Language of flowers
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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The language of flowers, sometimes called floriography, was a Victorian-era means of communication in which various flowers and floral arrangements were used to send coded messages, allowing individuals to express feelings which otherwise could not be spoken. This language was most commonly communicated through Tussie-Mussies, an art which has a following today.
The nuances of the language are now mostly forgotten, but red roses still imply passionate, romantic love and pink roses a lesser affection; white roses suggest virtue and chastity and yellow roses still stand for friendship or devotion. Also commonly known meanings are sunflowers, which can indicate either haughtiness or respect – they were the favorite flower of St. Julie Billiart for this reason. Gerbera (daisy) means innocence or purity. The iris, being named for the messenger of the gods in Greek mythology, still represents the sending of a message. A pansy signifies thought, a daffodil regard, and a strand of ivy fidelity.
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History
Though most popular in the Victorian period, the symbolic use of flowers dates back to antiquity. In medieval and Renaissance culture, flowers were often given moral meanings. This is most apparent in art in which saints are often depicted with flowers that are symbolic of their virtues. Liana DeGirolami Cheney notes that "some of the Christian symbols for Virginity or Chastity are the white rose, the myrtle, a vessel or vase, the lily, and the unicorn".
The Turkish "Salem", or language of objects, developed to communicate any message without the need to write.
There is also an independent Japanese flower language, called hanakotoba.
Symbolic meaning of some common flowers
| Flower | Meaning Most of the meanings are taken from the book: The Complete Guide to Calligraphy: the Essential Reference for all Calligraphers | |
|---|---|---|
| Abecedary | Volubility | |
| Abatina | Fickleness | |
| Acacia | Secret, chaste love | |
| Acanthus | Art | |
| Acalia | Temperance | |
| Aconite | Misanthropy | |
| Agrimony | Thankfulness | |
| Aloe | Grief | |
| Almond | Promise | |
| Amaranth (Globe) | Immortal love | |
| Anemone | Forsaken, Sickness | |
| Angrec | Royalty | |
| Apple-blossom | Preference | |
| Arbor vitae | Everlasting friendship | |
| Balm | Social intercourse or sympathy | |
| Balsamine | Impatience | |
| Bay wreath | Glory | |
| Bee orchid | Industry | |
| Bells of Ireland | Luck | |
| Bird's foot trefoil | Revenge | |
| Box | Constancy | |
| Broom | Humility | |
| Bulrush | Docility | |
| Buttercup | Riches | |
| Cabbage | Profit | |
| Camellia japonica | Unpretending excellence | |
| Campanula | Gratitude | |
| Canterbury Bells | Gratitude | |
| Carnation | pink | A woman's love |
| white | Disdain | |
| purple | Capriciousness; whimsical; changeable | |
| red | My heart aches for you | |
| yellow | You have disappointed me; Rejection; disdain | |
| striped | Refusal | |
| Celandine | Joys to come | |
| Cherry blossom | A good education | |
| Transience of life (in Japan) | ||
| Feminine beauty (in China) | ||
| Chestnut | Do me justice | |
| China aster | Love of variety | |
| Chrysanthemum | red | I love |
| yellow | Sighted love | |
| Coreopsis | Always cheerful | |
| Cowslip | Winning grace | |
| Clover | red | Industry |
| white | I promise | |
| Coriander | Lust | |
| Daffodil | Uncertainty, chivalry, respect, or unrequited love | |
| Dahlia | Elegance and dignity | |
| Dandelion | Coquetry | |
| Eglantine Rose | A wound to heal | |
| Elderflower | Compassion | |
| Fennel | Strength | |
| Forget-me-not | True love | |
| Geranium | Gentility | |
| Gorse | Love in all seasons | |
| Grass | Submission | |
| Heliotrope | Devotion | |
| Hollyhock | Ambition | |
| Honeysuckle | Devoted affection, bonds of love | |
| Houseleek | Domestic economy | |
| Ivy | Dependence | |
| Jonquil | Return my affection | |
| Laurestine | A token | |
| Lavender | Devotion, distrust | |
| Lemon-blossom | Discretion | |
| Lettuce | Cold-hearted | |
| Lichen | Solitude | |
| Flower | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|
| Lilac | purple | first emotion of love |
| white | youthful innocence | |
| Lily | white | Purity |
| scarlet | High-souled aspirations | |
| Lime Blossom | Fornication | |
| Lobelia | Malevolence | |
| Lotus | Eloquence | |
| Love lies bleeding | Hopelessness | |
| Magnolia | Love of nature | |
| Mallow | Consumed by love | |
| Marigold | Pain and grief | |
| Mayflower | Welcome | |
| Mignonette | Worth | |
| Mint | Suspicion | |
| Morning glory | Love In Vain | |
| Mullein | Good-nature | |
| Nasturtium | Patriotism | |
| Oak leaf | Strength | |
| Oats | Music | |
| Olive | Peace | |
| Oxeye daisy | Patience | |
| Pear blossom | Lasting friendship | |
| Pitch pine blossom | Philosophy | |
| Poppy | white | Dreams |
| Rose | red | True love |
| blue | Mystery, attaining the impossible, and hope for unattainable love | |
| white | Silence or innocence, virtue, purity, secrecy, reverence and humility | |
| black | Death, hatred, farewell, rejuvenation or rebirth | |
| yellow | Friendship, or dying love (or platonic love) or jealousy, infidelity | |
| pink | Grace | |
| dark pink | Gratitude | |
| light pink | Desire, passion, joy of life, youth, energy | |
| burgundy | Beauty | |
| coral or orange | Desire, passion | |
| lavender (violet) | Love at first sight | |
| red and white together | Unity | |
| red and yellow together | Joy, happiness, and excitement | |
| thornless | Love at first sight | |
| Rosemary | Remembrance | |
| Rue | Regret | |
| Sensitive Plant | Sensitivity | |
| Snowdrop | Consolation or hope | |
| Star of Bethlehem | Hope | |
| Straw | United | |
| Sunflower | Pure and lofty thoughts | |
| Sweetbrier | Simplicity | |
| Thorn-apple | Disguise | |
| Thistle | Nobility | |
| Thyme | Thriftiness | |
| Tulip-tree | Fame | |
| Tulip | red | Declaration of love |
| yellow | Hopeless love | |
| Violet | blue | Faithfulness |
| white | Modesty | |
| Willow (creeping) | Love forsaken | |
| Winged seeds (any kind) | Messengers | |
| Witch-hazel | A spell | |
| Wheat | Wealth and prosperity | |
Notes
See also
- Blue rose
- Rose - Culture
- Birthday flowers
- Hanakotoba - Japanese flower language
