The Victorians’ “Language of Flowers”
In the 19th century, interest in “floriography,” or the “language of flowers” boomed in Victorian England and in the United States, as a means of sending cryptological messages through floral arrangements.
Armed with floral dictionaries, Victorians sent coded communications through “talking bouquets” to loved ones, and one of the most popular of such dictionaries was written and illustrated by the celebrated artist, Kate Greenaway.
Here are a few pages excerpted from Greenaway’s Language of Flowers, from 1884.
| Almond (Common) | Stupidity. Indiscretion. |
| Almond (Flowering) | Hope. |
| Almond, Laurel | Perfidy |
| Allspice | Compassion. |
| Aloe | Grief. Religious superstition. |
| Althaea Frutex (Syrian Mallow) | Persuasion. |
| Alyssum (Sweet) | Worth beyond beauty. |
| Amaranth (Globe) | Immortality. Unfading love. |
| Amaranth (Cockscomb) | Foppery. Affectation. |
| Amaryllis | Pride. Timidity. Splendid beauty. |
| Ambrosia | Love returned. |
| American Cowslip | Divine beauty. |
| American Elm | Patriotism. |
| American Linden | Matrimony. |
| American Starwort | Welcome to a stranger. Cheerfulness in old age. |
| Amethyst | Admiration. |
| Anemone (Zephyr Flower) | Sickness. Expectation. |
| Anemone (Garden) | Forsaken. |
| Angelica | Inspiration. |
| Angrec | Royalty. |
| Apple | Temptation. |
| Apple (Blossom) | Preference. Fame speaks him great and good. |
| Apple, Thorn | Deceitful charms. |
| Apocynum (Dog’s Vane) | Deceit. |
| Arbor Vitæ | Unchanging Friendship. Live for me. |
| Arum (Wake Robin) | Ardour. |
| Ash-leaved Trumpet Flower | Separation. |
| Ash Tree | Grandeur. |
| Aspen Tree | Lamentation. |
| Aster (China) | Variety. Afterthought. |
| Asphodel | My regrets follow you to the grave. |
| Auricula | Painting. |
| Auricula, Scarlet | Avarice. |
| Austurtium | Splendour. |
| Azalea | Temperance |
| Bachelor’s Buttons | Celibacy. |
| Balm | Sympathy. |
| Balm, Gentle | Pleasantry. |
| Balm of Gilead | Cure. Relief. |
| Balsam, Red | Touch me not. Impatient resolves. |
| Balsam, Yellow | Impatience. |
| Barberry | Sourness of temper. |
| Barberry Tree | Sharpness. |
| Basil | Hatred. |
| Bay Leaf | I change but in death. |
| Bay (Rose) Rhododendron | Danger. Beware. |
| Bay Tree | Glory. |
| Bay Wreath | Reward of merit. |
| Bearded Crepis | Protection. |
| Beech Tree | Prosperity. |
| Bee Orchis | Industry. |
| Bee Ophrys | Error. |
| Belladonna | Silence |
| Bell Flower, Pyramidal | Constancy. |
| Bell Flower (small white) | Gratitude. |
^^^
As part of Audere’s mission to bring more poetry to the masses, our sister publishing house, Chickadee Prince Books, publishes Bloomsbury’s Late Rose, an acclaimed novel about the poet, Charlotte Mew. Read more Audere poetry here.
