Flora's Fancy
The Secret Language of Flowers
(a garden growing Ox Eye - Secret Meaning: Patience)
Yuletide & Christmas
Deck the Halls with flowers, herbs, and plants of the season.
December 25th
"The holly and the ivy,
When they are both full grown,
Of all trees that are in the wood,
The holly bears the crown"
The flowers of Yule and Christmas are important parts of tradition and regional festive displays. Enjoy this floral "Fa la la la la" for the season!
Click a flower for more seasonal and holiday folklore!
Amaryllis
Pride, Splendid Beauty
Other common names
Belladonna Lily, Naked Ladies
Christmas Cactus
Home for the Holidays (non-traditional)
Other common names
Dahlia (Santa Claus)
"Ho ho ho" (non-traditional)
Other common names
Foxglove
A Wish or Insincerity
Other common names
Fairy Gloves, Witches’ Gloves, Dead Men’s Bells, Fairy’s Glove, Gloves of Our Lady, Bloody Fingers, Virgin’s Glove, Fairy Caps, and Fairy Thimbles
Ginger
Strength
Other common names
Mistletoe
Kiss me, Affection, To Surmount Difficulties
Other common names
Poinsettia
Be of Good Cheer
Other common names
Star Flower
Rosemary
Remembrance
Other common names
Compass Plant, Compass Weed, Encensier, Herbe Aux Couronnes, Old Man, Polar Plant, Romarin, Romarin Des Troubadours, Romero, Rose de Marie
Artemisia
Absence
Other common names
Wormwood, Mary's Tree, Green Ginger, Old Woman
Christmas Rose
Relieve my anxiety or Scandal/Calumny
Other common names
Hellebore, Clove-tongue, St. Agnes' rose, Christmas plant, Christopher's herb, Christ's herb, Bear's foot, Black hellebore, Brumal rose
Euphorbia (Tiny Tim)
"God bless us, everyone!" (non-traditional)
Other common names
Spurge, Snakeroot, Asthma Plant
Frankincense
Faithful Heart
Other common names
Boswellia
Holly
Foresight, Domestic Happiness
Other common names
Myrrh
Gladness
Other common names
Rose (Charles Dickens)
"And it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge." (non-traditional)
Other common names
Star of Bethlehem
Reconciliation, Purity
Other common names
Chestnut Tree
Do me justice, Luxury
Other common names
Bread tree, Sardian nut, Jupiter's nut, husked nut, Spanish chestnut
Coral Bells (Plum Pudding)
"Bring us some figgy pudding" (non-traditional)
Other common names
Bell Flower
Fir
Elevation
Other common names
Fuchsia (Jingle Bells)
"Jingle all the way" (non-traditional)
Other common names
Ivy
Friendship, Fidelity, Marriage
Other common names
Bindwood, Lovestone
Pinecone
Life/Fertility
Other common names
Rose (St. Nicholas)
Be good! (non-traditional)
Other common names