Gardening With The Language of Flowers

Updated: Jul 12, 2021

It’s springtime! And that means bees are buzzing, trees are blossoming, and flowers abound. One of the most exciting parts of spring is planting and tending your garden. There are so many possibilities and wonderful things you can grow. We here at The Postmodern Journal all admire Victorian culture and love to take inspiration from that bygone era to incorporate into our day-to-day lives, so we wanted to include this guide to floriography, the Victorian language of flowers, and apply it to the art of gardening.

Of course, there are many books and sources, old and new, on floriography, so I just wanted to provide some ideas here to inspire you while planning your garden. I thought it would be a fun, unique project to use this “language” as a way to theme your garden around your own characteristics or interests.

A Couple’s Garden

There are many plants listed in The Language of Flowers that have to do with love and affection, so I thought it was only fitting to design a garden for a couple, one that they could grow and take care of together. Here are some flowers you and your significant other may want to plant:

cedar - “I live but for thee, Think of me”
forget-me-not - true love
amaranth - unfading love
heliotrope - devotion
honeysuckle - I love you.
ivy - wedded love, affection
lavender - loyalty
white and red roses - unity

A Writer’s Garden

Writers and authors are often struck with inspiration at unexpected times. They also spend a lot of time indoors, consumed by countless works and scribbles and projects. Something that I’ve found to be good for the imagination is spending time outside, especially in a quiet, picturesque setting, so, as a writer, you may consider planting some of these themed wildflowers in your garden:

Kennedia - intellectual beauty
lupine - imagination
pansy - thoughtful reflection
mountain pink - You are aspiring.
eglantine - poetry

A Secret Garden

The classic fantasy that many of us dream of- our own splendid secret garden to care for and enjoy. If you have the privilege of creating your own hidden garden inspired by Francis Hodgson Burnette’s famous tale, here is a list of plants that would fit wonderfully in that little world:

Queen Anne’s lace - a haven
amaryllis - splendid beauty
celandine - future joy
mayflower - budding
royal fern - reverie
huckleberry - simple pleasures

A Garden for Anne Shirley

A beloved character to many, Anne Shirley (Anne of Green Gables) is a classic literary character with a distinct personality. She has become an inspiration to the lives of readers everywhere. If you would like to grow a garden as a tribute to Anne and all that she represents, here is a list of plants and flowers that fit her perfectly:

edelweiss - daring, courage
begonia - a fanciful nature
dracaena - inner power
crocus - cheerfulness
Bouvardia - enthusiasm
barberry - bad temper
burgundy rose - unconscious beauty
white hollyhock - female ambition
magnolia - love of nature
yellow rose - friendship, joy

A Garden for Lizzy Bennet

One of the most famous heroines in all of literature, Elizabeth Bennet is famous for her strength of character. She is also known to enjoy a good walk among the flora. To plan a marvellous Pride and Prejudice inspired garden, you may want to include these plants for their meanings:

pale pink rose - grace
ragged-robin - wit
ranunculus - radiant, charming
red rose - love
pink rose - perfect happiness
love in a mist - You puzzle me.
tiger lily - pride
lady’s slipper - Win me.
geranium - folly
lemon geranium - unexpected meeting

I hope you enjoyed all of these lists and suggestions based on The Language of Flowers. Floriography is a wonderful way to connect our experiences to nature and surround ourselves with playful meanings. Happy gardening to you all!