus) envy
black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia) justice
bluebell
(Hyacinthoides non-scripta) constancy
bougainvillea
(Bougainvillea spectabilis) passion
bouvardia (Bouvardia) enthusiasm
broom (Cytisus) humility
buttercup
(Ranunculus acris) ingratitude
~ C ~
cabbage (Brassica oleracea) profit
cactus (Opuntia) ardent love
calla lily
(Zantedeschia aethiopica) modesty
camellia (Camellia) my destiny is in your hands
candytuft (Iberis) indifference
Canterbury bells
(Campanula medium) constancy
carnation, pink
(Dianthus caryophyllus) I will never forget you
carnation, red
(Dianthus caryophyllus) my heart breaks
carnation, striped
(Dianthus caryophyllus) I cannot be with you
carnation, white
(Dianthus caryophyllus) sweet and lovely
carnation, yellow
(Dianthus caryophyllus) disdain
celandine
(Chelidonium majus) joys to come
chamomile
(Matricaria recutita) energy in adversity
cherry blossom
(Prunus cerasus/Prunus serrulata) impermanence
cherry, winter
(Physalis alkekengi) deception
chervil (Anthriscus) sincerity
chestnut (Castanea sativa) do me justice
chicory (Cichorium intybus) frugality
chrysanthemum
(Chrysanthemum) truth
cinquefoil (Potentilla) beloved daughter
clematis (Clematis) poverty
clove (Syzygium aromaticum) I have loved you and you have not known it
clover, white (Trifolium) think of me
cockscomb (Celosia) affectation
columbine (Aquilegia) desertion
coneflower, purple
(Echinacea purpurea) strength and health
coreopsis (Coreopsis) always cheerful
coriander
(Coriandrum sativum) hidden worth
corn (Zea mays) riches
cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus) joy in love and life
cowslip (Primula veris) pensiveness
crab-apple blossom
(Malus hupehensis/Malus sylvestris) ill-tempered
cranberry (Vaccinium) cure for heartache
crocus (Crocus) youthful gladness
currant (Ribes) thy frown will kill me
cyclamen (Cyclamen) timid hope
cypress (Cupressus) mourning
~ D ~
daffodil (Narcissus) new beginnings
dahlia (Dahlia) dignity
daisy (Bellis) innocence
dandelion
(Taraxacum officinale) rustic oracle
daphne (Daphne) I would not have you otherwise
day lily (Hemerocallis) coquetry
delphinium (Delphinium) levity
dianthus (Dianthus) make haste
dittany (Dictamnus albus) childbirth
dogwood (Cornus) love undiminished by adversity
dragon plant (Dracaena) you are near a snare
~ E ~
edelweiss
(Leontopodium alpinum) noble courage
eglantine (Rosa rubiginosa) I wound to heal
elder (Sambucus) compassion
eucalyptus (Eucalyptus) protection
euphorbia (Euphorbia) persistence
evening primrose (Oenothera) inconstancy
everlasting pea
(Lathyrus