Ginger

Ginger originates from Indo-Malaysia, Indonesia, eastern Asia and Australia. There are approximately 40 species of tropical gingers that represent the Zingiberaceae family. ‘Zingiber officinale’, or commercial ginger, is widely grown and sold for its aromatic rhizomes, while other species are grown as cut flowers. The name of zingiber comes from a Sanskrit word which means "horn-shaped."

The flowers which come in bright red and pink are available any season of the year; the cut flowers may enjoy vase life for14-21 days.

Gingers are extremely sensitive to low temperatures and cannot bear any below 45 F. It should be kept at indirect sunlight and not placed in drafty places.

Ginger’s distinctive feature is strong vertical line; that's why it is commonly utilized to make height in various floral arrangements and designs.

Ginger Flower

Astilbe

Astilbe is a beautiful flower having the meaning of ‘I will be waiting for you’. Being one of the representatives of Saxifragaceae family the herbaceous plant is alternatively called False Goat's Beard and false spirea.

The first species which growers from Europe got to know was Bergenia crassifoilia. This Siberian plant with large red blossoms was first met in 1760.

This elegant pyramids-like flower blossoms in June and its feathery plumes’ height is about 2 feet. The plant is quite unpretentious; it may grow both in shady or sunny area. Nowadays its cultivars are bred throughout the world and available in various shades and colors. The most popular are pink, lavender, burgundy, rose, crimson and white.

Astilbe is available from March till September. The life of the cut flower lasts for 5-7 days. To take the proper care for this plant one should know that it requires much water.

Astilbe is often used as filler in a vast variety of designs and flower arrangements. Once can use either fresh or dried plant.

Anemones or Windflower - Its Medical Properties and Beliefs

A rich legendary history has provided the Anemones with plenty of beliefs and medical properties. They say this plant was sprung from the blood of Adonis. Romans used it to prevent fever; it also has been used for skin diseases, bruises and freckles.

Some nations believed that the plant is tainted with evil. Finally Chinese people associated it with death. The name windflower was given firstly due to Pliny's statement that blossoms of these plants are opened by the wind.

Many peoples considered this plant to be very useful in medicine. Anemones have an acrid compound named anemonin which is poisonous but might be used for medical purposes.
Thus some believed the plant was very beneficial to struggle against eyes’ inflammation, skin problems.

According to some authors the plant might be used in venereal pains, tumors of the bones, ulcers from rottenness, in indurate glands, in chronic creeping eruptions, in melancholy and palsies.

Thus, the above statements point out that Anemones and its species possess some medical properties, and before the medical profession windflower could be used for cure.

Greater Celandine

Chelidonium majus has the common name of the greater celandine. It is the one species from the genus Chelidonium belonging to the family Papaveraceae.

This plant originates from Europe and the Mediterranean basin. Beside of it grows in North America; the settlers introduced it as an herbal remedy to cure skin problems in the year 1672.

Greater celandine can grow from 0,3 to 1,2 m tall. It bears divided leaves in the length of 0, 3 m. The plant produces yellow sap and yellow 4-petal blooms with 2 sepals. Each flower is about 1 cm across.

The blooming time for this plant takes placer from May to July. Today one can come across a double-flowered variety.

Though Greater celandine is recognized as an aggressive invasive plant in woodlands and fields, its juice was utilized in old folk remedies for warts, calluses, eczema and, corns treatment. Today its tincture serves to remove warts, ringworm, eczema, psoriasis, bruise and sprain.

Jasmine

Meaning: Grace and Elegance.

Jasmine is a well-know flower throughout the world. Belonging to the olive family Oleaceae, it represents the genus Jasminum.

Having about 200 species, the flower inhabits in the tropical and warm climate regions of the Europe, Asia, and Africa. These attractive blooms are worn by females in their hair in the regions of southern and southeast Asia.

Its stems are slender, trailing and green-colored. Jasmine’s deep-green leaves can be either evergreen or fall in   autumn (it depends on the species).

The majority of the Jasmine species have white flowers with the size of about 1 inch. However one can come across jasmines in yellow color as well.


The blooming time of the plant is in such seasons as summer or spring. It usually flowers half a year after being planted.

Jasmines are widely used as the gardening flowers, house plants, and cut flowers. The flowers are highly appreciated for their fragrance. That is why a lot of their species are used in the manufacture of perfumes and incense.  By the way, Jasmine flower buds are more fragrant than its blossoms.

Trachymene - Didiscus, Blue Lace Flower

Being botanically known as Trachymene, it is more commonly called as Didiscus or Blue Lace Flower. The plant got its scientific name referring to the fruit of the Trachymene.  From Greek 'Trachys' means 'rough' and 'meninx' stands for 'membrane'. This summertime plant is native to Australia.

The annual bears finely divided leaves growing 2 to 4 in in length. The blooms are formed in round umbels at the terminals of the stems. Being about 3 in in diameter, they come from medium to light blue shades. Some consider the flower to resemble those of Queen Ann's Lace.

This annual plant can be planted in greenhouses or in the gardens for its nice cut flowers. Didiscus makes a good filler flower and an elegant mass flower as well. It perfectly looks in a vase and many floral arrangements. The plant may enjoy the vase life about 5-10 days.

Foxgloves - Digitalis

The botanical name is Digitalis, meaning 'finger-like'; in reference with the ease a bloom can be fitted over a human fingertip.

Foxglove represents biennial and perennial herbs of the genus Digitalis that includes more than 20 species. The flower falls into the family Scrophulariaceae.

Foxgloves inhabit in Europe, western and central Asia, and northwestern Africa. The tubular flowers grow on a tall spike.

The popular species is the Common Foxglove, Digitalis purpurea that grows in the North of the Unites States. It represents a striking biennial plant that is used to serve as an ornamental plant.

The flower of Common Foxglove bears bell-resembling blossoms that produce a stiff cluster. The length of the plant may reach up to 3 in. Its stalk can have up to 5 feet lengh.

The flowering time of foxglove is the whole summer season. It is available in white, lavender and deep purple colors. The majority of the species have purple sports on blossoms.

Pansies

Meaning: Free thought

Pansy represents the violet family. The flower got its name from the French 'pensée' that means 'thought'. As the matter of fact Pansy looks like a human face; in the month of August it nods forward looking as being deep in thought. The Pansy can be also called Violet or Pansy Violet.

Pansy may reach the length of 9 inches. This perennial plant's bloom is formed from 2 top petals, two side petals, beards (here three lower petals form the center of the blossom) and 1 bottom petal.

Its diameter is 2-3 inches. The shape of the flower resembles heart, usually with face-like markings in the centre. Violet is available in lemon, golden, and purple, orange, red and deep purple colors. Nowadays one can even come across bi-colored blooms.

Being highly-appreciated for its dainty appearance, this attractive plant is widely used a gardening flower.