One tradition is to select the flowers of a wedding bouquet based on plant symbolism.
Coral rose: friendship, modesty, sympathy. Pink rose: grace, happiness, gentleness. White rose: purity, innocence, reverence, a new beginning, a fresh start. Red roses symbolize love and desire, but roses come in a variety of colors and each has their own meaning. Unsurprisingly, the color of the rose plays a huge role. The calla lily was interpreted to mean “magnificent beauty,” and a clover said “think of me.” Likewise, a white violet meant “innocence,” while a purple violet said that the bouquet giver’s “thoughts were occupied with love.” A red rose was used to openly express feelings of love, while a red tulip was a confession of love. Take, for instance, all of the different meanings attributed to variously colored carnations: Pink meant “I’ll never forget you” red said “my heart aches for you” purple conveyed capriciousness white was for the “the sweet and lovely” and yellow expressed romantic rejection. Some plants, including roses, poppies, and lilies, could express a wide range of emotions based on their color alone. Thoughts of absent friends, lasting affectionįlowers provided an incredibly nuanced form of communication. Purity, Enlightenment, Self-regeneration, and Rebirthīlissful pleasures, Good-bye, Thank you for a lovely time Sweetness, Tears of the Virgin Mary, Humility Open heart, levity, lightness, fickleness (pink or simple varieties). Gratitude for being understood Frigidity and heartlessness Innocence, Pure love, Women's good luck giftįlower of the Gladiators, Integrity, Strength, Victory Symbolic Meanings of Herbs, Flowers and Other Plants (Please note: There are many meanings for flowers over the centuries our chart below reflects mainly Victorian symbolism.)Ĭlick on linked plant names for a photo and growing guide. See our list below for symbolic meanings of herbs, flowers, and other plants. The meanings and traditions associated with flowers have certainly changed over time, and different cultures assign varying ideas to the same species, but the fascination with “perfumed words” persists just the same. More examples of plants and their associated human qualities during the Victorian era include bluebells and kindness, peonies and bashfulness, rosemary and remembrance, and tulips and passion. And, of course, a wilted bouquet delivered an obvious message! How the ribbon was tied said something, too: Tied to the left, the flowers’ symbolism applied to the giver, whereas tied to the right, the sentiment was in reference to the recipient. If the flowers were given upside down, then the idea being conveyed was the opposite of what was traditionally meant. How flowers were presented and in what condition were important. 
Similarly, if given a rose declaring “devotion” or an apple blossom showing “preference,” one might return to the suitor a yellow carnation to express “disdain.” Plants could also express aversive feelings, such as the “conceit” of pomegranate or the “bitterness” of aloe. A “yes” answer came in the form of flowers handed over with the right hand if the left hand was used, the answer was “no.” In the Victorian era, flowers were primarily used to deliver messages that couldn’t be spoken aloud. In a sort of silent dialogue, flowers could be used to answer “yes” or “no” questions. Nearly all Victorian homes had, alongside the Bible, guidebooks for deciphering the “language,” although definitions shifted depending on the source. Learning the special symbolism of flowers became a popular pastime during the 1800s. Nearly every sentiment imaginable can be expressed with flowers. The orange blossom, for instance, means chastity, purity, and loveliness, while the red chrysanthemum means "I love you." Flowery Language of the Victorian Era
Mythologies, folklore, sonnets, and plays of the ancient Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, and Chinese are peppered with flower and plant symbolism-and for good reason. They even play a large role in William Shakespeare's works. The symbolic language of flowers has been recognized for centuries in many countries throughout Europe and Asia.
WHITE DWARF MAGAZINE INDEX FULL
Jump to the full list of flower meanings by clicking here.
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