Literacy focus: Flowers as symbols

Learning objectives:

Symbolism | Flower | Meaning | Tradition | Message | Petals | Colour | Occasion

Use this symbol-based guide to support understanding:
Download Widgit guide (234kB)

• Bluebell: consistency, forgive and forget
• Campanula: white - gratitude
• Carnation: red - ‘alas for my poor heart’, striped - refusal, yellow - distain, pink - woman’s love
• Chrysanthemum: red - ‘I love you’, yellow - slighted love, white - truth
• Daffodil: regard, chivalry
• Daisy: innocence
• Forget-me-not (Myosotis): true love, ‘the key to my heart’
• Freesia: friendship
• Garden pink (Dianthus): pure love
• Gladiolus: strength of character
• Hyacinth: blue - consistency, white - unobtrustive loveliness
• Iris: yellow - flame of love
• Lavender: devotion
• Lilac (Syringa): purple - first emotions of love, white - youthful innocence
• Lily: pure and modest
• Lily of the valley (Convallaria): return of happiness
• Love lies bleeding

  The flow of sap, usually from a wound or pruning cut on woody plants. Certain plants are more prone to bleeding, including grapevines, acers and birches, so these are best pruned while dormant.

  
  Sap (which may be discoloured, depending on the cause) bleeding from the bark of trees and shrubs can sometimes be a symptom of disease (e.g. bleeding cankers, acute oak decline), insect infestation (e.g. some wood-boring beetles), woodpecker damage, or adverse growing conditions (e.g. severe drought)

  (Amaranthus): hopeless not heartless
• Mimosa (Acacia): sensitivity, secret love
• Narcissus: self-esteem, female ambition
• Orange blossom: bridal festivities, ‘your purity equals your loveliness’
• Orchid: longevity, elegance
• Pansy: thoughtful
• Peony: bashfulness
• Ranunculus: ‘you are rich in attractions’
• Rudbeckia: justice
• Snowdrop: hope
• Solidago: encouragement
• Star of Bethlehem (Ornathologum): purity
• Stocks (Matthiola): lasting beauty
• Sunflower: pure thoughts, adoration, dedication
• Sweet pea: departure, delicate pleasures
• Tulip: red - declaration of love; striped - beautiful eyes
• Veronica: fidelity
• Violet: faithfulnes

Roses symbolise love and good fortune and the colours have different meanings too:

• White - truth, innocence
• Pink - admiration, joy and gratitude
• Red and white - unity
• Red - eternal love
• Yellow - friendship, caring
• Orange - energy