Sweet
flowers alone can say what passion
fears revealing Thomas Hood
poem, The Language of Flowers
Flowers and bouquets of flowers
have a meaning of their own.
Most of us know that a dozen
red roses means, “Be mine.”
But did you know, for example,
that a primrose means, “I can’t
live without you,” or that a
purple hyacinth means, “Please
forgive me,” or that a pink
carnation means, “I’ll never
forget you,” or that a gladiolus
means, “Give me a break?” Flower
meanings have been used to convey
ideas, feelings and messages
for centuries. The word, floriography,
has been coined for the assignment
of meaning to flowers. There
is a meaning to colors of flowers,
to numbers of flowers, and to
groups of flowers. It is a silent
language that has been largely
lost to us through lack of use.
In addition to the obvious choices
of color and variety, the language
of flowers also includes the
way flowers are worn or presented.
Presenting flowers upright conveys
a positive meaning, but if they
are presented upside down the
meaning is the opposite. If
a ribbon is included with the
flowers and is tied to the left
then the meaning of the flowers
refers to the giver, but if
the ribbon is tied to the right
then the meaning refers to the
recipient. Also, flowers can
be used to answer questions.
When they are presented with
the right hand the answer is
“yes,” but when presented with
the left hand the answer is
“no.” History The Turks in the
17th century seemed to develop
flower meanings. In 1718 the
wife of the British ambassador
to Constantinople, Lady Mary
Wortley, wrote a letter expounding
on the “Secret Language of Flowers”
that she had discovered during
her visits to Turkey. Europe
quickly picked up on the concept.
In 1819 Louise Cortambert, under
the pen name, Madame Charlotte
de la Tour, wrote and published
what seems to have been the
first dictionary of the flower
language entitled, Le Language
des Fleurs. It was a small book,
but it became a popular reference
on the subject. During the Victorian
era, the reign of Queen Victoria
from 1837 to 1901, the meaning
and language of flowers became
increasingly popular. Victorian
women especially picked up the
silent language that allowed
them to communicate feelings
and meanings that the strict
propriety of the times would
not allow. Tussie-mussies, a
bouquet of flowers wrapped with
a lace doily and tied with a
satin ribbon became a popular
and valued gift of the times.
In 1884 a whole book on the
subject and entitled, The Language
of Flowers, by Jean Marsh and
illustrated by Kate Greenaway,
was published in London. It
became popular and respected
and has been the standard source
for Victorian flower meaning
ever since. Selected Flower
Meanings Here are some selected
flowers and their meanings,
a short dictionary. Almond flowers
-- Hope Anemone -- Forsaken
Aster -- Symbol of love Balm
-- Sympathy Basil -- Best wishes
Bay leaf -- "I change but in
death" Bell flower, white --
Gratitude Bergamot -- Irresistible
Bluebell -- Constancy Borage
-- Courage Broom -- Humility
Campanula -- Gratitude Carnation,
pink -- I'll never forget you
Carnation, red -- My poor heart
aches for you Carnation, striped
-- Refusal China rose -- Beauty
always new Chrysanthemum --
Love Clover, four leaved --
"Be mine" Coreopsis -- Love
at first sight Cuckoo pint --
Ardor Daffodil -- Regard Daisy
-- Innocence, new-born, "I share
your sentiment" Fennel -- Flattery
Fern -- Sincerity Forget-Me-Not
-- True love Furze or Gorse
-- Enduring affection French
Marigold -- Jealousy Gardenia
-- Ecstasy Gentian -- Loveliness
Geranium -- "You are childish"
Hare bell -- Grief Heartsease
-- "I am always thinking of
you" Honeysuckle -- Bonds of
love Heather -- Admiration Hyacinth
-- I am sorry, Please forgive
me Ice Plant -- "Your appearance
freezes me" Ivy -- Fidelity,
friendship, marriage Jasmine
-- Grace Jonquil -- "I hope
for return of affection" Lavender
-- Luck, devotion Lemon Balm
-- Sympathy Lilac -- First love
Lily -- Purity, modesty Lily
of the Valley -- Purity, the
return of happiness Lily, Calla
-- Beauty Marigold -- Health,
grief or despair Marjoram --
Kindness, courtesy Myrtle --
Fidelity Oregano -- Joy Orchid
-- Love, beauty, refinement
Pansy -- Loving thoughts Periwinkle
-- Happy memory Phlox -- Agreement
Poppy, red -- Consolation Primrose
-- I can't live without you
Rose, cabbage -- Ambassador
of love Rose, red -- Love Rose,
pink -- Grace, beauty Rose,
yellow -- Friendship Rosemary
-- Remembrance, constancy Rue
-- Contrition Sage -- Gratitude,
domestic virtue Snowdrop --
Hope Star of Bethlehem -- Purity
Sweet Pea -- Departure, tender
memory Sweet William -- Gallantry
Tuberose -- Voluptuousness Tulip,
red -- My perfect lover, Reclamation
of love Violet -- Loyalty, modesty,
humility Violet, blue -- Faithfulness
Wormwood -- Grief Wheat -- Riches
of the continuation of life
Willow, weeping -- Mourning
Wallflower -- Fidelity Yew --
Sorrow The Rose 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 Rose, Champagne
– You are tender and loving
Rose, Leonidas – Sweet love
Rose, Nicole – You are graceful
and elegant, aristocratic Rose,
Orange – You are my secret love
Rose, Pink – Brilliant complexion;
the glow of your smile; perfect
happiness Rose, Red – Passionate
love; I love you Rose, Single
Stems – Simplicity Rose, White
– I am worthy of you; spiritual
love; Innocence and Purity;
Secrecy and Silence Rose, White
and Red – We are inseparable
Rose, White and Red Mixed –
Unity; Flower emblem of England
Rose, White, Dried – Death is
preferable to loss of virtue
Rose, Yellow – Friendship; Jealousy;
I am not worthy Rose, Bridal
– Happy Love Rose, Dark Crimson
– Mourning Rose, Hibiscus –
Delicate beauty Rose, Tea –
I’ll remember always Rose, Thornless
– Love at first sight Roses,
Bouquet of Mature Blooms – Gratitude
Multiple Roses Single bloom
red Rose – Love at first sight
or I still love you Single Rose,
any color – Gratitude or simplicity
2 Roses – Mutual feelings 3
Roses – I love you 7 Roses –
I’m infatuated with 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 towards you 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
love you till the end of time
What To Do With the lists above
you should be able to assemble
a meaningful gift of flowers
or a bouquet that conveys a
complex thought. Wrap the flowers
appropriately and present them
in a significant manner. Then,
just to be certain that your
efforts are not misinterpreted,
include a card that fully explains
the meaning of your flowers.
After a few flower presentations
you should be able to drop the
explanatory notes and begin
enjoying and sharing the silent
language of flowers.
Garry Gamber is a public school
teacher and entrepreneur. He
writes articles about real estate,
health and nutrition, and internet
dating services. He is the owner
of http://www.Anchorage-Homes.com
and http://www.TheDatingAdvisor.com.
