Suppose you wanted to tell someone you were thinking of them. Nowadays, you would likely send a quick text message with a cute emoji. At one time, you might have written a note on a carefully chosen postcard and mailed it. And prior to that, back in Victorian times, you might have sent flowers—pansies specifically. Because pansies were known to mean “You Occupy my Thoughts”.
The language of flowers, known as floriography, was very popular during the Victorian era. Numerous books were published to explain the sentiment of various flowers. One of the earliest, titled Floral Emblems, was written by Henry Phillips in 1825. You can access it online, for free, on Internet Archives (see More Info below).
Phillips, like most of the authors that follow him, credits Lady Mary Wortley Montagu’s observations of the Turkish love letter as a major impetus behind the craze. Lady Montagu, who traveled throughout the Ottoman Empire between 1716 and 1718, was a prolific letter writer. She wrote a series of fascinating letters, titled The Turkish Embassy Letters, which were published as a collection after her death. In a letter she wrote on 16 March 1718 from Pera, Constantinople, Lady Montague told the recipient:
“I have got for you, as you desire, a Turkish love letter, which I have put in a little box, and ordered the Captain of the Smyrniote to deliver it to you with this letter. The translation of it is literally as follows. The first piece you should pull out of the purse is a little pearl, which is in Turkish called ingi and should be understood in this manner:
Pearl Sensin Uzellerin gingi
Ingi Fairest of the young.”
She goes on to explain the meaning of the other contents of the love letter including “a clove, a jonquil, paper, pear, soap, coal, a rose, a straw, cloth, cinnamon, a match, gold thread, hair, grape, gold wire and pepper.” The jonquil in Lady Montagu’s explanation means “Have pity on my passion”—which is significantly different from the sentiment of “Desire” as shown below… but more on the topic of inconsistent definitions in a minute.
Lady Montagu wraps up her explanation of the Turkish love letter with this statement: “There is no colour, no flower, no weed, no fruit, herb, pebble or feather that has not a verse belonging to it; and you may quarrel, reproach or send letters of passion, friendship or civility, or even of news, without ever inking your fingers.” Her observation seems to be quoted in nearly every book and article written about the language of flowers.
Author Phillips elaborates “When a Turkish lady sends a congratulatory message, or a ceremonious invitation, it is generally accompanied with some emblematical flowers carefully wrapt up in an embroidered handkerchief. The freshness of these flowers show the speed of the messenger, whilst the selection speaks in silent language the sentiments of the party from whom they are sent, and whose rank is also distinguished by the costliness or beauty of the embroidered envelop.”
While many authors leave the story there, Phillips goes on to clarify “These are merely the remains of the ancient customs of the eastern nations, where all was symbol, emblem, and allegory, and it must not be supposed that emblems were invented for the purposes of intrigue, since we find the scriptures full of the most beautiful parables, moral symbols, instructive allegories, and poetical emblems, that have ever been composed or collected.” In other words, flowers were used to symbolize ideas long before the secret language of Turkish love letters.
Hundreds of floral dictionaries have been published according to Wikipedia. Of the dozen or so I’ve checked, I prefer Phillips’ version because he provides insight into why a specific flower represents a specific sentiment. The bulk of Phillips’ book is dedicated to his Dictionary of Emblems which is a comprehensive listing of sentiments and the items that represent them.
Shown below is Phillips’ listing for “Consolation” with an explanation of why the snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis) is its emblem: “The snow-drop”, he explains, “is the first flower that awakes from the repose of winter, and cheers us with the assurance of the reanimation of nature; and hence it has been made the emblem of consolation.”
Today’s blog post features a series of pictorial references highlighting various spring flowers and the sentiments they represent. Shown below is the pictorial reference for the snowdrop. Please note the snowdrop pictured below is slightly different from the common snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis) which Phillips calls out—I believe this one is a Galanthus elwesii ‘Giant Snowdrop’.
Interestingly, not all floriography books from this era provide the same definitions. For instance, The Flower Vase; Containing The Language of Flowers and Their Poetic Sentiments, a book written by Miss Sarah C. Edgarton and published in 1848, lists the snowdrop with the sentiment: “I Am Not a Summer Friend.” Apparently, a “summer friend” is a friend when things are going well but disappears when things get difficult.
Obviously, the person sending a coded message via a bouquet of snowdrops would have to ensure the recipient was using the same flower dictionary to ensure their message did not get lost in translation. Sending snowdrops to communicate a message of consolidation to cheer the recipient “with the assurance of the reanimation of nature” is not the same as claiming to be a steadfast friend through good and bad times.
An even more dramatic, and potentially harmful, difference can be found in the sentiments attached to the lilac.
Phillips assigns the sentiment of “Forsaken” to the lilac explaining “The eastern nations, from whence this beautiful shrub was originally brought, use the lilac as the emblem of the forsaken, because it is the flower lovers offer their mistresses when they abandon them.” Edgarton, on the other hand, assigns the lilac with the sentiment of “First Emotion of Love”.
Hmmm… that could be a major disconnect. What if the sender intended to say “first emotion of love” but the recipient heard “forsaken”. Oops!
Just a quick aside, while I’m on the topic of lilacs. I’ll never forget the little scene I came across several years ago while strolling along the Seine. It was springtime in Paris! The lilacs were in full bloom and their fragrance filled the air. I was drinking it all in when a piece of white paper fluttering on the lilac branches caught my eye.
The handwritten note read “Dear passers by, Every spring, I try to bring you pleasure with my prettiest blossoms. Look at them, smell them but please don’t pick them. This way, I will be bigger and prettier next year, when you pass by again. Thank you, Lilac” Beautifully written! And crystal clear… no secret message there!
Sentiments have been assigned to quite a few different flowers. Phillips, for instance, lists over 300 emblems including flowers, trees, herbs, shrubs and, believe it or not, even a few vegetables. Just so you know, if someone sends you a turnip (yes, a turnip), they are likely sending a message of “Charity”.
Shown below are a dozen or so pictorial references featuring spring flowers. I’ve listed them in alphabetical order by the flower name.
Anemone : Sickness
First up, is the anemone which Phillips describes as: “The anemone was made the emblem of sickness, in allusion to the fate of Adonis, or, as some suppose, from its being anciently worn against disease.” Of course, I had to look up the reference to Adonis. According to Wikipedia, “In Greek mythology, Adonis was the mortal lover of the goddesses Aphrodite and Persephone, who was famous for having achieved immortality. … The myth goes that Adonis was gored by a wild boar during a hunting trip and died in Aphrodite’s arms as she wept. His blood mingled with her tears and became the anemone flower.”
Apple Blossom : Preference
Phillips doesn’t mention the apple blossom but John H. Ingram provides this insight in his Flora Symbolica book published in 1869. “Apple-Blossom. (Preference.) An experienced florigraphist has styled the Apple-blossom the emblem of preference, because, not only is it a very lovely flower, but, as the predecessor of fine and useful fruit, it may be preferred to the rose itself.”
Bluebell : Constancy
A variety of flowers go by the common name “bluebell”. The one I’ve chosen for the Language of Flowers reference photo is the Hyacinthoides non-scripta which I spotted along a wooded trail in Cranbrook, UK. I believe it is often referred to as the “English Bluebell”.
Phillips explains “The blue campanula is made emblematical of constancy on account of its colour. South describes constancy as a stability and firmness of friendship, which overlooks and passes by lesser failures of kindness, and yet still retains the same habitual goodwill to a friend.”
Cherry Blossom : Spiritual Beauty
If you’ve been following the blog for a while, you won’t be surprised to see this next flower. Cherry blossoms were a major factor in my trip to Japan last year (see Postcards from Japan #1 and Postcards from Japan #2) and many years ago (see Virtual Hanami Around Aizu).
I wasn’t able to find any explanation of why the cherry blossom represents “Spiritual Beauty” although it’s undisputedly beautiful.
Columbine : Folly
Phillips explains “This flower is made the emblem of folly, either on account of its party-coloured corolla, or in allusion to the shape of its nectary, which turns over like the cap of the old jesters.”
Forget-Me-Not : True Love
Ingram shares this charming story about the forget-me-not flower: “A beautiful little flower, whose name enfolds no hieroglyphic secret, but whose beloved face of heavenly blue is suggestive of its sorrowful meaning, is the Forget-me-not. The German legend that accounts for the poetical appellation by which this tiny floral pet is known, runs thus: ‘A knight and his betrothed were walking on the banks of the Danube, when the lady espied a bunch of the Myosotris palustris (as this blossom is termed by Linnæus) floating away down the stream; and, expressing a wish to possess it, with chivalrous promptitude the mail-clad gallant plunged into the river and grasped the flower; but, alas! encumbered by the weight of his armour, he was unable to remount the slippery bank. Finding himself, despite all his exertions, sinking fast beneath the waters, with a last effort he flung the blossoms ashore to his agonized mistress, crying, ere he sank for ever, ‘Forget me not !‘” Ingram simply assigns the sentiment of “Forget Me Not” to the forget-me-not flower. Perhaps building upon the romantic tragedy behind the flower’s name, several other references attribute “True Love” to the forget-me-not.
Hyacinth : Play or Games
Phillips explains “The hyacinth, so celebrated by the poets from the time of Homer to the present day, is made the emblem of play, or games, in allusion to the fable which tells us, that this flower sprang from the blood of young Hyacinthus, the favourite of Apollo.”
I can’t resist sharing this next photo because if one hyacinth flower represents play or games, what does a whole field of hyacinths communicate?
Peach Blossom : I am Your Captive
Unfortunately, this is another instance of a sentiment for which I could find no explanation. Why the peach blossom represents “I am Your Captive” remains a mystery.
Primrose : Early Youth
“The age between childhood and womanhood is represented by this early blossom, whose delicate perfume and modest colour so agreeably attend the path to summer.” states Phillips.
Snowball : Winter of Age
Phillips says “This cold-coloured, abortive flower is made to represent the age which banishes gaiety and warm desire.” It seems to me, the snowball flower ((Viburnum opulus) also known as the Guelder Rose) may be getting sold a little short. Personally, I look forward to the beautiful, fluffy white balls on my snowball shrub.
Strawberry Blossom : Perfect Excellence
Most of the flower dictionaries I referenced agree the strawberry represents perfection and goodness. Phillips states “This agreeable and wholesome fruit is made the symbol of perfect goodness, from its fragrance, flavour, and inoffensive qualities ...” Edgarton goes on to describe the strawberry’s flower. But it’s not entirely clear if the attributes assigned to the strawberry fruit are also meant to apply to the strawberry blossom. I’ve taken the liberty of making that connection.
Tulip : Declaration of Love
Tulips are another of my favorite flowers especially after seeing the bulb fields in full bloom in the Netherlands. See my previous blog posts Come Tiptoe Through the Tulips and A Virtual Visit to Lisse.
“The tulip”, says Phillips, “has from time immemorial been made the emblem by which a young Persian makes a declaration of love. Chardin [author of The Travels of Sir John Chardin] tells us, that when a Persian presents a tulip to his mistress, it is his intention to convey to her this idea, that like this flower, he has a countenance all on fire, and a heart reduced to a coal.”
Violet : Modesty
“This unobtrusive flower”, says Phillips, “is no less honoured by its emblem than the rose or the myrtle, to which it is so essential to complete the delights they can inspire. Its motto is ‘Il faut me chercher.’ “ Translation: You have to look for me.
Witch Hazel : A Spell
Edgarton tells us witch hazel is “Indigenous to Americas. Flowers yellow. The divining-rods used by money diggers to discover lost or hidden treasures, are made of the twigs of this shrub.” It’s unclear how that factoid translates to “A Spell” but all the references I checked agree the witch hazel represents the sentiment.
So, what do you think? Would you consider giving specific flowers to communicate your next message?
More Info
Previous blog posts mentioned in today’s blog post include:
. Postcards from Japan #1
. Postcards from Japan #2
. Virtual Hanami Around Aizu
. Come Tiptoe Through the Tulips
. A Virtual Visit to Lisse.
The following books and articles were consulted in the writing of this blog post:
. Floral Emblems by Henry Phillips; published in 1825. The book is available here on Internet Archives.
. The Turkish Embassy Letters by Lady Mary Wortley Montagu; published 1994. The book is available here on Internet Archives.
. The Flower Vase; Containing The Language of Flowers and Their Poetic Sentiments by Miss Sarah C. Edgarton; published in 1848. The book is available here on Internet Archives.
. Flora Symbolica or The Language and Sentiment of Flowers by John H. Ingram; published in 1869. The book is available here on Internet Archives.
. BBC Article from 2022: The Secret Victorian Language That’s Back in Fashion by Emma Flint.
Today’s Takeaways
1. The language of flowers, known as floriography, was very popular during the Victorian era.
2. Hundreds of floral dictionaries, listing various flowers and their assigned sentiments, have been published.
3. Consider giving specific flowers to communicate your next message.
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