What is floriography?

Flower enthusiasts may have heard this term being thrown around every now and then, but what exactly is floriography you ask? Floriography is the language of flowers. All flowers hold different meanings, often based on the type of flower, the colour of the flower, or both. And floriography is the art of communicating through different flower types. Once you learn and understand the meaning of flowers, giving flowers as gifts becomes so much more thoughtful as you can convey just how you feel with a bouquet!

Floriography Infographic

History of flower meanings

Technically, floriography has been practised for thousands of years in many cultures throughout Europe, Asia and Africa. Many flowers derive their meaning and symbolism from ancient myths and legends. A lot of Shakespeare’s work involved flower symbolism too. All of these flowers continue to hold the same meaning attached to its mythology today.

One of our favourite, and a very popular myth, is the story of Narcissus. Narcissus was an extremely beautiful man who one day caught his reflection in the water and fell in love with himself. He adored that reflection so much he never left and ended up wasting away by the lake where the flower narcissus, or daffodil as it’s more commonly known, took his place and now symbolises requited love, return of affection, sympathy and the coming of spring.

The Victorian Flower Language

Even though floriography has been around for quite a while now, it’s most commonly associated with the Victorian era, as this is when learning the unique symbolism behind each flower became a popular hobby. Back then, flowers were used to deliver top secret messages. For example, if you had a crush on someone, you’d send them a single red rose and if they sent back a yellow carnation, the message would be clear that they were not interested. Ouch!

People would carefully select and arrange flowers in a bouquet or floral arrangement to convey a specific message or sentiment to the recipient. The arrangement's colours, types of flowers, and even the way the flowers were presented all held significance in this intricate floral communication system.

In the Victorian flower language, the choice between a single flower and a bouquet held specific significance and could convey different messages or sentiments, adding nuance to the communication.

Single Flower

• Simplicity: Conveyed a sense of simplicity and directness in the message. It could signify that the sender's emotions were clear and straightforward.

• Focus: Emphasised the meaning associated with that specific flower. For example, a single red rose would unmistakably represent love and passion.

• Initial stages of romance: In the early stages of a romantic relationship, a single flower could signify a budding or initial interest in someone. It hinted at the potential for deeper feelings to develop over time.

Bouquet

• Complexity: Conveyed a more complex message or a combination of emotions. The selection of different flowers in a bouquet allowed for a richer, layered expression of feelings.

• Variety: Each flower in the bouquet could carry its own distinct meaning, and the combination of these meanings could create a more nuanced and personalised message.

• Expression of affection: Used to express a wide range of emotions, from love and admiration to friendship and sympathy, depending on the flowers chosen and their arrangement.

• Celebratory or special occasions: Bouquets were frequently exchanged on special occasions like birthdays, weddings, or anniversaries, where multiple sentiments might be at play.

In brief, in the Victorian Era, the choice between a single flower and a bouquet allowed individuals to tailor their gifts to the specific message or emotions the giver wanted to communicate.

The way flowers were handed or presented, or the type of flowers and their colours also played an important part in the messaging.

Flowers and their meanings

To get you started with floriography, here is a list of 30 common flowers along with their traditional meanings:

 

Rose - Love, passion, beauty

Lily - Purity, virtue, devotion

Daisy - Innocence, purity, new beginnings

Tulip - Perfect love, elegance

Sunflower - Adoration, loyalty

Orchid - Exotic beauty, strength

Carnation - Love, fascination

Iris - Faith, wisdom, hope

Peony - Prosperity, good fortune

Daffodil - Rebirth, new beginnings

Hyacinth - Sincerity, constancy

Lilac - First love, youthful innocence

Marigold - Joy, warmth, creativity

Poppy - Restful sleep, consolation

Chrysanthemum - Friendship, joy, honesty

Jasmine - Sensuality, grace, elegance

Violet - Modesty, humility

Forget-Me-Not - True love, memories

Camellia - Admiration, perfection

Gerbera Daisy - Cheerfulness, innocence

Anemone - Anticipation, fragility

Calla Lily - Elegance, purity

Zinnia - Thoughts of absent friends

Snapdragon - Graciousness, strength

Gladiolus - Strength of character

Sweet Pea - Pleasure, gratitude

Primrose - Young love, eternal love

Bluebell - Humility, constancy

Aster - Patience, elegance

Lavender - Serenity, calmness

Flower colour meanings

Every flower colour has its own meaning behind which makes it extra special. So if you’re sending someone a bouquet and want to express how you feel, keep reading to find out what colours you should include.

Red flowers

Red flowers are one of the most popular flower colours to send. With a meaning of passion, love and affection, they should definitely always be included when you’re sending a bouquet to someone you love deeply. Red flowers are also used to symbolise courage, respect and desire too. And, at Christmastime, they’re used a lot to decorate, as red is the universal symbol of Christmas cheer!

Pink flowers

Pink flowers have many different meanings in different cultures. Typically though, they represent grace, joy and innocence. In Thailand, pink flowers are a symbol of trust, in China, they represent good fortune and in Japan, they symbolise good health. But, in Western cultures, pink flowers are used to represent femininity and playfulness. They’re a wonderful colour to send to either friends or romantic interests.

Yellow flowers

If you want to help cheer up a friend, then a big bunch of yellow flowers are the way to go! You just can’t help but smile when you see bold, yellow flowers. And with a meaning of joy and lightheartedness, happiness and friendship, it’s no wonder why! Yellow flowers are a fantastic way to brighten up any home and their cheery meanings will make for a lovely gift.

White flowers

Simple yet beautiful, white flowers have a meaning of purity, humility and innocence and are perfect to use in a wedding or send to someone who has recently welcomed a baby. But, be careful when sending white flowers to people in Asian countries, as over there they symbolise death and mourning, so sending white flowers for an Asian wedding would not go down well!

 

Flowers that mean love

If you’re wanting to send romantic flowers to your partner to express just how much you love them, these are perfect:

Red roses

The classic red rose is often associated with Valentine’s Day as it symbolises enduring passion and endless love.

Red Tulip

Tulips have a meaning of perfect love, so sending red tulips will indicate that they’re your one true love.

Red Carnation

Carnations are a beautiful flower with a meaning of love and fascination. Sending red carnations will symbolise a deep, affectionate love.

Dahlia

Dahlia’s are a striking flower that has a wonderful meaning of a lasting bond and commitment so these are perfect for anniversary flowers.

 

Flowers that mean friendship

If you’re sending a friend some birthday flowers, get-well-soon flowers or just because flowers, here are the most meaningful ones:

Yellow Rose

The yellow rose is the most known flower of friendship as it symbolises both friendship and joy, so it’s perfect to send to your partner in crime!

Freesias

With a meaning of trust, friendship and thoughtfulness, freesias are great to include in a bouquet to send to your friends.

Alstroemeria

The beautiful alstroemeria flowers have always been connected to friendship with a meaning of mutual support, devotion and strength.

Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemums have a huge variety of meanings all around the world, but generally, they represent happiness, longevity and love, making them perfect to give to your best friend.

 

Flowers that mean gratitude

Need flowers to say thank you to someone? Maybe they helped you during a difficult time or have consistently shown you support or took you out for lunch as a treat. Here are all the flowers to send someone to show gratitude:

Pink roses

Pretty pink roses are the perfect way to say thank you and show your appreciation and admiration to someone who helped you through a tough time.

Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas are a beautiful, full flower that expresses sincere, heartfelt sentiment and represents gratitude and understanding.

Sweet peas

Sweet peas are wonderfully fragrant and look lovely when they’re included in a bouquet. Sweet peas are known for having a meaning of gratitude and are the perfect way to say thank you.

Iris

With a meaning of hope and trust, the iris flower is great to send when you want to say thank you to a friend.

 

Flowers that mean sympathy

Let someone know they’re in your thoughts during the most difficult time by sending them some beautiful sympathy flowers. Here are the most appropriate flowers to send:

Lilies

Lilies are a popular funeral flower as they have a very elegant appearance and a meaning of purity, innocence and sympathy.

White roses

White roses are also very popular and look beautiful when included in a funeral flower arrangement. With a meaning of reverence, humility and innocence they’re perfect to offer condolences.

Orchids

Delicate and graceful orchids are a lovely flower for funeral services. And, as they have a meaning of strength too, they’ll be ideal to give the person who’s lost someone special.

Poppies

The poppy flower is the most well-known remembrance flower around and is a great way to honour someone who’s passed away.

 

Flowers for celebration

If you know someone who’s recently got married, moved house, landed themselves their dream job or got amazing grades, send them these cheerful celebration flowers:

Peonies

Everyone loves the pretty peony flower! And with a meaning of prosperity, good luck and a happy life they make great gifts for those embarking on a new, exciting adventure in life.

Lisianthus

Cute and dainty lisianthus flowers represent confidence, charisma and charm so are great to send someone who’s done well in school or smashed a presentation at work.

Daffodils

As daffodils signify new beginnings and hope, they’ll be best to send someone who’s recently moved into a new house. They’ll really help to brighten up the place too.

Calla lilies

Calla lilies are wonderful flowers to give someone who’s getting married as they symbolise beauty, innocence, magnificence and purity.

 

Birth month flowers and their meanings

Did you know there’s also a special flower to represent each birth month? That certainly makes buying someone a birthday gift easier! Here’s a list of what each birth flower is and what they mean:

January

The January birth flowers are the carnation and snowdrop which have a meaning of devotion, loyalty and love.

February

The February birth flowers are the pretty purple violet and primrose which symbolises faithfulness, humility and spiritual wisdom.

March

The March birth flowers are daffodils and jonquils. These flowers symbolise rebirth, luck, vanity and prosperity.

April

The April birth flowers are the sweet pea and daisy, symbolising innocence, loyalty and transformation.

May

The May birth flowers are lily of the valley and the hawthorn. These flowers have a meaning of humility, sweetness, the return of happiness and motherhood.

June

The June birth flowers are the rose and honeysuckle as their birth flowers. These June birth flowers mean beauty, love and honour and devotion.

July

The July birth flowers are the delphinium and water lily which means open heart, positivity, dignity and grace.

August

The August birth flowers are the gladiolus and poppy which generally symbolises strength of character, honesty, generosity and moral integrity.

September

The September birth flowers are the aster and morning glory which have a meaning of love, wisdom, faith and innocence.

October

The October birth flowers are the bright marigold and cosmos which symbolises stubbornness and determination.

November

The November birth flower is the chrysanthemum that represents friendship, honesty and happiness and is the only month with one birth flower.

December

The December birth flowers are holly and narcissus which have a meaning of good fortune, peace and merriment.

Frequently Asked Questions about Floriography:

Q: What is the Victorian secret flower language?

A:  The Victorian secret flower language, also known as floriography, was a coded way of communicating sentiments and emotions using specific flowers. In this language, different flowers and arrangements conveyed hidden messages that were often used to express feelings that couldn't be openly spoken.

 

Q: Why do flowers have several meanings?

A: Flowers have several meanings because their symbolism often arises from a combination of historical, cultural, and personal interpretations. Different cultures, time periods, and individual experiences have contributed to a diverse range of meanings attributed to various flowers, allowing for a rich tapestry of symbolism to develop over time.

 

Q: What is the flower of love in floriography?

A: In floriography, the red rose is widely recognized as the flower of love. Its deep red colour symbolises passionate love and affection, making it a classic choice for expressing romantic emotions.

 

Q: What flowers mean friendship?

A: Yellow roses are commonly associated with friendship in the language of flowers. They convey warmth, joy, and the bond of companionship, making them a popular choice for expressing friendly sentiments. Additionally, sunflowers also symbolise friendship, representing loyalty, happiness, and a strong connection between friends.

 

Q: What flowers mean thank you?

A: Pink or peach-coloured roses are often used to convey gratitude and appreciation, making them symbolic of saying "thank you." Additionally, the Gerbera daisy, with its vibrant colours and cheerful appearance, also carries a message of gratitude and is commonly chosen to express thanks.