The Language Of Flowers (2024)

Did you know that the practice of giving flowers dates back to prehistoric times? The Victorian era holds the record for the most interesting floriography. During this period, verbally expressing emotions was not considered noble. So instead of saying how they felt, Victorians used flowers to communicate their emotions.

The Victorian era was a time when flowers were not only a woman’s object of desire, but they also symbolized a love language. Victorians were quite intentional in how they used the language of flowers. Everything from the type, size, and arrangement of flowers to the way they were presented embodied the sender’s intentions.

A lot of effort was invested in the selection of the right type of flowers to carry a coded message for the recipient to decipher. Fascinating, right?! During this time, Tulips indicated passion, Wallflowers represented faithfulness and a thornless rose symbolized love at first sight.

Here’s another fun fact: the recipient’s reaction upon receiving the flowers was evident in the way they held the flowers. Holding flowers close to the heart was considered an appreciative response rather than holding them upside down.

Ladies, the train to the Victorian era leaves in the morning, who’s coming?

In the modern world, flowers still convey a special meaning. The language of flowers is as important today as it was in the past. We give our loved ones flowers to portray all kinds of emotions — from love to appreciation.

Why are women drawn to flowers?

It is no secret that women are fond of those beautiful blooms of red, white, blue, and yellow petals. But what is behind a woman’s attraction to flowers? Why do women get so sentimental when they receive flowers? Flowers remain a riddle to most men. In fact, it’s probably one of the reasons men are curious to discover the depths of a woman’s psyche. But who can blame them?

Humor me for a second here and let’s try to look at this from a completely logical perspective (a.k.a a man’s perspective). Flowers are beautiful and they have a pleasant scent, but they’re not functional in any way. Unlike gadgets which offer a more practical experience. I mean sure roses look beautiful for a while, but they eventually die. They don’t do anything when they are alive either — other than sit there and look pretty. So basically, they are just an expensive cliché. Right?…Wrong!

“A flower’s appeal is in its contradictions — so delicate in form yet strong in fragrance, so small in size yet big in beauty, so short in life yet long on effect.” — Terri Guillemets

Here are two main reasons that might help you understand a woman’s affiliation with flowers:

1. Flowers symbolize romance

From the beginning of time, flowers have been known to be a universal symbol of love and appreciation. Their beauty and fragrance are what make them the perfect romantic gesture. They represent a rather “old-fashioned” type of romance that speaks to women. Whether it’s a single rose or a beautiful bouquet, flowers have been a timeless way for men to express their affection.

What some men don’t know is that a woman’s love for flowers goes beyond their beauty and fragrance. Giving a woman flowers says, “Jane, as I was walking home on a Wednesday evening, I saw a daisy on the side of the road and it made me think of you.” This is what creates a quiet storm inside a woman every time she receives flowers. You can see it in the way her face lights up.

“If I had a single flower for every time I thought about you, I could walk forever in my garden.” — Claudia Adrienne Grandi

P.S: Not a daisy goes by where I don’t think about you — pun intended.

Tip: Flowers are generally associated with romantic dates, engagements, and weddings. However, they carry an even greater sentimental value when they’re given on random days for absolutely no reason. So, the next time you wish to brighten her day or show her you’re thinking of her, get her flowers!

2. Flowers are associated with femininity

Women are naturally inclined towards flowers because they are representative of a woman’s beauty. How? you ask. Women have been regarded as beautiful and delicate for centuries. Poets and artists have celebrated their beauty through poems and breath-taking paintings. There’s something about beautiful blossoming petals that is quite representative of a woman’s delicacy and femininity.

Sunflowers may appear similar from a distance, but it takes a keen eye to notice the unique beauty of each one. Each sunflower possesses a distinct definition and beauty — this is symbolic of a woman’s individuality. Flowers reflect the prominent feminine beauty of women around the world.

“A rose can never be a sunflower, and a sunflower can never be a rose. All flowers are beautiful in their own way, and that’s like women too.” — Miranda Kerr

The holidays are a beautiful time to give flowers to your loved ones. If you were wondering what flowers to get, here’s a list of a few popular flowers and what they represent to help you decide. Go big or go home — the Victorian way!

1. Calla lilies

Origin — Southern Africa

A symbol of magnificence and beauty. White Calla lilies combine these two attributes with purity and innocence.

2. Carnations

Origin — the Mediterranean region

A symbol of pride and beauty. A red carnation symbolizes love; pink symbolizes the love of a woman or a mother; yellow symbolizes disdain; while white symbolizes innocence and pure love.

3. Gardenias

Origin — the tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Asia, Madagascar, Pacific Islands, and Australia.

They represent purity and sweetness. They indicate secret love and convey joy. They communicate how lovely the receiver is.

4. Peonies

Origin — Asia, Europe, and Western North America

A symbol for bashfulness and compassion. They symbolize a happy life, happy marriage, good health, and prosperity.

5. Roses

Origin — Asia, Europe, North America, and North-Western Africa.

A symbol of love. A red rose is an unmistakable expression of love; white Roses represent purity, chastity, and innocence while lavender Roses convey enchantment. They also symbolize “love at first sight”.

6. Sunflowers

Origin — North America and Central America

Sunflowers represent pure thoughts. They symbolize adoration and dedication.

7. Tulips

Origin — Southern Europe and Central Asia

They symbolize a declaration of love. They also represent fame and perfect love.

“If I could learn the language of flowers, I would ask them to teach me how to speak beauty in silence”

— Princely Glorious

Learn more about the different types of flowers and what they symbolize using the guides below:

1. The Meaning of Flowers by Gretchen Scoble
2. Flower Fairies: The Meaning of Flowers by Cicely Mary Barker
3. Loves Me, Loves Me Not: The Hidden Language of Flowers by Peter Loewer