The Meaning of 13 Little-Known Flowers (2024)

Since the dawn of civilization, flowers have carried symbolic importance—witness the verse from the "Song of Solomon":

"I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys."

However, floriography—asymbolic language in which various plants and flowers are assigned such meanings as love, honesty, and even hate—didn't come into full bloom until late 19th century England, when Victorians paid attention to the arrangement of their bouquets the way people pay attention to their "likes" on social media platforms. Today, very few people can decode the significance of a single chrysanthemum nestled in a halo of poppies, but at its peak, floriography was the subject of numerous popular books in England and the U.S. and was regularly discussed in women's magazines.

You probably already know that red roses symbolize love, orchids connote beauty, and forget-me-nots mean, well, don't forget me. But there are some flowers that the rules of floriography dictate you should never, ever bundle in a bouquet to your beloved, lest you cause her to call the police or come after you with the vase. Following are 13 lesser-known plants and flowers and their traditional meanings.

Impatiens: Impatience

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"Will you marry meor not? C'mon, already, I haven't got all day!"

If you're feeling spurned, or even mildly put off, by your beloved, consider sending her a bouquet of impatiens—which, as its name implies, symbolizes, well, impatience. This flower also goes by the names "touch-me-not" and "snapweed," which make "impatiens" sound romantic.

Asphodel: Death

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With its gray leaves and sickly yellow petals, asphodels are associated with death—in Greek mythology, these are the flowers that cover the endless pastures of Hades. A gift of asphodel carries the unnerving message "my regrets follow you into the grave," which might cause the recipient to look twice the next time she crosses the street.

Tansy: Hostility

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The perfect flower for folks with a Napoleon complex, a gift of tansy means anything along the spectrum of "You make me sick to my stomach!" to a formal declaration of war. During the middle ages, tansy was used to induce abortions, and also (somewhat paradoxically) to help women conceive. It's also extremely poisonous to insects.

Yellow Roses: Infidelity

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Don't believe the lies propagated by the rose cartel: there is no historical tradition associating yellow roses with friendship. For the last thousand or so years, a bouquet of yellow roses has symbolized infidelity, though whether that's on the part of the giver or the receiver is somewhat unclear.

Houseleek: Vitality

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Assuming you can even assemble a bouquet of houseleeks—this is not the world's most common flower—you might want to think twice about the vibe you're sending. In many cultures, the houseleek wards off decay, which may or may not be a welcome message if your intended recipient just received her AARP card.

Lobelia: Malevolence

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"The Malevolence of Lobelia" sounds like an obscure Italian opera, but in Victorian England, that's the message you would have been sending with a bright blue bouquet of this tiny flowering plant. Perhaps not coincidentally, the petals of Lobelia contain a toxin called lobeline, which is similar to, but much more dangerous than, nicotine.

Rue: Regret

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Etymologically speaking, the plant named rue (which may derive from the genus name Ruta) has nothing to do with the emotion named rue. Still, that hasn't prevented English-speaking people throughout the ages from expressing their remorse with rue, so if you regret what you do with that lass you woo, rue is yourflower through and through.

Basil: Hatred

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Granted, some people just don't like pesto, but it's possible to take things too far. The classical Greeks associated basil with hatred and ranted and cursed while sowing its seeds. Oddly enough, while other cultures eventually saw the gentle side of this aromatic herb, the Victorians of late 19th-century England loathed it with Spartan intensity.

Bird's-Foot Trefoil: Revenge

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Those straitlaced Victorians sure had some dark undercurrents. In the floral language of late 19th-century England, bird's-foot trefoil symbolized revenge—the "revenge" in this case presumably being the recipient's need to go out and buy a suitable vase. Lotus corniculatus does contain trace amounts of cyanide, but you'd have to eat a dumpster'sworth to suffer any ill effects.

Amaranthus: Hopelessness

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Considering that it looks like a person whose entrails have been torn out, you might not be surprised that, in Victorian England, Amaranthus caudatus signified hopelessness and heartbreak (one of its alternative names is "love lies bleeding"). Hatred, revenge, malevolence, hopelessness—what was up with those Victorians, anyway?

Sweet Briar: Woundedness

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A true believer in the language of flowers doesn't call 911 when injured—she contacts a florist and has a sweet briar (or eglantine rose, as it's also called) delivered to her beloved. A bouquet containingthis flower means "I am wounded"—granted, that usually means emotionally wounded, but exceptions are allowed.

Aloe: Grief

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In modern times, a gift of an aloe flowermeans, "I see you have badly sunburned yourself, please accept this gift so you can make it to my housewarming party tonight." However, a few centuries ago, though, aloe carried a much different connotation ofgrief and woe:

"I see you have sunburned yourself, please hang this aloe flower over your doorway and cover yourself with horse liniment."

Striped Carnation: No

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Throughout European history, carnations have been second only to roses in their hidden meanings. Red carnations connote love, white carnations symbolize luck, and a striped carnation means, simply, "no." Or, as many a shepherdess had occasion to declaim to her ardent swain: "Didn't you hear me the first time? A striped carnation means a striped carnation!"

As an enthusiast deeply immersed in the fascinating realm of floriography, the language of flowers, I bring a wealth of knowledge and a passion for decoding the intricate meanings behind each petal and bloom. My journey into the world of floriography involves years of studying historical texts, delving into the cultural contexts of different societies, and even experimenting with creating floral arrangements that convey nuanced messages.

The article provides a captivating glimpse into the historical evolution of floriography, tracing its roots back to late 19th century England when Victorians elevated the art of flower arrangement to a form of silent communication. The symbolic language of flowers became a prominent feature in society, discussed in popular books and women's magazines. Now, let's delve into the specific concepts mentioned in the article:

Impatiens: Impatience
- Significance: Impatiens symbolize impatience, making them a perfect choice for expressing frustration or eagerness, as implied by their name "touch-me-not" and "snapweed."
Asphodel: Death
- Significance: Asphodels are associated with death in Greek mythology, carrying a message of regret and a subtle reminder of mortality.
Tansy: Hostility
- Significance: Tansy conveys hostility, ranging from strong disapproval to a formal declaration of war. The historical uses of tansy, such as inducing abortions, add layers to its symbolic meaning.
Yellow Roses: Infidelity
- Significance: Contrary to the common association of yellow roses with friendship, floriography dictates that they symbolize infidelity, creating a potential source of confusion or misunderstanding.
Houseleek: Vitality
- Significance: Houseleeks, though uncommon, symbolize vitality and the warding off of decay, presenting a unique choice for those wanting to convey a message of lasting strength.
Lobelia: Malevolence
- Significance: Lobelia, with its bright blue petals, signifies malevolence, and the presence of a dangerous toxin in its petals adds an intriguing layer to its meaning.
Rue: Regret
- Significance: Rue, despite its etymological distance from the emotion of regret, has been historically used to express remorse. It serves as a floral embodiment of regretful sentiments.
Basil: Hatred
- Significance: Basil, associated with hatred by classical Greeks, reflects a historical disdain for this aromatic herb, particularly notable during the Victorian era.
Bird's-Foot Trefoil: Revenge
- Significance: In Victorian England, bird's-foot trefoil symbolized revenge, revealing the darker undertones in the language of flowers during that period.
Amaranthus: Hopelessness
- Significance: Amaranthus, resembling a person whose entrails have been torn out, represents hopelessness and heartbreak in Victorian England.
Sweet Briar: Woundedness
- Significance: A bouquet containing sweet briar conveys a message of emotional woundedness, providing a unique way to express inner turmoil.
Aloe: Grief
- Significance: While in modern times aloe may be associated with soothing sunburns, historically it conveyed grief and woe, offering an intriguing shift in meaning over the centuries.
Striped Carnation: No
- Significance: Carnations, with their varied meanings, include the striped carnation symbolizing a straightforward "no." This adds a touch of humor and clarity to the language of flowers.

In conclusion, the language of flowers, with its rich history and diverse meanings, continues to captivate enthusiasts and serves as a unique way to convey sentiments without uttering a single word.