Vanessa Diffenbaugh is the author of "The Language of Flowers,". Her debut novel takes the reader on a journey with floral designer Victoria. Diffenbaugh even garnered much of her floral research in Cambridge at Brattle Square Florist in Cambridge. The protagonist Victoria creates her own floral dictionary that shows flowers and their meanings. This dictionary serves as a great sales for her growing florist business.
As Boston florists, we often get asked about flowers and their meanings. Below is "Victoria's Dictionary of Flowers," as written by author Vanessa Diffenbaugh.
A
Abutilon (Abutilon) . . . Meditation
Acacia (Acacia) . . . Secret love
Acanthus (Acanthus) . . . Artifice
Agapanthus (Agapanthus) . . . Love
letter
Allium (Allium) . . . Prosperity
Almond blossom (Amygdalus
communis) . . . Indiscretion
Aloe (Aloe vera) . . . Grief
Alstroemeria (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) . . . Gratitude
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) . . .Impermanence
Chervil (Anthriscus) . . . Sincerity
Chestnuts (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
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) . . . 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
Daisy, Gerber (Gerbera) . . .Cheerfulness
Dandelion (Taraxacum) . . . Rustic oracle
Daphne (Daphne) . . . I would not have you otherwise
Daylily (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
Elder (Sambucus) . . . Compassion
Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus) . . . Protection
Euphorbia (Euphorbia) . . . Persistence
Evening primrose (Oenothera biennis) . . .Inconstancy
Everlasting pea (Lathyrus latifolius) . . .Lasting pleasure
F
Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) . . . Strength
Fern (Polypodiophyta) . . . Sincerity
Fern, maidenhair (Adiantum capillusveneris) . . . Secrecy
Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) . . .Warmth
Fig (Ficus carica) . . . Argument
Flax (Linum usitatissimum) . . . I feel your kindness
Forget-me-not (Myosotis) . . . Forget me not
Forsythia (Forsythia) . . . Anticipation
Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) . . .Insincerity
Freesia (Freesia) . . . Lasting friendship
Fuchsia (Fuchsia) . . . Humble love
G
Gardenia (Gardenia) . . . Refinement
Gentian (Gentiana) . . . Intrinsic worth
Geranium, oak-leaf (Pelargonium) . . .True friendship
Geranium, pencil-leaf (Pelargonium) . . .Ingenuity
Geranium, scarlet (Pelargonium) . . .Stupidity
Geranium, wild (Pelargonium) . . .Steadfast piety
Ginger (Zingiber) . . . Strength
Gladiolus (Gladiolus) . . . You pierce my heart
Goldenrod (Solidago) . . . Careful encouragement
Grapevine (Vitis vinifera) . . .Abundance
Grass (Poaceae) . . . Submission
to be continued with H thru Z on another post. Stay tuned.