Glossary of Flowers: H

Hawthorn

In Old English, the word ‘haw’ or rather ‘haga’ meant a yard or an enclosure. Deriving from its original meaning, the ‘hawthorn’ is usually planted as a hedge of any garden.

A plant of the rose family (Rosaceae), more accurately, known as Crataegus oxyacantha, the hawthorn blossom is a symbol of hope.

It has long been used as a symbol of spring in English poetry. It is also called the ‘May-bloom’ or the ‘May-tree’.

In ancient Greece, this blossom has a strange association with the marriage-ritual. Hawthorn was used for marriage – torches- and it was auspicious for the brides to wear a crown of hawthorn during the wedding ceremony. As a symbol of hope, it carried best wishes and hopes for the happy couple to live a wonderful life of wedded love together. Hawthorn is classified in the division Magnoliophyta, of the class Magnoliopsida, and order Rosales.

Hazel

Hazel

In recent times, Sigmund Freud has placed his own unique interpretation to the world of dreams. In former times, the soul of a person asleep was thought to wander away from his body and visit places or perform acts of which he dreams.

Discovering hazelnuts in dreams predicted the finding of treasure. Almost in fairy-tale sequence, cracking and eating them meant riches. The dainty flower of the Corylus family is an emblem of reconciliation. Light brown in colour; the hazel flower evokes inspiration for many poets especially the hazel eyes of a lovely lady!

Heath

Heath

Since both religiously and scientifically, the world of flora came to existence much before the world of fauna, much of the flowers and plants around us in this sylvan natural earth is attributed special significances, especially associated with some religious belief or mythological tale.

St. Nicholas, one of the sacred and prominent figures of Christendom is believed to be the patron saint of the nest flowered heath’s and on the 6th of December which is the holy day of the saint, such forms of heath is offered with the prayers. The springs of this plant is traditionally left at the end of the bed, on the eve of Christmas. This is the traditional way of acknowledging his generosity on the auspicious day of Christmas.

In the special language of flowers, the heath is always associated with loneliness, and solitude – a time to communicated within oneself, rather that without. In the dictionary of flowers, every shade of human emotion and instinct has been given a corollary floral symbol.

Hemp

Hemp

Hemp or Cannabis sativa is a plant, classified by some as belonging to the mulberry family than its floral parts, nevertheless, even the flower has a unique history and legend associated with it. The flower hemp is associated with fate-the ups and downs of destiny. Hopeful brides to try and discover the identity of their future husbands used Hempseed.

If a maiden walked through her garden at midnight on midsummer’s Eve, practising the ritual of sowing hempseed in the soil, while reciting the charm – ‘Hemp-seed I sow, Hemp-seed I hoe, and he that is my true-love come after me and mow’, she would see the ghostly image of her lover following behind her, if she looked over her shoulder. Thus, according to such legends and belief, hemp helps to unravel the mysteries of life, provides the key to unlock the door of our destiny.

Hemp is the common name for a tall annual herb (Cannabis sativa) of the family Cannabinaceae, native to Asia, especially cultivated in ancient China, and introduced into the European continent even before the Christian era. The fibre of the hemp stem was used in making paper, canvas cloth, and other products. The male and female flowers are borne on separate plants. The chemical derived from the female flowering tops is used medicinally and is the source of marijuana and hashish. The dried leaves are used in Asia for a beverage.

The true hemp plant is related to the hop, which is used in making beer. Hemp is classified in the division Magnoliophyta, class Magnoliopsida, of the order Urticales, and family Cannabinaceae.

Houseleek

Houseleek

A lot of effort, energy and patience is needed to nurture and grow beautiful plant and flowers in one’s garden. In fact, gardening is an absolute passion, even obsession for some individuals. There are some cultivators who shy away from the common varieties of flowers, and often their choice though unusual shows their gardening expertise. Semporvivum tectorum or simply.

Houseleek requires sharply drained soil, which is light, and gritty, full sun and constant care. These evergreen succulent perennials have spreading rosettes of fleshy leaves. ‘Limelight’ is a variety – a sharp acid green form with red-tipped leaves. The stems of pink starry flowers are produced in summer. The species with small rosettes, which don’t spread fast, are particularly suitable for growing in containers, like Sempervivum arachnoideum with hairs like cobwebs. Houseleek, due to the immense labour and care put into its nurturing, is always associated with domestic industry – even a vivacious nature.

The leek is dedicated to St. David, the patron saint of Wales- and especially honoured as an offering on the holy day of the saint – that is, the 1st of March every year. It is the national emblem of Wales. Interestingly, the legend behind this leek as the national emblem is that any soldier wearing it upon his person receives divine protection from injury in the battlefield.

Hyacinth

Hyacinth

Hyacinth is any plant of the genus Hyacinthus, bulbous herbs of the family Liliaceae, native to the Mediterranean region and South Africa. The common hyacinth or the Dutch hyacinth has a single dense spike of fragrant flowers in shades of red, blue, white, or yellow. Another variety of the common hyacinth smaller blue or white flowered Roman hyacinth.

Hyacinths are classified in the division Magnoliophyta, class Liliopsida, and order Liliales, family Liliaceae.

Some flowers have interesting mythological sources of nomenclature. Hyacinth is a bulbous plant (‘Hyacinthus’) derived from the name of a beautiful Spartan youth, accidentally killed by Apollo, the sun god, while playing quoits; from his blood, sprang the beautiful flower- hyacinth. Whilst this flower is found in an assortment of hues, from the tragic tale of its name, the purple hyacinth stands as a symbol of sorrow, a request for forgiveness. According to another legend, the wind god Zephyr, out of jealousy, blew the discus to kill Hyacinth. From his blood sprang a flower, which was named for him.

‘Cape hyacinth’, a species of Galtania, with white flowers indicate in its own way, “I’ll pray for you“. The wild hyacinth (also called the English blue-bell) and the grape hyacinth are other varieties of the same family. While scientifically hyacinth is now considered a potential area of food research, the red or pink hyacinth in flower-language indicates play, games, and sports. In fact, the yellow leaves symbolise jealousy and the blue hyacinth represents constancy. In language, the term ‘hyacinthine’ is derived from the flower-source, meaning anything as lovely as Hyacinthus or of a colour variously understood as purple, purple-blue, even golden.