I know there are those of us who love to garden, me, I have a black thumb. I found this list on the site Fish Eaters, there is a great deal more on how to plant flowers so they will bloom according the liturgical calendar…very cool. The month associated with those flowers deemed as “birth flowers” have the birth months rendered in (italicized parentheses):
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Medieval Name and/or Religious Meaning |
| Amaryllis | Amaryllis belladonna | Beautiful Lady |
| Amaryllis | Hippeastrum hybr. | St. Joseph’s Lily |
| Anemone, double-flowered | Anemone coronaria | St. Brigid |
| Aster | Aster nova-belgii | Michaelmas Daisy (September) |
| Baby’s Breath | Gypsophila panicul. | Lady’s Veil |
| Bachelor’s Buttons | Centauria cyannis | Mary’s Crown |
| Bean caper plant | Zygophyllum dumosum | ? Found on Shroud of Turin. |
| Begonia | Begonia fuchsioides | Heart of Jesus |
| Begonia | Begonia fuch. rosea | Heart of Mary |
| Bellflower | Adenophera | Lady Bell |
| Bird of Paradise | Streliztia reginae | Bird of Paradise |
| Black-Eyed Susan | Rudbeckia hirta | Golden Jerusalem |
| Bleeding Heart | Dicentra spectabilis | Mary’s Heart |
| Blue Phlox | Phlox divaricata | Lady’s Wedding |
| Bluets | Houstonia caerul. | Madonna’s Eyes |
| Bougainvillea | Bougainvillea gen. | Trinitaria |
| Buttercup | Ranunculus acris | Lady’s Locks |
| Buttercup | Ranunculus sp. | Our Lady’s Bowl |
| Camelia | Camellia (japonica) | (Purity) |
| Calla Lily | Zantedeshia aethiop. | St. Joseph’s Staff |
| Canna | Canna generalis | Rosary Beads |
| Canterbury Bells | Campanula medium | Our Lady’s Nightcap, Mary Bells, Our Lady’s Smock |
| Caper, Caper bushes | Capparis spinosa (var. aegyptia) | ? Found on Shroud of Turin. |
| Carnation | Dianthus caryophyllus | Mary’s Love of God. These flowers are said to have bloomed at Christ’s Nativity, according to a German legend. (January) |
| Castilian roses (Damascus Roses or Damask Rose) | Rosa damascena | I am not sure of the medieval name for these native-to-Spain flowers, but these are the variety that St. Juan Diego found after the vision of Our Lady at Guadalupe. |
| Chrysanthemum (mum) | Chrysanthemum | All Saints’ Flower. Chrysanthemums in general are associated with death and are used and funerals and to adorn graves (Chrysanthemum coronarium is believed by scientists to have been present when Christ was laid in the tomb.). (November) |
| Clematis | Clematis virginiana | Virgin’s Bower |
| Clematis | Clematis (flammula) | Cross |
| Columbine | Aquilegua vulgaris | Our Lady’s Shoes, Lady’s Slipper. Said to have sprung up under Our Lady’s feet as she went to visit Elizabeth. The dove-shaped petals of this flower invited — and invites — its use for decoration on the Feast of the Pentecost. |
| Corn Marigold | Chrysanthemum segetum | Mary’s Gold (November) |
| Cosmos | Cosmos sp. | St. Michael’s Flower (September) |
| Costmary | Chrysanthemum bals. | Mary’s Leaf |
| Cowslip | Primula veris | Lady’s Keys |
| Crocus | Crocus vernus | Penitent’s Rose |
| Cross Vine | Bignonia capreolata | Cross Vine |
| Crown Daisy | Chrysanthemum coronarium | ? I don’t know the medieval name for this flower, but “Crown Daisy” is appropriate: this flower shows up on the Shroud of Turin. |
| Daffodil | Narcissus pseudo-narc. | Mary’s Star |
| Dahlia | Dahlia (hybrids) | Churchyard Flower |
| Day Lily | Hemerocallis flava | St. Joseph’s Lily |
| Dieffenbachia | Dieffenbachia sao ant. | St. Anthony Dieffenbachia |
| Dog Rose | Rosa canina | Mary’s Thorn |
| Dutchman’s Breeches | Dicentra cucullaria | I don’t know the medieval name for this interesting flower, but it has sentimental interest for me so I would love to discover it if anyone happens to know and cares to write. |
| Edelweiss | Leontopodium alp. | Purity |
| Easter Lily | Lilium longiflorum | Easter Lily |
| English Daisy | Bellis perennis | Mary-Love |
| English Holly | Ilex aquifolium | Burning Bush |
| Evening Primose | Oenothera biennia | Easter Candle |
| Fern | Asplenium ruta-mur. | Lady’s Hair |
| Field Bindweed | Convolvulus arvensis | This lovely flowering plant — closely related to, resembling, and sometimes called the same name as the Morning Glory — is pervasive once planted and, so, is generally considered a weed. Its old common name according to the Grimm’s short tale of the same name is “Our Lady’s Little Glass.” The story in its entirety: “Once upon a time a waggoner’s cart which was heavily laden with wine had stuck so fast that in spite of all that he could do, he could not get it to move again. Then it chanced that Our Lady just happened to come by that way, and when she perceived the poor man’s distress, she said to him, ‘I am tired and thirsty, give me a glass of wine, and I will set thy cart free for thee.’ ‘Willingly,’ answered the waggoner, ‘but I have no glass in which I can give thee the wine.’ Then Our Lady plucked a little white flower with red stripes, called field bindweed, which looks very like a glass, and gave it to the waggoner. He filled it with wine, and then Our Lady drank it, and in the self-same instant the cart was set free, and the waggoner could drive onwards. The little flower is still always called Our Lady’s Little Glass.” |
| Forget-me-not | Myostis scorpoides, Myostis sylvatica | Eyes of Mary |
| Forsythia | Forsythia suspensa | Easter Bush |
| Foxglove | Digitalis purpurea | Our Lady’s Gloves |
| Fuchsia | Fuchsia speciosa | Christ’s Blood Drops or Our Lady’s Eardrops |
| Geranium | Pelargonium (dom) | Lady Beautiful |
| Geranium | Pelargonium sp. | Heart of Jesus, Gentle Virgin |
| German Iris | lris germanica | Mary’s Sword of Sorrow |
| Gladiolus | Gladiolus sp. | Twelve Apostles, Ladder to Heaven |
| Golden Rod | Solidago canad. | Lady’s Plant |
| Grape Hyacinth | Muscari (gen) | St. Joseph’s Bells |
| Grape Hyacinth | Muscari botryoides | Church Steeples |
| Ground Ivy | Nepeta hederacea | Madonna’s Herb |
| Hawthorn | Crataegus monogyna | Mary’s Mayflower(May) |
| Hawthorn | Crataegus oxyacana | Mary’s Berry (May). The Crataegus Oxyacantha praecox variety is the plant of England’s “Glastonbury Thorn” — a plant of Mediterranean origin but which, in Somerset, blooms twice: at Easter and at Christmas. It, therefore, has become a symbol of Christmas. The Glastonbury Thorn is said to have arisen when St. Joseph of Arimathea thrust his hawthorn staff into the ground in Somersetshire. The original plant was destroyed by Puritans (the soldier who did the chopping is said to have been struck in the eye by a large splinter from the tree), but shoots from it were taken, and England’s Glastonbury Thorn lives. Since 1929, blossoms from the Glastonbury Thorn are sent to England’s Monarchs for their table on Christmas Day. |
| Heather | Calluna vulgaris | Lady’s Adversary |
| Holly (Christmas Holly) | Ilex opaca. var. | Christmas Holly (December) |
| Holly (English Holly) | Ilex aquifolium | Burning Bush |
| Hollyhock | Althea rosea | St. Joseph’s Staff |
| Honeysuckle | Lonicera caprifol., Lonicera (japonica) | Lady’s Fingers (June) |
| Honeysuckle | Lonicera xylosteum | Lady’s Stick (June) |
| Hosta (Plantain Lily) | Hosta plantaginea | Assumption Lily |
| Hyacinth | Hyacinthus oriental. | Lily-Among-Thorns, Lily-of-Valley |
| Hydranga var. | Hydranga macro. mar. | Ave Maria |
| Impatiens | Impatiens Wallerana | Our Lady’s Earrings, or Mother Love |
| Ivy | Hedera helix | Where God has Walked |
| Jasmine | Jasminum officinale | Mary |
| Job’s Tears | Coix lachryma-jobi | Job’s Tears (Job 16:20). The seeds of this plant are often used for Rosary beads. |
| Jonquil | Narcissus jonquilla (December) | St. Joseph’s Staff |
| Judas Tree | Cercis siliquastrum | Said to be the tree upon which Judas hanged himself after betraying Our Lord. It is a beautiful tree, with lovely pink flowers in the Spring. |
| Larkspur | Delphinium ajacis, Delphinum (grandif.) | Mary’s Tears (July) |
| Lavender | Lavendula (offic.) | Flight into Egypt |
| Lilac | Syringa vulgaris | Ascension Flower |
| Lily-of-the-Valley | Convallaria majalis | Our Lady’s Tears. These flowers are said to have blossomed from Mary’s tears for her Son as she stood at the foot of the Cross. (May) |
| Lungwort | Pulmonaria officinalis | Mary’s Milkdrops, Our Lady’s Milk Herb, The Virgin Mary’s Tears |
| Madonna Lily | Lilium candidum | Annunciation Lily, Virgin Lily or Mary’s Lily
Note: The Venerable Bede (A.D. 672-735) described the white petals as symbols of Mary’s body, and the golden anthers as symbols of the glory of her soul. Roses and lilies were said to have filled Mary’s empty tomb when it was opened by the Apostles. While lilies’ association with purity cause them to be depicted with many Saints, such as SS. Francis and Claire, they are most strongly associated with St. Joseph, whose rod is said, in the Gospel of the Nativity of Mary, to have blossomed to prove he was worthy to guard Mary and become her spouse; with St. Anthony of Padua, because lilies left in chuches on his Feast Day miraculously remained fresh during the French Revolution; and with the archangel Gabriel, who is depicted as presenting Mary with the lily at the Annunciation (hence the name “Annunciation Lily”). Lilies are also associated with Solomon’s Temple (III Kings 7:19-22), and their beauty is commented on by Christ Himself (Luke 12:27). |
| Maltese Cross | Lychnis chalcedonica | “Maltese Cross” (or “Jerusalem Cross”). The shape of these flowers’ petals strongly evokes the Maltese Cross, and they are said to have been introduced into Europe, from Russia and Siberia, by the crusading Knights of Malta. |
| Marigold | Calendula officin. | Mary’s Gold (October) |
| Meadowsweet | Filipendula ulmar. | Our Lady’s Belt |
| Millfoil | Achillea millefolia | Christ’s Back, Our Lord’s Back |
| Mistletoe | Viscum album | Cross |
| Moonflower | Calonyction acul. | Lady-of-Night |
| Morning Glory | Ipomoea purpurea | Our Lady’s Mantle (September) |
| Nasturtium | Tropaeolum majus | St. Joseph’s Flower |
| Orchid | Orchis purpurea | Lady Orchis |
| Orchid | Brassavola nodosa | Lady-of-Night |
| Orchid | Orchis maculata | Gethsemani |
| Oriental Poppy | Papaver orientale | Christ’s Blood, Crucifixion Blood-Drops (August) |
| Ox-Eye Daisy | Chrysanthemum leucanthemum | Mary’s Star. The legend told is that the Magi followed the star to Bethlehem but weren’t sure where to go once there. King Melchior then saw the ox-eye daisy growing, which looked very much like the star they’d followed. He picked it, and the door to the stable opened revealing the Holy Family. |
| Pansy | Viola tricolor | Trinity Flower, Our Lady’s Delight |
| Passion Flower | Passiflora | Passion Flower, whose 5 stamens symbolize the Five Wounds of Christ; the outer fringe, the crown of thorns; and stigmas, the nails. See more here. |
| Periwinkle | Vinca rosea | Virgin Flower |
| Petunia | Petunia hybr. | Lady’s Praise |
| Peony | Paeonia officinalis | Pentecost Rose (does anyone know of any name or meaning associated with Paeonia lactiflora?) |
| Pink | Dianthus (gen) | Mary’s Pink |
| Poet’s Narcissus | Narcissus poeticus | Lady’s Rose |
| Poinsettia | Euphorbia pulcherima | Nativity Flower, Christmas Star |
| Pot Marigold | Calendula officinalis | Mary’s Gold |
| Primrose | Primula elatior | Mary’s Candlestick (February) |
| Primrose | Primula vulgaris | Lady’s Frills (February) |
| Quaking Grass | Briza | Lady’s Tresses, Our Lady’s Braids |
| Ranunculus, double-flowered | Ranunculus | I don’t know the medieval name for this flower, but it’s a gorgeous blossom. |
| Rose | Rosa | White: Mary’s Purity Red: Mary’s Sorrow and the Blood of Christ. Also martyrdom. Gold: Mary’s Glory Red and White: VisitationNote: The Rose symbolizes Mary herself (she is known as “The Mystical Rose,” see Litany of Loreto) and is described in Dante’s Paradiso when the guide asks him to contemplate Mary, “Why are you so enamored of my face that you do not turn your gaze to the beautiful garden which blossoms under the radiance of Christ? There is the Rose in which the Divine word became flesh: here are the lilies whose perfume guides you in the right ways.”Roses and lilies were said to have filled Mary’s empty tomb when it was opened by the Apostles. Roses are also associated with SS. Dorothy and Thérèse of Lisieux (who both send roses from Heaven), Elizabeth of Hungary, and Rose of Lima. St. Francis once threw himself on the thorns of a rosebush as penance. Since then, the rosebushes in that garden (near the cloister of Santa Maria degli Angeli in Assisi) have no thorns. See also the entry for Castilian Roses. (June) |
| Rock Rose | Cistus (landanif.) | Rose of Sharon |
| Rock Rose | Cistus creticus | ? Shows up on Shroud of Turin. See footnote for more information on the flowers of the Holy Shroud. |
| Rose of Jericho | Selaginella lepidophylla
and Anastatica hierochuntica |
This desert plant survives in a curled up, dormant, brown, dessicated state for years, and then opens up and turns green with a bit of water. After returning to a lovely green, it goes dormant again when its water source is removed. Because of this fascinating property, it is often kept dormant in the home and brought out at Christmas time to blossom and then close in order to symbolize the opening and closing of Mary’s womb. The plant is also known as the Resurrection Plant, Siempre Viva (“Everlasting”), and Dinosaur Plant. Read more about this plant on the Rose of Jericho page off the Chrismastide Overview page. |
| Rose of Sharon | Hibiscus syriacus | Rose of Sharon |
| Scabiosa | Scabiosa columbaria | Mary’s Pincushion |
| Scotch Thistle | Onopardon acanthium | Judas’ Cloak |
| Sea Pink | Armeria maritima | Our Lady’s Cushion. These flowers are said to have made a place for Mary to sit during the Flight into Egypt. |
| Shamrock | Trifolium dubium | a symbol of St. Patrick and his evangelization of Ireland, and of Ireland itself — but St. Patrick used it as a symbol of the Trinity, with each leaf representing a Divine Person while the plant remains one plant. |
| Snapdragon | Antirrhinum majus | Infant Jesus’ Shoes |
| Snowdrop | Galanthus nivalus | “Candlemas Bells” or “Purification Flowers.” These flowers are said to have bloomed on Candlemas, when Mary took Jesus to the Temple for His “redemption.” (January) |
| Spanish Moss | Mentha requienii | Mother-of-Thousands |
| Spiderwort | Tradescantia zebrina (Zebrina pendula) | Wandering Jew. The name for this plant — often used as a houseplant — derives from an old legend about a Jew who mocked and hit Christ during His Passion and so was condemned by Him to wander the earth until the Last Judgment. Two other species of this plant are also known by this name: Tradescantia fluminensis and Tradescantia pallida (Setcreasea purpurea, Purple Heart). |
| Star-of-Bethlehem | Ornithogalum umbellatum | symbol of the star that led the Magi to Christ |
| Stock | Mathiola incana | Our Lady’s Violet |
| Strawberry | Frageria vesca | Fruitful Virgin |
| Summor Phlox | Phlox paniculata | Christ’s-Cross Flower |
| Sunflower | Helianthus annus | Mary’s Gold |
| Sweet Alyssum | Lobularia maritima | Blessed by Mary, Mary’s Little Cross |
| Sweet Pea | Lathyrus odoratus | Our Lady’s Flower (April) |
| Sweet Pea | Lathyrus pratensis | Mary’s Foot (April) |
| Sweet William | Dianthus barbatus | Lady Tuft |
| Tournefort’s gundelia | Gundelia tournefortii | ? Found on Shroud of Turin. See footnote for more information on the flowers of the Holy Shroud. |
| Tuberose | Polianthes tuberosa | St. Joseph’s Staff |
| Tulip | Tulipa gesneriana | Mary’s Prayer |
| Violet | Viola odorata | Our Lady’s Modesty (March) |
| Water Lily | Nymphaea alba | Lady-of-the-Lake (July) |
| Winter Rose (Snow Rose) | Helleborus niger | Christmas Rose, or Lent Rose. A German Christmas symbol. |
| Wisteria | Wisteria frutescen | Virgin’s Bower |
| Wood Anemone | Anemone nemorosa | Candlemas Caps, Lady’s Nightcap |
| Yellow Flag Iris | Iris pseudocorus | Fleur-de-lis of French royalty, Mary as Queen, the Immaculate Conception |
| Yucca | Yucca treculeana | St. John’s Palm |
| Zinnia | Zinia elegans | The Virgin, Church Flower |
| Zinnia | Zinnia multiflora | Little Mary, The Virgin |
|
Herbs |
||
| Parsley | Petrosolenium crisp. | Our Lady’s Little Vine |
| Sage | Salvia officinalis | Mary’s Shawl |
| Rosemary | Rosmarinus officin. | Mary’s Nosegay |
| Thyme | Thymus vulgaris | The Virgin’s Humility |
| Chives | Allium schoenopras. | Our Lady’s Garleek |
| tarragon | Artemisia dracunculus | its botanical name means “Little Dragon” and evokes St. Martha’s slaying of the dragon known as La Tarasque |
| Dill | Anethium graveolens | Devil-Away |
| Coriander | Coriandrum sativum | St. John’s Head |
| Sweet Bay | Laurus nobilis | St. Bridget’s Flower |
| Basil | Ocimum basilicum | Holy Communion Plant. Pots of basil are used to decorate homes and to give away as gifts on St. Anthony of Padua’s Day. |
| Marjoram | Origanum vulgare | Mary’s Bedstraw |
| Cumin | Cummin cyanum | Cross-Cummin |
| Fennel | Foenlculum vulgare | Our Lady’s Fennel |
| Anise | Pimpinella anisum | Our Lady’s Sprig, Lady’s Tobacco |
| Spearmint | Mentha spicata | Mary’s Mint |
| Chicory | Cichorlum intybus | Heavenly Way |
| Horehound | Marrubium vulgare | Mother-of-God’s Tea, Mary’s Nettle |
| Sassafras | Sassafras (albidum) | Virgin’s Tree |
| Hyssop (Syrian Oregano) | Origanum syriacum | I am unable to find a medieval name for this plant, but include it because of its importance in the Passover, Psalms and Passion. The variety of hyssop properly called Hyssopos officinal., and known as St. Joseph’s Plant in the Middle Ages, is not the variety spoken of in the Bible and at the Mass. The Biblical plant is Origanum maru. |
| Catnip | Nepeta cataria | Mary’s Nettle |
| Feverfew | Chrysanthemum parth. | Mary’s Flower |
| Feverfew | Parthenium hystero. | Santa Maria |
| Chamomile | Anthemus cotula | Maiden Weed |
| Chamomile | Matricaria chamom. | Lady’s Flower |
| St. John’s Wort | Hypericum perforatm | St. John’s Wort, Fuga Daemon (“Devil’s Flight”), John’s Blood, Jesus’ Blood Drops, Christ’s Sweat, Mary’s Glory |
| Spikenard (or “Nard”) | Nardostachys grandiflora (or Nardostachys jatamansi) | The portion of the plant just above the roots has a patchouli-like scent which was used by Mary Magdalen in the ointment she used to annoint Christ. |
| Dandelion | Taraxicum officin | Mary’s Bitter Sorrow |
| Valerian | Valeriana officin. | Lady’s Needlework |
| Pennyroyal | Mentha pulegium | Lady’s Flavoring |
From Fish Eaters
