Stuff You Should Know

Short Stuff: Victorian Flower Language

22 snips
Nov 19, 2025
In a world where words could be dangerous, Victorians turned to flowers to express love and longing. Discover the fascinating roots of floriography, inspired by Ottoman traditions. Learn how color, type, and condition of flowers altered messages, and the risks of conflicting guides. Explore the hidden meanings behind nosegays, from romantic intentions to jealousy, and how position and presentation could change everything. Who knew a bouquet could communicate so much more than just beauty?
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INSIGHT

Floriography Origin And Spread

  • Floriography is a Victorian-era coded language using flowers to convey messages when social decorum forbade direct speech.
  • The practice traced from Ottoman harem traditions to Britain via Lady Mary Wortley and became widespread in Europe and the U.S.
ANECDOTE

Lady Mary Wortley’s Transmission

  • Lady Mary Wortley described Ottoman Selam flower codes in letters from Constantinople and sparked British interest.
  • Her reports helped transmit the practice from the Ottoman Empire into British high society.
ANECDOTE

Hosts Demonstrate Placement Codes

  • Josh and Chuck joke about giving and interpreting nosegays, illustrating how placement signals relationship intent.
  • Chuck wore a nosegay at his bodice center, which Josh says reads as 'just friends'; over the heart would mean mutual love.
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