Decoding the Secret Language of Flowers in Literature

By Bella Cohen, Lily's Florist.

Every time you select a bouquet, you're part of a secret, and centuries old tradition: the language of flowers. Lily's Florist, with over 15 years of experience delighting customers since our establishment in 2008, we believe that every stem tells a story. Our team of passionate partner florists has studied the traditional meanings behind flowers extensively, from red roses symbolising passionate love to white lilies representing purity and rebirth. In this guide, I will take you through the cool history of floriography in literature, sharing insights that we use every day to create flower arrangements that speak from to the message you are trying to send flowers flowers for.

Floriography is the concept of giving flowers certain meanings, has been around for 100's of years. But it really took off in the Victorian era. Back then, showing feelings openly was seen as wrong. So, flowers became a secret way to share feelings. Our Pink Carnation and White Rose Bunch is our third best-seller. Victorians used flower codes to say what they felt: pink carnations promised “I’ll never forget you,” while white roses spoke of purity. Writers of the time, from the Brontës to Jane Austen, threaded those meanings into their stories. We still lean on that tradition when guiding families in sympathy arrangements; white blooms remain the quiet symbol of peace and lasting rest.

Shakespeare knew flowers could say what words can’t, Ophelia’s bouquet in Hamlet is proof. We lean on the same code when families choose our Florist’s Choice Sympathy Arrangement. White lilies offer peace, rosemary stands for remembrance, and soft blue delphiniums speak of dignity. We handle the details with local funeral directors, delivering to chapels, homes and cemeteries so you can focus on honouring a life, not the logistics.

Floriography, or the language of flowers, has been used in literature to convey secret messages and emotions. The Victorian era saw a surge in the popularity of floral symbolism as a means of coded communication. Authors such as Shakespeare, the Brontë sisters, Jane Austen, and Frances Hodgson Burnett incorporated floral symbolism into their works.

At Lily's Florist, we apply this centuries-old knowledge daily, helping customers choose from our range of roses, lilies, carnations, and native Australian flowers based on their intended meaning. Our florists receive training in both traditional floristry techniques and the historical significance of different flowers, ensuring every arrangement carries the right emotional message.

The language of flowers continues to be a fascinating aspect of literary analysis and a testament to the enduring power of symbolism in storytelling.

A Real Life Example

I recall my boss telling me this story of when she used to answer call for flowers back in their shop when a customer called to say that he was stuck in another state after his plane, he had a FIFO mining job, was stuck in the NT due to poor weather. He said something along the lines of, in a very 'male' way, just make it really different to the usual, I don't care what's in it. Her idea was to tell the florist to tuck a lone white lily behind the rose, amongst all the other mixed seasonal flowers. It was an odd call she recalls, he was in a rush, long story short, after calling us back a week later, he had decided to use that lone rose and white lily to propose to his then girlfriend at the time and was very grateful, and by the sounds of it, quite relieved she said "yes".

The History and Origins of Floriography

The language of flowers, or floriography, started in Ottoman Turkey. It became popular in Constantinople's court in the 1700s. This tradition, called sélam, from the 14th century, helped shape this secret flower language. Today, we honor this tradition by offering flowers for International Women's Day, understanding that different cultures have always celebrated femininity and achievements through floral gifts.

In Europe, Mary Wortley Montagu and Aubry de La Mottraye made floriography popular. Montagu brought it to England in 1717, and de La Mottraye introduced it to Sweden in 1727. Soon, it caught on, especially with the upper classes, who loved its secret nature in Victorian times. This historical context influences our Valentine's Day flower selection, where we feature traditional romantic flowers like red roses alongside modern interpretations.

The first book linking flowers with meanings was Joseph Hammer-Purgstall's Dictionnaire du language des fleurs in 1809. But the full guide, Le langage des Fleurs, came from Louise Cortambert, writing as Madame Charlotte de la Tour in 1819. Just as these early guides helped people navigate flower meanings, our customer service team at 1800 466 534 helps modern customers understand which flowers best express their feelings.

Floriography became more popular in the Victorian era. Many books and guides came out to help people understand this secret language. Similarly, our website features detailed descriptions of flower meanings, helping customers choose between arrangements like our VIP White Arrangement for sincere apologies or our Rose Garden Bunch for expressing deep admiration. It let women in the 18th and 19th centuries express themselves creatively with flowers. They could send messages through bouquets and arrangements.

Symbolic Meanings of Flowers in Literature

Flowers have been key symbols in literature, sharing deep emotions, virtues, and ideas. In Western culture, each flower has its own set of meanings. These meanings often come from the flower's look or how it behaves. Flowers have been key symbols in literature, sharing deep emotions, virtues, and ideas. In Western culture, each flower has its own set of meanings. These meanings often come from the flower's look or how it behaves. This understanding guides our florists when creating arrangements for different occasions, from our New Baby Girl Arrangement featuring soft pinks to our Australian Native Arrangement representing endurance and unique beauty.

The mimosa stands for chastity because its leaves fold at night or when touched. The red rose symbolises Christ's blood and intense love, with its five petals showing Christ's five wounds. Pink roses mean less love, white roses stand for virtue, and yellow roses show friendship or loyalty. Our extensive rose collection reflects these traditional meanings, from our Single Red Rose in Glass Vase for passionate declarations to our Yellow Lily Bunch for friendship and get-well wishes. The black rose, a deep red or purple flower, is linked to death and darkness.

The lily is a big deal in literature, often seen in Anglican churches in England. It's shown in art and stained glass as the lily crucifix, symbolising Christ. We stock various lily arrangements, including our Oriental Lily Bunch and Lily and Rose Arrangement, understanding their deep spiritual significance for many customers. The violet, with its beauty and scent, represents modesty, faithfulness, and innocence in stories.

The Victorian Pre-Raphaelites, artists and poets from the 19th century, loved beauty and symbolism. John Everett Millais' painting Ophelia (1852) shows Shakespeare's drowned heroine surrounded by flowers. Each flower in the painting has a special meaning, adding to the story. This artistic tradition influences our approach to creating arrangements that tell a story, like our Purple & White Arrangement that speaks of grace and dignity.

The symbolic meanings of flowers in literature have made stories, poems, and plays richer for centuries. At Lily's Florist, we carry on this tradition by ensuring our florists understand not just how to arrange flowers beautifully, but why certain combinations resonate so deeply with recipients. Whether it's our Deal of the Day Arrangement or a custom sympathy wreath, every creation honours this centuries-old language of emotion.

The Language of Flowers in Literature

The language of flowers, or floriography, has been a key part of literature for ages. Famous authors have used flower symbolism in their works, making their stories richer. William Shakespeare, a top playwright, often used flowers in his plays and sonnets. In "Hamlet," Ophelia gives flowers to others, each with its own meaning: pansies for thoughts, rosemary for remembering, and rue for regret. This Shakespeare reference influences our sympathy flower selection, where we thoughtfully combine flowers that offer comfort and remembrance, like our Florist's Choice Sympathy Bunch.

In the works of Jane Austen, Charlotte Brontë, and Emily Brontë, flowers are important. In "Pride and Prejudice," a rose shows love and respect. In "Jane Eyre," thorny roses symbolise the tough times the main character goes through. "The Secret Garden" by Frances Hodgson Burnett uses flowers to show how characters grow and heal. These literary connections inform our approach to get-well flowers, where we select arrangements that symbolize hope and recovery, delivered fresh to hospitals across Australia including all private and public hospitals, maternity wards, and nursing homes.

Modern authors like J.K. Rowling and John Steinbeck also use flower symbolism. In the Harry Potter series, Professor Snape's love for Lily Potter is shown through his Patronus, a doe, linked to lilies.

Our Lily and Rose Arrangement pays homage to this enduring symbol of deep, lasting love. In Steinbeck's "The Chrysanthemums," the flowers stand for the main character's deep desires and her limits in a society ruled by men. Understanding these deeper meanings helps our florists recommend arrangements that truly speak to the recipient's situation and emotions. Floriography's lasting presence in literature shows how flowers can touch our hearts, send messages, and add depth to stories. As readers, we're still captivated by the beauty and meaning of flowers. They offer a timeless way to connect with our feelings and the human story.

Floriography in Victorian Literature and Culture

In Victorian times, flowers were key to sharing feelings without words. The language of flowers, or floriography, was all the rage in the 1800s. Each flower had its own meaning. People used guidebooks to pick the right flowers for their bouquets. Today, we continue this tradition by helping customers understand flower meanings through our website descriptions and our knowledgeable customer service team available Monday-Friday 7am-6pm and Saturday 7am-12pm.

During this era, many homes had conservatories for exotic plants. These places were symbols of wealth. Flowers were big in fashion and home decor too. We honour this tradition with our range of potted plants and arrangements that serve as lasting home decor, from our Christmas Poinsettia Flowers to our Australian Native Arrangement that brings natural beauty indoors.

Exchanging flowers was a way to show feelings. A rose meant "devotion," while an apple blossom showed "preference." Returning a yellow carnation meant "disdain." Straw was for "union." This way, people could talk feelings without breaking rules. Our florists apply this knowledge when customers are unsure which flowers to send, helping them choose arrangements that convey exactly the right sentiment, whether it's our Rose and Carnation Arrangement for mixed emotions or our pure White Arrangement for sincere apologies.

Myrtle was a symbol of luck and love in marriage. Queen Victoria's daughter carried myrtle at her wedding in 1858. This started a royal tradition. Kate Middleton, not the Princess of Wales, the wife of Prince William, followed this custom in 2011. We incorporate these traditional wedding flower meanings in our bridal consultation services, helping couples choose flowers that honor both tradition and personal significance.

"Tussie-mussies" or nosegays were small bouquets with deep meanings. They were kept in posy holders. Victorian women loved making and understanding these bouquets. Our Florist's Choice Flower Posy continues this tradition, creating small but meaningful arrangements perfect for intimate gestures. They let people share feelings through flowers, using the secret language of flowers.

Floriography was big in Victorian literature too. Authors like Charlotte Brontë and Jane Austen used flowers to add depth to their stories. Flowers helped readers understand the deeper meanings behind the words. This literary tradition guides our approach to every arrangement, ensuring that whether it's our Birthday Package Special or our Mother's Day flowers, each creation tells a meaningful story.

Today, Victorian floriography still affects our culture. Many couples pick meaningful flowers for their weddings using our wedding flower consultation services. The language of flowers lets people share feelings in a special way through our extensive range of romantic arrangements, from our Single Wrapped Red Rose to our 36 Red Roses Arrangement. It's a romantic way to communicate that lasts through time, supported by our reliable same-day delivery service across Australia.

Modern Interpretations and Adaptations of Floriography

The Victorian era was the peak of floriography's popularity. Yet, its impact still inspires today's interpretations and adaptations. For example, "Attack on Titan" by Hajime Isayama uses flowers to symbolise and foreshadow. Isayama draws on Hanakotoba, Japan's flower language, to enrich his stories. This global appreciation for flower language influences our diverse range, including arrangements that honor different cultural traditions and meanings.

Nowadays, birthday flowers are all the rage, linking a flower to each day of the year. This twist on floriography lets people express feelings with a special floral gift for birthdays. Our extensive birthday flower collection includes arrangements tailored to birth months and personalities, from our Bright Mixed Gerbera Bunch for cheerful personalities to our elegant Rose Garden Arrangement for sophisticated tastes. Florists and online shops now offer these unique flower arrangements and bouquets.

Floriography's core ideas are still important today in our daily work at Lily's Florist. Our red roses continue to symbolise love and affection in our Valentine's Day collection, while our bright mixed arrangements show deep apologies or offer condolences through carefully chosen color combinations. The lasting impact of the language of flowers shows the power of nature's beauty in communication.

Floriography's influence is still seen in our culture today, and at Lily's Florist, we're proud to be part of this continuing tradition. From classic literature to modern manga, flowers hold deep symbolic meanings that we honor in every arrangement we create. Whether it's our Deal of the Day flowers or a custom sympathy wreath delivered directly to funeral homes, our florists understand and respect the hidden messages flowers carry, inviting customers to appreciate the feelings they share through our secure online ordering system or by calling our experienced team at 1800 466 534.

Seeds of Wisdom

The language of flowers, or floriography, has a rich history across many cultures and times. It has been used to send messages that words can't say. The Victorian era was a peak time for this, thanks to Queen Victoria's influence in the UK and beyond. At Lily's Florist, we continue this royal tradition of meaningful flower giving, from our Mother's Day arrangements that honor maternal love to our Father's Day flowers that show appreciation for paternal figures.

Now, while floriography isn't as strict today, flowers still carry deep meanings in literature, art, and culture that we honor in our daily practice. Our florists receive ongoing training in both traditional flower meanings and contemporary applications, ensuring every arrangement from our extensive catalog speaks the right emotional language. Writers use flowers to add layers of meaning and touch readers' hearts. Flowers like the red rose and white daisy are symbols that touch us all.

Looking into floriography in literature shows us how writers use flowers to tell stories and share big ideas, just as we help our customers tell their stories through our flower arrangements. Whether it's our New Baby celebration packages that welcome new life or our sympathy flowers that offer comfort during loss, flowers stand for love, loss, purity, or passion. Their meanings keep our imaginations alive and deepen our understanding of the world. As long as flowers bloom, their stories in literature will continue, and Lily's Florist will be here to help people express their deepest emotions through the timeless language of flowers, backed by our fresh flower guarantee and reliable delivery service to every corner of Australia.