Flowers and their Meaning

In Victorian times, certain flowers had specific meanings because the flower selection was limited and people used more symbols and gestures to communicate than words. But today, with so many flower choices, there are no rules - it's the sentiment that gives the gift its meaning. Many people assign their own personal meanings - a flower or color that might remind them of a special event or moment in their lives. As the saying goes, 'say it with flowers!' And indeed, people have been saying it with flowers since time immemorial, using the special meanings of flowers to express all kinds of emotions. Whether to woo somebody special on Valentine's Day, display affection on Father's Day or Mother's Day, or to express a 'get well soon' message for somebody ill, flowers have been used to say it all. In fact, the symbolic meaning of flowers has given birth to a language of its own, known as floriography.

Apart from each of the names of flowers being imbued with symbolism such as romance or sympathy or affection, all flowers express specific phrases as well. As a matter of fact, the Victorians were the ones who used flower symbolism most profusely to communicate subtly what they wanted to say, but could not speak aloud since decorum would not allow it. With flowers, and their symbolic meanings, they could verbalize communication without saying anything or evince a feeling. Thus, the Victorians would often make a bouquet that they could use as an expression of an unvoiced message to the person receiving it, using various kinds of symbolism like the number, the arrangement, the color, and of course the type of flower. For those interested in the historic meanings of flowers, the Society of American Florists has compiled this list from a variety of different sources: