Floriography -Language of Flowers

THE bit of floriography that everyone knows is that red roses imply romantic love, but most other meanings have fallen out of popular knowledge. The Rose is the flower whose meaning we most understand, but here are some details of the meaning of the Rose that may be of further interest; Rose Black – you are my obsession, RChampagne – you are tender and loving. R. Nicole – you are graceful, elegant, aristocratic, R. Orange – you are my secret love, R. Red-passionate love, I love you; R. Pink-perfect happiness, the glow of your smile, I’ll never forget you, women’s love, mother’s love. R. White, spiritual love, innocence and purity, secrecy and silence. R. Yellow-friendship, jealousy, I am not worthy. R. White, dried-death is preferable to loss of virtue. R. Bridal – happy love, R. Dark Crimson – mourning R. White and Red – we are inseparable, R. White and Red mixed-unity, flower emblem of England. Single Rose any color-gratitude or simplicity, Single Red rose – love at first sight or I still love you. 2 roses – mutual feelings 3 roses – I love you, 7 roses, I’m infatuated by you; 9 roses we’ll be together forever, 10 roses – you are perfect; 11 roses – you are my treasured one, 12 roses – Be mine, 13 roses – friends forever, 15 roses – I’m truly sorry, 20 roses – I’m truly sincere, 21 roses I’m dedicated to you, 24 roses – forever yours, 25 roses – congratulations, 50 roses – unconditional love, 99 roses I will love you all the days of my life, 108 roses – will you marry me, 999 roses – I will love you till the end of time.

Valentine’s Day usually means rose flowers! But there may not be a lot of roses available, you can still send a message with other types of flowers through the little known practice of floriography. Some other flowers and their meanings; Red tulip – declaration of love, yellow tulip – hopeless love, lily of the valley – trustworthy, daffodil – uncertainty, chivalry, respect, unrequited love; daisy, innocence, loyal love, purity, faith, cheer, simplicity; Hibiscus – rare beauty, delicate beauty, Calla lily, magnificent beauty, purity, modesty; lavender (violet) love at first sight, luck, devotion; periwinkle – happy memory; orchids – love, beauty, mystery, refinement; gardenia – estasy, fern – sincerity; protea – courage, also the floral emblem of South Africa.

Not so happy messages:

Yellow Carnation – you have disappointed me, rejection, disdain; Striped Carnation – refusal; marigold – grief or despair, pain; red poppy, death, sleep, consolation; Black rose, death, hatred, farewell; morning glory – love in vain; lobelia – malevolence; love-lies-bleeding-hopelessness; Hydrangea – frigid, Heartlessness. These are just a few there are literally hundreds of flowers with hundred meanings.

The Turks in the 17th century seemed to develop flower meanings, as a way for the concubine women who could not read or write to communicate with each other. It developed to a simple language in which flowers replaced actual words. Arrangements of different flowers were used to convey a variety of messages. In 1718 the wife of the British ambassador to Constantinople, Lady Mary Wortley Montague wrote a letter expounding on the “Secret Language of Flowers” that she had discovered during her visits to Turkey. The language of flowers later appeared in Europe in 1700’s. Seigneur Aubrey de la Mottraye had learned of the flower language while living in exile in Turkey, describing it in his French memoirs of 1727 which later became popular also in Britain.

In 1800, the flower language had arrived Paris, B. Delachenaye’s Abecedaire de Flore on language de Fleurs was first published in 1810. Charlotte de la Tour wrote the language de Fleurs in 1818. An English version was published in 1819. It was a small book, but it became a popular reference on the subject. During the Victonan era, the meaning and language of flowers became increasingly popular. Victorian women especially picked up the silent language, which allowed them to communicate freely what could not be spoken during this particularly frigid period of history. They were able to communicate feelings and meanings that the strict propriety of the times would not allow.

In 1884 a whole new book on the subject and entitled “language of Flowers, by Jean Marsh and illustrated by Kate Greenway, was published in London. It became very popular and respected and has been the standard source for Victorian flower meanings. But you had to be careful, as so many new floral dictionaries were published, that your loved one had the same dictionary, or huge miscommunications could ensue! William Shakespeare, Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters, and many others, all used the language of flowers in their writings.

Additionally, there is a whole set of etiquette that went with Victorian floriography. Handing over flowers with the right hand meant “yes,” while with the left meant ‘no.’ For example, if a beau gave red roses to a young lady, she might reciprocate by plucking one and handing it back with her right, or send him away with a bud from her left.

Flowers could also be inverted in arrangements, which represented the opposite of the flower’s usual meaning. But thankfully the etiquette aspect of floriography has been lost to the ages.

Japan has its own version of floriography called Hanakotoba. One source said the floral practice in the East was older than that in the West. Another source said Hanakotoba has only been around since World War II (1940s) which is hard to believe, since Ikebana – the Japanese art of flower arrangement – has existed for over 500 years. Ikebana is a little different though. Contrary to the idea of floral arrangement as a collection of blooms, Ikebana often emphasizes other areas of the plant, such as the stems and leaves, and draws emphasis toward shape, line, form.

Floriography is a complex language of love. Thankfully we are no longer in the Victoria era and we can pretty much say whatever we want whenever we want. But to this day, flowers and plants continue to be symbolic of other messages, as they likely will, long into the future.

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