A Local Florist in Orland Park, Illinois Address: 10948 west 167th Street, Orland Park Il 60467
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Service Areas:
Orland Park
Tinley Park
Frankfort
Mokena
Homer Glen
 and Chicagoland
The Language  of Flowers for the Victorians

   The Turks in the 17th century seemed to develop flower meanings. In 1718 the wife of the British ambassador to Constantinople, Lady Mary Wortley, wrote a letter expounding on the “Secret Language of Flowers” that she had discovered during her visits to Turkey. Europe quickly picked up on the concept.

In 1819 Louise Cortambert, under the pen name, Madame Charlotte de la Tour, wrote and published what seems to have been the first dictionary of the flower language entitled, Le Language des Fleurs. It was a small book, but it became a popular reference on the subject and had to be toned down for the Victorians.

During the Victorian era, the reign of Queen Victoria from 1837 to 1901, the meaning and language of flowers became increasingly popular. Victorian women especially picked up the silent language that allowed them to communicate feelings and meanings that the strict propriety of the times would not allow. Tussie-mussies, a bouquet of flowers wrapped with a lace doily and tied with a satin ribbon became a popular and valued gift of the times.

In 1884 a whole book on the subject and entitled, The Language of Flowers, by Jean Marsh and illustrated by Kate Greenaway, was published in London. It became popular and respected and has been the standard source for Victorian flower meaning ever since.

Another Victorian use for the tussy mussy was to bury the nose and hence to filter out noxious odors. Victorian tussie mussies were carried in the hand or worn about the neck on a cord.

Victorians took their tussie mussies seriously. Households often had dictionaries of the meaning of the various flowers. One would not dare just send a bouquet without first doing their research!

When a woman received a flower, she had the opportunity to accept or reject the sentiment expressed when she wore the flowers on her afternoon calls. The simplest form, with the blossom facing upwards, meant that the feelings where accepted. With the blossom facing down, it meant that the woman did not return the feelings expressed. It is also possible to place the flowers sent in a bouquet with other flowers to send a return message. It is also customary for brides to choose their bouquets to send a message with the ideas of the marriage.

In Victorian times, this allowed a couple to stroll in the garden and chat about flowers on the surface, while the entire undercurrent of the conversation is full of relationship connotations and implications.

Roses are of particular interest. A rose with no thorns but leaves means "I fear no longer; I hope." If it is stripped of leaves and thorns it means "There is nothing to hope or fear." A full rose with two buds means secrecy. A single rose is simplicity, while two joined roses represent engagement. A dozen roses is the ultimate declaration of love.

Through the use of combinations of flowers, more complex messages can be sent.

  • Moss Rosebud (confession of love) + myrtle (love) = a confession of love (yea, rather bland)
  • Mignonette (qualities > charms) and colored daisy (beauty) = your qualities surpass your charms of beauty
  • Yellow rose (jealousy) + broken straw (a broken agreement) + Ivy (commitment) = your jealousy has broken our friendship
  • Scarlet geranium (consolation) + passion flower (faith) + purple hyacinth (sorrow) + arbor vitae (unchanging friendship) = I trust you will find consolation, through faith, in your sorrow; be assured of my unchanging friendship (ie: let's just be friends)
  • Columbine (folly) + day lily (coquetry) + witch hazel (spell) + colored daisy (beauty) = Your folly and coquetry have broken the spell of your beauty
  • Golden-rod (be cautious) + monks-head (danger) + sweat pea (departing) + forget-me-not (don't forget me) = Be cautious; danger is near; I will depart soon; don't forget me.

Here are some flowers with dark historical meanings. They are suitable for any Enemy's  wedding or funeral and are lovely additions to an anonymous bouquet to let them know someone's been thinking a whole lot about them. Todays florist deals with the  love and friendship aspect of flowers We are missing the whole other half of our business.

Send a bouquet for spite! (smile)

asphodel: my regrets follow you to the grave
basil: hatred
begonia: I have dark thoughts about you
bilberry: treachery
cistus gum: you will die tomorrow
coltsfoot: justice will be done
crowsbill: envy
crowfoot: ingratitude
dahlia: instability
dark geranium: you are unjust
dogsbane: deceit and lies
enchanter's nightshade: witchcraft and sorcery
fig: strife
hellebore: calumny
hortensia: you are cold
Judas tree: disbelief and betrayal
lobelia: malevolence
lotus flower: tainted love
mandrake: horror
meadow saffron: your best days are gone
oleander: beware
rhododendron: danger
saffron: be wary of success
scarlet auricula: greed
St. John's wort: animosity and superstition

 

Today, the language of flowers is a quaint and antiquated concept.

Lists often conflict on the meaning of any given flower.

Note: For some of these below, there are multiple interpretations that may appear contradictory. This list is compiled from several sources.