Where do flowers get their symbolism?
And what do some of them mean?
We all know a red rose represents love, but did you know that other flowers also have varying meanings tied to their vibrant petals? It’s true! These can vary by color as well. For example, a yellow carnation represents disdain, rejection, and disappointment, but a pink one represents never forgetting someone!
However, the meaning of one flower can vary as much as a crowd’s interpretations of the same piece of art. Why is this?
One answer may be culture, as flower symbolism has been recognized all over the world for centuries, such as Asia, Europe, Russia, and more! This may explain why there are many definitions of the same flower, as different people of different cultures have different meanings.
Another explanation may be the way flowers are used in entertainment. An example of this is in Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, where one of the characters gives out flowers to express things she could not say in words.
“There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance; pray you, love, remember;" (Shakespeare, IV.5.173)
“Ophelia hands to her brother, Laertes, a rosemary plant. The leaves of a rosemary plant, even when picked, hold the plants ‘scent for an impressively long time,’ it was an emblem of memory and was sometimes given as a silent way of saying ‘Remember me’ (Olsen)”
Of course, in this example, to say that the symbolism of a rosemary flower came primarily from this play without further research would be silly. It is incredibly hard to find the origin of the meanings behind these flowers, so the thought that rosemary representing remembrance before Hamlet is a very likely possibility.
One last theory to consider is the names of the plants themselves. But how do flowers get their names?
Flowers have a common name and a Latin name. Since two flowers can have the same common name, the Latin helps diversify them. The Latin names may be confusing at first, such as rubrifolia, but once you know the method behind the madness, it isn’t as hard to figure out.
The Latin names are often descriptive, such as lac meaning milk, referring to the color white. Thus, lilac! There is also xantho for yellow, virens for green, etc. Common names may derive from said Latin names, the names of the people who discovered them, or even sometimes after significant people, such as veterans or scientists who have passed.
However, how would these names describe certain traits such as love, remembrance, courage, and more? In the case of naming flowers after people, they may be traits that those people had. And in the case of Latin names, a lot of times they are descriptive of the color of the flower and its most prominent trait, such as a strong stem or long petals. Since red seems to be the color of love, a red flower with a sturdy stem could mean a relationship with a strong foundation, such as people who are friends turned lovers. So it could translate to “We’re just friends, but I love you,” or a strong bond between friends. This could also be why there are so many variants of meanings for the same flower; the way the plant is built could be interpreted in many various ways.
Or maybe flowers get their meanings from the moments’ people experience while giving or receiving the flowers, whose stories stuck with others. For example, someone giving a yellow carnation to a special someone, before experiencing a horrible breakup. And then that person shares their story with family and friends, and it may resonate with them!
All of these are just theories, but which one do you personally believe is the way flowers got their meanings? Do you think it was a mix of all of the above? Let us know! In the meantime, maybe give your family or loved one a thoughtfully picked bouquet, to show them what you think or feel about them!
If you want to find a list of a whole bunch of flowers and their meanings, there are plenty online! You can never go wrong with Wikipedia, though.
And don’t forget: Probably best not to give a loved one a yellow carnation.
