The secret (and mostly forgotten) meaning of flowers
As you probably know if you follow me on Instagram – I love love love flowers! (Insert all the flower hashtags here…😉) While I am a flower lover, I am also intrigued by the “secret” meaning of flowers…
For those of you who don’t know – I am a qualified jewellery designer. I completed my degree in jewellery design and then spent a year or two manufacturing and selling jewellery before getting married.
So please forgive my little jewellery intro into today’s topic…
My interest in the secret meaning of flowers
While studying jewellery design I wrote my thesis about Victorian jewellery.
I find it so fascinating how interested Victorian’s were with nature and specifically flowers. Each flower (and sometimes even different colours of the same flower) had a meaning when given. When gifted to someone as a bouquet at a special event it was the fashionable way to “secretly” convey your message. Sometimes Victorian’s would also make decorative pieces of jewellery with a floral design to convey these secret messages.
Flowers are one of mother nature’s purest and most beautiful gifts. They are a piece of nature that we bring into our homes and, most importantly, use to celebrate emotions and occasions.
Today the meaning of flowers is largely lost – we mostly admire their beauty, however, the meaning behind certain flowers is still fascinating…
Why not use it to convey a subtle message too?
For the flower lovers like me out there – this post about the secret meaning of flowers is for you! I hope you enjoy the meaning of some of these flowers I’ve put together!
Roses
The meaning of roses is also broken up by colour. So different colour roses symbolise different things. For example, a white rose means innocence, purity, humility and faithfulness. A red rose is the universal symbol of love and passion. Some other popular colours for roses include light pink for admiration, friendship and affection. Yellow roses signify happiness and joy.
Peonies
It is amazing to watch peonies grow from tiny buds into beautiful big blooms. Therefore it also comes as no suprise that they symbolise a long and happy marriage. Maybe this symbolism also has something to do with the fact that a peony plant is said to be able to live and last a lifetime – sometimes even up to 100 years long!
Lavender
Lavender signifies the promise of a new adventure, however it can also signify devotion and calmness. Of course the colour purple also has it’s own significance! Purple is the colour of royalty and luxury. The purple colour of lavender is also considered by some to be the “grown-up” pink.
Carnations
The delicateness of carnations is symbolic of love and dedication. However, the meaning of carnations, as with roses, often has more to do with their various colours. Some of the most common carnation colour symbolism are pink for gratitude and white for purity as well as good luck. Red carnations mean love and affection. Yellow carnations signify rejection or disappointment.
Hydrangea
Interestingly enough, Victorians used to consider the hydrangea to be a negative plant. They associated it with boastfulness. However, according to Japanese legend, hydrangeas are associated with heartfelt emotion. Often times they are also considered to be an apology flower.
Hydrangeas are commonly found in shades of blues, pinks, purples and greens and the meaning of each colour is as follows:
Pink for genuine emotion, blue for an apology, white for boastfulness and purple as a deep desire to connect and understand someone.
Calla lily
The calla lily’s name comes from the Greek word calla, which means beautiful. The most common meaning for this beautiful flower is virtue and faithfulness. Therefore their simple beauty makes them perfect flowers for many different occasions.
Lily of the Valley
The ethereal lily of the valley bloom is a symbol of motherhood, sweetness and femininity.
Pansy
The pansy is one of the most cheerful annuals you will find in many a garden. As a result, they often create a gorgeous display of colour in flowerbeds. During Victorian times, the pansy was a secret courting flower. Today it’s meaning is considered to be I am thinking about you.
Orchid
An orchid symbolises luxury and refinement. Well, there are no surprizes there, are there? I mean, what is more luxurious than an orchid in full bloom? As a result, it is also not suprising that they also signify beauty and strength.
Protea
I just had to include Proteas, as they are such a traditionally South African flower! I also happen to love their meaning! They symbolise change, courage and transformation. In recent years, Proteas have gained a lot of popularity as a wedding flower – I think they are just perfect!
I couldn’t agree more with this quote below – I’ll leave it at that…
PS: What is your favourite flower?
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