Long ago in the Orient and in Arabia, flowers were
used by lovers to convey poetical thoughts and romantic messages. This spread
to mediaeval France and England. In time, each blossom came to have an ascribed
meaning and whole love-letters were contained in one small posy. In Victorian
England, some ingenious lover invented a floral clock so that lovers could plot
secret messages giving both the time and place of meeting. From the more general
flowery phrase there develped a specific, very much to the point, method of communication,
known as Florigraphy, or the language of flowers.
HOURS OF THE FLORAL CLOCK
1 o'clock ~~ Red Rose 7 o'clock ~~ Sweet William
2 o'clock ~~ Snapdragon 8 o'clock ~~ Jonquil
3 o'clock ~~ Violet 9 o'clock ~~ Herb Robert
4 o'clock ~~ Field Daisey 10 o'clock ~~ Clove Pink
5 o'clock ~~ Sweet-pea 11 o'clock ~~ Sweet Sultan
6 o'clock ~~ Marigold 12 o'clock ~~ Carnation
CLANDESTINE LOVERS' MEETINGS
Meet me ~~ Ivy
Tonight ~~ White Campion
Today ~~ Pimpernel
Tomorrow ~~ Buttercup
Morning ~~ Bell Flowers
I will Meet You ~~ Ivy and White Clover
I Cannot Meet You ~~ Ivy and Lavender
Make Another Appointment ~~ Ivy and Red Clover
Meet Me Tonight at Seven ~~ Ivy, White Campion and Sweet William
CLANDESTINE GENERAL TERMS
Animosity ~~ Basil
Courage ~~ Oak Leaves
Deception ~~ Phlyorcus or Deadly Nightshade
Denial ~~ Passion-flower
Duplicity ~~ Scarlet Geranium
Folly ~~ White Columbine
Impatience ~~ Balsam or White Geranium
Indecision ~~ Golden Rod
Obstacles ~~ Blackthorn
Protection ~~ Fever Few
Proximity ~~ Petunia
Rashness ~~ Bulrush
Scandal ~~ Hemlock
Temporisation ~~ White Poppy
Truce ~~ White Chrysanthemum
Uncertainty ~~ Love-in-a-mist
Uselessness ~~ Meadow-sweet
Warning ~~ Fuchsia or Oleander
FLORAL VOCABULARY
A
ACACIA, Blossom - Concealed Love, Beauty in Retirement
ACORN - Nordic Symbol of Life and Immortality
AMBROSIA - Your Love is Reciprocated
AMARYLLIS - Pride, Pastoral Poetry
ANEMONE - Forsaken, Sincerity
ARBUTUS - Thee Only Do I Love
ASTER - Symbol of Love, Daintiness
AZALEA - Take Care of Yourself For Me, Temperance, Fragile, Passion, Chinese Symbols of Womanhood
B
BACHELOR BUTTON - Single Blessedness
BEGONIA - Beware
BELLS OF IRELAND - Good Luck
BITTERSWEET - Truth
BLUEBELL - Humility
BOUQUET OF WITHERED FLOWERS - Rejected Love
C
CACTUS - Endurance
CAMELLIA - Admiration, Perfection, Good Luck Gift to a Man
CAMELLIA (PINK) - Longing For You
CAMELLIA (RED) - You're A Flame In My Heart
CAMELLIA (WHITE) - You're Adorable
CANDYTUFT - Indifference
CARNATION (GENERAL) - Fascination, Womanize Love
CARNATION (PINK) - I'll Never Forget You
CARNATION (RED) - My Heart Aches For You, Admiration
CARNATION (PURPLE) - Capriciousness
CARNATION (SOLID COLOR) - Yes
CARNATION (STRIPPED) - No!, Refusal, Sorry I Can't Be With You
CARNATION (WHITE) - Sweet and Lovely, Innocence, Pure Love, Womanize Good Luck Gift
CARNATION (YELLOW) - You Have Disappointed Me, Rejection
CATTAIL - Peace, Prosperity
CHRYSANTHEMUM (GENERAL) - You're A Wonderful Friend, Cheerfulness and Rest
CHRYSANTHEMUM (RED) - I Love
CHRYSANTHEMUM (WHITE) - Truth
CHRYSANTHEMUM (YELLOW) - Slighted Love
COREOPSIS - Always Cheerful
CROCUS - Cheerfulness, Gladness
CYCLAMEN - Resignation and Good Bye
D
DAFFODIL - Regard, Unrequited Love, You're The Only One, The Sun Is Always Shining When
I'm With You, Respect
DAISY - Innocence, Loyal Love, I'll Never tell, Purity
DANDELION - Faithfulness, Happiness
DEAD LEAVES - Sadness
E
F
FERN - Magic, Fascination, Confidence and Shelter, Grace
FERN MAIDENHAIR - Secret Bond Of Love
FIR - TIME
FLAX - Domestic Symbol
FORGET ME NOT - True Love, Memories
FORSYTHIA - Anticipation
FREESIA - Trust
G
GARDENIA - You're Lovely, Secret Love
GARLIC - Courage, Strength
GERANIUM - Stupidity, Folly
GLADIOLA - Give Me A Break, I'm Really Sincere, Flower Of The Gladiators
GLOXINIA - Love At First Sight
GRASS - Submission
H
HEATHER (LAVENDER) - Admiration, Solitude
HEATHER (WHITE) - Protection, Wishes Will Come True
HOLLY - Defense, Domestic Happiness
HYACINTH (GENERAL) - Games and Sports, Richness, Dedicated to Apollo
HYACINTH (BLUE) - Consistency
HYACINTH (PURPLE) - I Am Sorry Please Forgive Me, Sorrow
HYACINTH (RED or PINK) - Play
HYACINTH (WHITE) - Loveliness, I'll Pray For You
HYACINTH (YELLOW) - Jealousy
HYDRANGEA - Thank You For Understanding, Frigidity, Heartlessness
HUCKLEBERRY - Faith
I
IRIS - Emblem Of France, Your Friendship Means So Much To Me, Faith, Hope, Wisdom and Valor,
My Compliments, Promise
IVY - Wedded Love, Fidelity, Friendship, Affection
IVY SPRIG OF WHITE TENDRILS - Anxious To Please, Affection
J
JONQUIL - Love Me, Affection Returned, Desire, Sympathy, Desire For Affection Returned
K
L
LARKSPUR (PINK) - Fickleness
LILAC - Beauty
LILY (ORANGE) - Hatred
LILY (WHITE) - Virginity, Purity, Majesty, It's Heavenly To Be With You
LILY (YELLOW) -I'm Walking On Air, False and Gay, Gratitude
LILY (CALLA) -Beauty
LILY (DAY) - Chinese Emblem For Mother
LILY (EUCHARIS) - Maiden Charms
LILY (TIGER) - Wealth, Pride, Prosperity
LILY OF THE VALLEY - Sweetness, Tears Of The Virgin Mary, Return To Happiness, Humility,
You've Made my Life Complete
M
MAGNOLIA - Nobility
MARIGOLD - Cruelty, Grief, Jealousy
MISTLETOE - Kiss Me, Affection, To Surmount Difficulties, Sacred Plant Of India, Magic Plant Of The Druids
MONKHOOD - Beware, A Deadly Foe Is Near
MOSS - Maternal Love, Charity
MUM - Hope
MYRTLE - Love, Hebrew Emblem Of Marriage
N
NARCISSUS - Formality, Stay As Sweet As You Are
NASTURTIUM - Conquest, Victory In Battle
NUTS - Stupidity
O
OLEANDER - Caution
ORANGE BLOSSOM - Innocence, Eternal Love, Marriage and Fruitfulness
ORANGE, MOCK - Deceit
ORCHID - Love, Beauty, Refinement, Beautiful Lady, Chinese Symbol for Many Children, Thoughtfulness
ORCHID (CATTLEYA) - Mature Charm
P
PALM LEAVES - Victory and Success
PANSY - Merriment
PEONY - Shame, Gay Life, Happy Marriage, Compassion
PETUNIA - Resentment, Anger, Your Presence Soothes Me
PINE - Hope, Pity
POPPY (GENERAL) - Eternal Sleep, Oblivion, Imagination
POPPY (RED) - Pleasure
POPPY (WHITE) -Consolation
POPPY (YELLOW) - Wealth, Success
PRIMROSE - I Can't Live Without You
PRIMROSE (EVENING) - Inconsistency
Q
R
ROSE (BRIDAL) - Happy Love
ROSE (CHRISTMAS) - Tranquilize My Anxiety, Anxiety
ROSE (DEMASK) - Persian Ambassador Of Love
ROSE (DARK CRIMSON) - Mourning
ROSE (HIBISCUS) - Delicate, Beauty
ROSE (LEAF) - You May Hope
ROSE (PINK) - Perfect Happiness, Please Believe Me
ROSE (RED) - LOVE, I Love You, Passion
ROSE (TEA) - I'll Remember, Always
ROSE (THORNLESS) - Love At First Sight
ROSE (WHITE) - Innocence and Purity, I Am Worthy Of You, You're Heavenly, Secrecy and Silence
ROSE (WHITE AND RED TOGETHER) - Unity, Flower Emblem Of England
ROSE (WHITE - DRIED) - Death Is Preferable To Loss Of Virtue
ROSE (WHITE - WITHERED) - Transient Impression, Fleeting Beauty, You Made No Impression
ROSE (YELLOW) - Decrease Of Love, Jealously, Try To Care
ROSE (MUSK CLUSTER) - Charming
ROSE (SINGLE FULL BLOOM) - I Love You, I Still Love You
ROSE (GARLAND OR CROWN OF) - Beware Of Virtue, Reward Of Merit, Symbol Of Superior Merit
ROSEBUD - Beauty Of Youth, A Heart Innocent Of Love
ROSEBUD (RED) - Pure And Lovely
ROSEBUD (WHITE) - Girlhood
ROSEBUD (MOSS) - Confessions Of Love
S
SMILAX - Loveliness
SNAPDRAGON - Deception, Gracious Lady, Strength
SOLIDAGO - Success
STEPHANOTIS - Happiness In Marriage, Desire To Travel
STOCK - Bonds Of Affection, Promptness, You'll Always Be Beautiful To Me
SUNFLOWER - Pride
SWEETPEA - Good-bye, Departure, Blissful Pleasure, Thank You For A Lovely Time
T
TULIP (GENERAL) - Perfect Lover, Fame, Flower Emblem Of Holland, Luck
TULIP (RED) - Believe Me, Declaration Of Love
TULIP (VARIEGATED) - Beautiful Eyes
TULIP (YELLOW) -There's Sunshine In Your Smile
U
V
VIOLET - Modesty, Virtue
VIOLET (BLUE) - Watchfulness, Faithfulness, I'll Always Be True
VIOLET (WHITE) - Let's Take A Chance On Happiness
VISCARIA - Will You Dance With Me?
W
WINTERGREENS - Harmony
WISTERIA - Welcome
X
Y
Z
ZINNIA (MAGENTA) - Lasting Affection
ZINNIA (MIXED) - Thinking (or in Memory) Of An Absent Friend
ZINNIA (SCARLET) - Constancy
ZINNIA (WHITE) - Goodness
ZINNIA (YELLOW) - Daily Remembrance
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