By J.K. DePeal
Garden Writer

Floriography may not be a term you are familiar with, but its meaning is both interesting and “colorful.”

Colorful is probably most appropriate because floriography means “the language of flowers.”

For hundreds of years of world history, flowers, herbs and other plants have been used to communicate thoughts, feelings and sentiments that were sometimes difficult to express in spoken words. For instance, how do you speak a hug, or what words could be used to express loyalty or, when a relationship must end, what is a gentle way of saying goodbye?

During the Victorian era in England, from 1837 to 1901, floriography became a very popular and enjoyable practice. Young men and women often used flowers to communicate sentiments that Victorian mores strictly controlled. Women enjoyed carrying and giving tussie mussies (small bouquets of flowers wrapped in a doily and tied with a ribbon). These bouquets were arranged with flowers and foliage especially chosen to give a special message to their recipients. A book entitled “The Language of Flowers” was published in London in 1884 and became a much-consulted source on the meanings of various flowers and plants.

The secret code of floriography gave meaning not only to the kinds and colors of flowers, but also the numbers of flowers in a bouquet and the specific groupings of flowers with other plants. For example, red roses alone would say “love” but when baby’s breath and ferns were added to the bouquet, it would change the meaning to “sincere and everlasting love.” This arrangement of roses, ferns and baby’s breath is a very common arrangement used today for many occasions.

The presentation of flowers also had significance. Presenting a flower or bouquet in an upright position indicated a positive connotation. A flower or bouquet presented upside down communicated a negative message. Obviously, wearing a corsage upside down in Victorian times was not a good indicator. Flowers could also be used to answer questions. When presented from the right hand of the giver, they said “yes.” Presenting from the left hand, they meant “no.”

The nuances and charm of floriography added delight and intrigue to society in the Victorian age. But we still enjoy giving and receiving flowers. Arrangements today can send heartfelt, meaningful messages to receivers on all different occasions. Weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, funerals, illnesses, new babies, new homes, holidays and celebratory events or difficulties of many kinds are occasions that call for gifts of flowers. We still use floral arrangements to express our feelings of sympathy, love, appreciation and caring to others.
 Home gardeners may want to try growing flowers and plants that can be used to make up home-grown bouquets and arrangements to give as floriographic gifts.

The following list of common flowers and plants and their meanings can help in choosing what to grow and use:
Flowers:
• Aster: love, daintiness
• Carnation: (pink) – I’ll never forget you, (red) – my heart aches for you, (striped) – refusal, I cannot be with you; (purple) – whimsical, fickle; (white) – sweet, lovely, good luck to a woman.
• Daffodil - respect
• Dahlia – elegance, dignity
• Daisy – innocence, cheer
• Geranium - childishness
• Gladiola – love at first sight
• Hyacinth- regret, please forgive
• Iris – faith, hope, my compliments
• Lily (white)- purity, (orange)-hatred, (tiger)-wealth, (yellow) – ebullient
• Lavender – good luck, devotion
• Marigold – comfort in pain and grief
• Pansy – loving thoughts
• Peony – I’m shy but I like you
• Rose (red) – love; (light pink) – passion, youth’ (coral, orange) – desire; (lavender) – love at first sight; (white) – eternal love; (yellow) - friendship
• Salvia – thinking of you
• Sunflower – pure and lofty thoughts, loyalty
• Sweet Pea – good-bye, thank you for a nice time
• Tulip – (red) – I love you; (yellow) –hopeless love; (lavender) – faithfulness
• Yarrow – health, healing
• Zinnia – friendly thoughts

Other Plants:
• Basil – best wishes
• Bay leaf - strength
• Clover – good luck
• Fern – sincerity
• Fennel – flattery
• Lemon balm - sympathy
• Ivy – dependence, friendship
• Mint – protection from illness, warmth of feeling
• Oregano - joy
• Sage –long life, wisdom
• Rosemary - remembrance
• Thyme – thriftiness

Many of these plants and flowers are easy to grow and do not require much garden space. Visit www.pioneerthinking.com/flowerlanguagel-z.htl and http.//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ for an extensive list of flowers and their meanings.

If you decide to give a little homegrown floriography a try, I wish you a bouquet of beautiful, pure white, irises; fresh, fragrant, lavender, and a sprig of fresh, glossy basil. In other words, I wish you “my compliments, best wishes and good luck”!

If you have garden questions or tips for other gardeners, send them in to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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