- Hamlet, act 4, scene 5. Flower language is one of those ways that's used to speak without words; traditions and associations with types of flowers and plants creating a cultural language that was generally known throughout the pre-industrial era. It still survives in associations for flowers like roses and lilies; roses mean 'love', lilies mean 'remembrance' or 'death', or in some cases 'resurrection'. When you give these flowers, it tends to mean something more than 'here, I found some pretty looking vegetation and thought you might like it.'