Wax Flower

Waxflower is also known as Chamelaucium which is a shrub genus mostly seen at (endemic) South Western part of Western Australia. It is said that they belong to myrtle family of Myrtaceae and possess leaves similar to tea-trees. Among the flowers Geraldton Wax which is cultivated because of their appeal of large attractive flowers.

It was found by the French botanist Rene Louiche Desfontaines in the year of 1819. Though the reason for their name is unclear it is speculated since their petals give a feeling of wax.

There are 14 species that are recognized within the genus. It provides to a number of related genera which are close to that known as Chamelaucium alliance that include largely present members of Verticordia, Calytrix, Darwinia, Micromytus, Thryptomene and Baeckea.

They have oil glands and aroma which give pleasant aroma when crushed. Their well known flower Geraldton Wax is widely cultivated. During cultivation they require dryer climates provided with excellent drainage and bright sun light.

Source: http://www.altiusdirectory.com

Aloe Vera Flower

Aloe Vera has been used as a medical plant since the times of the Ancient Greeks and Romans. This succulent plant grows naturally in Africa and the countries around the Mediterranean. In warm climates the Aloe Vera will produce narrow tubular yellow flowers.

In colder climates this plant can be planted in containers. The Aloe Vera is a wonderful plant to keep in your home.

It does need a sunny place and well drained soil. It does not do well in temperatures under 10 ° C

Benefits

Aloe has a strong ability to heal burns. The gel is used as a protective coat on the wounded area and it speeds up the healing process. The gel has a soothing effect on burns.  It has antibacterial and antifungal qualities.  Aloe is the perfect first aid plant to keep in your home.

Aloe Vera is also great to use on poison ivy burns. Many people keep the plant in their home for this purpose only. When treating minor burns use only the clear gel from the plant.

Fresh aloe gel needs to be used straight away as it will lose its strength after being exposed to oxygen for a while.

Aloe Vera gel will help relieve eczema. Eczema is an inflammation of the skin and does itch quite a bit.

Treating the red and itching area of the skin with Aloe Vera will reduce the itching and speed up the recovery.

Aloe Vera in shampoo will make your hair very shiny. It has become a quite common ingredient in many commercial produced shampoos.

Aloe Vera gel is good to use on dry skin. Aloe Vera will help reduce wrinkles and the gel is often used for removing dead skin cells.

Aloe contains acemannan, glucomannes, enzymes, vitamins A, B, C, and E, amino acids, minerals, saponins, sterols and salicylic acid.

Source: http://usesofherbs.com/aloe-vera

Orchid Flower

The orchid family, Orchidaceae, is the most numerous in the plant kingdom. There are about 25,000 to 30,000 known species of orchids around the world. Orchids are found in all continents except Antarctica, from hot tropical jungles to the cold climate in North America. However, some orchids are found only in certain region of the world and nowhere else, for example, the Vanda genus colonizes only South East Asia.

There are two types of orchids: terrestrial orchids and epiphytes. Terrestrial orchids, such as Cymbidium, grow on the ground, while epiphytes establish themselves on trees. Each type of orchids can grow in two different ways:

• Sympodial orchids: the new shoots emerge alongside of the old plants, causing lateral spread. Cattleya is sympodial-epiphytes. Most epiphytic- sympodial orchids have storage stems, pseudobulbs or bulbs, to help them survive the dry season.
• Monopodial orchids: new growth is added to the apex, increasing the plant's height. The leaves are arranged alternately around the stem. Examples of monopodial orchids are Vanda, Phalaenopsis etc...

Most popular orchids grown today are hybrid species, creating by plant breeders in their hundreds of thousands. These "new" species may be the result of crossing two related species, or from three to four different genera like Mokara orchid.

Orchids are the most beautiful, the most sensual, the most exotic, and the most costly flowers. But you can enjoy them free at this site. Most orchid pictures in these pages were taken from the annual Orchid Show at the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis, Missouri.

Source: http://www.flowerpictures.net

Camellia Flower

If there’s a reason for a gardener to move to the south, it’s the camellia. You might say that this flowering shrub, which has been in cultivation for more than 1000 years, is the southerner’s answer to the peony. Similarities between peonies and camellias include lushly petaled blooms, and a tendency to live for more than a century.

Latin Name:

Genus Camellia, FamilyTheaceae

Common ornamental cultivars include:

• C. japonica
• C. reticulata
• C. sasanqua
• C. saluenensis

Common Names:

Camellia

Zone:

Camellias are reliably hardy in zones 7-9, although the fall blooming ‘Winter’ series and spring blooming ‘April’ series of camellias are hardy in zone 6.

Size:

Dwarf camellias top out at 2 feet in height, but many camellias grow to a mature height between 6 and 12 feet. Camellias are slow growing, and specimens can exceed 20 feet after many decades if they have excellent growing conditions.

Exposure:

Camellia plants enjoy light or dappled shade, but they do not like to compete for water and nutrients with trees in close proximity. Camellia sasanqua cultivars can take more sun than japonica types.

Bloom Period:

Planting a mix of camellia varieties can provide the gardener with a succession of blossoms from September through May.

Description:

Camellias are evergreen shrubs with dark, glossy leaves. Flowers may be white, pink, red, or streaked, and blooms can be single or double. Camellia sinensis yields flowers that produce tea, but is not as ornamental as the other cultivars.

Camellias stand for faithfulness and longevity in the language of flowers, and make a lush addition towinter wedding flower arrangements.

Planting:

• Know the mature size of your camellia, and plan accordingly if planting close to a window or home foundation.
• Plant camellias anytime except in the hottest summer months.
• Camellias require well-drained soil.
• An ideal soil pH for camellias is within the 6.0-6.5 range.
• If planting multiple camellia shrubs, space them at least 5 feet apart.
• It isn’t necessary to amend the backfill soil at planting time. Rather, lightly cultivate the top few inches of the soil, raking in compost or well-rotted manure.

Maintenance:

1. Proper fertilization is important for a large flower count. Apply a potassium-rich fertilizer in September to facilitate petal development. Apply a slow release nitrogen fertilizer in the spring to keep foliage dark green and lush.
2. Prune camellias after flowering to keep the interior of the shrubs free of dead and non-blooming branches. Remove any branches that droop on the ground.
3. Water camellias so that they are consistently moist. Dry periods that occur during bud development result in fewer flowers with a lower petal count. Drought stressed plants also open the door to spider mite infestation.
4. Control scale pests with horticultural oil during non-blooming times.
5. Apply a 3-inch layer of mulch to moderate soil temperatures, retain soil moisture, and stifle weeds.

Design Tips:

• In large gardens, place camellias as anchor points along the garden path.
• Use the camellia as an espalier specimen.
• Pair camellias with azaleas for continuous blooms from winter through late spring.
• Plant a blooming blanket of pansies under camellias.
• Coordinate camellia blooms with complementary or contrasting spring bulbs, such as crocus or Virginia bluebells.

Varieties:

• April Dawn: Hardy in zone 6; white flowers streaked with pink
• Elfin Rose: Pale pink blooms appear in October and November
• Fragrant Pink: Warm winter days bring out the sweet fragrance of small pink flower clusters
• Francis Eugene Phillips: Highly sought after for ornamental fringed foliage; ruffled pink flowers
• Rebel Yell: White flower with red blotches and prominent stamens
• Sea Foam: A perfect looking white flower with a crisp form
• Yuletide: Red blooms on a compact, four-foot tall shrub

Sources: flowerpictures.net

http://flowers.about.com

Lavender Flower

Many people appreciate lavender (Lavandula angustifolia, or Lavandula officinalis) for its fragrance, used in soaps, shampoos, and sachets for scenting clothes. The name lavender comes from the Latin root lavare, which means "to wash." Lavender may have earned this name because it was frequently used in baths to help purify the body and spirit.

However, this herb has also been used as a remedy for a range of ailments from insomnia and anxiety to depression and fatigue. Research has confirmed that lavender produces slight calming, soothing, and sedative effects when its scent is inhaled.

Lavender is native to the mountainous zones of the Mediterranean where it grows in sunny, stony habitats. Today, it flourishes throughout southern Europe, Australia, and the United States. Lavender is a heavily branched short shrub that grows to a height of roughly 60 centimeters (about 24 inches). Its broad rootstock bears woody branches with upright, rod like, leafy, green shoots. A silvery down covers the gray green narrow leaves, which are oblong and tapered, attached directly at the base, and curled spirally.

The oil in lavender's small, blue violet flowers gives the herb its fragrant scent. The flowers are arranged in spirals of 6 - 10 blossoms, forming interrupted spikes above the foliage.

Sources: http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/lavender-000260.htm

http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/Profile.aspx?PID=127

Anemone Flower

Anemone gets its name from “anemos”, the greek word for wind. It is sometimes called the windflower and the botanical name is pronounced a-NEM-o-nee.

Description

These perennial flowers have long stems and petals that flower in a variety of colours. The petals are small and round and most flower heads have about five or six petals. 

Habitat

Anemones grow wild in countries as diverse as Israel, Japan and Britain, and the flowers will grow well in any loamy soil, particularly when slightly acidic and enriched with compost.

Availability

Planting in October will typically provide flowers in May and June of the following year. Anemones are grown commercially all over the world and can be grown cheaply from bulb or seed.

Species

Anemone species are members of the Ranunculaceae family. Estimations vary on the exact number of known species, but it is certainly in excess of 150, with popular varieties including Snowdrop Anemone (Anemone sylvestris), Japanese Anemone (Anemone hupehensis) and Greek anemone (Anemone blanda).

Care Tips

When growing anemones from bulbs, always soak them overnight in a small bowl of water to prepare them for growth. If growing in outdoor beds, give your anemones direct sun for anything from half to a full day, and plant in 1-2 inch holes. Anemones can also grow successfully in tubs, barrels and urns if placed in good quality soil with adequate drainage holes.

Did You Know?

• Legend has it that the Greek goddess Aphrodite’s tears gave life to anemones as she wept in mourning for the death of the god Adonis. Anemones are linked with anticipation, and are thought to close their petals as a signal that rain is coming.
• Some myths claim that magic fairies make their beds under the petals of anemones after sunset.

Source: http://www.flowers.org.uk

Vanda Flower

The name Vanda comes from the Urdu name for one of the species, Vanda tessellatta, which has now been adopted as a common name for the whole genus.

Description

Orchids in the Vanda genus usually display five-petal flowers. Flowers can vary in colour and often come in bright shades such as purple, pink and yellow and many have spots adorning the petals. Size can vary from species to species, from small and compact up to many metres. The flowers are prized for lasting a long time – up to six weeks – and can bloom every few months.

Habitat

The Vanda genus originates from southern and eastern Asia. Species originate from China to the north as far south as Australia and everywhere in between, including India, Vietnam and the Philippines. They originally come from tropical climates and therefore like to be kept warm, but also appreciate cool air and plenty of humidity.

Availability

Propagation is difficult and usually reserved for experienced growers. Although it can be achieved by growing seeds, the other option is by cutting the top part of the plant and potting.

Species

The Vanda genus is one of 880 genera of the orchid family, known as Orchidaceae. Of the 50 or so species of Vanda, as well as many hybrid species, the Vanda sanderiana and the Vandopsis lissochiloides are most popular amongst growers.

Care Tips

Vanda have aerial roots which need space and to be left alone. The plant does not like to be disrupted and this may cause the flowers not to bloom. Vanda orchids enjoy regular misting and cool air, although they prefer warm rooms and cannot stand cold winters. The orchids are sensitive to ethylene gas, so it’s wise to avoid storing dying flowers, fruit or vegetables near to them. To encourage new growth, it’s best to snip off the old flower heads.

Source: http://www.flowers.org.uk

Stock Flower

Some varieties of Stock Flowers are biennials and others are annuals. The annual variety is sown in March but a bit earlier in colder regions. The annual variety is also known as “East Lothian” which grows in Scotland.

Description

• Stock grows as a single or a double flower having a diameter of about one inch.
• These flowers have a pleasing spicy and sweet scent which resembles that of cloves.
• The flowers come in colors like pink, burgundy, cream, peach, yellow, lavender and purple.

Growing Conditions

• Stock flowers grow best in humid and cool coastal areas.
• There are however some varieties of stock which can tolerate hotter climates.
• These flowers can resist light frost and so is capable of blooming in the winter too.
• Stocks need plenty of sunshine in the main growing period.

 

Facts about Stock Flowers

• Stock flowers belong to the mustard family and are native to the Mediterranean region.
• These flowers are popular for lining flower beds where they can be planted in rows.
• They are popular as for indoor flower arrangements and have a vase life of about 8 days.

Source: http://www.altiusdirectory.com

Carnation Flower

History and Etymology 

Being one of the most popular flower in the world, carnation is the favorite to be used as boutonnieres, bouquets, in corsages and in a wide range of floral arrangements. The flower is thought to be originally from the Mediterranean area of the world. The name of the flower is believed by some to be originated from the word “corone” which mean floral garland.

It is sometimes also referred to as “dianthus” (dios= god Zeus and anthos= flower), a scientific name given by the Greek botanist Theopharastus. Carnations are thus “The Flowers of God”. The ancient Greeks and Romans cultivated these flowers specifically for decorative purposes like for use in garlands, wreaths and other decor projects. In ancient Rome this flower were known as “Jove’s Flower” as a tribute to one of their beloved gods. According to Christian legend, these flowers appeared on earth from Mary’s tear at Jesus’s carrying of the cross.

Beliefs, Symbolism and Uses

This Spain’s national flower is traditionally worn by students sitting a first exam at England’s Oxford University (white carnation to the first exam, red to the last and pink to every exam in between). It is also the symbol of the Portuguese Carnation Revolution and the provincial flower of the autonomuos community of the Balearic Islands. It is the national symbol of Slovenia, scarlet carnation is the state flower of Ohio, this choice was made to honour the governor of Ohio, William Mckinley and the US President who was assassinated in 1901.

Pink and red carnations are used in Korea for showing love and gratitude toward their parents on Parents Day (Koreans celebrate Mother’s day and Father’s day in the same day, on May 8). White carnations are often worn by students or children honoring mothers who are far away or dead. Green carnations are for St. Patrick’s Day. Purple carnations are the traditional funeral flower in France, given in condolence for the death of a loved one.

Other Interesting Information

However, in some cultures, especially France and Francophone culture – the carnation symbolises bad luck and misfortune. To tell the fortune of a young girl in Korea, they put three carnations in the girl’s hair, if the bottom bloom dies first she will have a hard time her whole life. If the middle flower dies first the girl will have trouble in her youth but then life will improve. If the top then her life will be hard only at the end of her life.

Since carnation has the meaning of admiration, gratitude and love, people especially students often express their gratitude and admiration to their teachers with carnations on Teacher's Day. The flowers are also used in beds, borders and pots. Some species of carnation are highly fragrant. Carnations are exotic to Australia, but have been commercially grown as a flower crop since 1954.

Carnation is a perennial plant that comes in many colors including yellow, purple, mauve, maroon, red, peach, pink and white, each depicting different emotion. It can be used alone or in combination with many colors (depending on personal taste) to form beautiful and attractive bouquets and floral arrangements for special occasion especially Mother’s day and weddings.

Carnations require well-drained, neutral to slightly alkaline soil with full sunlight. Annual carnations, border carnations and perpetual-flowering carnations are the three most common kind of carnations.

Carnation Color Meanings

Carnations are known as flowers that express feeling, each color of carnation has a different meaning and it is always a good idea to check the meaning of the paticular color of the flower before you give them to someone. Red carnation is symbolic of deep love or admiration, depending on the depth of the red. Pink symbolizes mother’s love, purple color indicates capriciousness, white color means pure love, striped carnation means regret or refusal and yellow represents dejection.

Source: http://susanwong.hubpages.com/

Baby's Breath Flower

Gypsophlia is a genus of about 100 species of flowering plants. Many species don’t like acid soils and are found on calcium rich soils that are high in gypsum hence the name of the genus. Baby’s breath can be both an herbaceous annual Gypsophila murslis and a perennial Gypsophila paniculata that is able to withstand periods of short- term drought.

The plant grows 12-18” tall and has leaves that are narrow, up to 4” long and sickle shaped. It has slender stems that are openly branched and a deep taproot. Baby’s breath has flowers that are small, white, and dense. These delicate clusters have five white or pink petals. It can produce over 13,000 seeds per plant. Baby’s breath has a long blooming time, lasting from early summer to early autumn. It doesn’t transplant well so seeds are usually sown in the early spring. Baby’s breath likes partial shade to full sun.

It seems to do best in areas where the annual precipitation ranges from 25-112 cm and does well in coarse soil where it develops a deep root system. Two popular varieties are Bristol Fairy and Pink Fairy.

Baby’s breath often grows wild in waste areas and is often seen growing along roadsides. It is grown for dry land wildflower mixtures and used in gardens as both a flower and as ground cover. Florists use it extensively in the cut flower industry as filler in bouquets. Baby’s breath can also be easily dried and used for decorative purposes.

It is hand harvested and can be cut fresh or left to dry in the fields. Pickers often harvest and bundle it with rubber bands. To dry baby’s breath it should be stored in a dark, airy place. If cut fresh, growers can dip the stems in colored glycerin and color its flowers. 

In Europe the root of baby’s breath is used for its saponin content. Saponin is a plant chemical that forms soapy lathers when gitated with water and can be used in detergents, and emulsifiers.

In Washington State, Gypsophila paniculata is a class C noxious weed and is invasive in some situations. Baby’s breath is grown in Washington both in fields as a crop and is also collected in the wild. An actual acreage count in Washington is difficult for the collection of wild baby’s breath since most is not reported.

However, the collection and sales of cultivated baby’s breath is a multimilliondollar industry in the state. Wild baby’s breath grows throughout the arid region of the state from the Canadian border to the Oregon border.

 

From many sources

Acacia Flower

ACACIA (a-ka’sha). About 1200 species of acacia are scattered through the warm regions of the world. Most of them are shrubs or small trees. Some are matted plants a few inches high. All are thorny and pod-bearing.

The tiny sweet-smelling blossoms cluster together in fluffy balls or cylinder shapes. They range in color from deep yellow to almost white. The leaves are usually grayish and fernlike. The acacia is quick-growing and short-lived. 

Australia has about 300 species of acacia. The early settlers called them wattles because they used the plant branches to make wattle-and-daub huts. The golden wattle is Australia’s national Bower.

In the southwestern United States acacias are grown in many parks and gardens. The ornamental species were imported from Australia. The native catclaw (Texas mimosa) growswild and types of flower is heartily disliked because of its strong hooked spines. The Arizona Indians, however, made meal of the pods. Smaller acacias are eaten by cattle and horses.

Gum arabic is obtained from an African species (see Gums and Resins). The Australians get tannin, used for tanning leather, from the bark of some species and make furniture of the hard, dark “black-wood” of acacia. The wood of an Indian species is the chief source of catechu, a dye for true khaki. France grows several kinds for perfume.

The genus acacia belongs to the mimosa tribe of the pea family. The black locust is sometimes called “false acacia” . The plant that florists call mimosa is actually an acacia.

Several products in the food and manufacturing industries are obtained from acacia. The best known of these is gum Arabic which is used in both candy and medicine. Other acacia gums are used in dyes. Tannin, used for tanning leather, comes from the bark of some acacia trees, especially the wattle.

There are only a few members of this genus in the United States. The most important of these is the cat’s claw tree. It is found on the dry, steep hillsides and canyons of the Southwest. Acacias also are grown in California where the winters are mild. Indians use the seeds from the pods as food. In the United States the name acacia sometimes is used for locust trees, which are members of the same family. Both the bristly and clammy locusts have been called rose-acacia.

Source: http://www.flowers-cs.com