Victorian “flower language,” was a system of communicating by offering or displaying particular flowers. Certain flowers symbolized certain things, drawing from centuries of exoteric symbolism. And they printed “flower dictionaries” to sort it all out.
A “tussie-mussie” was a mini bouquet that could communicate messages based on the flowers used. Where you placed the flowers or whether they were upside-down or right-side up mattered, too.
A certain flower displayed a certain way might mean you’re getting friendzoned, for example.
The Devil’s flower language
There’s plenty of sweet sentiments using flower language to read about out there. But it’s not all nice. “The Devil’s flower language” is what I’m going to call the flowers that say things that are insulting, weird, or silly.
For example, you could theoretically make a little bouquet with Pennyroyal, Cardamine, Japan Rose, and Eglantine which would mean:
“Flee away, paternal error. Beauty is your only attraction … I wound to heal.”
Here are some of my favorites, gathered from various Victorian flower dictionaries:
Red Columbine - Anxious and trembling.
Tamarisk - Crime.
Gum Cistus - I shall die to-morrow.
Eglantine - I wound to heal.
Black Mulberry - I will not survive you.
Nightshade - Bitter truth.
Hemlock - You will be my death.
Burdock - Touch me not. (Oddly, the Touch-Me-Not plant itself means “impatience.”)
African Marigold - Vulgar minds.
Cardamine - Paternal error.
Bay Leaf - I change but in death.
Love in a Mist - You puzzle me.
Pennyroyal - Flee away.
Christmas Rose - Tranquillize my anxiety.
Convolvulus, Major - Extinguished hopes.
White Rose (dried) - Death preferable to loss of innocence.
Whortleberry - Treason.
Bee Ophrys - Error
Basil - Hatred.
Japan Rose - Beauty is your only attraction.
Lobelia - Malevolence.
Meadow Saffron - My happiest days are past.
Tuberose - Dangerous pleasures.
A couple things: First of all, I really want to know in what situation you would ever need to hand someone a flower that means “Treason.”
Second, I might start wearing that one that says “anxious and trembling” to social events in case it’s not already obvious.
- Joe
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Whortleberry for treason could perhaps work on the same principle as the white feather; during WW1 they were handed to men of military age to shame them into signing up for the military.