10 Neat Things about The Language of Flowers
The “language of flowers”, also known as floriography, is a fascinating historical practice where different flowers and plants have symbolic meanings, often used to convey emotions, messages, or sentiments that couldn’t be spoken aloud. Dictionaries of the symbolic meanings were popular in England, France and the United States throughout the 1700s and 1800s.
1. Historical roots.
Floriography dates back to ancient cultures but became particularly popular in Victorian England. It was a way to communicate covertly, especially in the era when social etiquette was strict. In the 19th century, sending a bouquet with carefully chosen flowers could convey romantic or personal messages that words might not express in polite society.
2. Red and white.
The meaning of a flower can change according to its colour. A red flower denotes passionate love, while white inclines toward the more pure. Pink, not surprisingly, is a mixture of the two – a kind of red-light.
3. Yellow.
Beware yellow in any arrangement. While it can represent happiness and light it can also be a warning or an indication of deception or jealousy. The meaning of yellow is fluid, shaped by cultural, social, and historical influences, and in floriography, it is used to express both positive and negative emotions.
4. Roses.
Different colours of roses have different meanings. Red roses represent love and passion, while white roses symbolize purity and innocence. Yellow roses were once associated with jealousy but later became a symbol of friendship.
5. Tulips.
These flowers symbolize perfect love, and in the Victorian era, a red tulip was often used as a declaration of love. The difference between the two is subtle: the red rose represents passion, the red tulip, “perfect love”. I guess perfect love wasn’t passionate for the Victorians.
6. Lavender and peonies.
Known for its calming fragrance, lavender traditionally represents devotion and love, but it also symbolizes purity, peace, and calmness. Similarly, peonies represent a happy marriage, prosperity, and good fortune.
7. Chrysanthemums.
In the West, chrysanthemums are often used to convey sympathy. In Asia, they mean life and rejuvenation; the Japanese emperor sits on the Chrysanthemum Throne. Curiously, today they are often given on Mother’s Day (presumably because they are called mums for short) although they naturally bloom much later in the year.
8. Orchids.
Orchids are a symbol of luxury, beauty, strength, and refinement. In Victorian floriography, they could express delicate love and beauty. In ancient Greek mythology, the orchid was linked to fertility. The Greeks used orchids in rituals related to fertility and the growth of crops.
9. Violets.
Violets were considered symbols of modesty and humility. They were often used to signify “I’ll always be true” or “faithfulness.” The Victorian language of flowers often used violets to symbolize secret or unspoken love. The small, often hidden nature of the violet reflected the idea of love that was kept quiet, either because it was inappropriate or because it was too early to express openly.
10. Geraniums.
The perfect plant to bring to a friend in the hospital is geraniums. They symbolize comfort and the return of good health. They are also seen as a flower that conveys a sense of optimism, joy, and balance in difficult times.
