Also, anything that carried the scent of a particular plant, like a handkerchief, carried the same message. A man could convey his feelings, then, by having just the right flowers delivered to his lady the morning after a dinner party or dance. Perhaps he'd send her Snowdrops for hope, decorated with Peppermint for warmth of feeling. He should send Field Lilacs for humility, or Brambles for remorse. Maybe he wants nothing more to do with the lady in question.
Flowers can send a message of finality as well as affection.
A striped carnation can mean refusal, while the York and Lancaster Rose declares war. Of course, more than one type of flower may be used to convey one's message, just as one flower can have many meanings depending upon color and size. The rose is the best example of this. As everyone knows, the rose indicates love. On the other hand, a white rosebud indicates girlhood, while red rosebuds mean pure and lovely.