A Guide to the History of Victorian Floriography

Victorian floriography, often called "the language of flowers," was a symbolic communication system that flourished during the 19th century, particularly in England and America. This intricate botanical code allowed people to express feelings and messages that social conventions often prevented them from speaking aloud.

Origins and Development

The practice of assigning symbolic meanings to flowers has ancient roots, appearing in various cultures throughout history. However, the systematic development of floriography as we know it emerged in the early 19th century through several key influences.

Eastern Influences The modern Western tradition drew heavily from Ottoman Turkish culture, where the practice called "selam" had been established for centuries. Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, wife of the British ambassador to Turkey, introduced these concepts to English society through her letters from Constantinople in the 1710s, though the practice didn't gain widespread popularity until much later.

Literary Catalysts The publication of "Le Langage des Fleurs" by Charlotte de Latour in France (1819) marked a turning point. This work, along with subsequent English translations and adaptations, helped codify flower meanings and made the practice accessible to the growing middle class. The romantic movement in literature further popularized the notion that nature could serve as a vehicle for emotional expression.

The Victorian Context

Several social factors made floriography particularly appealing during the Victorian era:

Social Restrictions Victorian society imposed strict rules on courtship and social interaction, especially between unmarried men and women. Direct expressions of affection or disagreement were often considered inappropriate, making coded communication through flowers an attractive alternative.

Rising Literacy and Leisure The growing middle class had both the education to learn complex symbolic systems and the leisure time to engage in elaborate social rituals. Women, in particular, were expected to cultivate refined accomplishments, and knowledge of flower language became a mark of sophistication.

Botanical Interest The period saw increased interest in botany and gardening. The establishment of public botanical gardens, improved printing techniques for illustrated books, and expanding global trade that brought exotic flowers to Europe all contributed to a heightened awareness of plant varieties.

How the System Worked

Floriography operated through carefully constructed bouquets called "tussie-mussies" or posies, where each flower contributed to an overall message. The complexity could be remarkable:

Basic Symbolism Individual flowers carried specific meanings. Red roses symbolized passionate love, while yellow roses indicated friendship. Forget-me-nots requested remembrance, and ivy represented fidelity and marriage.

Nuanced Communication The system included sophisticated variations. The way flowers were presented could alter meaning entirely. A flower given upside-down conveyed the opposite of its traditional meaning. Flowers presented with the right hand indicated "yes," while those given with the left hand meant "no."

Color Significance Color variations within the same flower type carried different messages. White flowers generally represented purity or innocence, red indicated passion, and yellow often suggested jealousy or friendship, depending on the specific bloom.

Accompanying Elements Ribbons, the condition of the flowers, and even the time of presentation could modify meanings. A bouquet tied with different colored ribbons or including specific herbs could create complex, layered messages.

Popular Flowers and Their Meanings

The Victorian flower vocabulary was extensive, but certain blooms appeared frequently in correspondence:

Roses dominated romantic communication, with red for love, white for purity, pink for grace, and yellow for friendship or jealousy. Violets represented modesty and faithfulness. Daisies symbolized innocence, while pansies meant "thinking of you." Lilies conveyed purity and rebirth, and carnations indicated fascination, with different colors carrying specific nuances.

Herbs also played important roles: rosemary for remembrance, thyme for courage, sage for wisdom, and mint for virtue. Even the foliage mattered, with ivy representing fidelity and oak leaves symbolizing strength.

Gender and Social Dynamics

Floriography was particularly associated with women's culture, reflecting the period's gender expectations. Women were considered naturally suited to emotional and aesthetic pursuits, making them the primary practitioners and interpreters of flower language.

The practice also reflected class distinctions. Elaborate flower arrangements required both knowledge and resources, making sophisticated floriographic communication a marker of social status. Working-class adaptations often used simpler, locally available flowers with more basic symbolic meanings.

Commercial Development

The popularity of floriography created new commercial opportunities. Publishers produced numerous flower dictionaries and guides, though these sometimes contradicted each other, leading to potential miscommunication. Florists began specializing in symbolic arrangements, and greeting card manufacturers incorporated flower imagery with coded meanings.

Jewelry makers created flower-themed pieces, and fashion incorporated floral motifs that carried symbolic weight. The practice influenced decorative arts broadly, from wallpaper patterns to china designs.

Decline and Legacy

Several factors contributed to floriography's decline in the late 19th and early 20th centuries:

Changing Social Norms As Victorian social restrictions loosened, the need for coded communication diminished. More direct forms of expression became socially acceptable, reducing the practical utility of flower language.

Inconsistent Interpretations The proliferation of different flower dictionaries with conflicting meanings created confusion. Without standardization, miscommunication became common, undermining the system's effectiveness.

World War I Impact The Great War disrupted many Victorian social customs and accelerated changes in gender roles and social expectations. The elaborate leisure activities of the pre-war period seemed increasingly obsolete.

Modern Understanding and Revival

Today, floriography is primarily of historical and cultural interest, though elements persist in modern flower-giving traditions. Red roses still symbolize romantic love, and white flowers remain associated with purity and remembrance at funerals.

Contemporary interest in Victorian culture has sparked renewed fascination with floriography. Historical societies, museums, and botanical gardens often feature exhibitions about flower language, and some florists market arrangements using traditional Victorian symbolism.

The practice also appears frequently in historical fiction and costume dramas, where it serves as a plot device and atmospheric detail that helps viewers understand Victorian social constraints and communication methods.

Research Challenges

Modern scholars studying floriography face several challenges. The lack of standardization in Victorian flower dictionaries makes it difficult to determine which meanings were most widely accepted. Additionally, much of the evidence for how extensively the practice was actually used comes from prescriptive literature rather than descriptive accounts of real behavior.

The practice was also more complex than simple flower-to-meaning translations. Context, relationship between sender and receiver, and regional variations all influenced interpretation, making it difficult to reconstruct the full communicative system.

Victorian floriography represents a fascinating intersection of botany, social history, and communication theory. While its practical use has largely disappeared, it remains an important window into understanding Victorian culture, gender relations, and the creative ways people navigate social restrictions. The elaborate system demonstrates both the constraints of 19th-century society and the ingenuity with which people found ways to express themselves within those limitations.