Common Marian flowers

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There are over 1,100 flowers that honor Mary. Here are a few that you may be familiar with, with their medieval names after their common names.

  • Amaryllis – “Beautiful lady”
  • Baby’s breath – “Lady’s veil”
  • Bachelor’s buttons – “Mary’s crown”
  • Bleeding heart – “Mary’s heart”
  • Bluets – Houstonia caerul. – “Madonna’s eyes”
  • Buttercup – “Lady’s locks”
  • Carnation – “Mary’s love of God”
  • Chamomile – “Lady’s flower”
  • Columbine – “Our Lady’s shoes”
  • Dandelion – “Mary’s bitter sorrow”
  • Fern – “Lady’s hair”
  • Forget-me-not – “Eyes of Mary”
  • Foxglove – “Our Lady’s gloves”
  • Geranium – “Lady beautiful”
  • Honeysuckle – “Lady’s stick”
  • Impatiens – “Our Lady’s earrings”
  • Iris – “Mary as Queen”
  • Larkspur – “Mary’s tears”
  • Lily-of-the-valley – “Our Lady’s tears”
  • Marigold – “Mary’s gold”
  • Morning glory – “Our Lady’s mantle”
  • Ox-Eye daisy – “Mary’s star”
  • Pansy – “Our Lady’s delight”
  • Petunia – “Lady’s praise”
  • Rose – a symbol of Mary herself (she is known as the “Mystical Rose”)
  • Rosemary – “Mary’s nosegay”
  • Sweet pea – “Our Lady’s flower” or “Mary’s foot”
  • Sweet William – “Lady tuft”
  • Tulip – “Mary’s prayer”
  • Violet – “Our Lady’s modesty”
  • Zinnia – “Little Mary”