Cultures worldwide have used flowers to communicate symbolic meaning for important events across history. The formal Language of Flowers developed by the Victorians in the 19th century was perhaps the most detailed and intricate. Still, even they mostly used it as “coffee table book” material rather than regularly communicating via bouquet.
Nonetheless, the study and development of symbolic meanings in flowers are fascinating; many find that they resonate even today. Here are a few examples, followed by some resources to learn more.
It should come as no surprise that roses have the most meanings ascribed to them, given how many varieties were cultivated by Victorian horticulturalists.
Depending on their color, they can represent innocence in love (white), grace (pink), modesty (pale pink), unconscious beauty (burgundy), a confession of love (“moss”), romantic love (red), enchantment (purple), fascination (orange) and even infidelity (yellow).
Their visual and olfactory beauty are cited as reasons they are so closely associated with love and passion, but roses aren’t the only flowers associated with love. Victorians assigned secret love to acacias, everlasting love to baby’s breath, ardent love to the cactus and pure love to the pink dianthus, among others.
Nearly every emotion or abstract concept was assigned to one or more flowers, from noble courage (edelweiss) and chivalry (monkshood) to malevolence (lobelia) and cruelty (nettles).
Others had very specific meanings, such as mignonettes saying, “Your qualities exceed your charms,” mistletoe meaning “I surmount all obstacles,” or currants claiming, “Thy frown will kill me.”
For a dedicated enthusiast, messages with complexity and nuance encompassing the whole human experience are possible, though one must beware of excessive intricacy, or the message will be muddled.
If you and yours wish to add some meaning to the bouquets you give and have some fun deciphering just what the other might be saying with those you receive, consider checking out these resources from the Canton Public Library.
A Victorian Flower Dictionary – Early Victorians used flowers to express their feelings—love or grief, jealousy or devotion. Now, modern-day romantics are enjoying a resurgence of this bygone custom, and this book will share the historical, literary, and cultural significance of flowers with a whole new generation.
Folklore and Symbolism of Flowers, Plants, and Trees – A comprehensive archive by two of the world's foremost collectors of pictorial symbols. Their pictures, rendered from rare illustrations, extend from ancient Chinese lotus buds to a basket of flowers in a 19th-century Valentine silhouette. Includes the symbolic meaning of every known species—from absinth to zinnia—with over 200 black-and-white designs and illustrations.
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