the meanings of flowers and plants in dreams

MEANINGS OF FLOWERS, TREES AND PLANTS

ACACIA
The acacia is a symbol of the immortality of the soul.

ALMOND

The almond is a symbol of divine approval of a favour.

ANEMONE

In pagan mythology, the anemone was a symbol of sorrow and death. This belief arose due to the legend of Adonis who was believed to of died on a bed of anemones, which then turned them from white to red. Christians believe to be a suggestion of illness. The red spots on the petals symbolises the blood of Christ

APPLE

In Latin the word for apple and the word for evil, ‘MALUM’ are identical, such as the tree of knowledge in the Garden of Eden.

ASPEN

Two legends. One , relates that the cross was made from the aspen, Two, Christ died on the Cross, all the trees bowed in sorrow except the aspen

BRAMBLE

Believed to be the burning bush in which the angel of the Lord appeared to Moses, Symbol of purity

BULRUSH

Symbol of faithfulness leading a humble life and to find salvation

CARNATION

Symbol of pure love. Pink was worn by the bride upon the day of her wedding. Symbol of marriage

CEDAR

Cedar of Lebanon is a symbol of Christ, identified as beauty and majesty


CHERRY

Symbolises the sweetness of character which is derived from good works, often called the fruit of paradise. A cherry held in the had of the Christ Child, suggests the delights of the blessed

CHESTNUT

Has a husk in it and is surrounded by thorns but is unharmed by them. Symbol of chastity, because this virtue is a triumph over temptations of the flesh, symbolised by the thorns

CLOVER

Symbol of Trinity. Three leaved clover is ‘trefoil’

COCKLE

Symbolises wickedness

COLUMBINE

Symbolises the Holy Ghost, derives from the Latin word for dove

CYCLAMEN

The plant was dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The red spot at the heart of the flower signifies the bleeding sorrow in Mary’s heart, at times this flower is called ‘bleeding nun’

CYPRESS

In pagan times was associated with death, this plant is found in cemeteries

DAISY

Symbol of innocence of the Christ Child

DANDELION

Symbolises passion

ELM

The elm alludes to the dignity of life. Symbolises strength



FERN

The fern conceals its grace, delicacy and beauty in the shadow glens of the forest. Symbolises solitary, humility, frankness and sincerity

FIG

Also known to the forbidden fruit of Tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden, Symbolises Lust

FIR

Symbol of the elect in Heaven, who despise lowly desires, Symbolises people who excel in the virtue of patience

FRUIT

Suggests the twelve fruits of the Spirit; Love, Joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, patience, modesty, temperance and chastity

GOURD

Symbolises resurrection, If associated with the apple it is the antidote for the apple, which is the symbol of evil or death! (can also use the cucumber)

GRAIN

Symbolises the bread and wine of the Holy Communion, ‘Body of Christ’

GRAPES

Symbolises the wine and bread of the Holy Communion, ‘Blood of Christ’

HYACINTH

Symbolises, Christian prudence, peace of mind and the desire for Heaven, gives beautiful youth

HYSSOP

Symbolises patience, humility, innocence regained, hence baptism

ILEX (HOLLY)

Symbol of ChristÂ’s crown of thorns, tree of the cross, passion of Christ


IRIS

Rival of the lily. Symbolism stems from the fact that the name Iris means ‘sword of lily’

IVY

Symbolism of death and immortality, symbol of fidelity and eternal life, and attachment and underlying affection

JASMINE

Signifies grace, elegance and amiability

LAUREL

Symbolises triumph, eternity and chastity

LEMON

Symbol of fidelity in love

LILY

Symbol of purity and the flower of Virgin

LILY OF THE VALLEY

Symbol of the Advent of Christ and of the Virgin Mary – Immaculate conception

MYRTLE

Symbol of love

NARCISSUS

Represents selfishness and self-love, coldness and indifference. This flower is sometimes depicted in scenes of the Annunciation or of Paradise to show the triumph of divine love, sacrifice and eternal life over death, selfishness and sin

OAK

Symbol of strength of faith and virtue, and the endurance of the Christian against adversity



OLIVE

The tree of ‘full of fatness’ symbolised the providence of God toward His children. Symbol of peace

ORANGE

Symbol of purity, chastity and generosity

PALM

Amongst the romanÂ’s it was a symbol of victory and in Christianity the symbolism, where the palm branch was used to suggest the martyrÂ’s triumph over death.

PANSY

Symbol of remembrance and meditation

PEACH

Symbolic of the silence of virtue and of a virtuous heart and tongue, the fruit of salvation

PEAR

Frequently appears in connection with the Incarnate Christ, in allusion to His love for mankind

PLANE TREE

Tree that spreads its branches high and wide becomes a symbol of charity, firmness of character and moral superiority

PLANTAIN

Symbol of the ‘well-trodden path’ of the multitude that seek the path to Christ

PLUM

Symbolic of fidelity and independence

POMEGRANATE

The pagan symbolism is the return of spring and rejuvenation of the earth, symbolic of hope for immortality and resurrection also due to many seeds a symbol of fertility



POPPY

Symbol of fertility, sleep, ignorance, extravagance and indifference

REED

Symbol of passion for the one on the Cross of Christ and humiliation of greatness

ROSE

By Romans the rose was the symbol of victory, pride and triumphant love

STRAWBERRY

Symbol of perfect righteousness or the emblem of righteous man whose fruit are good works. It is occasionally shown accompanied by violets to suggest that the truly spiritual are always humble

THISTLE

Symbol of earthly sorrow and sin, because of the curse pronounced against Adam and by God

THORN

Thorns and thorn branches signify grief, tribulation and sin. Thorn bushes suggest the minor sins and growing briars or brambles.

TREE

Symbol of either life or death depending of whether it is healthy and strong or poorly nourished and withered

VINE

The vine sometimes refers to the vineyard as being protected place where the children of God (the vines) flourish under the tender care of God (the keeper of the Vineyard)

VIOLET

Symbol of humility

WHEAT

Suggests the bounty of the earth, but in relation to Holy Communion, the bread of the eucharist


WILLOW

Symbol of the gospel of Christ, due to it remaining in tact, no matter how widely it is distributed among the people of the world