Victorian lovers sent coded messages to each other via houseplants (a gift of a scented geranium meant "let's rendezvous"). We're all for reviving the secret language of floriography on Valentine's Day:
(Prefer to send flowers? See our 11 Best Sources for Online Flowers for Valentine's Day.)
For Star-Crossed Lovers: Cyclamen
Above: The Victorians ascribed specific meanings to different kinds of plants. The sharp quill shape of cyclamen may have had something to do with the fact that one lover sent it to another to say, "Au revoir." If your intent is to say goodbye, break the news gently with a Turkish Hardy Cyclamen; $14 from Plant Delights.
To Rendezvous: Pelargonium
Above: The leaves of a scented pelargonium are as fragrant as a rose. Choosing one is like picking perfume: different varieties of scented pelargoniums smell like peppermint, orange, nutmeg, rose, lime, apple, lemon balm, and French lace. Photograph via Babes in Boyland.
Victorians sent a nutmeg pelargonium to say, "Let's arrange a meeting." You too can rendezvous: a Nutmeg Scented Pelargonium is $5.50 from Mountain Valley Growers.
To Pay a Compliment: Orchid
Above: Photograph by Sophia Moreno-Bunges.
Victorians sent orchids to express love or to acknowledge beauty. Send Sharry Baby (an easy-to-grow Oncidium orchid known for having long-lasting sprays of small flowers) to say, "You look lovely to me." A Mature Blooming Size Sharry Baby Orchid is $24.99 from Amazon.
To Declare Yourself: Virginia Blue Fern
Above: A fern signaled sincerity to the Victorians. Declare your good intentions with the soft green foliage and amiable nature (it will tolerate more indirect sunlight than many ferns) of a Virginia Blue Fern; $3.99 from Josh's Frogs. Photograph by Erin Boyle.
For Faithfulness: Violet
Above: Are you ready for an exclusive relationship? Declare yourself with a violet, a flower the Victorians associated with faithfulness. African violets are especially Valentine-appropriate: Cupid's Jewel, with pale plum flowers and quilted leaves, is $7.49; Old-Fashioned Love with a fringed fuchsia petal is $8.49, and Rob's Love Bite with deep red miniature flowers is $7.99. All are available from specialty grower Lyndon Lyon.
To Renew Vows: Cactus
Above: Victorians sent a cactus to honor endurance; if you're approaching a milestone anniversary, a heart-shaped Hoya Sweetheart Cactus ($38 in a stoneware clay pot from The Sill) will say, "I'm still crazy about you."
For Undercover Lovers: Maidenhair Fern
Above: Photograph by Erin Boyle.
To 19th century lovers, a maidenhair fern meant discretion. If you're keeping your affair a secret from prying co-workers, a Himalayan Maidenhair Fern sitting on your beloved's desk will give nothing away; $15 from Plant Delights.
To Rekindle Love: Lily of the Valley
Above: If you just got back together after a breakup, take a page from the Victorians' book and send potted Lily of the Valley to mark a "return of happiness." A kit of 12 Lily of the Valley Pips Plus Potting Soil is $29.95 from White Flower Farm.
For Mom: Moss
Above: Photograph via Emmy Made in Japan.
Moss symbolized maternal love in the Victorian era. To pick a variety to give to your mother, see our favorites in 10 Easy Pieces: The Most Magical Mosses. Or get her a Moss Bottle Terrarium Kit ($40 from Bambeco).
For a Shoulder to Lean On: Juniper
Above: Photograph via Kitka.
Juniper trees symbolized protection to an earlier era of lovers. If you are offering shelter or a shoulder to lean on, a Bonsai Juniper Tree is $12.48 from Amazon and larger Green Mound Juniper Bonsai Tree is $29 from Brussels Bonsai.
For more ideas for Valentine's Day houseplants, see:
- 266 Houseplants We Love from the Gardenista Photo Gallery
- 5 Houseplants That Changed History
- Scents and Sensibility: Perfumed Pelargonium is a Must-Have Plant
- A Fern of a Different Color: Hardy Blue Fern
- Love Letter to the African Violet
- DIY: Grow Lily of the Valley on a Windowsill
- DIY: A Hanging Orchid
- The World's Most Adorable Houseplant
Snow Indoors with White Cyclamen
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