When "Say it With Flowers" Involved Coded Messages

In the 1800s, people did not have cell phones but apparently attempted to communicate, at least occasionally, by bouquets of flowers. To a Victorian aristocrat, ever flower had a special symbolic meaning. The idea was that you could literally “say it with flowers” by picking the right symbol for each occasion.

It’s probably too much to assume that people should remember these symbols today. Most of us can barely remember all of our usernames and passwords, much less what a certain flower might have meant to a person who lived 150 years ago.

However, the Victorian flower language can be fun if you can use it to say something to your mother and then “interpret” it for her.

Roses, the queen of the flowers, stand for simplicity, elegance, taste, and refinement. These are luxurious flowers, but not uncommon ones, so they symbolize those emotions that are both valued and yet not unusual. In other words, roses are flowers used to express love.

Roses are not quite that simple. Color goes a long way to provide the "shade" of meaning intended. Red roses are the clearest symbol of love. They can refer to romantic love (which is why they are a Valentine's Day favorite) but they can also represent the love of a child for a mother. Red roses are also classics and classy.

Yellow roses tradtiionally stood for friendship, but a yellow rose is a great Mother's Day flower if your mom is a Texan (yellow roses are the state flower there) or if she is partial to this kind of flower.

Pink roses are a symbol of gratitude and appreciation. A pink rose can be a great way to express your thanks to your mother.

White roses are a symbol of purity, which can mean chastity (not exactly a Mother's Day theme) but they can also stand for pure intentions, that is, love without ulterior motives.

What about today's multicolored roses? You can get roses today that vary in shade (from pale to deep) or change colors in the same bloom. Red roses with pale pink edges or yellow roses with warm pink fringes are the most familiar of these multi-hue flowers. The Victorians did not know these flowers; they are more modern hybrids.

Despite these Victorian meanings, if your mother loves roses and, in particular, a certain type of roses, it's good to send her what she likes best. By the way, you can also get a black rose, but those seem creepy for Mother's Day.

Daffodils, a great springtime flower, symbolizes respect and esteem for the person you’re sending it to. That could be a great inclusion in your mother’s day arrangement. Be careful with this, because there is another very similar flower called a narcissus which is considered to be a symbolic flower for a selfish or self-centered person.

While lilies are beautiful flowers, to the Victorians, they were funeral flowers, particularly the classic white lily.

The iris is an attractive and popular flower and means that you’re trying to convey a message. This is about as vague a meaning as we've ever seen!

The zinnia is a symbol for an absent friend. This is a good flower to send to a mother who lives far away.

The geranium is nostalgic; it’s the symbol of pleasant memories. Unlike roses, which vary meaning by color, all geraniums stand for the happy memories (the main geranium colors are red, pink, and white).

Tulips stand for fame. If your mom is trying to get her novel published or is auditioning for American Idol, an arrangement of tulips is a way to say that you wish her celebrity!

Petunias stand for comfort and familiarity.These are fragile flowers and rarely make their ways into bouquets. If your mother loves petunias or you want to convey that homey, comfy feeling in floral language, consider sending a potted plant with petunias.

Daisies represent innocence, as do white roses. Daisies are also typically associated with young girls, although they don't necessarily mean childhood.

Ivy means faithfulness. If your mom stuck by you through some troubled times, ivy is a way to express your thanks.

Oak leaves stand for hospitality.

In the Victorian era, people would often have tiny bouquets made up for them with a distinct and symbolic selection of flowers. These little arrangements were called tussie-mussies and they might be carried or given as simple gifts.

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