The Language of Flowers

The idea that flower bunches or arrangements conveyed a series of secret meanings between covert lovers was popularised in Europe, especially France in the early 1800s. It was thought to come from Turkey where flower arrangements were used to convey messages between lovers - with each stem having a particular meaning. In the harems of the Middle East, the rose and other flowers were used as a secret means of communication between lovers who were not allowed to express their love for one another openly. This is, unfortunately, a myth, but there is some truth there.

This 'secret' language using flowers was first introduced into Europe through the letters of Lady Mary Wortley Montagu in 1718. Writing to her lady friends from Turkey, Lady Mary described a system that used objects, including flowers, to communicate. Each object signified a small verse. A pearl, for example, meant 'Pearl, fairest of the young'. A huge range of objects were used, including flowers, fruits, other foods, to pebbles and even coal. A Turkish love letter therefore could be a purse containing any number of objects, not just flowers.

This romantic notion that illicit lovers could speak with each other through a 'secret' language quickly gained favour in 18th century Europe. By the early 19th century, this had evolved into a published list of the Language of Flowers, and was perhaps first published by Charlotte de Latour in 1819, but several books exploring this concept were published in France between 1811 and 1820. Many contained the first lists where individual flowers were given specific meanings. Where these meanings came from is anyone's guess, and many books differed from each other about these specific meanings.

This ambiguity continues today. There is no one agreed list of meanings - each one will differ from the other depending on what historical origin they use. So don't be surprised if you find four different meanings for a certain flower from four websites or books! What seems clear is that each author embellished the language, with the result that each list changed the previous one. In addition to the lists, other symbolic meanings were attached, including certain arrangements indicating a time of a desired meeting, the use of rings along with flowers, or the position of the flower when it is handed over (upright or upside down).

Regardless of this, the Language of Flowers quickly gained popularity throughout Europe as Charlotte de Latour's book was printed in several languages, along with many other volumes. It seemed to be a requirement that each new volume must criticise previous work and 'set things right' with a new interpretation, which of course just added to the confusion, but did not seem to detract from its popularity. Traditional European significance were added to the mostly manufactured 'harem' meanings and new flowers added, which again altered the situation.

In modern times very few of these meanings still exist in common usage. A red flower means passion or love, white flowers, such as lilies, purity. Interestingly the evolution of flower meanings is still continuing today. Daffodils now mean 'hope', rather than 'unrequited love' as they have been adopted by cancer research organisations and used in fund raising.

For a more detailed and scholarly account of the Language of Flowers try and find a copy of 'The Culture of Flowers', by Jack Goody, Cambridge University Press, 1993.

A short list of some flower meanings

(some derived from 1800-flowers.com)

Acacia - Secret love
Achillea - Healing & comfort
Amaryllis - You are sought after
Aster - Symbol of love - Daintiness
Azalea - Take care of yourself for me, Temperance, Fragile Passion
Bachelor Button - Single blessedness
Begonia - Beware
Bells of Ireland - Good luck
Bluebell - Humility
Withered Flowers - Rejected love
Camellia - Admiration, Perfection, Good luck, Gift to a man
Camellia (Pink) - Longing for you
Camellia (Red) - You're a flame in my heart
Camellia (White) - You're adorable
Carnation (General) - Fascination, Woman love
Carnation (Pink) - I'll never forget you
Carnation (Red) - My heart aches for you, Admiration
Carnation (Purple) - Capriciousness
Carnation (Solid Color) - Yes
Carnation (Striped) - No, Refusal, Wish I could be with you
Carnation (White) - Sweet and lovely, Innocence, Pure love, Woman's good luck gift
Carnation (Yellow) - You have disappointed me, Rejection
Chrysanthemum (General) - You're a wonderful friend, Cheerfulness and rest
Chrysanthemum (Red) - I Love You
Chrysanthemum (White) - Truth
Chrysanthemum (Yellow) - Slighted love
Convolvulus - Tender affection
Crocus - Cheerfulness
Daffodil - Regard, Unrequited Love, You're the only one
Daisy - Innocence, Loyal love, Purity
Dead Leaves - Sadness
Fern - Magic, Fascination, Confidence, Shelter
Fern - Maidenhair - Secret bond of love
Forget-Me-Not - True love, Memories
Gardenia - You're lovely, Secret love
Geranium - Stupidity, Folly
Gladioli - Give me a break, I'm sincere
Grass - Submission
Holly - Defense, Domestic happiness
Hyacinth (General) - Games and sports, Rashness
Hyacinth (Blue) - Constancy
Hyacinth (Purple) - I am sorry, Forgive me, Sorrow
Hyacinth (Red or Pink) - Play
Hyacinth (White) - Loveliness, I'll pray for you
Hyacinth (Yellow) - Jealousy
Iris - Your friendship means so much to me, Faith, Hope, Wisdom & Valor, My compliments
Ivy - Wedded love, Fidelity, Friendship, Affection
Larkspur - Fickleness
Lily (Orange) - Hatred
Lily (White) - Virginity, Purity, Majesty, It's heavenly to be with you
Lily (Yellow) - I'm walking on air, False & gay
Lily (Calla) - Beauty
Lily (Day) - Coquetry
Lily (Eucharis) - Maiden charms
Lily (Tiger) - Wealth, Pride
Lily-of-the-Valley - Sweetness, Tears of the Virgin Mary, Humility, Return to Happiness, You've made my life complete
Magnolia - Nobility
Marigold - Cruelty, Grief, Jealousy
Mistletoe - Kiss me, Affection, To surmount difficulties,
Narcissus - Egotism, Formality, Stay as sweet as you are
Orchid - Love, Beauty, Refinement, Beautiful lady
Orchid (Cattleya) - Mature charm
Palm Leaves - Victory and success
Peony - Shame, Gay life, Happy marriage
Petunia - Resentment, Anger, Your presence soothes me
Poppy (General) - Eternal sleep, Oblivion, Imagination
Poppy (Red) - Pleasure
Poppy (White) - Consolation
Poppy (Yellow) - Wealth, Success
Primrose - I can't live without you
Primrose (Evening) - Inconsistency
Rose (Bridal) - Happy love
Rose (Damask) - Persian ambassador of love
Rose (Dark Crimson) - Mourning
Rose (Hibiscus) - Delicate beauty
Rose (Leaf) - You may hope
Rose (Pink) - Perfect happiness, Believe me
Rose (Tea) - I'll remember always
Rose (Thornless) - Love at first sight
Rose (White) - Innocence and purity, I am worthy of you, You're heavenly, Secrecy & silence
Rose (White & Red) - Unity, Flower emblem of England
Rose (White-dried) - Death is preferable to loss of virtue
Rose (White-withered) - Transient impression, Fleeting beauty, You made no impression
Rose (Yellow) - Decrease of love, Jealousy, Try to care
Rosebud - Beauty and youth, A heart innocent of love
Rosebud (Red) - Pure and lovely
Rosebud (White) - Girlhood
Rosebud (Moss) - Confessions of love
Roses (Full Bloom) - Gratitude
Roses (Single Full Bloom) - I love you, I still love you
Snapdragon - Deception, Gracious lady
Sweetpea - Good-bye, Departure, Blissful pleasure, Thank you for a lovely time
Tulip (General) - Perfect lover, Fame, Flower emblem of Holland
Tulip (Red) - Believe me, Declaration of love
Tulip (Variegated) - Beautiful eyes
Tulip (Yellow) - There's sunshine in your smile
Violet - Modesty
Violet (Blue) - Watchfulness, Faithfulness, I'll always be true
Violet (White) - Let's take a chance on happiness