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The Deeper Meaning of Flowers

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Megan Bame

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Nasturtium
Photo Credit: Mark A. Miller
First brought to European abbey gardens in the 17th century, Nasturtium flowers indicated a jest (or joke) to Victorians.
Sure, we all know that red roses symbolize love, daisies suggest innocence and forget-me-nots, as the name implies, is a keepsake flower – but what about lilies, peonies and sweet peas? Do they each have a hidden meaning? Indeed, they do!

Legend and religious association regarding the meaning of flowers dates back for centuries, but it was during the Victorian period when the strict protocol of expressions between men and women brought about the development of a secret code – hidden meaning in a bouquet of posies. As men and women exchanged certain flowers, they spoke with one another, sharing their feelings of delight and sorrow, love and jealousy, longing and encouragement.

With the help of books from the period, written specifically to guide the understanding of flower meanings, the Victorian “definitions” for flowers, herbs and even fruits are easily discerned. A double daisy implied, “I feel as you do.” A solid carnation meant “yes,” while a striped bloom meant “no.” The spider flower (Cleome) offered the heady proposal, “Elope with me.” Even at the height of coded bouquets, the “vocabulary lists” in circulation offered varied interpretations, so it’s no surprise that meanings have changed over the years (or have simply been lost).

That said, the following is a collection of flowers and their meanings that might inspire such a romantic notion as sending your beloved a floral message in a secret language. (Just don’t forget that the object of your affection might need the code to decipher your love note.)

Facts
  • In Victorian England the language of flowers was so complex, there were glossaries written to assist in deciphering the message of a bouquet. While some meanings have held fast through the years, others have been long forgotten. (But what a fun exercise to explore the meaning of your next bouquet!)
  • Myth has it that Venus’ son Cupid accidentally shot arrows into a rose garden when a bee stung him, and it was the “sting” of the arrows that caused the roses to grow thorns. When Venus walked through the garden and pricked her foot on a thorn, it was the droplets of her blood that turned the roses red.
Tips
  • When sending a bouquet or a flowering plant, consider including the floral meaning of your blooming gift in the enclosure card to ensure your symbolic message isn’t lost in the passage of time.
Resources
  • Want to read more about flower meanings? Check out Kate Greenaway’s Language of Flowers by Kate Greenaway (Gramercy Publishing) and The Meaning of Flowers – Myth, Language & Love by Gretchen Scoble and Ann Field (Chronicle Books).
 
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