Agapanhtus Peter Pan / Agapanthus africanus / Image: pendernursery.com
What can a wild flower offer you more than its amazing colour or alluring fragrance? A coded message allowing you to express a feeling which could not be spoken. The language of flowers, sometimes called floriography, is a Victorian-era means of communication in which various flowers and floral arrangements were used to send secret messages. This message was most commonly communicated through Tussie-Mussies or nosegays: small, round bouquets of herbs and flowers selected with symbolic meanings.
The symbolic meaning of Agapanthus is magical love of love letter, and is derived for the Greek agape meaning “love” and anthos meaning “flower”. But be carefull when selecting the Peter Pan variety for you love may be magical but not grow beyond childhood!
Chincherinchee / Ornithogalum thyrsoides / Image: cape-hike.co.za
Chincherinchee’s symbolic message can be derived from its botanical name Ornithogalum meaning “bird’s milk” – something wonderful regarding to the Romans. It has been cultivated in Europe since 1750, indeed a wonderful South African export, but comes with a warning – the plant is toxic to livestock but fine for baboons!
Nerine / Nerine sarniensis / Image: plants.newplant.co.za
Nerine is named after the mythological sea-nymph and its symbolic meaning “allusion” is derived from its colourful history. The epithet sarniensis refers to the Island of Sarnia, the Roman name for Guernsey, where Nerine sarniensis was said to be washed ashore form a foundered ship. Whatever the truth is about Nerine’s arrival in Guernsey, it should be worth it to explore the hidden meaning of the flower’s allusion…
Pink / Dianthus caespitous / Image: newplant.co.za
A flower with such a simple name’s meaning can be derived from the Greek dios “divine” and anthos “flower” – thus Pink is a divine and bold flower with medicinal and magical properties.
The symbolic meaning of flowers can be contradicting as beautifully portrayed in the novel “TheLanguage of Flowers” by Vanessa Diffenbauch. I invite you to play with the interpretations and send your contributions to expand the list of possibities.
May you be surprised by the wonderful and meaningful “gift” of wild flowers!
|
Agapanthus |
Bloulelie |
Agapanthus africanus |
Magical love / Love letter |
|
April fool |
Veldskoenblaar/ Kwaslelie |
Haemanthus sanguineus |
Be stopped in your tracks |
|
Arum lily |
Varkoor / Varkblom / Arondskelk |
Zantedeschia aetiopica |
Purity |
|
Babiana |
Bobbejaantjie |
Babiana nana |
Pleasure |
|
Blue mountain sage |
Bloublomsalie |
Salvia stenophylla |
Clarity |
|
Blushing bride |
Trots van Franschoek |
Serruria florida |
Glimpse of love |
| Buchu |
Boegoe |
Agathosma capensis |
Acquaintance |
|
Candelabra flower |
Koningskandelaar / Perdespookbossie |
Brunsvigia orientalis |
Be surprised |
|
Cape chamomile |
Kaapse kamille |
Eriocephalus panctulatus |
Transition |
|
Cape may |
Aasbossie / Konfettibos |
Coleonema album |
Cleansing |
|
China flower |
Kommetjieteewater |
Adenandra obtusata |
Refreshment |
|
Chinkerinchee |
Tjinkerintjee |
Ornithogalum thyrsoides |
Wonderful |
|
Clivia / Bush lily |
Clivia |
Clivia miniata |
Good fortune |
|
Crane flower |
Kraanvoëlblom |
Strelitzia reginae |
Regal / Fabulous |
|
Disa |
Disa |
Disa uniflora |
Seduction |
|
Dune Bluebell |
Bluebell |
Gladiolus rogersii |
Grateful |
|
Erica / Heath |
Erika / Heide |
Erica regia |
Enticement |
|
Everlasting |
Sewejaartjie |
Edmondia sesamoides |
Never-ceasing remembrance |
|
Featherhead |
Juffertjie-roer-by-die-nag / Roemenaggie / Aandgonna |
Struthiola argentea |
Allurement |
|
Fire lily |
Vuurlelie / Bredasdorp lelie |
Cyrtanthus guthrieae |
Passionate |
|
Freesia |
Freesia |
Freesia alba |
Lasting friendship |
|
Geranium / Crane’s-Bill |
Wilde geranium |
Geranium incanum |
I will think about it |
|
Gerbera |
Baberton daisy |
Gerbera jamesonii |
Cheerfulness / Innocence |
|
Gladiolus |
Aandblom |
Gladiolus tristis |
Magical memories |
|
Iris |
Iris |
Dietes iridoides |
I have a message for you |
|
Ixia |
Perdestertjie |
Ixia micranda |
Delicate pleasure |
|
Koekemakranka |
Koekemakranka |
Genthyllis afra |
Virility |
|
Kooigoed |
Kooigoed |
Helichrysum odoratissimum |
Intuition / Compassion |
|
Kranz aloe |
Kransaalwyn |
Aloe arborescens |
Evanescent |
|
March lily |
Maartlelie |
Amaryllis belladonna |
Splendid beauty |
|
Mountain rose |
Skaamroos |
Protea nana |
Shy but courageous |
|
Nerine |
Nerina |
Nerine sarniensis |
Allusion |
|
Pincushion |
Speldekussing |
Leucospermum cordifolium |
Endurance |
|
Pink / Carnation |
Angelier |
Dianthus basuticus |
Divinity / Boldness |
|
Sugarbush |
Bredasdorp suikerbos |
Protea obtusifolia |
Courage |
|
Watsonia |
Rooipypie |
Watsonia zeyheri |
Chastity |
|
Wild dagga |
Wilde dagga |
Leonotis leonurus |
Euphoria |
|
Wild fennel |
Wilde fennel |
Foeniculum vulgare |
Refresh |
|
Wild garlic |
Wilde knoffel |
Tulbaghia violacea |
Wholesome |
|
Wild mint |
Wilde ment |
Menta longifolia |
Virtue / Warmth of feeling |
|
Wild rose geranium |
Roos malva |
Pelargonium capitum |
Balance |
|
Wild rosemary |
Kapokbos |
Eriocephalus paniculatus |
Warm emotions / Remembrance |
drifttherapy 