The coded language of floriography meant that Victorians could express affection, desire or disdain, allowing a society governed by strict etiquette to show its true feelings. Now the language of flowers is popular again, writes Emma Flint.

Flowers have a longstanding tradition as a means of emotional expression. When we wish to convey our affection, joy or condolences, and words won’t suffice, we rely on their beauty. Through the art of floriography, a coded means of communication more commonly referred to as the language of flowers, emotional intimacy has been allowed to flourish where it may otherwise be repressed. According to the Royal Horticultural Society, it’s a practice that dominated Victorian culture in England and the US, and, despite being largely forgotten for decades, is steadily gaining popularity once more.

One of the most prominent examples of recent floriography is King Charles’s choice of funeral wreath for his mother, the late Queen. Bound by a tradition that is steeped in keeping emotions concealed, he expressed his sense of loss through his choice of blooms; myrtle for love and prosperity, paired with English oak to represent strength. To the uninformed, the wreath stood alone as a symbol of familial grief, its meaning derived from its presence not its substance. It was only by analysing the stems that the breadth of his emotions could be better understood.

Such poignant personalisation is part of a cultural foundation we all share. The tradition of floriography has always been there, but these days is a shadow of its former self – many know that a bouquet of roses symbolises romance, for example, but few know why. We might not perceive certain stems as positive or negative as the Victorians did, but we do still know that certain blooms better suit certain occasions. An understanding of flowers’ meanings, however, can help us progress from the simplicity of sending a bouquet based on only its beauty to tapping into a deeper and more nuanced emotional intimacy.

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https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20221012-the-flowers-that-send-a-hidden-message

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