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Flower meanings are traditions, not a universal code: the same flower can carry different associations depending on the source, period, color, and presentation. In Victorian-oriented flower language, an aster can symbolize love and daintiness, while a zinnia can mean thoughts of absent friends or lasting affection.
Use these associations as inspiration rather than a code your recipient is expected to know. This guide explains the history of floriography and offers a few source-attributed examples.
What flower meanings really mean
Floriography is the practice of assigning sentiments or messages to flowers. The language of flowers has a longer history, but it became fashionable for lovers and suitors in Britain and America from the 1820s to the 1880s. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) traces its book tradition to France and says Charlotte de la Tour’s 1819 Le langage des fleurs presented about 300 meanings.
There was no single standardized dictionary. The RHS notes that later authors drew on different sources and preferences, sometimes assigning different meanings to the same plant or listing flowers under different common names. Color and, in some historical manuals, how a flower was held or worn could also affect the reading.
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When two lists disagree, consider the flower’s identity, its color or variety, the source’s period and tradition, and any presentation rules that source describes. These differences are part of the history; they do not point to one correct modern answer.
Flower meanings from asters to zinnias
The following examples come from specific Victorian-oriented or RHS materials. They are selected associations, not a comprehensive or universal dictionary.
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| Flower | Association in the cited tradition or source | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Aster | “Symbol of love” and “Daintiness” | The Old Farmer’s Almanac’s flower-symbolism chart gives these meanings; other lists may differ. |
| Rose | Love; color-specific readings also appear in RHS educational material | The RHS chart, for example, associates white with truth or innocence, pink with admiration or gratitude, red and white with unity, and yellow with friendship or caring. |
| Lily of the valley | Return of happiness | An association in RHS historical examples and wedding-bouquet material. |
| Sweet William | Gallantry | An association in RHS wedding-bouquet material. |
| Rosemary | Remembrance | The RHS connects this association with Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Ophelia. |
| Zinnia | Thoughts of absent friends; lasting affection | The Old Farmer’s Almanac chart gives both associations. |
These examples show why it helps to name the source tradition instead of treating any list as final. The RHS’s history of the language of flowers and its educational flower-meaning chart provide historical context and examples of color associations. The Old Farmer’s Almanac also publishes a flower-symbolism chart that identifies its tradition as mainly Victorian and cautions that meanings vary by culture, time, and source.
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How to choose flowers with meaning
- Start with the occasion and relationship. Decide what you want to express before choosing a symbolic association.
- Check the source and flower identity. Common names and varieties can be treated differently in different references.
- Consider color and presentation. Reference charts may assign different meanings by color, and some historical manuals included rules about arrangement or position.
- Keep cultural and personal context in mind. Victorian flower language is one historical tradition, not a worldwide standard.
- Say what you mean in a note. A short personal message makes your intention clear without asking the recipient to decode a bouquet.
Why Victorian flower dictionaries disagree
The RHS describes Charlotte de la Tour’s 1819 French book as the first popular book on the subject. English-language writers later adapted the idea, each compiling a personal version. In 1869, John Ingram published Flora Symbolica, bringing meanings together from multiple sources. The variety of compilations helps explain why later lists could conflict.
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The fashion was especially associated with Britain and America from the 1820s through the 1880s. According to the RHS Libraries Team, “From the 1820s to the 1880s, it was fashionable for lovers and suitors in Britain and America to send each other messages in the form of encoded bouquets of flowers.” The tradition also appeared in cards and later revived in modern design and wedding bouquets.
For more context, see the RHS history of floriography and the RHS educational meanings chart. Compare sources rather than assuming a single list represents every period or culture.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.FAQ
Are flower meanings the same in every culture?
No. Meanings vary across cultures, periods, and reference books. Victorian flower language is one particular tradition, not a universal code.
Do flower meanings change according to color?
They can in reference charts. For example, RHS educational material gives different readings for several rose colors. Treat these as examples from that chart, not rules shared by every tradition.
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What does an aster symbolize?
The Old Farmer’s Almanac’s Victorian-oriented chart lists “Symbol of love” and “Daintiness.” Other references may give different associations.
What does a zinnia symbolize?
The Old Farmer’s Almanac chart lists “Thoughts of absent friends” and “Lasting affection.” Those are source-specific traditional associations, not universal meanings.
How can I avoid sending an unintended message with flowers?
Choose flowers with the recipient and occasion in mind, check the relevant source’s meanings and color notes, and add a personal message that states your intention plainly.
The practical answer: choose meaning with context
Flower symbolism can add a thoughtful layer to a gift, but its meanings depend on the source and context. Use a flower chart as a starting point, consider the recipient’s preferences and traditions, and let a personal note carry the message clearly.
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