Plant Profile: Hollow Root (Corydalis cava) Our Lady’s Hens
Karen Meyers The link between Corydalis cava and the Virgin Mary rests on two features of the plant, its rootstock and its cluster of flowers. The rootstock consists of a hollow tuber…
Plants for a Mary Garden: Water Forget-Me-Not (Myosotis scorpoides) “Eyes of Mary”
The small, delicate, blue forget-me-not flowers link the plant to the Virgin Mary. The modest, yet beautiful appearance of the flowers reflects Mary’s humility and the blue color symbolizes her…
Plants for a Mary Garden: Common Sage (Salvia officinalis) “Mary’s Shawl”
The appearance and folklore of sage have led to an association between this herb and the Virgin Mary. The soft, velvety texture of the leaves brings to mind the protective…
Plants for a Mary Garden: Sweet Majoram (Origanum majorana)
The link between the Virgin Mary and sweet majoram goes back to ancient times. In ancient Greece fragrant garlands of marjoram were given to newly weds to wear around their…
Plants for a Mary Garden: Sweet Basil (Ocimum basilicum) Holy Communion Plant
The use of sweet basil goes back to ancient times. The ancient Egyptians used sweet basil in the embalming process and believed it would open the doors of the afterlife.…
Plants for a Mary Garden: Bachelor’s Button (Centaurea cyanus) ‘Mary’s Crown’
Bachelor’s button has been valued for thousands of years. Evidence from ancient Egypt suggests that its flowerheads were used for grave decorations, and it became a symbol of life and…
Plants for a Mary Garden: Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis),”Sweet Mary”
Lemon balm has a long history as a medicinal herb and was valued for its calming, healing, and uplifting properties. The ancient Greeks believed it had the power to improve…
Plants for a Mary Garden: “Our Lady’s Delight,” Pansy (Viola tricolor)
Before the early 19th century the name pansy referred only to the plant that we call Johnny jump up, not the large flowered hybrid that we know by that name…
Plants of the Bible: Phoenicean Juniper (Juniperus phoenicia )
Karen Also known as Arar this evergreen shrub or small tree grows on sandy or rocky ground throughout the Mediterranean area including Lebanon, Palestine, and western Saudi Arabia near the Red…
Plants for a Mary Garden: Germander Speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys)
Also known as bird’s-eye speedwell, and cat’s eyes, this herbaceous perennial is native to Europe where it is found in meadows, hedgerows, and open deciduous woodlands. It is a member…