The Language Of Flowers: The Floral Offering

by Henrietta Dumont

"The Language Of The Floral A Token Of Affection As Esteem; Comprising The Language And Poetry Of Flowers" by Henrietta Dumont is a Victorian-era compendium that explores the symbolic language of flowers. The volume presents explanations of hundreds of flowers and their emblems, often pairing each bloom with short prose, moral reflections, and occasional poetry. It situates floral symbolism within both Western and Eastern literary traditions and cites celebrated writers to illustrate how flowers have conveyed sentiments across time. The book blends a Preface and a Dictionary-like Contents with verses that illuminate emotions such as Hope, Love, Fidelity, and Remembrance through emblematic flora. A distinctive feature is the inclusion of a "Dial of Flowers"—a calendar-like discussion of flowering times and daily opening patterns—suggesting how blossoms mirror life’s rhythms. Overall, the work functions as a reference on floral symbolism and a poetic meditation on affection, memory, virtue, and the human experience expressed through nature’s colours and forms.

Genres: Nonfiction, Poetry

342 pages, Paperback

First published January 29, 2010

Reviews

[Leah Miano]

For anyone interested in the language of flowers, this book is essential. Written in 1843, the anthologies gives us an untarnished view of what Victorian Flower language is really all about. Accompanied by relevant poetry, this book takes the cake

[Tonja,]

Good reference book for gardeners.