Amaranth – unfading love. The name amaranth also owes its name to ancient Greece, deriving from the Greek ἀμάραντος (amarantos) for ‘immortal’ or ‘unfading’. This flower represents the everlasting nature of love.
Chrysanthemum (red) – I love. Arrived in Britain in the 19th century and due to its vivid red colour established itself alongside red roses as the ultimate floral representation of love.
Ivy – fidelity and friendship. Ivy is a climbing plant that is strong and binding. These qualities help to explain its meaning of friendship and fidelity.
Lilac – the first emotions of love. This fragrant flower has been intoxicating lovers since it was introduced to Britain in the 1500s.
Myrtle – love. Myrtle and roses were considered sacred to Aphrodite and often feature in depictions of her. Myrtle was included in the wedding bouquet of the Duchess of Cambridge.
Red rose – beauty. A rose has long been considered a symbol of love and beauty with its early association with Aphrodite, goddess of love.
Red tulip – declaration of love. A gift of red tulips is regarded as a declaration of love, with the tulip's velvet-like dark centre representing a lover's heart.
The RHS is urging novice linguists to use caution when trying to communicate in the language of flowers, as seemingly minor misinterpretations can have unintended consequences.
While it is well known that a red rose is associated with love, few know that, in some books, a red rosebud with a full-blown rose over it can have the less positive meaning of secrecy. Colour also plays a major role in the language of flowers with changes in colour drastically altering the meaning. This is the case with hyacinths where the presentation of a white flower is a declaration of love, while giving a sweetheart a purple hyacinth means ‘I’m sorry’.
Perhaps the most extreme example of the subtlety of the language is that while ivy can mean fidelity and friendship, it also has a more permanent meaning – marriage.
RHS Art Librarian Charlotte Brooks says: “ one of the earliest recorded references to the language of flowers came from the capital of romance, Paris, in 1819. This first book really brought the language to public attention and allowed people to communicate really quite complicated messages and the full range of emotions with flowers.
Charlotte de la Tour wrote the first flower dictionary entitled, “Le Language Des Fleurs” (Paris, 1819). http://cqmagonline.com/vol03iss02/articles/art263/index.shtml
“It is interesting that in our modern age flowers still have the power to convey quite subtle meanings that are generally understood by both giver and receiver.
Agapanthus – love flower. This South African flower gets its name from the Greek word ἀγάπη (agape) meaning ‘love’ and ἄνθος (anthos) meaning ‘flower’
Amaranth – unfading love. The name amaranth also owes its name to ancient Greece, deriving from the Greek ἀμάραντος (amarantos) for ‘immortal’ or ‘unfading’. This flower represents the everlasting nature of love.
Chrysanthemum (red) – I love. Arrived in Britain in the 19th century and due to its vivid red colour established itself alongside red roses as the ultimate floral representation of love.
Ivy – fidelity and friendship. Ivy is a climbing plant that is strong and binding. These qualities help to explain its meaning of friendship and fidelity.
Lilac – the first emotions of love. This fragrant flower has been intoxicating lovers since it was introduced to Britain in the 1500s.
Myrtle – love. Myrtle and roses were considered sacred to Aphrodite and often feature in depictions of her. Myrtle was included in the wedding bouquet of the Duchess of Cambridge.
Pink Spray Rose – admiration/beauty. This rose is a 20thcentury hybrid that includes in its lineage the Rosa chinensis, which in the Victorian language of flowers means beauty always new.
Red rose – beauty. A rose has long been considered a symbol of love and beauty with its early association with Aphrodite, goddess of love.
Red tulip – declaration of love. A gift of red tulips is regarded as a declaration of love, with the tulip's velvet-like dark centre representing a lover's heart.
White hyacinth – unobtrusive loveliness. Has its roots in Greek mythology and celebrates the quiet beauty and purity of love.
About the RHS
The Royal Horticultural Society was founded in 1804 by Sir Joseph Banks and John Wedgwood for the encouragement and improvement of the science, art and practice of horticulture.
The RHS Lindley Library houses and cares for the finest collection of horticultural literature in the world, including a comprehensive collection of 19th-century books on the ‘Language of Flowers’. Researchers can consult these books by appointment. For more information call:
020 7821 3050 or visit www.rhs.org.uk/About-Us/RHS-Lindley-Library RHS Registered Charity No. 222879/SC038262
