Imagine a silent language made up completely of herbs and flowers that can symbolize any situation or emotion. Here is a glossary of more than 70 garden herbs and their meanings compiled from dozens of nineteenth-century language-of-flowers books from several horticultural libraries as well as from my own library. A glossary of nearly 500 flowers and plants and their meanings appears in my book Tussie-Mussies: The Victorian Art of Expressing Yourself in the Language of Flowers (New York: Workman, 1993).
ā¢ Artemisia: power, dignity, silver moonlight, sentimental recollections, unceasing remembrance
ā¢ Bay Laurel: success, personal accomplishment, glory, achievement in the arts, reward of merit
ā¢ Bee Balm: ompassion, sweet virtues, your whims are unbearable
ā¢ Borage: courage, bluntness, directness
ā¢ Box: stoicism
ā¢ Broom: humility
ā¢ Bugle: cheer, most lovable
ā¢ Burnet, Salad: a merry heart, joy
ā¢ Calendula: health, joy, remembrance, Āconstancy, the sun, affection, disquietude, grief, jealousy,Ā ĀĀmisery, cares, caraway for prevention of infidelity
ā¢ Chamomile: energy in adversity, comfort, patience, help against Āwearisomeness, plant physician
ā¢ Clover: good luck, good education, hard work, industry
ā¢ Coltsfoot: justice shall be done you
ā¢ Comfrey: home sweet home
ā¢ Coneflower, Purple: skill, capability
ā¢ Dill: irresistible, soothing
ā¢ Dittany: birth
ā¢ Dock: patience
ā¢ Fennel: worthy of all praise, force, strength, thinness
ā¢ Feverfew: good health, warmth, you light up my life
ā¢ Forget-Me-Not: true love, hope, remembrance, do not forget me
ā¢ Foxglove: insincerity, a wish, decision, I am not ambitious for myself but for you
ā¢ Garlic: protection, strength, courage, good luck
ā¢ Geranium, Scented: preference, gentility, comfort
ā¢ Ginger: safe, pleasant, comforting, warming
ā¢ Hops: mirth, rest, sleep, beer
ā¢ Hyssop: cleansing
ā¢ Johnny-Jump-Up: happy thoughts
ā¢ Lamb's-Ears: support, softness, gentleness
ā¢ Lavender: devotion, luck, success, Āhappiness, distrust, soothing the passions of the heart, ardent attachment
ā¢ Lemon Balm: sharp wit, understanding, healing, love, fun, relief, rejuvenation, sympathy, social inter course
ā¢ Lemon Verbena: attractive to the opposite sex, responsibility
ā¢ Lovage: strength
ā¢ Mint: warmth of feeling
ā¢ Mint, Lemon: virtue, homeyness, cheerfulness
ā¢ Mint, Pineapple: hospitality, welcome
ā¢ Mugwort: travel, to overcome fatigue, Āconception, comfort, be not weary
ā¢ Myrtle: marriage, love, married bliss, fidelity, passion, peace, home, joy
ā¢ Nasturtium: patriotism
ā¢ Nettle: cruelty, slander
ā¢ Nigella: perplexity, embarrassment, Āindependence, prosperity, kiss me twice before I rise
ā¢ Oregano: joy, happiness
ā¢ Parsley: festivity, feasting, thanks, Āgratitude, useful knowledge
ā¢ Pennyroyal: flee
ā¢ Peppermint: warmth, cordiality
ā¢ Perilla: role reversal
ā¢ Pinks: lively and pure affection, Āfascination, sweetness, boldness, newlyweds, dignity, taste
ā¢ Poppy: forgetfulness, sleep, oblivion, evanescent pleasure
ā¢ Rosemary: remembrance, devotion, fidelity, wisdom, good luck in the new year, your presence revives me
ā¢ Sage: domestic virtue, wisdom, skill, esteem, to mitigate grief
ā¢ Sage, Jerusalem: pride of ownership, earthly Ādelights
ā¢ Sage, Pineapple: hospitality, esteem, virtue
ā¢ Sage, Purple-Leaved: gratitude
ā¢ Santolina: aggressiveness, pursuit wards off evil
ā¢ Savory: mental powers
ā¢ Soapwort: cleanliness
ā¢ Sorrel: parental affection, joy
ā¢ Southenwood: jest, bantering
ā¢ Spearmint: warmth of sentiment
ā¢ Statice: never-ceasing remembrance
ā¢ Sweet Cicely: gladness, sincerity, rejoicing, comfort
ā¢ Sweet Marjoram: blushes, mirth, consolation, joy, happiness, kindness, courtesy, distrust
ā¢ Sweet Woodruff: eternal life and rejoicing, cordiality, athletic victory
ā¢ Tansy: hope against miscarriage, I Ādeclare against you
ā¢ Thyme: activity, bravery, courage, strength, manger herb
ā¢ Valerian: accommodating disposition, drunk and blousy
ā¢ Vervain: good fortune, wishes granted
ā¢ Violet: modesty, faithfulness, humility, simplicity, loyalty, I return your love
ā¢ Wormwood: affection, absence, bitterness, protection for travelers
ā¢ Yarrow: health, to dispel melancholy and heartache, sorrow, healing of wounds, war
Geri Laufer is a professional tussie-mussie maker, a horticulturist, lecturer, author, and herb gardener in Atlanta, Georgia.
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Victorian Tussie Mussie
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