The Language of Flowers and Herbs: 71 Plants and Their Meanings

People have long used specific flora to convey secret messages; here’s how they let nature do their bidding

Published April 5, 2024 12:54PM EDT

Now we have Hallmark and emoji, but there was a time when people borrowed from the plant world to express themselves. While using flowers to convey one’s feelings was long used in Persia and the Middle East, the practice really came to fruition during the Victorian era.

And is it any wonder? Those chaste Victorians weren’t the most flirtatious bunch, so why not say it with flowers? And beyond bashful courting, there was an appreciation of botany that western culture seems to be lacking in now.

Today we order a dozen red roses for our sweetheart because it’s the thing to do; but how lovely was the intention of stringing together a missive with flowers and herbs—an ode to love created by things that sprout from the earth.

The Meaning of Floriography

Known as floriography, flowers were sent to reveal secret sentiments of love and affection—but flowers meant to pitch woo could be arranged differently to impart a negative message instead. Just as the 19th century brought about complicated social customs, so was the language of flowers. So complex, in fact, that entire dictionaries were devoted to decoding the delicate disclosures.

Floriography entered the European imagination as early as 1809 with the publication of Joseph Hammer-Pugstall’s list, “Dictionnaire du language des fleurs.” The first mainstream dictionary of floriography, “La Langage des Fleurs,” was published in 1819 by Louise Cortambert (under the pen name Madame Charlotte de la Tour).

Following that, the 19th century saw a flood of similar publications of which symbolic definitions were often dissimilar. By some accounts, as floriography spread to the United States and beyond, hundreds of different “language of flowers” dictionaries were published.

Given that there were so many interpretations, it can be tricky to know exactly what was supposed to mean what. With that in mind, we look to The Old Farmer’s Almanac for our list here. Because if you can’t trust America’s oldest continuously published periodical, who can you trust?

And if you’re looking to resume the lost art of floriography, you certainly wouldn’t want to send your sweetheart, say, lemon balm for sympathy when what you really meant was heliotrope for true love so be sure you pay close attention!

Create Your Own Coded Bouquet

Take inspiration from the following list.

Aloe: Healing, protection, affection

Angelica: Inspiration

Arborvitae: Unchanging friendship

Bachelor’s button: Single blessedness

Basil: Good wishes

Bay: Glory

Black-eyed Susan: Justice

Carnation: Alas for my poor heart

Chamomile: Patience

Chives: Usefulness

Chrysanthemum: Cheerfulness

Clover, white: Think of me

Coriander: Hidden worth

Cumin: Fidelity

Crocus, spring: Youthful gladness

Daffodil: Regard

Daisy: Innocence, hope

Dill: Powerful against evil

Edelweiss: Courage, devotion

Fennel: Flattery

Fern: Sincerity

Forget-me-not: Forget-me-not

Geranium, oak-leaved: True friendship

Goldenrod: Encouragement

Heliotrope: Eternal love

Holly: Hope

Hollyhock: Ambition

Honeysuckle: Bonds of love

Horehound: Health

Hyacinth: Constancy of love, fertility

Hyssop: Sacrifice, cleanliness

Iris: A message

Ivy: Friendship, continuity

Jasmine, white: Sweet love

Lady’s-mantle: Comfort

Lavender: Devotion, virtue

Lemon balm: Sympathy

Lilac: Joy of youth

Lily-of-the-valley: Sweetness

Marjoram: Joy and happiness

Mint: Virtue

Morning glory: Affection

Myrtle: The emblem of marriage, true love

Nasturtium: Patriotism

Oak: Strength

Oregano: Substance

Pansy: Thoughts

Parsley: Festivity

Pine: Humility

Poppy, red: Consolation

Rose, red: Love, desire

Rosemary: Remembrance

Rue: Grace, clear vision

Sage: Wisdom, immortality

Salvia, blue: I think of you

Salvia, red: Forever mine

Savory: Spice, interest

Sorrel: Affection

Southernwood: Constancy, jest

Sweet pea: Pleasures

Sweet William: Gallantry

Sweet woodruff: Humility

Tansy: Hostile thoughts

Tarragon: Lasting interest

Thyme: Courage, strength

Tulip, red: Declaration of love

Valerian: Readiness

Violet: Loyalty, devotion, faithfulness

Willow: Sadness

Yarrow: Everlasting love

Zinnia: Thoughts of absent friends

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