The Language of Flowers developed in France before the Revolution and was based on a number of historical antecedents, including Greek and Roman mythology, the Judeo-Christian religion, herbal medicine, Renaissance art and literature, and the Turkish Selam, a rhyming language of objects. Each herb and flower, tree and plant was assigned a symbolic meaning based on its appearance, fragrance, or associations.
Dozens of Victorian-era Language of Flowers’ dictionaries were written to help the public become well-versed in this poetic method of communication. Some plants acquired several meanings, based on disparate global traditions. Thus, basil meant “best wishes” in Italy, “hatred” in Greece, and “sacred” in India. In other instances, several plants shared one meaning. For example, according to different sources, galax, ivy, gerbera daisy, Peruvian lily, pine, pussy willow, and the yellow rose all mean friendship. The lists are still longer for plants that symbolize love, joy, or health.
These four bouquets of get-well flowers, engagement flowers, wedding flowers, and graduation flowers examine the meanings of individual herbs and blooms.
yellow get well tussie mussie
GET WELL FLOWERS
| Rose (yellow) | = | friendship, love |
| Chrysanthemum | = | joy, optimism, long life |
| Forsythia | = | good nature |
| Euonymus | = | long life |
| Feverfew | = | good health |
| Goldenrod | = | encouragement |
| St. John’s Wort | = | health |
| Clover | = | luck |
| Mullein | = | healing |
WEDDING FLOWERS
| Rose (white) | = | unity, love |
| Violet | = | faithfulness, love, modesty |
| Azalea (white) | = | love, romance |
| Hellebore (white) | = | ‘I dream of you night and day’ |
| Clover | = | luck, health |
| Dogwood | = | love through adversity |
| Wheat | = | riches, prosperity |
| Olive | = | abundance, peace |
| Ivy | = | fidelity, friendship |
ENGAGEMENT FLOWERS
GRADUATION FLOWERS
Learn how to make a tussie-mussie with Laufer’s step-by-step instructions.
