Valentine's Day decoded: the message behind your bouquet

Floriography (bet that’s a word you’ve never heard before), or the language of flowers, has existed for thousands of years. Though the practice has ancient roots, the language of flowers began to blossom in the Victorian era. The language of floriography was all the rage thanks to Englishwoman Mary Wortley Montagu who brought the concept to England, who was then subsequently followed by authors who began to publish and disseminate the symbolic meanings behind flowers to the world. So what secret messages is your Valentine’s bouquet sending? Read on to find out!

Roses:

Red roses: Red roses and their thorns symbolize an intense love and the blood of Christ. 

Pink roses: Lesser affection, perhaps less romantic?

White roses: Virtue and chastity

Yellow roses: Friendship or devotion

Black roses: Death, darkness

Carnations:

Red carnations: Deep romantic love, passion

Green carnations: Secret symbol of Oscar Wilde and love between two men

Pink carnations: A woman or mother’s love, or a way of saying “I’ll never forget you” 

Yellow carnations: Rejection, disdain, disappointment, or somehow also pride and beauty? 

Purple carnations: Whimsical, somehow both unchangeable and unreliable 

Striped carnations: Refusal/rejection

Solid carnations: Yes, agreement

Baby’s breath:

Innocence and purity of heart. If only their scent was as pleasant as their meaning!

Lavender:

Loyalty, devotion, yet also distrust or confession, depending who you ask. Has also been a symbol of LGBTQIA2S+ identity. 

Lilies:

White lilies: Purity, sweetness, sapphic love 

Pink lilies: Love, femininity, admiration

Scarlet lilies: Lofty aspirations (who needs to say that with flowers?)

Orange lilies: Desire, passion, hatred, wealth

Tulips: 

Red tulips: declaration of love 

Pink tulips: Caring, friendship, good wishes, joyful occasions

Purple tulips: Nobility/royalty, rebirth, Spring

White tulips: Forgiveness, remembrance 

Yellow tulips: Sunshine, hope, cheerfulness

Blue tulips: Respect, tranquility, trust 

Orange tulips: Understanding, appreciation, truest love

Black tulips: Power, strength, and supreme elegance 

So, does your Valentine’s gesture convey the signals you’re trying to send, or do you need to do some rearranging? Happy Valentine’s Day!