The name ,”Our Lady’s Fingers” for Stachys byzantina probably arose from Christian folklore and plant symbolism. The soft, velvety texture of the plant’s leaves suggests the gentle, comforting touch of…
Willowleaf sunflower is a clump forming perennial native to south-central US, primarily in Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas where it grows in limestone prairies and rocky outcrops. It is a…
Common blanket flower is a herbaceous perennial native to northwestern and north central US where it grows in meadows. It is a member of the aster family, Asteraceae, that also…
The name “Madonna’s Milk” for Lamium maculatum probably arose from Christian folklore and medieval plant symbolism. The white markings on the leaves of spotted dead nettle probably suggested drops of…
Italian aster is known as “Our Lady’s Birthday Flower” because of its later summer bloom about the time of Mary’s birth. The Bible does not provide information on Mary’s infancy…
Also called Colorado four o’clock, this herbaceous perennial is native to southwestern US from California to Colorado and Texas where it grows in deserts, grassland, hillsides, meas, and pinyon-juniper woodland.…
Narcissus flowered anemone is a herbaceous perennial native to northwestern North America and Eurasia where it grows in high mountain grasslands, thickets, grassy meadows, pastures, open woods and along roadsides.…
Hearts have traditionally been associated with the love, compassion, and sorrow of the Virgin Mary. The unique shape of bleeding heart’s flower which resembles a heart with a droplet falling…
Native to grasslands and meadows of Europe, North Africa and southwestern Asia, this rhizomatous, herbaceous perennial is a member of the coffee family, Rubiaceae, that also includes gardenia and Pentas.…
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…
Karen Meyers 
Karen