GARDENS
Say it with flowers
The symbolism of plants may date back centuries, but their meanings remain relevant and can help us choose what to grow – and give
by LUCY HALL
Plant power Lily-of-thevalley symbolises luck; the rose, love
As the late Queen’s coffin travelled the length of the country in September 2022, the eyes of the world were drawn to the seasonal flowers that marked every stage of her final journey. From the dahlias, phlox, heather and pine picked fresh from the gardens of Balmoral and the white lilies and sweet peas that decorated her lying in state, to the final wreath of oak, myrtle and roses in Westminster Abbey, flowers steeped in ancient meaning were the unspoken farewell from the nation to its monarch.
Spring forward to the King’s Coronation in May and, again, the language and symbolism of plants ran deeply through the ceremony, though this time in a mood of celebration.
‘The symbolism of plants weaves us back to a time when flowers played vital roles in health and worship’
The King and Queen Consort were sworn to a life of service under the gaze of trees and flowers brought together from all corners of the country. Shane Connolly, florist by royal appointment, who created the flowers for the Coronation with the growers of Flowers from the Farm and the Royal Horticultural Society, was deeply aware of the symbolism that could be read in every stem, flower and leaf.