Language of the Rose

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The Victorians had a thing about the language of flowers, and numerous flower dictionaries were created across Europe.

One of the most popular was Langage des Fleurs, published in 1819 by Louise Courtambert under the pseudonym Madame Charlotte de la Tour.

People used the meanings that came to be associated with various flowers to convey emotional messages that some people still use today.

We chose the Rose Flower Language to give you a heads-up about what you might be saying if you send a bloom of a certain colour to a friend or lover this Christmas.

Roses are generally thought of as an expression of love or romance, but did you know that their message changes depending on their colour and /or quantity.

A single rose signifies love at first sight.

Two speak of a mutual and deep love.

Three simply say: “I love you.”

And four means that nothing can come between you.

Five roses express care and love.

And six say: “I want to be yours.”

“I am infatuated with you” is apparently the meaning of seven  blooms.

Eight offer support for those experiencing tough times.

Eternal devotion and the intention to spend the rest of one’s life with the recipient is the meaning of nine.

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You must also consider the colour of the roses

Black roses: associated with death and mourning, but also a symbol of a very assertive declaration of love, perhaps erring a little too much on the dominant side.

Red roses: passionate love and romance.

Yellow roses: friendship or love that has lost its passion; or it could be construed as an apology.

White roses: innocence, purity and new beginnings.

What do you think? Have you given a bit more thought now to that bouquet you were thinking of sending? Want to know more about other flowers and their apparent meaning?

Let us know.