Floriography : History
The renewed Victorian era interest in the language of flowers finds its roots in Ottoman Turkey, specifically the court in Constantinople and an obsession it held with tulips during the first half of the 18th century. The Victorian use of flowers as a means of covert communication bloomed alongside a growing interest in botany.
The floriography craze was introduced to Europe by two people: Englishwoman Mary Wortley Montagu (1689–1762), who brought it to England in 1717, and Aubry de La Mottraye (1674–1743), who introduced it to the Swedish court in 1727. Joseph Hammer-Purgstall’s Dictionnaire du language des fleurs (1809) appears to be the first published list associating flowers with symbolic definitions, while the first dictionary of floriography appears in 1819 when Louise Cortambert, writing under the pen name ‘Madame Charlotte de la Tour,’ wrote Le langage des Fleurs.
Floriography was popularized in France about 1810–1850, while in Britain it was popular during the Victorian age (roughly 1820–1880), and in the United States about 1830–1850. La Tour’s book stimulated the publishing industry especially in France, England, and America, but also in Belgium, Germany, and other European countries as well as in South America. Publishers from these countries produced hundreds of editions of language of flowers books during the 19th century.
British floral dictionaries include Henry Phillips’ Floral Emblems published in 1825 and Frederic Shoberl’s The Language of Flowers; With Illustrative Poetry, in 1834. Shoberl was the editor of the popular annual “Forget Me Not” from 1822 to 1834. Robert Tyas was another popular British flower writer, publisher, and clergyman, who lived from 1811 to 1879; his book, The Sentiment of Flowers; or, Language of Flora, first published in 1836 and printed through the 1840s, was billed as an English version of Charlotte de la Tour’s book. One of the most familiar of the language of flower books is Routledge’s edition illustrated by Kate Greenaway, The Language of Flowers. First published in 1884, it continues to be reprinted to this day.
Meanings
The significance assigned to specific flowers in Western culture varied — nearly every flower had multiple associations, listed in the hundreds of floral dictionaries — but a consensus of meaning for common blooms has emerged. Often, definitions derive from the appearance or behaviour of the plant itself. For example, the mimosa, or sensitive plant, represents chastity. This is because the leaves of the mimosa close at night, or when touched. Likewise, the deep red rose and its thorns have been used to symbolize both the blood of Christ and the intensity of romantic love, while the rose’s five petals are thought to illustrate the five crucifixion wounds of Christ. Pink roses imply a lesser affection, white roses suggest virtue and chastity, and yellow roses stand for friendship or devotion. The black rose (actually a very dark shade of red, purple, or maroon) has a long association with death and dark magic.
Language of flowers in literature
William Shakespeare, Jane Austen, Charlotte and Emily Bronte, and children’s novelist Frances Hodgson Burnett, among others, used the language of flowers in their writings.
Shakespeare used the word “flower” more than 100 times in his plays and sonnets. In Hamlet, Ophelia mentions and explains the symbolic meaning of pansies, rosemary, fennel, columbine, rue, daisy, and violets. In The Winter’s Tale, the princess Perdita wishes that she had violets, daffodils, and primroses to make garlands for her friends.
In the north of the northern hemisphere, January is a cold and gloomy month, but in non-frozen areas, many flowers will bloom in the cool weather, and carnation is one of them. The flower associated with the month is Carnation and is said to symbolise love, fascination and distinction. Carnation, which is also commonly called Gillyflower, is found in a number of colors from pink to purple-red.
This month is associated with St. Valentine’s Day and red roses. However, the flower for the month is Violet. The flower symbolises faithfulness, humility and chastity. Gifting violets in the Victorian era conveyed the message’ I’ll always be true’. The flower is found in shades of blue, mauve as well as yellow and cream. One must remember that an older English name for the plant is “heartease.”
January
Carnation
March
Daffodil
March: This month is synonymous with the onset of spring (in the Northern Hemisphere). Accordingly, the flower associated with this month is Daffodil also known as Jonquil or Narcissus. The colours of the bloom include white, yellow and orange. A gift of these flowers conveys the hidden meaning of friendship and happiness. March: This month is synonymous with the onset of spring (in the Northern Hemisphere). Accordingly, the flower associated with this month is Daffodil also known as Jonquil or Narcissus. The colours of the bloom include white, yellow and orange. A gift of these flowers conveys the hidden meaning of friendship and happiness.
May
Lily, Lily of the Valley
May: The month of May is associated with the Lily of the valley flower. It is generally white in colour. The flower conveys sweetness and humility. In the Victorian era, it was gifted to convey the romanticmessage ‘you have made my life complete’.
July
Delphinium
July: Larkspur is the flower for July. With its simple form, feelings of open heart and ardent attachment are attributed to it.
September
Aster, Forget-me-not
September: Aster or September flower is the flower for this month. It is found in a number of colours – pink, red, white, lilac and mauve. The name of the flower which looks like a star is derived from the Greek word for star. The flower symbolises love, faith, wisdom and colour.
November
Chrysanthemum
November: Chrysanthemum, which stands for cheerfulness and love, is associated with the month of November. According to Feng Shui, Chrysanthemums brings happiness and laughter in the house.
February
Iris, Violet
“February: This month is associated with St. Valentine’s Day and red roses. However, the flower for the month is Violet. The flower symbolises faithfulness, humility and chastity. Gifting violets in the Victorian era conveyed the message’ I’ll always be true’. The flower is found in shades of blue, mauve as well as yellow and cream. One must remember that an older English name for the plant is “heartease.“” width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]
February: This month is associated with St. Valentine’s Day and red roses. However, the flower for the month is Violet. The flower symbolises faithfulness, humility and chastity. Gifting violets in the Victorian era conveyed the message’ I’ll always be true’. The flower is found in shades of blue, mauve as well as yellow and cream. One must remember that an older English name for the plant is “heartease.”
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April
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Daisy, Peonies
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]April: This month is associated with Sweet pea flower which bloom in a wide range of soft colors as well as two tone colours. It is said to symbolise pleasure or good-bye. In the Victorian era, these flowers formed a part of the bouquet which was sent to someone to convey gratefulness.
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June
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Rose
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]June: Rose is the flower of this month. Though roses are available in many colors from red to pink to white to yellow, all with their own special meanings, the underlying message the flowers convey is that of love and passion.
August
Dahlia, Gladiolus
August: The flower for this month is the Gladiolus. It blooms in a variety of colours like red, pink, white, yellow and orange. It stands for sincerity and symbolises strength of character.
October
Calendula (aka Marigold)
October: Marigold or Calendula is the flower associated with October. For the Hindus, the month of October is associated with festivals like Dusshera and Diwali and Marigold, an auspicious flower is part of religious ceremonies. However, in the English culture, marigold stands for sorrow and sympathy.
December
Poinsettia, Holly, Narcissus, Paperwhite
December: Narcissus, These flowers symbolize sweetness
“Spiritual meanings of flowers”
“Flower Countries”
Antigua & Barbuda
Dagger’s Log (Agave Karatto Miller)
Argentina
Ceibo (Erythrina crista-galli)
Australia
Golden Wattle (Acacia pycnantha)
Austria
Edelweiss (Leontopodium alpinum)
Bahamas
Yellow Elder or Yellow Cedar (Tecoma stans)
Balearic Islands
Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus)
Bangladesh
Water Lily (Nymehaea nouchali)
Barbados
Pride of Barbados, also known as Dwarf Poinciana & Flower Fence (Poinciana pulcherrima
Belarus
Flax (Linum usitatissimum)
Belgium
Red Poppy (Papaver rhoeas)
Belize
Black Orchid (Trichoglottis brachiata)
Bermuda
Blue-eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium montanum)
Bhutan
Blue poppy (Meconopsis betonicifolia)
Bohemia
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
Bolivia
Kantuta (Cantua buxifolia)
Brazil
The Ipê-Amarelo (Tecoma Chrysostricha)
British Columbia
Dogwood Tree Flower (Cornus Nuttalli)
Bulgaria
Rose ( Rosa )
Canada
Maple Leaf
Cayman Islands
Wild Banana Orchid (Schomburgkia thomsoniana)
Chile
Copihue/Chilean Bellflower (Lapageria rosea)
China
Tree Peony
Colombia
Christmas orchid (Cattleya trianae)
Costa Rica
Guaria Morada (purple orchid) (cattleya skinneri)
Croatia
Iris Croatica (Hrvatska Perunika)
Cuba
Butterfly Jasmine (Mariposa)
Cyprus
Rose ( Rosa )
Czech Republic
Rose ( Rosa )
Denmark
Red Clover
Ecuador
Rose ( Rosa )
Egypt
Lotus (Nymphaea lotus)
Estonia
Corn-flower or Bachelor’s Button Centaurea (cyanus)
Ethiopia
Calla Lily
France
Iris (Fleur-de-lis)
.
French Polynesia
The Tiare (Gardenia taitensis)
Finland
Lily-of-the-valley (Convallaria majalis)
Greece
Violet
Greenland
Willow Herb (Epilobium)
Guam
Puti Tai Nobiu (Bougainvillea spectabilis)
Guatemala
White Nun Orchid, or Monja Blanca (Lycaste skinnerialba)
Guyana
Water Lily ( Victoria regia)
Holland
Tulip (Tulipa)
Honduras
Orchid (Brassavola digbiana)
Hong Kong
Orchid Tree (Bauhinia blakeana)
Hungary
Tulip (Tulipa)
Iceland
Mountain Avens (Dryas octopetala)
India
Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera)
Indonesia
1) Melati (Jasmine) (Jasminum sambac) 2)Moon Orchid (Phalaenopsis amabilis) 3)Rafflesia (Rafflesia arnoldi Indonesia )
Iran
Tulip (Genus Tulipa)
Iraq
Rose ( Rosa )
Ireland
Shamrock
Italy
Stylized Lily
Jamaica
Lignum Vitae, or Wood of Life (Guaiacum sanctum)
Japan
Chrysanthemum (imperial), Cherry Blossom Sakura
Jordan
Black Iris (Iris nigricans)
Laos
Champa Flower(Calophyllum Inophyllum), also known as plumeria.
Kazakhstan
Lily(Lilium) serves as the Unofficial National Flower.
Kuwait
Rhanterum epapposum, or locally called Arfaj.
Kyrgyzstan
Shyrdak Symbols of Kyrgyzstan and also the Tulip.
Latvia
Oxeye Daisy, or Pipene (Leucanthemum vulgare)
Liberia
Pepper
Libya
Pomegranate blossom
Lithuania
Rue,or Herb of Grace (Ruta graveolens)
Luxembourg
Rose ( Rosa )
Madagascar
Poinciana (Delonix regia)
Maldives
Pink Rose ( Rosa )
Malta
The Maltese Centaury Paleocyanus crasifoleus
Malaysia
Hibiscus
Mexico
Dahlia
Nepal
Rhododendron
New Zealand
Kowhai
Norway
Heather
Nepal
Rhododendron
Paraguay
Jasmine-of-the-Paraguay
Pakistan
Jasmine
Peru
Kantuta, Inca magic flower
Philippines
Sampaguita (Jasminum sambac)
Poland
Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas)
Portugal
Lavender
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rican Hibiscus,or Flor de maga (montezuma speciossisima)
Romania
Rose ( Rosa canina)
Russia
Camomile (Matricaria Recutita)
San Marino
Cyclamen (Cyclamen)
Scotland
Thistle (Cirsium altissimum)
Seychelles
Tropicbird Orchid
Singapore
Vanda Miss Joaquim Orchid
Slovakia
Rose ( Rosa )
Slovenia
Carnation(Dianthus caryophyllus)
Spain
Red carnation
Sri Lanka
Nil Mahanel Water Lily (Nympheae Stellata)
S. Africa
Protea (Protea cynaroides)
S.Korea
Rose of Sharon (Moogoonghwa) (Hibiscus syriacus)
Sweden
Linnea (Linnea Borealis)
Switzerland
Edelweiss (Leontopodium alpinum)
Syria
Jasmine
Taiwan (Republic of China)
Plum blossom (Prunus mei)
Thailand
Ratchaphruek
Trinidad and Tobago
Chaconia (Warszewiczia coccinea)
Tonga
Red-blossomed heilala
Turkey
Tulip (Tulipa)
Ukraine
Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)
United States of America
Rose (Rosa)
England
Tudor Rose (Rosa)
Uruguay
Ceibo Erythrina (crista-galli)
Venezuela
Orchid
Vietnam
Lotus
Virgin Islands
Yellow Elder or Yellow Trumpet (Tecoma stans)
Wales
Leek and Daffodil
Zimbabwe
Flame Lily (Gloriosa Rothschildiana)o.
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