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.
[edit] History
Though most popular in the Victorian period, the symbolic use of flowers dates back to antiquity. In
medieval and R
enaissance 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 DeGiro
lami Cheney notes that "some of the Christian symbols for Virginity or Chastity are the white rose,
the myrtle, a v
essel or vase, the lily, and the unicorn".[1] Victorian sources also used flowers to describe moral, spiritual, or emotional truths.[2]
The Turkish "Salem", or language of objects, was developed to communicate any message without the ne
ed to write.
There is also an independent Japanese flower language, called hanakotoba.[3]
[edit] Symbolic meaning of flowers
| Flower | Meaning | Acacia
| Secret love | | Acanthus | Art | | Aconite | Misanthropy | | Agrimony | Thankfulness | | Aloe | Grief | | Almond | Promise | | Amaranth (Globe) | Immortal love | | Anemone | Forsaken, sickness, unfading love | | Angrec | Royalty | | Apple blossom | Preference | | Arborvitae | Everlasting friendship | | Balm[disambiguation needed] | Social intercourse or sympathy | | Balsamine | Impatience | | Bay wreath | Glory[disambiguation needed] | | Bumblebee Orc hid | Industry | Bellflower
| "Thinking of you" | | Bells of Ireland | Luck | | Bird's-foot Trefoil | Revenge | | Box | Constancy | | Broom | Humility | | Bulrush | Docility | | Buttercup | Riches | | Cabbage | Profit[disambiguation needed] | | Camellia japonica | Unpretending excellence | | Campanula | Gratitude | | Canterbury Bells | Gratitude | | Carnation | general | Fascination; distinction; love | | red | "My heart aches for you", "Alas! For my poor heart", deep romantic love, passion | | white | Sweet and lovely, innocence, pure love, faithfulness | | pink | "I'll never forget you", "Always on my mind", a woman's love, a mother's love | | yellow | "You have disappointed me", rejection, disdain | | purple | Capriciousness, whimsical, changeable, unreliability | | mauve | Dreams of fantasy | | striped[disambiguation needed] | "No", "Sorry I can't be with you", refusal | | solid color | "Yes", "Affirmative" | | 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[disambiguation needed] | | Chrysanthemum | red | "I love" | | yellow | Slighted love | | Coreopsis | Always cheerful | | Cowslip | Winning grace[disambiguation needed] | | Clover | red | Industry | | white | "I promise" | | Coriander | Lust | | Daffodil | Uncertainty, chivalry, respect, or unrequited love | | Dahlia | Elegance and dignity | | Daisy | general | Innocence, loyal love, purity, faith, cheer, simplicity | | red | Beauty unknown to possessor | | Dandelion | Coquetry | | Eglantine Rose | A wound to heal | | Elderflower | Compassion | | Fennel | Strength[disambiguation needed] | | Forget-me-not | True love | | Geranium | Gentility | | Gorse | Love in all seasons | | Grass | Submission | | Heliotrope | Devotion | | Hibiscus | Rare beauty, delicate beauty | | Hollyhock | Ambition | | Honeysuckle | Devoted affection, bonds of love | | Houseleek | Domestic economy | | Hydrangea | Frigidness, heartlessness | | Ivy | Dependence[disambiguation needed] | | 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 |
|
| orange |
| Desire, passion |
|
| Lily of the Valley |
| Trustworthy |
|
| Lime Blossom |
| Fornication |
|
| Lobelia |
| Malevolence |
|
| Lotus |
| Purity, chastity, and eloquence |
|
| Love lies bleeding |
| Hopelessness |
|
| Magnolia |
| Love of nature |
|
| Mallow |
| Consumed by love |
|
| Marigold |
| Pain and grief |
|
| Epiga ea repens |
| Welcome |
|
| Mignonette |
| Worth |
|
| Mint |
| Suspicion |
|
| Moonflower |
| Joy, inspiration and hope |
|
| Morning glory |
| Love in vain |
|
| Mullein |
| Good-nature |
|
| Nast urtium |
| Patriotism |
|
| Oak leaf |
| Strength[disambiguation needed] |
|
| Oats |
| Music |
|
| Olive |
| Peace |
|
| Orchid |
| Refined beauty |
|
| Oxeye daisy |
| Pat ience |
|
| Peach blossom |
| Long-life |
|
| Pear blossom |
| Lasting friendship |
|
| Pitch pine blossom |
| Philosophy |
|
| Plum blossom |
| Beauty and longevity |
|
| Poppy | gen eral |
| Eternal sleep, oblivion, imagination |
|
| red |
| Pleasure |
|
| white |
| Consolation, dreams, modern, peace |
|
| y ellow |
| Wealth, success[disambiguation needed] |
|
| Rose | red |
| True love |
|
| blu e |
| Mystery[disambiguation needed], attaining the impossible, love at first sight |
|
| white |
| Eternal love, silence or innocence, wistfulness, virtue, purity, secrecy, reverence, and humility |
|
| black |
| Death, hatred, farewell, rejuvenation or rebirt h |
|
| yellow |
| Friendship, dying love (or platonic love), jealousy, infidelity, or apology |
|
| pink |
| Grace |
|
| dark pink |
| Gratitude |
|
| light pink |
| Desire, passion, joy of li fe, youth, energy |
|
| burgundy |
| unconscious 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[disambiguation needed] |
|
| 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 |
|
| Viscaria |
| Invitation to dance |
|
| Willow (creeping) |
| Love forsaken |
|
| Winged seeds (any kind) |
| Messengers |
|
| Witch-hazel |
| A spell |
|
| Wheat |
| Wealth and prosperity | |
[edit] See also
[edit] Lists of flower meanings
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