Iranians since ancient times have had a custom of giving flowers for various occasions. The type of flower given related to the essence of the message being portrayed.

Although giving flowers has now become quite common practice in the West, and particularly so in some countries such as Poland, Iranians are still probably the most 'intense flower giving nation'. Flower stores and stands, can be found on every street corner in Iranian cities, and great care goes into preparing each bouquet for the customer.

Here is a rough guide to this language of flowers which has developed over the centuries.

• Acacia - Secret love
• Acorn - Nordic symbol of life and immortality
• Aloe - Grief
• Allspice - Compassion
• Ambrosia - Love returned
• Amaryllis - Pride; Timidity
• Anemone - Unfading love
• Angelica - Inspiration
• Aniseed - Restoration of youth
• Arbutis - Only love
• Apple - Preference
• Aster - Love; daintiness
• Azalea - Take care of yourself for me; fragile passion; Chinese symbol of womanhood

• Bachelor Button - Celibacy
• Baby's Breath - Everlasting Love
• Basil - Best Wishes, Love
• Bay Leaf - Strength
• Begonia - Beware
• Bells Of Ireland - Good luck
• Bird Of Paradise - Magnificence
• Bittersweet - Truth
• Bluebell - Humility; constancy
• Borage - Courage
• Bouquet of withered flowers - Rejected love
• Burnet - A merry heart
• Buttercup - Cheerfulness

• Cactus - Endurance; warmth
• Calendula - Joy
• Camellia - Admiration; perfection; good luck gift to a man
• Candytuft - indifference
• Carnation (in general) Bonds of affection; health and energy; fascination; woman love
• Carnation (pink) - I'll never forget you
• Carnation (purple) - Capriciousness; whimsical; changeable
• Carnation (red) - My heart aches for you; admiration
• Carnation (solid color) -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) - Rejection; disdain
• Cattail - Peace; prosperity
• Chamomile - Patience ; attracts wealth
• Chrysanthemum (in general) - Cheerfulness; You're a wonderful friend
• Chrysanthemum (red) - I love
• Chrysanthemum (white) - Truth
• Chrysanthemum (yellow) -Slighted love
• Coreopsis - Always cheerful
• Coriander - Lust
• Cowslip - Pensiveness; winning grace
• Crocus - Cheerfulness; abuse not
• Cyclamen - Resignation and goodbye
• Clover Good luck

• Daffodil Respect
• Daisy Innocence
• Dandelion Wishes come true

• Eucalyptus - Protection

• Fennel - Worthy of all praise
• Fern - Sincerity
• Forget-Me-Not - True love
• Fern (Magic) - Fascination; confidence and shelter
• Fern (Maidenhair) - Secret bond of love
• Feverfew - Protection
• Fir - Time
• Flax - Domestic symbol; fate
• Forget-me-not - True love; memories
• Forsythia - Anticipation

• Gardenia - You're lovely; secret love
• Garland of roses - Reward of virtue
• Garlic - Courage; strength
• Geranium (Scented) - Preference
• Gladiolus - Love at first sight
• Grass - Submission; utility

• Heather (lavender) - Admiration; solitude
• Heather (white) - Protection; wishes will come true
• Hibiscus - Delicate beauty
• Holly - Good will, Defense;domestic Happiness; foresight
• Honeysuckle - Generous and devoted affection
• Hyacinth (general) - Games and sports; rashness;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
• Hyssop - Wards away evil spirits

• Iris - Faith; hope; wisdom and valor
• Ivy - Fidelity and friendship
• Ivy - sprig of white tendrils - Anxious to please; affection

• Jasmine - Amiability; attracts wealth
• Jonquil - Love me; affection returned; desire; sympathy; desire for a return of affection
• Juniper Protection

• Larkspur - pink - Fickleness
• Lavender - Devotion
• Lemon - Zest
• Lemon Balm - Brings love
• Lemon verbena - Attracts opposite sex
• Lily (general) - Keeps unwanted visitors away
• Lily (calia) - Beauty
• Lily (day) - Coquetry
• Lily (eucharis) - Maiden charms
• Lily (orange) - Hatred
• Lily (tiger) - Wealth; pride
• Lily (white) - Virginity; purity; majesty; it's heavenly to be with you
• Lily (yellow) - I'm walking on air; false and gay
• Lily of the valley - sweetness; return to happiness; humility

• Magnolia - Sweetness; beauty; love of nature
• Marigold - Comforts the heart
• Mint - Protection from illness; warmth of feeling
• Marjoram (sweet) - Joy and happiness
• Mistletoe - Kiss me; affection; to surmount difficulties; sacred plant of India
• Monkshood - Beware, a deadly foe is near; chivalry
• Moss - Maternal love; charity
• Myrtle - Love; Hebrew emblem of marriage

• Narcissus - Egotism; formality; stay as sweet as you are
• Nasturtium - Conquest; victory in battle; maternal love; charity; patriotism

• Oleander - Caution; beware
• Orange Generosity
• Orange Blossom - Brings wisdom
• Orange Mock - Deceit
• Orchid - Love; beauty; refinement; beautiful lady; Chinese symbol for many children
• Orchid (cattleya) - Mature charm

• Palm leaves - Victory and success
• Pansy - Thoughts; love
• Peach Longevity
• Peony - Aphrodisiac
• Petunia - Resentment; anger; your presence soothes me
• Pine - Hope; pity
• Poppy (general) - Eternal sleep ; oblivion; imagination
• Poppy (red) -Pleasure; consolation
• Poppy (white) - Consolation; sleep
• Poppy( yellow) - Wealth; success
• Prickly Pear - Satire
• Primrose - I can't live without you; early youth
• Primrose(evening) - Inconstancy

• Rose (general)(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

• Sage Wisdom - long life
• Salvia -(blue) I think of you
• Smilax - Loveliness
• Snapdragon - Deception; gracious lady; presumption
• Spiderflower - Elope with me
• Stephanotis - Happiness in marriage; desire to travel
• Stock - Lasting beauty
• Strawberry - Perfect goodness
• Sunflower - Loyalty; wishes
• Sweetpea - Goodbye; departure; blissful pleasure; Thank you for a lovely time

• Thyme - Strength and courage; ensures restful sleep
• Tulip(general) - Fame,charity; perfect lover
• Tulip(red) - Believe me; declaration of love
• Tulip(variegated) - Beautiful eyes
• Tulip(yellow) - Hopeless love

• Violet - Modesty; calms tempers; induces sleep
• Violet(blue) - Watchfulness; faithfulness; I'll always be true
• Violet(white) - Let's take a chance on happiness
• Viscaria - Will you dance with me?

• Woodruff - sweet humility

• Yarrow - Health,healing

• 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