The Language of Flowers & Their Meanings

Have you ever heard that certain flowers have special or hidden meanings? Well it's true, there is actually an entire symbolic language associated with different flowers. This practice of communicating through flowers is known as floriography.

In the Victorian era, when talking or writing directly about emotions was considered inappropriate, people developed floriography as a secret way to express feelings through the gifts of flowers. It allowed people to communicate affection, appreciation, admiration, and more without having to say anything out loud.

Each flower was assigned a specific meaning, and sending a bouquet with a certain combination of blooms would silently convey a message to the recipient. It became a type of secret code for romance that gave people a way to share feelings without directly speaking. Read on to learn more about flowers and their meanings.

Origins of the Symbolic Flower Language

The very first book published about what flowers signify was called Le Langage des Fleurs in 1819 by Charlotte de Latour. In her book, she assigned meanings to various flowers, which came from earlier folk beliefs and Victorian cultural traditions. Her book became very well-liked and helped spread knowledge about flower symbolism.

Common Flower Meanings

Some of the most popular flowers and their meanings in the Victorian language of flowers include:

Red Rose - Love: Available at every florist in Montgomery TX, the red rose is the most overt symbol of love and passion. Giving a single long-stemmed red rose to someone communicated "I love you."

Pink Rose - Admiration, Grace, Joy, Perfect Happiness: A pink rose conveyed similar feelings of admiration and joy to the recipient as a red rose but in a more subtle manner.

White Rose - Innocence, Purity, Secrecy: A white rose was thought to represent innocence, virtue, and secrecy or silence. It likely was given to someone to mean "you are dear to me but I cannot tell you."

Lilac - First Emotions of Love: The lovely lilac color and blooms of this flower tied it to new feelings of intimate affection just developing between two people.

Tulip - Declaration of Love: Bold red tulips were a strong sign the giver harbored deep passion and devotion for who they gifted them to. Their bright color made an unmissable declaration of love.

Lily-of-the-Valley - Sweetness, The Return of Happiness: Beautiful lily-of-the-valley conjured feelings of sweetness and the happy feelings one has when joy unexpectedly returns after a sad period.

Forget-Me-Nots - True Love, Memories: These cheerful little blue flowers were used to show enduring love and as a request to "forget me not" or always remember someone special romantically.

Dahlia- Dignity and Elegance: Dahlia flower means that the affection will last. A bouquet of dahlias makes a beautiful gift for someone you hold in high regard.

Sending Secret Messages With Flowers

Doesn't this seem like an intriguing way to communicate secretly through something as simple and beautiful as flowers? You could share your feelings or thoughts with someone without saying a word by carefully choosing the flowers in a bouquet.

For example, sending orange blossoms to someone may have conveyed that you value their friendship and hope it will continue to blossom. Or gifting pink and white carnations could silently tell someone you appreciate their kindness and sweet nature as a mother.

Even placing individual flowers here and there had meaning. Leaving a single rose on someone's doorstep might say "I was thinking of you" without any notes. The language of flowers offered a charming way to flirt or share affection right out in the open, yet privately at the same time.

Keeping Meanings Alive Today

While floriography isn't as widely practiced today, many people still find the symbolic meanings of flowers to be intriguing or romantic. Many flower shops in Conroe TX still offer bouquets meant to convey specific sentiments based on the traditional language of flowers. For example, you could order an "I love you" bouquet that includes red tulips and red roses.

Even if you don't send flowers as messages, being aware of meanings can offer a new appreciation for the flowers around you. Noticing the lilacs blooming could remind you to embrace youthful wonder. Admiring sunny sunflowers may lift your mood and thoughts to optimism. The language of flowers continues on in small ways, allowing nature's beauty to share its gifts of meaning.

If you want to try sending a secret message through flowers, you can order a bouquet online that incorporates the language of flowers. Bakers Bouquet offers beautifully arranged flower bundles to convey your intended meaning– order flower delivery in Conroe TX!

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