Flowers

The Secret Meaning of Flowers

The ‘language of flowers’ or ‘Floriography’ dates right back to the Victorian times.  In fact, the first dictionary of floriography appeared in 1819, when ‘Madame Charlotte de la Tour’ (real name – Louise Cortambert) wrote Le Langage des Fleurs. This secret language of blooms acted as a code to communicate the meanings of numerous flowers and flower arrangements, a little like the texting acronyms of the past.

The history of gifting blooms

Victorians commonly swapped small ‘talking bouquets’, also known as ‘nosegays’ or ‘tussie-mussies’, which were worn or carried as fashion accessories. When meanings were attached, these blooms were seen as a different way of communicating and of making one’s feelings known.

Today, gifting flowers to friends and family is still extremely common and many will look into the meanings of the blooms they gift before sending them. This will ensure they match the recipient’s tastes and convey a certain message, such as ’happy anniversary’, ‘I love you’ or ‘congratulations’.

For example, roses act as a romantic gesture, whilst Alstroemeria blooms are a good option to choose if you want to wish someone good fortune. Gardenia are a great bloom to gift someone you wish to take on a date or are fond of, whilst peonies are a sign of a happy marriage and are therefore popular in bouquets gifted on anniversaries.

Below you’ll find an alphabetic list of almost every bloom available and its true meaning, which will certainly come in handy the next time you’re thinking of sending a bouquet of flowers or a plant to a loved one…

A FLOWERS

Agapanthus Secret love
Agrimony Thankfulness
Allium Unity, Humility, Patience
Alstroemeria Devotion, Wealth, Prosperity, Fortune
Alyssum Worth beyond beauty
Ambrosia Pride, Timidity, Splendid beauty
Anemone Forsaken, Expectations
Apple Blossom Better things to come, Good fortune
Arbutus I only love you
Asparagus Fern Amazement, Fascination
Asphodel My regrets follow you to the grave
Aster Wisdom, Devotion
Azalea Be Safe, Take Care of Yourself, Temperance, Fragile

B FLOWERS

Baby’s Breath Innocence, Pure of Heart
Begonia A fanciful nature
Bells of Ireland Good luck
Bird of Paradise Faithfulness, Love, Thoughtfulness
Bluebell Humility
Buttercup Childishness

C FLOWERS

Calla Lily Magnificent Beauty
Carnation Woman love
Chrysanthemum You’re a Wonderful Friend, Cheerfulness
Clematis Cleverness, Ingenuity
Cornflower Delicacy
Crocus Cheerfulness

D FLOWERS

Daffodil Respect, Rebirth
Daisy Gentleness, Innocence, Purity
Dandelion Happiness
Delphinium Dignity
Dahlia Commitment

E FLOWERS

Eustoma (Lisianthus) Appreciation

F FLOWERS

Forget Me Not True love, Faithfulness
Forsythia Anticipation, Purity
Freesia Trust, Friendship, Purity

G FLOWERS

Gardenia Sweet love, You’re Lovely
Geranium Foolishness
Gerbera Innocence, Purity, and Cheerfulness
Gladiolus Generosity, Strength and Moral Integrity
Gypsophila Innocence, Pure of Heart

H FLOWERS

Heather Good luck, Wishes Come True (White), Admiration (Lavender)
Holly Happy Home Life
Honeysuckle Generosity, I Love You
Hyacinth Playful, Sincerity
Hydrangea Gratitude, Boastfulness, Heartlessness

I FLOWERS

Iris Faith, Passion, Wisdom, Friendship
Ivy Fidelity, Wedded Love, Affection, Friendship, Life and Immortality

J FLOWERS

Jasmine Beauty, Sensuality, Modesty, Grace, Elegance
Juniper Healing, Protection

K FLOWERS

King Protea Change and Transformation

L FLOWERS

Larkspur An open heart
Lavender Devotion, Loyalty, Love,
Lilac Purity and Innocence, First Emotion of Love , Spirituality (purple)
Lily of the Valley Return of Happiness
Lily Rebirth and Motherhood
Lily (Orange) Money, Wealth
Lily (White) Purity
Lotus Estranged love

M FLOWERS

Magnolia Nobility
Mistletoe Kiss me, Affection, Difficulties
Morning Glory Affection
Mum Hope

N FLOWERS

Narcissus Egotism, Formality

O FLOWERS

Olive Branch Peace
Orange Blossom Innocence, Purity, Eternal Love, Marriage
Orchid Love, Beauty

P FLOWERS

Palm Leaves Success
Passion Flower Faith
Peony Happy marriage, Prosperity, Bashfulness
Petunia Our souls are united
Poppy Pleasure, Wealth, Eternal Sleep, Oblivion, Imagination
Primrose I can’t live without you
Pussy Willow Motherhood

Q FLOWERS

Queen Anne’s Lace Sanctuary

R FLOWERS

Ranunculus Radiant, Charming
Rose(Red) Love, I love you, Desire
Rose (Pink) Perfect happiness
Rose (Coral) Desire
Rose (Yellow) Friendship, Joy, Gladness
Rose (Orange) Fascination
Rose (Lavender) Enchantment
Rose (White) Charm, Innocence
Rosebud Beauty, Youth

S FLOWERS

Snapdragon Presumption, Deception, Gracious Lady
Solidago Success
Star of Bethlehem Atonement, Reconciliation
Stephanotis Marital Happiness
Statice Remembrance
Sunflower False Riches, Pride
Sweet Pea Blissful pleasure, Goodbye, Departure

T FLOWERS

Tiger Lily Prosperity
Trumpet Flower Separation
Tuberose Dangerous Pleasure
Tulip Love and Passion

V FLOWERS

Veronica Fidelity
Violet Faithfulness, Modesty

W FLOWERS

Water Lily Purity of heart
Wax Flower Riches
Wisteria Welcome

Y FLOWERS

Yarrow Healing

Z FLOWERS

Zinnia Sincerity, Symbol of love
Zinnia (Yellow) Daily remembrance
Zinnia (Magenta) Lasting affection
Zinnia (White) Goodness

 

A time for secret messages?

Whether you’re sending blooms to a loved one, a colleague or a friend, you now have no excuse not to send a bouquet complete with a secret meaning or message! This will make the gift that little more personal, notwithstanding whether the recipient knows what it means or not…

You can also rely on a number of online florists to provide the same and next day delivery services, meaning you can send your blooms whenever you want (and at the last minute if you’ve forgotten someone’s special occasion)!

Source: weloveflorists.com

Lily Calyx is our in-house flower whisperer, an expert on all things botanical and an enthusiastic orchids collector. She loves discussing the insights of the secret world of flowers, shares her gardening tips and hacks and moons over the latest additions to Serenata Flowers flower range. Ask Lily anything about flowers and we can guarantee she will have the answer.

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