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forgotten language of flowers

The Forgotten Language of Flowers

The Forgotten Language of Flowers
The Forgotten Language of Flowers


In the early 18th century the Turkish "Secret Language of Flowers" was
introduced to Europe by Lady Mary Wortley Montague, wife of the
British ambassador to Constantinople. Flowers had long been a sign of
romance but now lovers were able to send secret messages to each other
by means of sending a posy of flowers.




"Each flower had a specific
meaning and the order of arrangement had much to do with the intended
"message".

The French seem to have taken this idea to heart. In 1819 a
French woman writing under the pen name of Madame Charlotte de la Tour
(Louise Cortambert), wrote and published "Le Language des Fleurs"
which offered seasonal floral and anecdotal advice to those wishing to
send "secret" messages to each other.

The following list of flowers comes mainly from that original book but
has been augmented to include some common flowers of today as some of
those from yesteryear are unknown. Enjoy this glimpse into the past
and keep this in mind the next time you send or receive flowers!


~A~
Abecedary: Volubility

Abatina: Fickleness

Acacia: Chaste love, Concealed love, Friendship

Acacia, Rose: Friendship

Acacia, Rose or Pink: Elegance

Acacia, Rose or White: Elegance

Acacia, White: Friendship; Ours is a Chaste Love

Acacia, Yellow: Secret love

Acalia: Temperance

Acanthus: Arts

Achillea Millefolia: War

Achimeness: Such worth is rare

Aconite (Wolfsbane): Misanthropy, Treachery

Aconite, Crowfoot: Luster

Acorn: Nordic Symbol of Life and immortality

Adonis, Flos: Painful recollections;

Adonis Vernalis: Bitter memories

African Marigold: Vulgar minded

Agnus Casus (or Castus): Coldness, life without love, Indifference;

Agrimony: Thankfulness, Gratitude

Allspice: My Heart Feels Compassion

Almond: Hope, Giddiness, Heedlessness

Almond (Common): Stupidity, Indiscretion

Almond (Flowering): Hope; I continue to hope

Almond, Laurel: Perfidy

Almond Tree: Stupidity, thoughtlessness

Aloe: Sorrow--Dejection, Superstition,
Bitterness, Grief, Religious
superstition;

Alstroemeria: Strength

Althaea Frutes (Syrian Mallow): Persuasion

Althea: Consumed by love

Alyssum, Sweet: Worth beyond beauty

Amaranth: Immortality; Unfading Love

Amaranth (Globe): Immortality; Unfading love

Amaranth (Cockscomb): Foppery; With Affectation

Amaryllis: Splendid beauty, Beautiful but timid; Pride; Pastoral Poetry

Ambrosia: Love returned

American Cowslip: Divine beauty; Beauty divine

American Elm: Patriotism

American Linden: Matrimony

American Star Wort: Welcome to a stranger; Cheerfulness in old age

Amethys (or Amethyst): Admiration; My love for you is undying

Anemone: Anticipation, Expectation

Anemone, Field: Sickness, illness

Anemone, Garden: Forsaken; Withered hopes; Illness

Anemone, Windflower: Desertion; Forsaken

Anemone (Zephyr Flower): Sickness; Expectation

Angelica/Angelica Herb: You are my Inspiration

Angrec: Royalty

Apocynum (Dogbane): Inspiration, Deceit

Apple: Temptation; Let me Tempt you; Give in to Temptation

Apple Blossom: Preference; Fame speaks him great and good; I prefer you

Apple, Thorn: Deceitful charms

Apricot Flower: Doubt, distrust

Arbor vitae: Unchanging friendship; Live for me

Arbutus: Thee only do I love

Arbutus, Trailing: Welcome

Arkansas Coreopsis: Love at first sight

Arum: Ardour/Ardor; Ferocity and deceit

Ash/Ash Tree: Grandeur

Ash-leaved Trumpet Flower: Separation

Ash, Mountain: Prudence

Aspen Tree: Lamentation; Sighing

Asphodel: Regrets beyond the grave; Remembered beyond the tomb; My
regrets follow you to the grave

Aster (China): Variety; Afterthought;

Aster, Large flowered: Afterthought; Love of variety;

Auricula, Scarlet: Avarice

Austurtium: Splendour

Autumn Leaves: Melancholy

Azalea: Romance; Temperance; Take Care of Yourself for Me; Chinese
Symbol of Womanhood; Fragile Passion; True to the end

Back to the Top

~B~

Baby's Breath: Ours is an everlasting love

Bachelor's Button: Hope; Single Blessedness; Celibacy; Hope in love

Balm: A cure; Sympathy;

Balm, Gentle: Pleasantry

Balm, Mint: Pleasantry

Balm of Gilead: Healing; I am cured; Relief

Balsam: Impatience; My love for you can't wait

Balsam, Red: Touch me not; Impatient resolves

Balsam, Yellow: Impatience

Balsamine: Impatience

Barberry: Sharpness, satire; Petulance; Ill temper; Sourness of temper

Barberry Tree: Sharpness

Basil: Give me your good wishes; Best Wishes

Bay Leaf: I change but in dying; No change
till death; I change but in death

Bay (Rose) Rhododendron: Danger; Beware

Bay Tree: Glory

Bay Wreath: Reward of merit

Bearded Crepis: Protection

Beech: Prosperity; Lovers' tryst

Bee Ophrys: Error

Bee Orchis: Industry

Begonia: Deformed; Beware

Belladonna: Silence

Bell Flower: Constancy; Gratitude

Bell Flower, Pyramidal: Constancy

Bell Flower (small white): Gratitude

Bells of Ireland: Good Luck

Belvedere: I declare against you;

Belvidere, Wild (Licorice): I declare against you;

Betony: Surprise

Bilberry: Treachery

Bindweed: Humility; Night;

Bindweed, Great: Insinuation

Bindweed, Small: Humility

Birch Tree: Gracefulness; Meekness

Birdsfoot Trefoil: Revenge

Bittersweet; Nightshade: Truth

Black Bryony: Be my support

Black Poplar: Courage; Affliction;

Black Thorn: Difficulty

Bladder Tree: Frivolous amusement

Bladder-Nut Tree: Frivolous amusements

Bluebell: Constancy; Kindness; Humility

Blue Bottle: Delicacy

Blue-flowered Greek Valerian: Rupture

Borage: Bluntness; Abruptness; Rudeness

Bonus Henricus: Goodness

Borus Henricus: Goodness

Bouquet of Withered Flowers: Rejected Love

Box/Box Tree: Indifference; Constancy; Stoicism; Constancy in friendship

Bramble: Lowliness; Envy; Remorse

Branch of Currants: You please all

Branch of Thorns: Severity; Rigor

Bridal Rose: Happy love

Briers: Envy

Broken Straw: Constancy

Broom: Humility; Neatness;

Browallia Jamisonii: Could you bear poverty

Buckbean: Calm repose

Bud of White Rose: Heart ignorant of love;

Bugloss: Falsehood

Bulrush: Docility

Bundle of Reeds, with their Panicles: Music

Burdock: Importunity; Touch me not;

Buttercup: Riches; Memories of childhood; Ingratitude; Childishness

Butterfly Orchis: Gaiety

Butterfly Weed: Let me go

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