The Language of Flowers
“The fragrance always remains in the hand that gives the rose.”
– Heda Bejar
Love. Hatred. Acceptance. Refusal. How can one covey such sentiments without words? By sending flowers. These jewels of nature can convey almost any emotion, compliment, or warning. As with any language, one simply needs a bit of knowledge and practice.
Flowers and foliage have fascinated mankind for thousands of years. The Greeks assigned particular plants and trees to their deities, such as the Oak for Zeus, and formulated myths of origination to explain the color of the Poppy or the beauty of Narcissus.
This love continued and flourished in the Victorian Era with floral wallpaper, cards, bonnets, and much more. With the culture of the day restricting display of emotions, especially between lovers, Victorians created floriography, the practice of assigning meaning to flowers. Reaching its peak of popularity in the 1800’s in England, the language of flowers demanded its own dictionaries, necessary for sender and receiver to be in perfect communication.
Whether giving flowers as a gift or selecting them for a special event, consider adding extra meaning to your arrangements by consulting the lists below. As most people today aren’t aware of the hidden messages assigned to flowers, be sure to tuck in a note to explain your floral choice.
Declare Your Love
Yes, the rose is the obvious choice, but select your color/type carefully.
| Red – love | White – I am worthy of you |
| Pink – perfect happiness | Musk – capricious beauty |
| Yellow – decrease of love, jealous | Carolina – love is dangerous |
You can send more than roses to show true love. Examine the following.
| Carnation (red) – my heart aches | Clover (4-leaved) – be mine |
| Camellia (red) – you’re my flame | Honeysuckle – bond of love |
| Chrysanthemum (red) – love | Tulip (red) – overt declaration of love |
| Cactus – my heart burns with love | Zinnia (magenta) – lasting love |
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Show how you feel without overtly declaring love.
| Calla Lily – magnificent beauty | Tulip (variegated) – lovely eyes |
| Daisy – innocence | Peony – bashfulness |
| Chrysanthemum (white) – truth | Plum, wild – independence |
| Ivy, Veronica, Violet – fidelity | Pineapple – you are perfect |
Negative Implications
Not all flowers have something nice to say.
| Carnation (striped) – refusal | Oleander – beware |
| Carnation (yellow) – rejection | Rhododendron – danger |
| French Marigold – jealousy | Chrysanthemum (yellow) – slighted love |
What the Herbs Say
| Basil – hatred | Parsley – festivity |
| Dill – lust | Rosemary – remembrance |
| Lavender – distrust | Sage – domestic virtue |
| Mint – virtue | Spearmint – warmth of feeling |
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