For key to sources, see the home page.
| Flower | Meaning | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1853 | 1883(I) | 1883(II) | 1885/1892 | 1889 | |
| Saffron/Saffron Flower
(1853: A medicinal plant with deep orange colored flowers, introduced into gardens, from Egypt.) |
Do not abuse. | Excess is dangerous. | Beware of excess. | ||
| Saffron Crocus | Do not abuse me. | Mirth | |||
| Saffron, Meadow | My best days are past. | My happiest days are past. | |||
| Sage | Esteem | Domestic Virtue; Esteem. | Domestic virtue. | Esteem | |
| Sage, Garden | Esteem | ||||
| Sainfoin | Agitation | ||||
| Saint John's Wort (Hypericum) | Superstition | Animosity | Animosity. Superstition. | Superstition; You are a prophet | |
| Sardonia | Irony | Irony | |||
| Sardony | Irony | ||||
| Satin-flower (Lunaria) | Sincerity | Forgetfulness | Am I forgotten? | ||
| Saxifrage, Mossy | Affection | ||||
| Scabious | Unfortunate love. | Unfortunate love | |||
| Scabious, Mourning Bride | Widowhood | ||||
| Scabious, Sweet | Widowhood | ||||
| Scarlet Lychnis | Sunbeaming eyes. | Sunbeaming eyes | |||
| Schinus | Religious enthusiasm. | ||||
| Scotch Fir | Elevation | ||||
| Scotch Thistle | Retaliation | ||||
| Scratch Weed | Roughness | Hardness, harshness | |||
| Sensitive Plant | Timidity | Sensitiveness; Modesty. | Sensibility. Delicate feelings. | Sensitiveness | |
| Senvy | Indifference | ||||
| Serpent Cactus | Horror | Surprise | |||
| Service Tree (1883(II): or Sorb) | Prudence | Prudence | Prudence | ||
| Shamrock | Light heartedness | Light-heartedness | |||
| Shepherd's Purse | I offer you my all. | I offer you my all | |||
| Silver Weed | Naiveté | ||||
| Small Bindweed | Defference [sic], respect | ||||
| Snakesfoot | Horror | Terror | |||
| Snake's Lounge | Slander | ||||
| Snapdragon | Presumption | Presumption | Presumption | No, never | |
| Snowball
(1853: A shrub, cultivated for its globular heads of snowy flowers. ---Great Britain) |
Thoughts of heaven. | Thoughts of heaven | Goodness; Thoughts of Heaven. | Bound | Thoughts of heaven |
| Snowdrop
(1853: The first harbinger of spring, appearing in the gardens even when the snow is still on the ground.--England) |
Consolation | Consolation | Consolation; A friend in adversity. | Hope | Consolation |
| Sorrel
(1853: A common weed, with very acid leaves, found in old pastures.) |
Parental affection. | Wit ill-timed. | Parental Affection. | Affection | Parental affection |
| Sorrel, Wild | Wit ill-timed. | Wit ill-timed | |||
| Sorrel, Wood | Joy | ||||
| Southernwood | Jesting | Jest. Bantering. | Jest | ||
| Spanish Jasmine | Sensuality | ||||
| Spearmint | Warm feelings | Warmth of sentiment. | |||
| Speedwell | Fidelity | Female fidelity. | |||
| Speedwell, Germander | Facility | ||||
| Speedwell, Spiked | Semblance | ||||
| Speedwell, Veronica
(1853: The flowers of this plant are very beautiful purple, blue, or white.--United States, Europe, and Asia) |
Female fidelity | Female fidelity | |||
| Spider, Ophrys | Adroitness | ||||
| Spiderwort | Esteem not love. | Esteem, but not love | |||
| Spiked Willow Herb | Pretension | ||||
| Spindle-tree | Your image is engraven on my heart. | Your charms are graven on my heart. | Your charms are engraven on my heart. | Your image is engraved on my heart | |
| Spotted Arum | Ardor, great warmth | ||||
| Spring Caroline | Disappointment | ||||
| Star of Bethlehem | Reconciliation | Reconciliation; Purity. | Purity | Guidance | |
| Starwort | Afterthought. | ||||
| Starwort, American | Welcome to a stranger. | Cheerfulness in old age. | |||
| Stock | Lasting beauty. | ||||
| Stock, Ten-week | Promptitude | Promptness | |||
| Stonecrop | Tranquility | ||||
| Stramonium, Common
(OED: thorn-apple) |
Disguise | ||||
| Straw | Agreement; United. | ||||
| Straw, Broken | Quarrel | Rupture of a contract. | Quarrel, contention | ||
| Straw, Whole | Union | Union, unity | |||
| Strawberry | Perfect excellence | Perfect excellence. | Perfect excellence | ||
| Strawberry Tree (Arbutus) | Esteemed love | Esteem and love. | Esteem and love | ||
| Sumac/Sumach | Splendor | Splendid misery. | |||
| Sumach, Venice | Splendour. Intellectual excellence. | ||||
| Sunflower | False riches. | ||||
| Sunflower, Dwarf | Your devout admirer | Adoration | Adoration | ||
| Sunflower, Fall | Pride | ||||
| Sunflower, Tall | Lofty and wise thoughts. | Haughtiness | Haughtiness | ||
| Swallow-wort | Cure for heartache. | Cure for heartache | |||
| Sweet Basil | Good wishes. | Good wishes | |||
| Sweet Briar (1899: Sweet Brier)
(1853: A fragrant-leaved species of rose, naturalized, but first introduced from England.) |
Poetry | Simplicity | |||
| Sweetbrier, American | Simplicity | ||||
| Sweetbrier, European | I wound to heal. | ||||
| Sweetbrier, Yellow | Decrease of love. | Let us forget | |||
| Sweet Flag | Fitness | Fitness | |||
| Sweet Pea | A meeting. | Delicate pleasures. | |||
| Sweet Sultan | Felicity | Happiness | Felicity | Widowhood | |
| Sweet William | Artifice | Gallantry; Finesse; Dexterity. | Gallantry | Will you smile? | |
| Sycamore | Curiosity | Curiosity | Curiosity | Curiosity | |
| Syringa | Memory; Fraternal love. | Memory | |||
| Syringa, Carolina | Disappointment | ||||
| Syringia
(OED has syringa, mock-orange or lilac) |
Memory | ||||
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