OSCAR WILDE FAMOUSLY wore a green carnation to signify his Irishness, although some ascribe a different meaning to that buttonhole – from ‘ lost in fascination’ to ‘envious of love’ deciphering potential meanings from the Persian origins and the Victorian version and craze of floriography (the art of sending messages through symbolic flowers).

Whatever Oscar’s intended meaning, the act of wearing his green carnation speaks volumes of the significance of a flower to make itself a message – and that potential carries through to the tradition of sending different coloured roses on Valentine’s Day today. Red for ‘I love you’, white for ‘pure are my feelings’, yellow for ‘eternal friendship’, orange for ‘passionate joy’ or pink for ‘romance’.

Flowers have always been sacred and divine portents, from prehistory as emblems of fecundity and more, but the Victorians formalised that into a system of definite meanings – some helpful ones listed below – and so in the 1800s a semaphore of petals signalled love, regret, pleas and responses.

Yearnings in floral code became vogue in London, Dublin, Paris, New York and even followed Oscar into the wild west. That lapsed semaphore is as romantic and useful today – perhaps more so for the day that’s in it – the feast day of the secret admirer. It is the day when anonymous flowers and unsigned notes are sent, not for the seeking of love but the expression of it.

Byron once penned the words: ‘By all those token flowers that tell what words can never speak so well’, and in that sentiment we see not only the potential of floriography but also the true meaning of Valentine’s Day – the failing of face-to-face words to deliver the true depth of affection intended to be expressed.

There is something beautiful in the nonverbal majesty of St Valentine’s Day where the heart, not the mouth speaks; where the flower or written note says it all.

So, if you are a true romantic then maybe a secret flower with a secret message is the perfect pitch to your unrequited love or to the person who has already responded and captured your heart. Simply match the message to the flower and write the message on the card. Or share the link to this and make a message of several flowers.

Here are some Victorian messages associated with certain blooms, along with modern interpretation in brackets:

I love you with a passion (any chance?): red rose

We can share joy (I’m deeper than the red rose guy): orange roses

I admire you (do you know how hard it is to find these?): Camellias

Affection returned (I care enough to rob the roundabout) : Daffodils

Am I forgotten? (call me, you p***k): Holly

Anxious and trembling (get your coat you’ve pulled): A single columbine. (Aquilegia spp)

Ardour (your place or mine?): Cuckoo plant (Arum spp)

Assiduous to please (the earth will move): Ivy sprigs with tendrils or just the tendrils (Helix spp)

Bashful shame (have you read 50 Shades?): Any deep red roses tied in a bow

You have beautiful eyes (don’t think I am tulip but… ): any variegated tulip

Magnificent beauty (OMG or what): Calla lily

Beyond your beauty there is also brilliance (I’m not just after your body – not just…): Sweet Alyssum

The ambition of love thus plaques itself (codependent, dysfunctional and lovin it): Fuchsia spp.

You complete me (needy but I smell good ): Lily of the valley

I adore you (no messing, I do adore you) : Heliotrope

I am dazzled by your charms (have you seen last tango in Paris?): buttercup or any Ranunculus spp

I am devoted to you (please don’t leave me): Alstroemeria spp

I am yours forever (you can run but you can’t hide): any Dahlia spp

I will never forget you (… but I might not ring you tomorrow): pink carnation

You are my life (let’s get breathless): Lungwort

You flirt (I so would): Day lily

Fiann Ó Nualláin is an advocate of gardening for health with a background in horticulture, nutrition, naturopathy and ethnobotany. His new book, The Holistic Gardener, published by Mercier Press, is available to buy now. 

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