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. The Japanese flower language is called Hanakotoba.

• Acacia - Secret love; chaste love; beauty in retirement; elegance; friendship; hope
• Acanthus - Art or artistic; the fine arts; artifice
• Achillea millefolia - War
• Aconite (Wolf's Bane) - Misanthropy
• Acorn - Nordic symbol of life and immortality
• Agapanthus - Love letters
• Agnus castus - Coldness; indifference
• Allspice - Compassion
• Almond Blossom - Hope; lover's charm
• Aloe - Grief
• Alstroemeria - Devotion; friendship
• Alyssum - Worth beyond beauty
• Ambrosia - Love returned
• Amaranth - Fidelity
• Amaranth, Globe - Unchangeable; immortality; unchanging love
• Amaryllis - Pride; Timidity; splendid beauty
• Anemone - Unfading love; truth; sincerity; anticipation; forsaken; fading hope
• Angelica - Inspiration
• Aniseed - Restoration of youth
• Apple blossom - Preference; good fortune
• Arbor Vitae - True friendship
• Arbutus - Thee only do I love
• Artemisia - Dignity
• Asphodel - My regrets follow you to the grave
• Aster - Love; daintiness
• Azalea - Take care of yourself for me; fragile passion; temperance; Chinese symbol of womanhood
 

• Bachelor's Buttons - Celibacy; single blessedness; hope in love
• Baby's Breath - Everlasting love; happiness; pure in heart
• Basil - Best Wishes; love; hatred
• Bay Leaf - Strength; I change but in death
• Bear's Breeches - Art or artistic; the fine arts; artifice
• Begonia - Beware
• Betony - Surprise
• Bells Of Ireland - Good luck
• Bilberry - Treachery
• Bird Of Paradise - Magnificence
• Bittersweet - Truth
• Bluebell - Humility; constancy
• Borage - Courage; bluntness
• Bouquet of withered flowers - Rejected love
• Broom - Humility; neatness
• Bulrush - Indiscretion; docility
• Burnet - A merry heart
• Buttercup - Cheerfulness; ingratitude; childishness; desire for riches
 

• Cactus - Endurance; warmth; grandeur
• Calendula - Joy
• Calla - Magnificent beauty
• Camellia - Admiration; perfection; good luck gift to a man; loveliness
• Camellia (Pink) - Longing for you
• Camellia (Red) - You're a flame in my heart
• Camellia (White) - You're adorable
• Camomile - Energy in adversity
• Candytuft - Indifference
• Carnation (in general) - Bonds of affection; health and energy; fascination; alas for my poor heart
• Carnation (pink) - I'll never forget you
• Carnation (purple) - Capriciousness; whimsical; changeable
• Carnation (red) - My heart aches for you; admiration
• Carnation (solid colour) -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; disdain
• Cattail - Peace; prosperity
• Cedar - I live for thee; think of me
• Celandine - Joys to come
• Chamomile - Patience ; attracts wealth
• Chysanthemum (in general) - Cheerfulness; You're a wonderful friend
• Chysanthemum (red) - I love
• Chysanthemum (white) - Truth
• Chysanthemum (yellow) -Slighted love
• Cinnamon - My fortune is yours
• Clover (four-leaf) - Good luck; be mine
• Columbine - Folly
• Coreopsis - Always cheerful
• Corn - Riches
• Cornflower - Delicacy; refinement
• Coriander - Lust
• Cowslip - Pensiveness; winning grace
• Coxcomb - Foppery
• Crocus - Cheerfulness; abuse not; joy
• Crown Imperial - Majesty; power
• Cyclamen - Resignation and goodbye; diffidence

• Daffodil - Respect; regard; unrequited love; deceit
• Dahlia - Good taste; instability
• Daisy - Innocence; loyal love; purity; faith; cheer; simplicity
• Dandelion - Wishes come true; faithfulness; happiness; rustic oracle
• Daphne odora - Painting the lily
• Delphinium - Airy
• Dogwood - Durability
 

• Gardenia - You're lovely; secret love; refinement; joy
• Garland of roses - Reward of virtue
• Garlic - Courage; strength
• Geranium (Oak leafed) - Friendship
• Geranium (Rose) - Preference
• Geranium (Scented) - Preference, melancholy; stupidity; folly
• Gillyflower - Bonds of affection
• Gladiolus - Love at first sight; ready-armed; strength of character; generosity
• Gloxinia - Love at first sight
• Golden Rod - Precaution
• Grass - Submission; utility
• Guelder Rose - Winter; age

• Harebell - Submission; grief
• Hawthorn - Hope
• Hazel - Reconciliation
• Heather (lavender) - Admiration; solitude
• Heather (pink) - Good luck
• Heather (white) - Protection; wishes will come true; good luck
• Helenium - Tears
• Heliotrope - Devotion; eternal love; faithfulness
• Hemlock - You will be my death
• Hibiscus - Delicate beauty
• Holly - Good will; defence; domestic happiness; foresight
• Hollyhock - Female ambition; fecundity
• Honesty - Honesty; fascination
• Honeysuckle - Generous and devoted affection; sweetness of disposition
• Hop - Injustice
• Hyacinth (general) - Rashness, sorrow, flower dedicated to Apollo
• Hyacinth (blue) - Constancy
• Hyacinth ( purple) - I'm 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; vanity
• Hyssop - Wards away evil spirits; cleanliness

• Ice plant - Your looks freeze me
• Iris - Faith; hope; wisdom and valour; my compliments; eloquence; message
• Ivy - Fidelity; friendship; affection; marriage

• Magnolia - Sweetness; beauty; love of nature; nobility; dignity; splendid beauty
• Marigold - Comforts the heart; grief; cruelty; jealousy; sacred affection
• Marjoram (sweet) - Joy and happiness; blushes
• Meadowsweet - Uselessness
• Michaelmas Daisy - Afterthought; farewell
• Mignionette - Your qualities surpass your charms
• Mimosa - Sensitivity
• Mint - Protection from illness; warmth of feeling; virtue
• Mistletoe - Kiss me; affection; I surmount difficulties; sacred plant of India, magic plant of the Druids
• Monkshood - Beware, a deadly foe is near; chivalry
• Morning Glory - Affectation
• Moss - Maternal love; charity
• Myrrh - Gladness
• Myrtle - Love; love in absence; remembrance; Hebrew emblem of marriage
• Myrtle (wax) - Discipline; instruction

• Narcissus - Egotism; formality; stay as sweet as you are; you love yourself too well; self-esteem
• Nasturtium - Conquest; victory in battle; maternal love; charity; patriotism
• Nightshade - Truth

• Oak leaves - Bravery
• Oleander - Caution; beware
• Orange - Generosity
• Orange Blossom - Wisdom; purity; eternal love; your purity equals your loveliness
• Orange (mock) - Deceit
• Orchid - Love; beauty; refinement; you flatter me
• Orchid (Cattleya) - Mature charm

• Palm leaves - Victory and success
• Pansy - Thoughts; love
• Parsley - Festivities
• Pasque Flower - You have no claims
• Peach blossom - Longevity; I am your captive
• Peony - Shame; bashfulness; anger; indignation
• Peppermint - Warmth of feelings
• Periwinkle (blue) - Early friendship
• Periwinkle (white) - Pleasures of memory
• Persicaria - Restoration
• Petunia - Resentment; anger; your presence soothes me; never despairing
• Phlox - Agreement; unanimity; sweet dreams
• Pine - Hope; pity
• Pink - Boldness
• Poinsettia - Be of good cheer
• Polyanthus - Pride of riches
• Poppy (general) - Eternal sleep; oblivion; imagination; extravagance
• Poppy (red) -Pleasure; fantastic extravagance
• Poppy (white) - Consolation; sleep
• Poppy( yellow) - Wealth; success
• Prickly Pear - Satire
• Primrose - I can't live without you; early youth; young love
• Primrose (evening) - Inconstancy

• Quaking Grass - Agitation
• Queen Anne's Lace - Fantasy
• Quince - Temptation

• Ranunculus - You are radiant with charms
• Rocket - Rivalry
• Rose (red) - Love ; I love you
• Rose (white) - Eternal Love; innocence; heavenly; secrecy and silence
• Rose (pink) - Perfect happiness; please believe me
• Rose (yellow) - Friendship; jealousy; try to care
• Rose (black) - Death
• Rose (red and white) - Together; unity
• Rose (thornless) - Love at first sight
• Rose (single, full bloom) - I love you; I still love you
• Rose bud - Beauty and youth; a heart innocent of love
• Rose bud (red) - Pure and lovely
• Rose bud (white) - Girlhood
• Rosebud (moss) - Confessions of love
• Roses (bouquet of full bloom) - Gratitude
• Roses (garland or crown of) - Beware of virtue; reward of merit; crown ; symbol of superior merit
• Roses (musk cluster) - Charming
• Rose (tea) - I'll always remember
• Rose (cabbage) - Ambassador of love
• Rose (Christmas) - Tranquilize my anxiety; anxiety
• Rose (damask) - Brilliant complexion
• Rose (dark crimson) - Mourning
• Rose (hibiscus) - Delicate beauty
• Rose leaf - You may hope
• Rosemary - Remembrance; commitment; fidelity
• Rudbeckia - Justice
• Rue - Disdain

• Saffron - Beware of excess
• Sage - Wisdom; long life; domestic virtue
• Salvia (blue) - I think of you
• Scabious - Unfortunate love
• Shamrock - Lightheartedness
• Smilax - Loveliness
• Snapdragon - No; deception; gracious lady; presumption
• Snowdrop - Hope
• Spearmint - Warmth of sentiment
• Spiderflower - Elope with me
• Spindle Tree - Your charms are engraved on my heart
• Statice - Lasting beauty
• Star of Bethlehem - Atonement; purity
• Stephanotis - Happiness in marriage; desire to travel; come to me
• Stock - Lasting beauty; promptness
• Strawberry - Perfect goodness
• Sunflower - Loyalty; haughtiness; you are splendid
• Sweet Basil - Good luck
• Sweet pea - Goodbye; departure; blissful pleasure; Thank you for a lovely time
• Sweet William - Grant me one smile; perfection; gallantry
• Syringa - Memory

• Valerian - An accommodating disposition
• Vernal Grass - Poor but happy
• Veronica - Fidelity
• Violet - Modesty; faithfulness
• Violet (blue) - Watchfulness; faithfulness; I'll always be true
• Violet (white) - Let's take a chance on happiness
• Viscaria - Will you dance with me?

• Wallflower - Fidelity in adversity
• Water Lily - Purity of heart
• Wistaria - I cling to you
• Woodruff - Sweet humility
• Wormwood - Absence

• Xeranthemum - Cheerfulness under adversity

• Yarrow - Health; healing
• Yew - Sorrow

• Zinnia - Thoughts of friends
• Zinnia (magenta) - Lasting affection
• Zinnia (mixed) - Thinking of an absent friend
• Zinnia (scarlet) - Constancy
• Zinnia (white) - Goodness
• Zinnia (yellow) - Daily remembrance