The Secret Language of Flowers
Floriography is the language of flowers which have meanings derived from Greek mythology. They were often used by Shakespeare in his playwriting and they were studied by the Victorians who used flowers to send secret and complex romantic messages. The Victorians not only used different species to convey a variety of messages but also different colours and quantities – with a single flower having a different meaning to a bouquet.
The most iconic symbolic flower is the rose, signifying love, passion and beauty. However, there are plenty of others that also have hidden meanings. Jasmine symbolises sensuality; orchids – exotic beauty; camellias – admiration; sweet peas – pleasure; sunflowers – adoration.
By Ruby Simpson, Garden Designer
In a similar way to birthstones, the Romans associated flowers with months of the year. Marigolds and cosmos, for example, are October’s birth flower, with marigolds symbolising fierce love, passion and creativity and cosmos symbolising peace and tranquility. Aromatherapy uses concentrated oils made from parts of plants, including flowers, fruit, seeds, leaves, roots and bark – the oils are known for their beneficial properties for health and wellbeing. Historically, humans have valued plants for their medicinal or culinary purposes, rather than ornamental, such as rosemary to aid memory and lemon balm to treat stress and anxiety. The colours of flowers are often synonymous with particular feelings or events, most notably red for love but also Christmas.
If you like the idea of trying out some floral communication, here are a few simple codes to get you started:
Love: Red roses, red carnation and dahlia.
Friendship: Freesia, alstroemeria, chrysanthemum and yellow roses.
Gratitude: Hydrangeas, iris and pink roses.
Sympathy: Lilies, orchids and poppies.
Celebration: Peonies, daffodils and lisianthus.
Some of our favourite planting palettes at Nicholsons feature purples, creams and greens but what does this mean?
Purple: Creativity, elegance, beauty and dignity.
Cream & white: Charm, thoughtfulness, and gracefulness.
Green: Abundance, hope, good health and balance.
At Nicholsons, we follow a clear process for all of our garden designs, ensuring the utmost quality in our work and attention to detail, such as our planting palettes to suit the tone and intention of your garden.
If you would like to speak to a member of our Garden Design team about how we can help you with your garden, contact us on gardendesign@nicholsonsgb.com.
