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Flower meanings are symbolic traditions, not botanical facts or a universal code. In Victorian floriography—the historical practice of assigning meanings to flowers—a red rose could stand for love while a daffodil could signify unrequited love. The nine examples below draw on documented Victorian and Western references; treat them as inspiration, since meanings vary by source, color, culture, and context.
How flower meanings took shape
The popular flower-language tradition is often traced to Charlotte de la Tour’s French book Le langage des fleurs (1819), which the Royal Horticultural Society says listed about 300 meanings. Later British and American writers adapted the system, and their interpretations did not always agree. Some Victorian flower books also treated how blooms were arranged or presented as meaningful.
That history does not prove that Victorian people routinely sent coded bouquets. The Government of Canada’s Language Portal notes that it is unclear whether Victorians actually used flower vocabularies to create bouquets expressing their feelings; the symbolism is more clearly documented in the work of writers, artists, poets, and jewellers. The New York Botanical Garden describes meanings arising from a plant’s appearance or character, cultural associations in folklore, mythology, art, and literature, and the choices of flower-language authors.
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9 flowers and their attributed meanings
This is a curated historical selection, not a definitive list. The entries reflect the cited references and their traditions rather than a message guaranteed to be understood by every recipient.
| Flower | Attributed meaning | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Red rose | Love | The RHS lists love for the red rose; the Metropolitan Museum of Art also describes the rose as a major symbol of love. |
| Lily of the valley | Return of happiness | A meaning listed by the RHS. |
| Daffodil | Unrequited love | This meaning appears in references from both the Government of Canada and Denver Botanic Gardens. |
| Daisy | Simplicity | A meaning in the historical list reproduced by the Government of Canada. |
| Lotus | Forgetfulness | A meaning in the historical list reproduced by the Government of Canada. Other traditions give the lotus different associations, so this should not be read as a universal interpretation. |
| Myrtle | Wedded bliss | The Government of Canada’s historical list gives this meaning; the RHS also associates myrtle with marriage and love in its discussion of royal bouquets. |
| Pansy | Loving thoughts | A meaning in the historical list reproduced by the Government of Canada. |
| Violet | Modesty | A meaning in the historical list reproduced by the Government of Canada. |
| Hyacinth | Sorrow | A meaning in the historical list reproduced by the Government of Canada. |
Why the same flower can mean different things
Floriography was assembled from more than one source of symbolism. A flower’s scent, appearance, habitat, or medicinal uses could influence an association; folklore, mythology, religion, literature, and art shaped others. Early authors also assigned meanings according to their own systems. As a result, different books may give one flower different meanings, or distinguish among colors and varieties.
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Color can matter within a particular guide. Denver Botanic Gardens, for example, lists pale pink roses as grace and dark pink roses as thankfulness. These are source-specific associations, not fixed meanings shared across every tradition. The Met notes that Victorian writers could combine flowers to adjust a bouquet’s message, while some books also attached significance to presentation and placement.
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How to use a flower meaning in a bouquet
- Name the tradition. If you are choosing flowers for a historical or symbolic message, say that the interpretation comes from a Victorian or other named tradition.
- Check the source’s details. Confirm the flower, color, and any arrangement guidance in the same reference; do not assume another guide uses the same code.
- Explain your intent. A short note makes a personal meaning clear and avoids asking the recipient to decode an uncertain symbolism.
- Choose for the person, too. A flower’s personal significance, appearance, or suitability may matter more than a historical definition.
Sources for the meanings and history
- Royal Horticultural Society: Flower meanings
- Government of Canada, Language Portal: The language of flowers
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art: The Language of Flowers
- New York Botanical Garden: Floriography
- Denver Botanic Gardens: The language of flowers
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