# Floriography: The Secret Flower-Code of the Victorians
Published: 2018-02-02
Category: Education
Category URL: https://blog.flowersacross.com.au/category/education/
Meta Title: Floriography: The Secret Flower-Code of the Victorians - All Things Flowers Blog by Sydney Florists Flowers Across Sydney
URL: https://blog.flowersacross.com.au/floriography/

![](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cmodzcy8v00gd01v0jf02au8w/images/queenvictoriapicture-e1517536177107-1782540786572-compressed.jpg)

Source: [Wikimedia Commons](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Victoria-sm.jpg)

Jump back in time to when Queen Victoria reigned over the British Empire. The world was beginning to change at a faster rate than ever before, Australia was just a fledgling colony on the other side of the world and etiquette dictated what you could and could not do or say in polite company.

This was the age of the stiff upper-lip, so sharing your feelings with the people around you wasn’t something that would ingratiate you with anyone. Add to this that with the increase in numbers of the “new-rich”, who were eager to climb the social ladder and avoid looking like a fraud, following etiquette was more important than ever.

For example, serving three vegetables with an entree would immediately reveal to the world how unworthy you were, since anyone who is anyone knows that an entree is never served with more than two vegetables.

When Victorians wanted to express their true feelings to someone, they encoded them so that casual eavesdroppers would be none the wiser. Because the average Victorian was not an expert in cryptography, these codes weren’t exactly the same as the ones that protect your computer from hackers today. Instead, they used a method imported from the imperial court of the Ottoman Empire called floriography.

Floriography is a means of encrypted communication through the use of flowers. No one knows exactly when it began, but it is thought to have been introduced into England by someone who had learned its secrets at the Ottoman court.

While it is thought that it was first brought to England early in the 18th century, it wasn’t until the Victorian times that it really came into its own. Certain flowers had meaning for a long time; Shakespeare spoke of the romantic connotation of the rose long before the Victorian era. However, the few flowers that had meaning gave you a very limited vocabulary if you wanted to express something other than romantic feelings.

![](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cmodzcy8v00gd01v0jf02au8w/images/yorklancasterroses-1782540786815-compressed.png)

Flowers have had meaning for a long time; just ask the Houses of York and Lancaster.

And so Victorians began using floral dictionaries to help expand their vocabulary and therefore the range of expressions they could send. These were books that contained lists of sometimes hundreds of flowers and their associated meanings.

One of the earliest and most well read of these dictionaries was “The Language of Flowers”, by Kate Greenaway. Because it’s considered public domain, you can download it for free here:

[![](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cmodzcy8v00gd01v0jf02au8w/images/languageofflowersgreenaway-238x300-1782540786623-compressed.jpg)](http://archive.org/details/languageofflower00gree)

[Download _the Language of Flowers_ by Kate Greenaway](https://archive.org/details/languageofflower00gree)

Being 88 pages of definitions, you can be confident that no matter what feeling you want to express, armed with this dictionary, you can send the right message with flowers. Here are some examples to get your creative juices flowing.

## **Feeling Romantic?**

Do you have some romantic feelings that you just can’t express with words? Try these flowers:

Don’t give someone a big head if it’s not warranted. If the person of your affections is a _divine beauty_ then the flower you want is the _American cowslip_. However, if they are only a _modest beauty,_ then you’ll want to use the _trillium pictum_ instead.

And of course, if you want to express your love for someone, then ensure you send them the _ambassador of love_; the _cabbage rose._

![The Cabbage Rose, the Ambassador of Love](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cmodzcy8v00gd01v0jf02au8w/images/ordinary-cabbage-rose-186216640-225x300-1782540786321-compressed.jpg)

Image Source: [PxHere](https://pxhere.com/en/photo/1014108)

If the target of your desires is _the perfection of female loveliness,_ then you’ll also want to include a _Justicia_ flower.

On the other hand, if your mind is in the gutter and you hope that the recipient feels the same way you do, then you’ll want to send an _African Marigold,_ that has the meaning of _vulgar minds._

![](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cmodzcy8v00gd01v0jf02au8w/images/marigold-184659640-300x225-1782540788031-compressed.jpg)

Victorians didn’t have Tinder so they relied on the African Marigold – Image by Sharky from [Pixabay](https://pixabay.com/photos/marigold-flower-plant-orange-flower-184659/)

Finally, if you want to win someone’s heart by guilting them into being with you, you can always try the _Laurestina_ which carries the message; _I die if neglected._

## **Feeling Friendly?**

Is there someone in your life that you care about in a platonic way? If so, these are the flowers that you’ll want to consider.

The _acacia_ is a solid choice since it unmistakably means _friendship._ You can also couple it with _Iceland Moss_ if you want to wish someone continued _health._

And if you’re a man who respects and cares about another man, but don’t want any confusion regarding your sexuality, then send _spiderwort_ and _woodbine;_ they respectively mean _esteem not love_ and _fraternal love._

![](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cmodzcy8v00gd01v0jf02au8w/images/spiderwort-2263494640-300x260-1782540788087-compressed.jpg)

Spiderwort was a popular choice amongst Victorian men – Image by Jan Haerer from [Pixabay](https://pixabay.com/photos/spiderwort-tradescantia-flower-2263494/)

## **Want to reject someone?**

Have you been receiving coded flower messages from an unwanted suitor? Let them know you’re not interested with the following flowers:

Start by making your feelings clear with a message of _indifference_ by sending _mustard seeds._ It’s unknown if the number of seeds sent corresponds with the magnitude of your indifference.

If the mustard seeds weren’t clear enough, double up your _refusal_ by including a _striped carnation_ to really drive the message home.

Finally, if you feel that some nastiness is warranted, express your _disgust_ with a _frog ophyrs_ and then bid them _farewell_ with a _Michaelmas daisy._

![](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cmodzcy8v00gd01v0jf02au8w/images/maxpixel-1782540787822-compressed.jpg)

When you want to bid someone farewell, the Michaelmas Daisy is the flower you want – Image by tommy pixel from [Pixabay](https://pixabay.com/photos/michaelmas-daisy-asteraceae-656257/)

## **Feeling Insulting?**

Is there someone in your life that you strongly dislike? Is sending them a coded insult the only way you can safely express your dislike for them? The flowers below might be helpful.

If your feelings can be summed up by the word _hatred,_ then _basil_ is the appropriate flower for you. If, on the other hand, _animosity_ is a more accurate term, then you’ll want to get your hands on some _St. John’s Wort._

[![](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cmodzcy8v00gd01v0jf02au8w/images/basil-37296181280-300x192-1782540787842-compressed.jpg)](https://blog.flowersacrosssydney.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/basil-3729618_1280.jpg)

Image by [Monika](https://pixabay.com/users/monicore-1499084/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=3729618) from [Pixabay](https://pixabay.com//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=3729618)

If you have received a rejection in the form of mustard seeds, striped carnations and frog ophrys, then you may want to retort that you think she is the _queen of coquettes_ anyway, by sending _Queen’s Rocket._

Alternatively you could send someone a _Japan rose_ if you believe that _beauty is the only attraction_ anyway.

## **Somewhat Random Feelings**

Do your feelings not fit into the above categories? Rest assured there are flowers for you no matter how you feel about someone or the world in general.

Do you hate people in general? Then _wolfsbane_ is perfect for you because it communicates _misanthropy._

Are you happy admitting to someone that you’re over the hill? Then _meadow saffron,_ with its meaning of _my best days are past,_ could be useful.

If you happen to be a dictator who is tired of declaring war the old fashioned way, send your enemies a message of _I declare war against you_ with a _wild tansy._ And if the war doesn’t go your way, you can always extend an _olive_ branch; which has long been a symbol of _peace._

![](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cmodzcy8v00gd01v0jf02au8w/images/tansy-1561647640-300x200-1782540789385-compressed.jpg)

If you receive these then it’s time to mobilise the army – Image by Henryk Niestrój from [Pixabay](https://pixabay.com/photos/tansy-yellow-flowers-herb-plant-1561647/)

We’ve barely scratched the surface with these messages, so the sky’s the limit when it comes to messages to send when you have a floral dictionary and access to a wide range of flowers.

Here’s a message from me to you, can you decode its meaning? Post a comment if you think you’ve figured it out!


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