Language of flowers

Purple lilac symbolizes "first emotions of love" in the language of flowers.

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.

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".^[1] Victorian sources also used flowers to describe moral, spiritual, or emotional truths.^[2]

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.^[3]

Symbolic meaning of flowers

See also

• Blue rose
• Rose - Culture
• Birthday flowers
• Hanakotoba - Japanese flower language

Notes

External links

• Flowers ebook: The Flowers Personified, 1847
• Chapter Excerpts: History of the Language of Flowers
• Flower Language Bibliography (archive link, was dead)
• Flower Language Bibliography Current version of same authour's page
• Floriography - the Language of Flowers BBC h2g2 entry

Lists of flower meanings

• The Language of Flowers
• Victorian Bazaar list of flower meanings