The Language of Flowers

The Language of Flowers (2011) is the debut novel of Vanessa Diffenbaugh. This fictional story follows Victoria Jones, a foster care child who is legally emancipated at the age of 18 and communicates primarily through the language of flowers. Diffenbaugh was inspired by the informational text Language of Flowers by Kate Greenway, which outlined the use of secret messages delivered via bouquet during the Victorian Era. Diffenbaugh studied creative writing and education at Stanford University and has had experience serving as a foster care parent with her husband. She also founded the Camelia Network—which was later acquired by Youth Villages—and assists youths transitioning out of foster care.

This guide is based on the Ballantine Books Trade paperback edition (2012).

Content Warning: The Language of Flowers contains depictions of child abuse.

Plot Summary

Victoria Jones, ward of the state, turns 18 and is taken to a halfway house by her caseworker, Meredith. Instead of finding a job, Victoria spends the next several weeks growing flowers in makeshift planters and is eventually evicted for not paying rent.

The novel then splits into two distinct timelines: the past, detailing a 10-year-old Victoria’s experience living with a wine grape farmer named Elizabeth, and the present. In the past, Victoria struggles to believe Elizabeth’s affection for her is genuine after having lived in more than 30 other foster homes. Elizabeth works hard to make Victoria feel at ease, homeschooling and teaching her the language of flowers. This language is based on Victorian Era codes, with each flower having a secret meaning; it allowed friends and lovers to send messages to each other without detection. Elizabeth struggles with her estrangement from her sister, Catherine, which occurred after Catherine had an affair with Elizabeth’s lover.

Elizabeth misses a court date which would have allowed her to adopt Victoria, and the latter is crushed. When Elizabeth tries to reconcile with both Victoria and Catherine, her nephew Grant asks her to stop, outlining his mother’s decline into a dementia-like illness. Elizabeth seeks to help Catherine, making Victoria feel alienated and betrayed. Victoria starts a fire, planning to frame Catherine and cement the rift between the two sisters. The fire spreads too quickly, and Elizabeth hurts Victoria while trying to get her to safety. Elizabeth loses custody of Victoria, who enters group homes for the next eight years.

In the present, Victoria spends several weeks homeless before starting a job at Bloom for flower arranging. Renata, the owner, takes her to the flower market where she encounters a mysterious man who reciprocates her flower-based communication. It takes several weeks for Victoria to recognize Grant, Elizabeth’s nephew. After discovering additional flower meanings, Victoria is encouraged by Grant to make her own dictionary; he gifts her a camera to take pictures of flowers at his farm. She rents a room with Renata’s sister and impresses customers with her flower arrangements, which take on a magical quality. Victoria and Grant have a falling out when she claims that she will ruin their friendship—but in his absence, she realizes how much she cares for him. They reconcile, kissing for the first time. She gradually moves in with Grant and their relationship progresses until they have intercourse the day she finishes the dictionary.

Victoria realizes that she is pregnant and leaves Grant, vanishing from his life without explanation. She is unhoused for several months while waiting for him to give up searching for her, then returns to her old apartment. She starts her own florist business, Message, and hires a girl from a group home to help pick up flowers. Her business quickly grows among the rich. With Renata and her mother’s help, Victoria gives birth to a baby girl and is struck with motherly love. Her adoration becomes unhealthy, and she loses the ability to care for herself. Victoria spends a night in a park when her baby’s constant needs overwhelm her, and then feels so guilty that she deposits the baby in Grant’s home when he is not there. She is then hospitalized for a dangerous breast infection. After several months, she writes a letter to Elizabeth, confessing to starting the fire eight years ago. Elizabeth responds with forgiveness, asking Victoria to come home.

At the old farm, Victoria finds Elizabeth caring for her baby. She visits Grant’s flower farm, and he tells her about their daughter, Hazel. He admits that he was similarly overwhelmed by the infant, and that he and Elizabeth have been raising Hazel together. He feeds Victoria dinner and asks her to stay. She instead delivers an apology bouquet to Elizabeth, who welcomes her with open arms. Victoria, Elizabeth, and baby Hazel take a walk to test the wine grapes, finding them perfectly ripe. Victoria moves back to the farm with plans to gradually heal her emotional pains, surrounded by people who love her.