Floriography: Understanding the Language of Flowers on Mother’s Day

Flowers are nature’s communication tool, and are very much part of British culture, tradition and heritage. Flowers have become a symbol for Mother’s Day, however it’s the Victorian era’s obsession with all things floral that we have to thank for that. Floriography, or ‘the language of flowers’, was of great importance during this period.

The Victorian upper class and bourgeoisie, engrossed with aesthetics and left with too much time on their hands, developed an intricate system of secret meanings for flowers: floral arrangements were no longer just something nice to look at, but a means to deliver discreet messages.

The cultural experts at language learning app Babbel (www.babbel.com) dive into the Victorian meanings of flowers, as well as other aspects of their cultural significance, revealing  what different flowers convey when building the perfect bouquet this Mother’s Day.

Rose – A classic flower your mother is bound to love! A pink rose represents femininity, elegance and sweetness, whilst a deep or hot pink rose conveys gratitude, appreciation, and recognition – making it a great way to say ‘thank you’ this Mother’s Day. Yellow roses typically represent friendship, but can also convey joy and caring, something that has evolved since the Victorian era, when yellow roses formerly meant infidelity or jealousy.

Tulip – The most prosperous period of the Ottoman Empire was named the “Tulip Era”, after the positive associations with their native flower. In England, yellow tulips represent cheerfulness, with pink tulips symbolising care, attachment and well wishes.

Lavender – Many of us are aware of lavender’s soothing properties, as the herb has been proven to reduce stress in the body and increase the blood flow. Beyond its medicinal benefits, lavender flowers are known to represent grace, calmness, and devotion, with the purple hue adding a subtle nod to elegance, refinement, and luxury. A perfect flower to make your mother feel pampered on her special day.

Yellow daffodil – These springtime favourites begin to pop up when winter ends. As a positive, life-affirming symbol, they allude to new beginnings, luck and rebirth. At this time of year, they can offer an especially thoughtful gift to your mother as they are resilient and strong, just like her!

Chrysanthemum – The name of this flower translates as “gold flower” in Ancient Greek – a nod to the flower’s originally yellow petals. Chrysanthemums now come in many colours, but they retain the association with cheerfulness from earlier times. Victorians used chrysanthemums to show friendship, with white symbolising loyalty and honesty. Not only do chrysanthemums have a lovely meaning, but they’re also beautiful – try adding gold or white chrysanthemums to your bouquet to make your mum feel extra-special!

Daisy – Today, the daisy is commonly associated with childlike innocence, but Pagan Europeans saw the dainty flowers as little suns, with the white petals representing solar rays. Freya, the Norse goddess of love, beauty and fertility, has had the longest standing influence on the daisy’s symbolism. The daisy was Freya’s sacred flower, bringing it to symbolise childbirth, motherhood and new beginnings. It is common for daisies to be given to congratulate new mothers to this day – gifting these to your mother is a lovely way to acknowledge your thanks, by making a nod to the sacrifices that many mothers make for their children.

Iris – The meaning of an iris depends on its colour. Purple symbolises royalty and wisdom, with blue standing for faith and hope, yellow symbolising passion, and white representing purity. Irises are a perfect way to honour your mother’s wisdom, and thank you for her everlasting kindness.

Hyacinth – Like the iris, the hyacinth’s meaning changes depending on its colour. A blue hyacinth stands for constancy, playfulness and, in the extreme – rashness. Purple, on the other hand, stands for spirituality, royalty, and sorrow, with white conveying loveliness – something your mother is sure to take as a compliment!