History of Floriography
Floriography is the practice of assigning meanings to flowers and using them to communicate. While symbolic flowers appear in many cultures, the “language of flowers” as most people know it grew popular in the 19th century. At a time when direct emotional expression was often discouraged, flowers became a quiet way to say what couldn’t easily be spoken.
Poseys, Nosegays, and Secret Messages
In Victorian England and parts of Europe, small hand-tied bouquets called poseys or nosegays were arranged with specific meanings in mind. A single bloom could send a clear message (like a red rose for love), but a mixed bouquet could read like a short sentence. Books and pamphlets listed symbolic meanings, so people could “read” each arrangement.
Placement and gesture also mattered: offering a bouquet with the flowers pointing up could mean acceptance, while turning them downward could signal refusal. The result was a kind of social code—polite on the surface, but loaded with intention.
How We See Floriography Today
Even if most people don’t memorize full flower dictionaries anymore, traces of floriography are still everywhere. Many common choices are based on inherited symbolism:
- Red roses for romance on Valentine’s Day.
- White flowers at weddings to suggest purity or a fresh start.
- Soft pastels for sympathy and support arrangements.
- Bright yellows and oranges to celebrate friendship and encouragement.
Florists, designers, and brands often lean on these associations—sometimes without naming them directly—because they feel familiar and emotionally clear.
Flower of the Month: Chrysanthemum
This month’s featured flower is the chrysanthemum, a bloom with layered meanings. In many Western contexts, chrysanthemums can represent cheerfulness and long life. In other places, especially parts of Europe and East Asia, they’re closely tied to remembrance, respect, or grief.
Because of this, chrysanthemums are a good example of how floriography depends on culture and context. The same flower that feels celebratory in one country can feel solemn in another, reminding us to think about who we’re giving flowers to and why.
