While it’s been practised for thousands of years, the language or flowers – or floriography – really took off in the Victorian period of the 19th century. Much like Facebook today, it was a way that buttoned-up suitors could send passionate love letters to their beloveds, under the very noses of their disapproving parents.

These days we don’t need to send secret messages in our floral bouquets. But by choosing the right flowers you can easily transform a simple gesture to one laden with meaning – so it pays to get the message right.

Colours

We all know that the red rose is a symbol of passionate love. So when your best friend’s relationship breaks down, a dozen red roses is the last thing they’ll want to see. You’d be much better to offer a box of tissues, a bottle of wine and a floral bouquet of green (for optimism and renewal) and blue (for peace and serenity) with a few springs of orange (for confidence and passion for life) thrown in.

On the other hand, if you are buying flowers to celebrate your friend’s promotion, a bouquet of yellow (celebrating new beginnings) and purple (representing pride and success) would hit all the right notes.

Because you don’t want to muddle up your flowers for a funeral wreath with your bouquet for a baby, here’s our guide to the meanings of different colours in a floral bouquet:

• Blue flowers represent peace, openness and serenity. Perfect in a bouquet to offer a calming influence on a person with anxieties or worries;
• Pink blooms represent youth, innocence and joy;
• Purple flowers represent dignity, pride and success. Use them to express admiration;
• Red is the colour of passion, desire and strength. A bouquet of red flowers is a powerful message of passionate love;
• The simple beauty of white flowers denotes innocence, humility and reverence. Use white blooms to convey modesty and elegance;
• Evoking friendship, yellow represents joy and lightheartedness. Use yellow blooms to celebrate new beginnings and happiness;
• A vibrant bouquet of bright orange flowers symbolises energy, warmth and enthusiasm. Perfect to symbolise confidence, satisfaction and passion for life;
• Green flowers denote youth, health, good fortune and resilience. Perfect for adding a note of optimism and renewal in a bouquet;
• Lavender or violet flowers are considered amongst the most delicate and precious. Lavender flowers send the message of feminine beauty.

Symbolism of flowers

In floriography it is not just the colour of the bloom that is important. The type of flower also carries meaning. Here are the secrets behind Australia’s most popular blooms:

Orchid 

The delicate orchid is one of Australia’s most favourite flowers. Revered since ancient times, the orchid symbolises luxury, strength and a rare and delicate beauty.

Carnation

Carnations express love and admiration. Like the rose, different coloured carnations hold different meanings. Pink carnations, for example, are the symbol of a mother’s love for her children, making them the perfect Mother’s Day bloom. Meanwhile a deep red carnation represents ardent love, and a white flower symbolises pure love.

Lillies

Elegant lilies have been revered since ancient times. White lilies symbolize chastity and virtue and in Christian mythology is the symbol of the Virgin Mary. Often associated with funerals, lilies also symbolise innocence and female fertility.

Tulips

While the tulip symbolises elegance and grace, its velvety black centre is said to represent a lover’s passionate heart.

Rose

The rose is highly symbolic – meanings differ depending on the number of blooms in a bouquet, the colour and even whether it’s a rosebud or a full bloom.

While we all know that a red rose symbolises passionate love, did you know that the white rose symbolises young love? Meanwhile the yellow rose is a symbol of friendship and happiness and the pink rose signifies femininity and refinement.

While a single rose says "I still love you", a bouquet of rosebuds says "you are forever young and beautiful". Meanwhile, roses in full bloom express deep gratitude and a thornless rose says "love at first sight".

Ask your local florist for even more insights into the fascinating word of floriography. They can help you to design the perfect bouquet, for friends, family or loved ones, and allow you to express your feelings through the secret language of flowers.

Find a local florist in the Yellow Pages by following this link.