By Tim Lambert
Flowers have, of course, given people pleasure for thousands of years. However, they were not only beautiful but also food and medicine. For centuries, flowers were symbols. Each one had a different meaning. The ‘language’ of flowers is called floriography.
The Ancient Greeks had a goddess of flowers called Chloris. The Romans called her Flora. Here is a brief look at some of the many types of flowers.
Alstroemeria is native to the Andes of South America. They were brought to Europe in the late 18th century.
Bluebells are native to Britain. Blubell bulbs and stems were used to make glue for fletching (attaching feathers to arrows). They were also used to make glue for bookbinding. In Elizabethan times, bluebells were used to make starch for collars. The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 made it illegal to pick, uproot, or destroy bluebells.
Apart from being beautiful flowers, buttercups were also used in medicine for centuries. They were used to treat skin conditions and cuts.
Carnations are native to the Mediterranean. In the Middle Ages, in Europe, people believed that Mary cried when she saw her son, Jesus, carrying a cross. Carnations grew where her tears fell. In England, people crushed carnations and added them to wine.
Cornflowers have grown in Europe for millennia. They got their name because they grew in cornfields (the Old English word corn meant any grain, including wheat and barley). For many years, cornflowers were seen as a weed.
Cowslips were once called cow slops because they grew near piles of cow dung. When I was a child, I used to think they must be slippery and cows must slip on them. Cowslips were used to make wine. They were also eaten in salads.
Chrysanthemums were first grown in China and later, in Japan. (It became the unofficial national flower of Japan). They were first brought to Europe in the late 17th century, and they became popular in the 19th century.
Crocus has been grown since Ancient times. They were known to the Greeks. One species of crocus, Crocus sativus, was used to make saffron, an expensive dye and spice. Saffron gave its name to Saffron Walden in Cambridgeshire.
Daffodils are native to the Mediterranean region. The Romans brought them to Britain. The Romans also introduced roses into Britain. It’s not certain why daffodils are the symbol of Wales. It may be because they start to flower at the beginning of Spring, coinciding with St David’s Day, 1st March.
Dahlias are native to Central America. The Aztecs grew them, and so did the Spanish conquerors. However, dahlias were not brought to Europe till the end of the 18th century.
A daisy was once called a day’s eye because the flower’s petals open at dawn and close at dusk. For centuries, daisies were used for medicine.
There is a charming story that forget-me-nots got their name because a knight in Germany was picking flowers with his lover, along a riverbank, but he fell into the river and, with his armour on, began to sink. He threw some flowers to his lover and shouted ‘forget-me-not’. In any case, forget-me-nots were, for centuries, a symbol of devotion. Today, the forget-me-not is the state flower of Alaska.
Geraniums are native to South Africa. Europeans brought them to Europe in the 17th century.
Hibiscus is native to Southeast Asia or the Pacific. It was grown in England in the 17th century.
Hollyhocks came from East Asia. They spread to the Middle East. In the Middle Ages, they spread to Europe. By the 15th century, they were grown in England.
Hyacinths are native to western Asia. They were brought to England in the late 16th century. They became popular flowers in Europe in the 18th century.
Hydrangeas are native to North America and Asia. They were first cultivated in Japan and later in China. They were brought to Europe in the 18th century. They became popular flowers in the late 20th century.
8 May is National Iris Day. This flower is named after Iris, the Greek goddess of the rainbow. Iris roots were used in cough remedies and to treat skin conditions. Its roots have also been used for centuries to make perfume. The Native Americans used Iris leaves to make rope.
Jasmine is native to Persia or the Himalayas. Because of its scent, it was often used for perfume. The Chinese invented jasmine tea. White jasmine was first grown in England in the 16th century.
Lavender was first grown in India, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean. The Romans brought it to Britain. Lavender is an antiseptic, so for centuries it was used to treat wounds. Lavender was also valued for its fragrance. Lavender was also used for washing clothes. When linen was washed, it was laid over lavender bushes to absorb their fragrance.
Lilies have been grown in Europe since ancient times. In the Middle Ages, they were a symbol of purity and were associated with the Virgin Mary.
For millennia, Lupins were eaten as food. They were also used as fertiliser.
Marigolds are native to the Americas. They were introduced into Europe by the Spanish. Since they were often used to decorate statues of the Virgin Mary, Marigolds became known as Mary’s golds. People also ate marigolds.
Nasturtiums are native to Peru. The Spanish brought them to Europe in the 16th century. They were popular in Elizabethan England. Like many flowers, nasturtiums were eaten as food.
Orchids were grown in China and Japan. They were also known to the Ancient Greeks. The Aztecs also grew orchids. Orchids really became popular flowers in Europe in the 19th century.
Wild pansies were used for centuries as a medicine. However, pansies as we know them were created in the 19th century, when gardeners cross-bred wild pansies with violas.
Peonies were first grown in China. Later, they were grown in Japan. They were first grown in Europe in the early 19th century. The peony is the state flower of Indiana.
Petunias are native to South America. However, they were not grown in Europe until the early 19th century. During the 20th century, they were improved by selective breeding.
23 June is National Pink Day. The word pink was originally the name of a flower, dianthus. It came to mean the flower’s colour.
Poppies were grown for millennia because their seeds had a medicinal use. Since they grew on battlefields during the First World War, poppies are a symbol of fallen soldiers. White poppies are a symbol of peace.
Rhododendrons grow in many parts of the world. However, most grew in the Himalayas. They became popular in Europe in the 19th and 20th centuries. The rhododendron is the state flower of West Virginia.
Roses came from central Asia. They were grown in Ancient Iraq and in Ancient China. In the Middle Ages in Europe, roses were used as medicine. Rose petals and rose hips were used for food. The rose is the national flower of England.
Snowdrops are native to mainland Europe. It is now known when snowdrops were first cultivated in England, but they were first recorded in 1597. Wild snowdrops were first recorded in Britain in the late 18th century.
Sunflowers are native to the Americas. The Spanish introduced them into Europe. The sunflower is the state flower of Kansas. It is also the national flower of Ukraine.
According to legend, thistles became the national symbol of Scotland because in the 13th century, a Norse army tried to attack sleeping Scots. The Norsemen removed their boots so they could advance silently. However, one of them trod on a thistle and cried out, awakening the Scots.
Tulips were introduced into Holland from Turkey in 1562. Tulips were first recorded in England in 1578.
The Ancient Greeks grew violets, and the Romans made violet wine. By the 16th century, violets were eaten in England. They appeared in many recipes.
Wallflowers are native to southern Europe. They were grown in England in the Middle Ages. Snapdragons are also native to southern Europe. They spread to the rest of Europe in the Middle Ages.
Zinnia are native to Central America. The Aztecs grew them. They were introduced into Europe in the 18th century and became popular flowers in the 19th century.
The Romans had a festival called Floralia at the end of April and the beginning of May. It was held in honour of Flora, the goddess of flowers. Long after the Romans, Mayday was an important celebration. In England, on Mayday, people picked wildflowers and used flower garlands to decorate their homes.
At a wedding, a bride throws a bouquet into the air, and according to tradition, the woman who catches it will be the next to get married. It was once thought that touching the bride would bring good luck. People also tried to rip off pieces of her dress to bring them luck.
Throwing the bouquet into the air began as a way of distracting the crowd. People thought that if you caught the bouquet she carried, it would pass on her luck to you. In time, that meant that you would be the next to get married.
The first Chelsea Flower Show opened on 19 May 1913. It was a three-day event. It was a great success, drawing about 200,000 visitors.
Radio One started on 30 September 1967. The first song was Flowers in the Rain by the Move.
21 March is National Flower Day.