In the digital age we live in, we’re all preoccupied with modern faux pas. The fear of scrolling through your Hinge date’s profile and liking their Instagram post from 2 years ago. Teaching your parents to please stop using the peach and aubergine emojis when whatsapping in the family group chat. Or the embarrassment of pressing “reply all” on that important email, and ending up with the wrong eyes reading your particularly pointed criticism.
But in the midst of technological worries, we’re in danger of neglecting some age-old faux pas. Floriography, or the language of flowers, is a way of communicating emotions through specific flowers, both positive and negative. Particularly prevalent during the Victorian era; sending the wrong stem might have just landed you in as much trouble as sending your manager an aubergine emoji.
Lucy Hook, senior flowers category manager at Bloom & Wild, explains: “When we design our bouquets we look at the historical data to see which stems and combinations are the favourites with our customers. Some of the most popular stems we see our customers choosing are alstroemeria (which symbolise friendship, devotion, and strength), snapdragons (symbolising graciousness and strength), and roses (symbolising love, passion and beauty).”
So, to ensure that your next floral gesture is well-received, it’s crucial to understand and navigate these potential faux pas to avoid any mishaps. Because you never know when your recipient might just be fluent in floriography. Here’s Bloom & Wild’s list of common faux pas when sending flowers:
Petunia’s for a new job:
While dark purple petunias may seem like a fitting congratulations for a friend’s new job, be cautious. Petunias symbolise deep resentment, reminiscent of JK Rowling’s character in Harry Potter, Petunia Dursley. Opt for more positive blooms to celebrate success.
Snowdrops as a housewarming gift:
Despite their adorable appearance, Victorians linked snowdrops to ill-fortune, souring milk, and bad eggs when brought into a new home. Spare your friends from potential misfortune and choose a safer housewarming gift.
Black Dahlias for recovery:
A bouquet of Black Dahlias may not be the best choice for a loved one in recovery. Symbolising revenge, hatred, and the end of a relationship, they convey negative emotions. Consider a more uplifting arrangement to wish someone a speedy recovery.
Yellow Roses on Valentine’s Day:
These days yellow roses convey warmth, joy, and the bond of companionship. But in Victorian times, they were a clear sign of a decrease in love or admittance of infidelity. So if floriography is their thing, a bouquet of pink roses might be a better choice this Valentine’s Day.
Sunflowers for a promotion:
Sunflowers symbolise friendship, happiness, and a strong connection between friends. But back in the day, they meant quite the opposite. Long-stemmed sunflowers were sent to suggest someone had ideas above their station, or “false riches”. This was based on Spanish explorers landing in the Americas and wrongly thinking they were made of real gold.
Yellow Carnations for job loss:
Steer clear of yellow carnations when consoling someone who has lost their job. In Victorian times, these flowers symbolised rejection and disdain. In fact, in Victorian times, a woman could send back a single yellow carnation to show she wasn’t interested in a suitor. Choose a more empathetic option to offer support during difficult times.
Whether expressing love with roses, devotion with lilies, or friendship with sunflowers, be mindful to avoid unintentionally causing offence. After all, the last thing you want is to inadvertently insult grandma with a bouquet of black Dahlias.
