Bergamot
Wild Bergamot
Bee Balm
Oswego Tea
Scientific Name:
Monarda didyma
Family:
Lamiaceae
Flower Language
-
steadfast love
-
passionate love
-
burning feelings
-
peace
Description
A perennial herb native to eastern North America. The flower fragrance resembles orange, and oils are made for use in perfumes. As a member of the mint family, it's a perennial herb that blooms in summer. While red flowers are most popular, various colored varieties now exist through breeding. Rich in nectar, it attracts many bees, earning the nickname 'Bee Balm'.
Trivia
- Called 'Oswego tea' after Native American usage
- Used as tea substitute after Boston Tea Party
- Named after Spanish botanist Nicholas de Monardez
- Called 'Bee Balm' for attracting bees
Uses
Ornamental
- Ornamental garden plant
- Key plant in herb gardens
- Used as cut flowers
Medicinal
- Digestive aid
- Cold symptom relief
- Antimicrobial properties
Caution:
Avoid use during pregnancy
Other
- Source of essential oils
- Perfume ingredient
- Bath additive
Toxicity
Symptoms:
Non-toxic but avoid excessive consumption
Bougainvillea
Paper Flower
Great Bougainvillea
Scientific Name:
Bougainvillea spectabilis
Family:
Nyctaginaceae
Flower Language
-
hidden feelings
-
passion
-
charm
-
I only see you
Description
Named after 18th-century French navigator Bougainville who discovered the Great Barrier Reef. Blooms from early summer to autumn in colors including red, purple, white, yellow, orange, and pink. The colorful parts are actually bracts, with the true flowers being small white centers.
Trivia
- Colorful parts are modified leaves called bracts, not petals
- Discovered in Brazil in 1768 by Bougainville expedition botanist
- Prefecture flower of Okinawa
- Called paper flower due to thin, papery bracts
Uses
Ornamental
- Garden hedges and wall decoration
- Potted plant display
- Parks and street decoration
Medicinal
- Traditional cough remedy
- Used for skin conditions in some regions
Caution:
Medical efficacy not scientifically proven
Culinary
Not suitable for consumption
Other
- Natural dye source
- Dried flower arrangements
- Decorative cut flowers
Toxicity
Toxicity Level:
Mild
Toxic Parts:
Leaves, Bracts
Symptoms:
May cause mild skin irritation or gastrointestinal upset
Pampas Grass
Cortaderia
Plume Grass
Scientific Name:
Cortaderia selloana
Family:
Poaceae
Flower Language
-
brilliance
-
popularity
-
grand love
-
confident spirit
Description
A large perennial grass native to the pampas (grasslands) of South America. It can grow up to 3 meters tall and produces beautiful silvery-white feathery plumes in autumn. Recently popular as dried flowers for interior decoration and wedding arrangements. Hardy and easy to grow, valued as background plants in gardens.
Trivia
- Flower language 'brilliance' comes from beautiful plumes
- Recently surged in popularity due to dried flower boom
- Named after Argentina's Pampas region
- Dioecious plant; female plants produce more beautiful plumes
Uses
Ornamental
- Background plants in gardens
- Dried flower interior decoration
- Wedding bouquets and decorations
Medicinal
- Used for diuretic effects in South American folk medicine
- Sometimes used for joint pain relief
Caution:
Medical efficacy not scientifically proven
Culinary
Not suitable for consumption
Other
- Used as roofing material in some regions
- Soil stabilization for erosion control
- Researched as biomass fuel
Toxicity
Toxicity Level:
Mild
Toxic Parts:
Leaves
Symptoms:
Sharp leaf edges may cause cuts