ALSTROEMERIA Resembling a miniature lily, alstroemeria, often called the Peruvian Lily or Lily of the Incas, was named

after its discoverer, Baron Claus von Alstromer, a Swedish baron who collected the seeds. AMARYLLIS Legend has it that the amaryllis the stunning red flower weve come to associate with the holidays began as a shy, timid nymph. Amaryllis fell deeply in love with Alteo, a shepherd with Hercules strength. ANEMONE The name anemone comes from the Greek word for windflower. According to Greek mythology, the anemone sprang from Aphrodites tears as she mourned the death of Adonis. ANTHURIUM With their open, heart-shaped flowers and tropical disposition, its no wonder that anthurium have come to symbolize hospitality. Also known as the Flamingo Flower, Boy Flower, Painted. ASTER With their wildflower beauty and lush texture, asters have long been considered an enchanted flower. In ancient times, it was thought that the perfume from their burning leaves could drive. BIRD OF PARADISE Bearing an unmistakable resemblance to a brightly colored bird in flight, bird of paradise are native to south Africa and represent joyfulness and (not surprisingly) paradise itself. Also known as Crane flowers. BLUE FLOWERS Blue flowers hold a special significance in the language of flowers and apparently given their long-standing popularity a special place in our hearts as well. Whether its the deep blue petals of an iris. CARNATION With a history that dates back more than 2,000 years, its not surprising that carnations are rich with symbolism, mythology and even debate. While some scholars suggest that their name comes CHRYSANTHEMUM With a history that dates back to 15th century B.C., chrysanthemum mythology is filled with a multitude of stories and symbolism. Named from the Greek prefix chrys - meaning golden (its original color) and. DELPHINIUM (LARKSPUR) Derived from the Greek word delphis, meaning dolphin, delphinium are also commonly known as larkspur. Other names include Larks Heel, Larks Claw and Knights Spur. Used by Native Americans. FREESIA Named after the German physician Friedrich Heinrich Theodor Freese, freesia with their bell-shaped blooms and sweet, citrus scent are among the most popular fragrant flowers. And, while in most cases.

GERBERA Primary Significance: The fifth most popular flower in the world, gerbera daisies can mean innocence, purity, and cheerfulness. These large daisy variations come in a number of vibrant colors, and sending them is the perfect way to brighten someone's day. GIADIOLA Named for the shape of their leaves, gladioli from the Latin word gladius, meaning sword have a history than spans from Africa to the Mediterranean. Symbolizing strength and moral integrity, gladioli.

HELICONIA CRAB CLAW Native to the Tropics, areas of the world where the sun reaches a point directly overhead at least once during the solar year, tropical flowers are sometimes called exotic flowers because of their.

Hydrangea First discovered in Japan, the name hydrangea comes from the Greek hydor, meaning water, and angos, meaning jar or vessel. This roughly translates to water barrel, referring to the hydrangeas need for plenty.

IRIS The iriss mythology dates back to Ancient Greece, when the goddess Iris, who personified the rainbow (the Greek word for iris), acted as the link between heaven and earth. Its said that purple irises were LILAC The story of lilac, according to Greek mythology, begins with a beautiful nymph named Syringa (lilacs botanical name). Captivated by her beauty, Pan, the god of the forests and fields, chased Syringa. LILY Dating as far back as 1580 B.C., when images of lilies were discovered in a villa in Crete, these majestic flowers have long held a role in ancient mythology. Derived from the Greek word leiron,. LISIANTHUS / EUSTOMA With a host of names from Texas Bluebell to Prairie Gentian to Lira de San Pedro lisianthus symbolize an outgoing nature. Native to Texas and Mexico, and descended from a North American wildflower. ORCHID The most highly coveted of ornamental plants, the delicate, exotic and graceful orchid represents love, luxury, beauty and strength. In ancient Greece, orchids were associated with virility. In fact, Greek. PEONY With a recorded history that dates back thousands of years, its not surprising that even the mythology surrounding the origin of the peony has multiple versions. One legend has it that the peony is named.

PROTEA Among the oldest families of flowers on earth, dating back 300 million years, Greek legend tells us that protea were named after Proteus, the son of Poseidon. A sea god who had the power to know all things.

RANUNCULAS Native to Asia and celebrated for its medicinal properties as well as its bright beauty, the small camellia-like ranunculus ranges from white to pink, red to yellow to orange. Also known as Buttercup. ROSE Long a symbol of love and passion, the ancient Greeks and Romans associated roses with Aphrodite and Venus, goddesses of love. Used for hundreds of years to convey messages without words, they also. SNAPDRAGON Derived from the Greek words anti, meaning like, and rhin, meaning nose, antirrhinum, the snapdragons botanical name, is a fitting description of this snout -shaped flower. Its said that the common.

STATICE Grown for both its colorful flowers and its everlasting calyx (the green leaf that encloses the flower bud), statice is also considered an herb, referred to as sea lavender. Statice is commonly used in dried. STOCK A symbol of happy life and contented existence, the stock flower, with its sweet, headyscented blooms, is native to Southwestern Greece and the Mediterranean.Typically found in white, pink. SUNFLOWER While their distinctive and brilliant appearance makes it easy to see why sunflowers have long held our fascination, when they were first grown in Central and South America, it was more for their.

TULIP Originally from Persia and Turkey, tulips were brought to Europe in the 16th century, where they got their common name from the Turkish word for gauze (with which turbans were wrapped) reflecting.