MARIGOLD – MOTHER MARY’S GOLD

When one hears the word “Marigold” it’s virtually impossible not to think of the gorgeous golden colour that many marigolds offer us. Offering their warm sunny colours for most of the year, outlasting many other annuals, it’s a little difficult to imagine that they are actually associated with grief, jealousy and cruelty in their native land, Mexico. Still used today in a Day of the Dead ceremonies, it is the Virgin Mary that inspired the name, meaning Mary’s Gold.

It’s not all doom and gloom though, luckily this gorgeous bloom has been adopted around the world and many other symbolisms have been bestowed on them. The ancient Welsh used them to predict weather, knowing that open marigolds would bring good weather. It was also believed that keeping a pot of marigolds in a household with a tempestuous relationship would create a peaceful environment. Marigolds were even worn by witches to stop people gossiping about them or negativity coming their way.

TOUCH-ME-NOT – NEW GUINEA IMPATIENS

New Guinea Impatiens are part of the genus “impatiens”, which will come as no surprise to most, is Latin for “impatient”. The impatiently explosive discharge of seeds at the onset of the right season or when touched by passers-by is what inspired their genus name but also gave rise to another common name, touch-me-not. One can almost see an already impatient seed pod mustering everything it has within not to burst before the time is right and hence, not wanting to be touched.

New Guinea Impatiens were first collected in 1884 by Lt. Hawker in Papua, New Guinea, explaining the species name, Impatiens hawkeri. It wasn’t introduced into the US until the early 1970’s and then horticulture until 1978 though. The rest is history, as they became almost an overnight success and gardeners can still be seen fawning over their masses of blooms.

DIANTHUS – FLOWERS OF THE GODS

To mean, Flowers of the Gods, such is the reverence of the dianthus bloom. From the Greek words dios, meaning “god” and anthos, meaning “flower”, the Greek botanist, Theophrastus, cited the perfect mix in the name, dianthus. It’s a pity their odour is not quite god-like. They are members of the Caryophyllaceae (what a mouthful!) family which is derived from the Greek for “clove tree” which is what their flowers often smell like, but luckily it’s mild. They can be found growing naturally in the Mediterranean, Balkan Peninsula, and Asia Minor regions with everything from annual to biennial and perennial species.

Everyone should have heard their common names, carnations, sweet William and pinks, but did you know that the colour pink may very well also be named after dianthus? Pink, as a verb dates back to the 14th century, meaning “to decorate with a perforated or punched pattern” which would reference the frilly edges of dianthus. Another theory is that the origin of the word pink is the Dutch Pinkster or German Pfingsten for Pentecost which is when dianthus bloom.

SALVIAS SAVING GRACE

Salvias are their own saving grace hence their name being very aptly derived from “salvere”, which is Latin for “to save” or “to heal”. The plant has always been believed to have medicinal properties, from ancient Greek and Roman times, with results so compelling that even modern day trials are still being carried out today.

Pliny the Elder was a Roman scientist and historian who was evidently the first to use the name salvia. The Romans were so serious about this sacred herb they even performed a special ceremony to honour it during harvesting. In ancient Greece it was historically used for snake bites and digestive problems.

Salvia splendens, hailing from a somewhat cosmopolitan genus of around 1000 species, it is one of the most loved and respected garden variety annuals commonly found around South Africa today. It is a versatile, unfussy and floriferous addition to gardens that even a novice gardener will love. Although most commonly referred to as Red Salvias, Salvia splendens is actually available in a whole range of colours!

POPULAR PETUNIAS

Surely there’s not a living soul who has not heard of petunias at some time or another in their lives, such has been their popularity since the dawn of time, well almost. The petunias that were first discovered in the mid-1700 to early-1800’s in South America actually looked nothing like the stunners that grace our gardens today. Petunia axillaris and Petunia violacea originally had small white and purple flowers, respectively, which were luckily snatched up by breeders in both Germany and England who began the, eventually successful, search for the large colourful blooms that we can buy from our garden centres today known as Petunia x hybrida.

ALLURING ALYSSUM

Could the meaning of a name, in the language of flowers, be any more incredible than that of sweet alyssum, meaning “worth beyond beauty” or “sweetness of soul”? One would be hard pressed to match a description so daintily apt.

It’s quite a contrast then, to know that the name alyssum actually comes from the Greek word “lyssa” meaning “rage” or “madness” and the “a” meaning “against” giving it its meaning today, “without madness”. History tells us that it was used to treat rabid animal bites which makes sense of its more common name, healbite. In modern day it is obviously no longer thought to help calm angry souls or be effective in treating rabies so is not readily used in any medicinal capacity.

PRIM AND PROPER – PRIMULAS

When thinking ‘winter garden’, the vibrant palette offered to us by Primula malacoides (Fairy Primrose) and its cousin Primula acaulis (English Primrose) are among the first thoughts that come to mind. Both malacoides and acaulis belong to the Primulaceae family, originating in the northern hemisphere, and indigenous to Europe and much of Southeast Asia, but thanks to the work of breeders and the innate resilience of the plant, Primulas are now thriving across the globe.

The name Primula is derived from the feminine diminutive of the Latin word “primus”, meaning first, because they are among the first of the spring plants to flower. Don’t be fooled by their seemingly high maintenance names though, especially the Fairy, or their delicate appearance as they are tough, hardworking plants that need little attention once established. They even have a built in defence mechanism in the form of a chemical called primulin, particularly prevalent in P. abconica and malacoides which is deposited on their leaves by tiny hairs and can cause nausea and skin irritations, in more sensitive people, with direct contact. Breeders have all but eliminated this in our modern day hybrids though, so much so that very few suffer an extreme reaction, if any at all.

PASSIONATE PANSIES AND SHRINKING VIOLAS

What is the easiest way to tell the difference between our beloved pansies and violas? Their size of course! As the idiom “shrinking violet” suggests, violas are the smaller of these two beauties although it’s the Victorian meaning for viola which refers to “modesty” which gives a little more context to the idiom’s origin. Pansy, on the other hand, means “to think” and is almost always referred to in the context of love, which is so appropriate given how gorgeous they are! Literature suggests this is from Victorian references but also from French origin. The pansy flower has a striking likeness to a human face and has a tendency to bow forward, in deep thought in late summer giving it ample claim to its name, derived from the French word pensée, meaning “thought”.

From literature and arts to folklore and mythology, pansies and violas have a history and story that could fill an entire book. Shakespeare used references to both pansies and violas in both Hamlet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream while the ancient Greeks used violas in love potions, thinking it to be a symbol of love and fertility.

VENERATED VERBENA

If ever there was a list of sacred plants, verbena would be close to the top. Verbena, translated directly from Latin, means Sacred Bough and throughout history it was thought to inspire creativity, be a cure-all and some even believed it could aid in settling disputes, firmly locking in links to folklore and being magical. Druids used to offer a sacrifice to the soil before harvesting it, such was their veneration for the plant. 

MIMULUS – MONKEY MIME

If you’ve never heard of Mimulus before, it’s a great time to become acquainted with this gorgeous little bloom. Mimulus, translated from Latin, means “mime” which refers to the funny clown-face the fat petals of the flower make when viewed head on. Its more well-known name, Monkey Flower, is also a reference to the flower shape and with just the smallest imagination anyone can see a silly monkey face.

The earliest documented discovery of the common monkey flower was by Captain Meriwether Lewis, on the 4th July 1806, and amazingly, can still be viewed at the Lewis & Clark Herbarium at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia. Having thought the sample was lost, it was thankfully rediscovered, almost a century later, at the American Philosophical Society.

EVER BLOOMING BEGONIAS

In a genus containing approximately 1400 plant species, begonias are not short of variety these days. It all dates back to pre-1700 when a French botanist, Charles Plumier, started the tradition of naming plants in honour of other botanists by naming begonias after Michel Bégon. William Brown was responsible for sending the very first live begonia, begonia minor, to Europe in 1777, and by 1847 seventy or eighty species were already cultivated. As they say, the rest is history.

Of all the begonia cultivars, semperflorens is one of the most popular ones commercially available. The secret to why they are so loved is cleverly wrapped up in their name. Semperflorens, meaning ‘ever blooming’ or ‘ever flowering’ is exactly what one would want from a bedding plant. In fact, every garden should be ever blooming, don’t you think?

VINCAS – YING AND YANG

Madagascar, an island off the south eastern coast of Africa, is the natural home of Catharanthus roseus, the five-petaled wonder of the medicine world. Not to be confused with Vinca minor/Vinca major, which is an evergreen ground cover that produces blue flowers in spring. It was incredibly popular and quickly spread across the globe after European colonists started exporting it. “Good Night”, “Cat’s Vinca” and “Shameless Maria” are some of the folk names it has been given in India where, historically, it was used, topically, to treat wasp stings. Chinese, Philippines and Jamaicans are also said to have used it to cure a number of ailments which ranged from diabetes to constipation!

It’s a fascinating concept to think that Vincas, more affectionately known as Cape periwinkle, could be responsible for both saving and taking lives.

PORTULACA

In some parts of the world Portulaca is aptly named the “Time flower” because the flower opens and closes at specific times of the day. You can set your clock to it. Clever little thing!

Portulaca grandiflora is part of the Portulacaceae family and is native to the hot, dry plains of northern Argentina, Uruguay and the southern Brazil. It has now been naturalised in other parts of the world. Portulacas are one of very few annual succulents. They love it hot and they are drought tolerant. They will flower from summer up until the first frost.

Portulacas mature at around 15cm in height and 30-40cm in width, variety dependent. The reddish coloured stems are prostate or slightly ascending. The green cylindrical leaves are arranged in clusters around the stem. They are pointed at the ends. Both the stems and leaves are thick, fleshy and juicy.

MARVELLOUS MARIGOLDS

Marvellous because they are the brightest and most cheerful of all the summer annuals. Erect little soldiers guarding your vegetables from ‘nasties’. An enticing nectar source for butterflies. Relentless in their ability to produce flowers throughout their lifespan. A garden is all the richer for these marvellous plants.

In South African garden centres you will more than likely find the two most common Marigolds: Tagetes patula aka French Marigold and Tagetes erecta aka African Marigold which are, despite their common names, native to Mexico and Central America. Both the French and African Marigolds have now been naturalised in other parts of the world.

 Both of these Marigolds are herbaceous annuals with a dense feathery foliage. Each plant produces many stems which rise above the leaves producing one carnation-like flower per stem.

NEW GUINEA IMPATIENS

If it’s rich, luscious foliage and abundant, lively blooms you are after, look no further than New Guinea impatiens.

Initially discovered on an expedition to Southeast Asia where plant hunters found them growing on stream banks high in the mountains, they were introduced to horticulture in 1978. They proved to be an almost instant hit with gardeners. Not surprising really – the masses of flowers they produce throughout the summer make them outstanding for pots, hanging baskets and in the garden. Combine this with their lush and exotic foliage that keeps them attractive beyond the summer months and you are guaranteed a winner.

New Guinea impatiens offer compact and uniform colour with good branching, and if kept free from frost will last for several years. They prefer a sheltered and partly shaded position. If grown in full sun they remain very compact, and if they are grown in deep shade they may become leggy and not flower well.

GLEEFUL GAZANIA

Gazanias are little rays of sunshine with their vivid yellow and orange faces. Stalwarts in any African summer garden, they are the plant that just keeps on giving without much in return.

Gazania rigens are native to Southern Africa, although they have now been naturalised in Australia, New Zealand, the coastal Mediterranean countries and parts of America. Gazanias belong to one of the most economically important families, Asteraceae, which includes import food crops as well as garden favourites such as Zinnias, Dahlias and Marigolds to name a few.

Gazanias are perennial plants and can be easily overwintered in milder climates. In frost regions they are grown and used as an annual.

AMAZING ANTIRRHINUM

The common Snapdragon is a flower known to all having being introduced to it at an early age. Surely there is not one child who has not picked the flowers in order to squeeze the cheeks to make the snapping motion of the dragon? Having provided hours of fun, it is a plant we all remember with a certain fondness. In order to pass on the secret of the dragon to next generation almost every garden will, at some point, have Snaps in it.

Antirrhinum majus, commonly known as Snapdragons or Snaps, are native to the Mediterranean region of Europe and Morocco. Snaps belong to the Scrophulariaceae family which includes “old English garden” favourites such as Angelonia, Bacopa, Foxglove, Penstemon and Torenia to name but a few.

COOL CALENDULAS

Calendulas don’t have a large palette of exotic sounding colours. Nor is its design particularly flamboyant or unique. What Calendula does offer however is a ray of bright sunshine in an otherwise bleak winter landscape. A bed of orange and yellow Calendulas in full bloom will brighten up even the coldest of days.

You might know calendulas as the pot marigold. But don’t confuse them with marigolds. Calendula officinalis belongs to the Asteraceae family which is probably the largest family of flowering plants with over 25,000 species. In Southern Africa we find at least 2,300 of these species. Calendula is native to southern Europe although it is has now naturalised across the world in the more temperate regions.

BRIGHTEN UP WINTER WITH VIOLAS AND PANSIES

One of nature’s gifts to us at the end of winter is the sweet, fragrant face of pansies and vilolas. These gorgeous little plants really take the bite out of winter.

Bring some joy to your winter garden with these special flowers which are extremely easy to grow! They come from the ancient Viola species which has more than five hundred species. The name pansy is derived from the French word pensée meaning "thought", and refers to the flower because it looks like a human face, nodding in thought. Pansies have bigger faces and leaves than their cousin the viola which is also known as Heart's Ease.

POPPIES ~ PURE PLEASURE

Numerous gardeners have been inspired by Iceland Poppies (Papaver nudicaule). They are beautiful to look at, especially when the sunlight shines through their translucent, crepe-like yellow, orange, pink, red and white petals. Moreover, these elegant annuals have also proven their ability to transform drab winter gardens into show-stopping spring displays. May is the perfect time to plant Iceland Poppy seedlings to ensure that they weave their magic in your garden this spring.

Getting started

While some gardeners are loath to buy seedlings when they can’t see any blooms on the little plants, this shouldn’t be a concern. Poppies offer their best when planted early in the season, soon providing blooms that will keep on appearing right through to late spring. This is because they don’t respond well to hot weather, so the earlier they are in the ground the longer they will be able to show off their splendour.