Common Name

Scientific name

Plant Family

Life Span

Height

Preferences

Comments

Historical notes

bachelor buttons, cornflower

Centaurea cyanus

Sunflower

(Asteraceae)

a; medium

full sun, good soil

borage

Borago officinalis

Borage

(Boraginaceae)

a sometimes b; to 2' tall

full sun, rich soil

No known toxin, considered safe cooked or raw

Both flowers and leaves eaten in Middle Ages, raw or cooked

clove pink,

clove gillyflower, dianthus

Dianthus caryophyllus

Carnation

(Caryophyllaceae)

p; short

full sun, well-drained soil

Close relative of carnations; "pink" because of "pinking" of petals, not color

columbine

Aquilegia vulgaris

Buttercup

(Ranunculaceae)

p; medium

Self-seeds well

Medicinal,

There are many species of columbine; only the European ones were known in the early Middle Ages

foxglove

Digitalis purpurea

Figwort

(Scrophulariaceae)

p; medium

Shade preferred;

moist well-drained soil

Handsome red to purple flowers

DO NOT EAT: toxic; source of heart medicine digitalis,

houseleek;

hens-and chickens; jupiter's beard

Sempervivum tectorum

Stonecrop

(Crassulaceae)

p; low plant, leaves under 6"; flowering stalks to 1' tall; spreads

Prefers sun; tolerates shade; will grow in many soils

"leek" here is the AngloSaxon for "plant"

Used as burn cream; on roofs will prevent lightning strikes

iris

German iris

Florentine iris

Iris x germanica or I. germanica florentina

Iris

(Iridaceae)

p; medium

Good soil, full sun (partial shade in hot areas)

Source of orris root

DO NOT EAT

European irises seem to have been eaten as well as used medicinally. However, some iris species such as the American blue flag, are quite toxic. We grow irises from Europe, Japan and America, at least. Misidentification could be very serious.

lavender

Lavandula angustifolia

Mint

(Lamiaceae)

p; medium

full sun, good soil

In Middle Ages, used for both cooking and to provide pleasant odor. Although we rarely eat it, there seems to be no problem: considered safe.

lily, madonna

Lilium album

Lily

(Liliaceae)

p; leaves short, flowering stalk tall

DO NOT EAT

Identified with the Virgin Mary

lily-of-the-valley

Convallaria majalis

Snakeplant

(Ruscaceae)

p; to 1' tall

Partial to full shade; likes rich soil

Spreads well, flowers smell good

DO NOT EAT

marigold,

calendula

Calendula officinalis

Sunflower

(Asteraceae)

a sometimes b; medium

Prefers good soil, full sun to partial shade

There are 2 modern plants called ?marigold? only calendula is a Medieval herb (the other marigold, Tagetesspp.is from the Americas)

Edible flowers and leaves; considered safe in modern sources

pansy

Viola tricolor

Violet

(Violaceae)

P but rarely winter hardy in Calontir; small

Full sun to partial shade; tolerant of many soils

Edible flowers

peony

Paeonia officinalis

Peony

(Paeonaceae)

p, small

Average soil; sun

POISONOUS!

Medieval medicine used the roots; the whole plant is considered too toxic to use today

periwinkle

Vinca major and Vinca minor

Apocynaceae

p Spreading ground cover;

prefers partial shade (full shade? in hot conditions); good soil

DO NOT EAT

primrose

Primula vulgaris

Primrose

(Primulaceae)

a usually not winter hardy in Calontir; to 1' tall

Full sun to partial shade; good soil; needs to be well-watered

rose

Rosa spp.

Rose

(Rosaaceae)

perennial; thorny; tall

Full sun to partial shade; good soil; needs to be well-watered

There are many species of rose in both Europe and North America and rose breeding has generated many hybrids.

Rose petals eaten, used medicinally in the Middle Ages; roses had many religious associations and of course the two sides of the War of the Roses used them as badges.

saffron, saffron crocus

Crocus sativus

Iris

(Iridaceae)

p, small

Average soil; sun to partial shade

PLANT POISONOUS

Saffron is taken from the stigmas, hence the high price. The rest of the plant and any other crocus species should be considered poisonous

violet

Viola odorata

Violet

(Violaceae)

p; small

Full sun to partial shade; tolerant of many soils

There are 200 violet species; you can tell the true Medieval violet: it's the only one with scented flowers.

Edible flowers

Flowers of all true violets, also pansies and Johnny-jump-ups can be safely eaten.

Do not eat dogtooth violets and African violets