Old-fashioned garden flowers

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Old-Fashioned Garden Flowers

BY

DONALD CULROSS PEATTIE

THE LIBRA

DEC 3

^NlVERSITr (

Botany
Leaflet 19

FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

CHICAGO
1936

The Botanical Leaflets of Field Museum are designed to give
brief, non-technical accounts of various features of plant life, especially
with reference to the botanical exhibits in Field Museum, and of the
local flora of the Chicago region.

LIST OF BOTANICAL LEAFLETS ISSUED TO DATE

No. 1. Figs $ .10

No. 2. The Coco Palm 10

No. 3. Wheat .10

No. 4. Cacao . 10

No. 5. A Fossil Flower 10

No. 6. The Cannon-ball Tree 10

No. 7. Spring Wild Flowers .25

No. 8. Spring and Early Summer Wild Flowers . . .25

No. 9. Summer Wild Flowers 25

No. 10. Autumn Flowers and Fruits 25

No. 11. Common Trees (second edition) 25

No. 12. Poison Ivy 15

No. 13. Sugar and Sugar-making 25

No. 14. Indian Corn 25

No. 15. Spices and Condiments 25

No. 16. Fifty Common Plant Galls of the Chicago Area .25

No. 17. Common Weeds 25

No. 18. Common Mushrooms 50

No. 19. Old-Fashioned Garden Flowers 25

STEPHEN C. SIMMS, Director

FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
CHICAGO, U. S. A.

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Field Museum of Natural History

DEPARTMENT OP BOTANY
Chicago, 1936

Leaflet Number 19
Copyright 1936 by Field Museum of Natural History

OLD-FASHIONED GARDE^jJe FifcOWiSi^S
DEC 3 -1936

Our grandmothers and grandfathers grew many flow-
ers now seldom seen and best known through old prints,
poems, and family traditions. The change in our garden
flora is due to several causes. The addition of the best of
Japanese and Chinese horticulture to traditional English
gardening resulted in newer, bigger, brighter blossoms,
more continuously in bloom, which naturally superceded
old and more modest plants.

But not all old-fashioned flowers were modest. A good
many are out of favor precisely because of their bold
hues. Our forebears esteemed "nosegays" of tumultuous
colors more than we; they admired "foliage plants" and
freaks and sports and excessive "doubling." Also they
grew a number of plants rather for their medicinal proper-
ties than for their beauty.

Nevertheless, some of their garden pets were charming
and deserve to be better known today. They are still to
be procured and it is a pity to be led by fashion in so
perennial a world as the flowers'.

In this little leaflet shrubs, house plants, and kitchen
garden "seasonings" have not been included. Excluded
too are many flowers that are just as popular today as
formerly, like hollyhocks, pansies, stocks, and snap-
dragons.

Field Museum of Natural History

JOB'S TEARS

(Coix Lacryma-Johi)

This loose growing annual grass from the East Indies
was grown for its "beads" or "tears." This structure, a
woody thickening of the flower-stalk, contains the female
flowers; the male flowers protrude from it. When polished
and strung together these gray "tears" make interesting
necklaces. Magical properties are often ascribed to these
beads. The culture of Job's Tears is continued in the
southern mountains. A variety with white-striped leaves
is a favorite.

East Indian annual. Grass family. Summer.

Old-Fashioned Garden Flowers

GRAPE-HYACINTH

(Muscari botryoides)

Grape Hyacinth, often called Blue Bottles, resembles
Hyacinth in a general way. The little jug-shaped flowers
hang thickly from the short stalk, and are white, lilac,
or generally an intense blue-purple, like grape. Their
odor, called by some musky and by others likened to the
smell on a baby's mouth, lingers in the memory. Where
old gardens have been. Grape Hyacinths remain, lost
amid the grasses; if they had more inches they would
still be popular.

European bulbous perennial, Lily family, Early Spring.

Field Museum of Natural History

CROWN IMPERIAL

{Fritillaria imperialis)

A very fancy sort of fritillary was this plant with its
drooping yellow or red, single or double bells and its flaring
bracts. The leaves were often white- or yellow-striped,
and the whole plant was showy enough for any taste — but
a bad odor has caused its banishment in favor of the
lovely Checquered Fritillaries of today. This bulbous
flower came from temperate western Asia.

Asiatic bulbous perennial, Lily family. Early Spring.

Old-Fashioned Garden Flowers

TIGER LILY

(Ldlium tigrinum)

This superb lily, easiest of all to grow, ought not to
be neglected even for the new lilies. The stem, 2-7 feet
high, is purplish brown covered with white down, and
bearing up to 100 deep green leaves. The flowers, 1-15
on a stalk, have bright salmon red segments spotted
purplish black. Double forms occur, the only good double
lilies known.

Asiatic bulbous perennial, Lily family. Early Summer.

Field Museum of Natural History

JONQUIL

( Narcissus Jonquilla)

The name Jonquil is often wrongly applied to the
Daffodil. Jonquils are known by their quill-shaped leaves,
each slender stem bearing 2-6 small golden yellow flowers
with a very low crown at the center. They exhale an
intense, sweet perfume. For reasons not comprehensible,
this exquisite flower, native in the Mediterranean basin,
is not often grown now. The broad-mouthed Hoop-
Petticoat Daffodil (Narcissus hulhocodium) which looked
like a lady in yellow crinolines, is also seldom seen today.

European bulbous perennials, Amaryllis family. Early
Spring.

Old-Fash lONED Garden Flowers

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FOUR O'CLOCK

{Mirabilis Jalapa)

Often called Marvel of Peru, this white, red, or yellow
flower opens in the afternoon or stays open all day in
cloudy weather. This elegantly shaped flower fell into
disfavor because it is not suitable for picking, and a hurried
age is less interested in watching the leisurely opening of
nocturnal flowers. Mirabilis longiflora is another and
more aristocratic species, deliciously fragrant at night,
but it is now quite unknown to most gardeners.

Tropical .American annual, Four O'Clock family,
Summer, .

10

Field Museum of Natural History

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COCK'S COMB

{Celosia cristata)

When brought to what the judge of the county fair
considers perfection, the farm wife's Cock's Comb is a
sport with wizened leaves, flattened stem and a crinkled
mass of what looks like red, yellow, purple, orange, or
amaranthine velvet. But it is in reality a contorted
inflorescence. Cock's Comb is, however, returning to
style.

Tropical annuals. Pigweed family. Summer.

Old-Fashioned Garden Flowers

11

LOVE LIES BLEEDING

{Amaranthns caudatus)

Transformed from the barnyard Pigweed by having
its clustered flowers turned to blood red is this old favorite.
Prince's Feather (Amaranthus hypochondriachus) was a
similar, heavy-headed species with flowers like red or
purple plush, once greatly admired. Amaranthus gange-
ticus is another species, often called Joseph's Coat, which
is still sometimes grown as a pot herb in Chinatown under
the name of Hon-toi-moi.

Tropical annuals, Pigweed family, Summer.

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12

Field Museum of Natural History

SWEET WILLIAM
{Dianthus harhatus)

An old English herbal tells us that "Sweet Williams are
worthy the respect of the Greatest Ladies who are Lovers of
Flowers." The French name "oeillet" seems to have been
corrupted to "Willy" — whence our William. This prim
flower stands as crisp and bright in the garden as girls
in calico.

European perennial, Pink family, Summer.

Old-Fashioned Garden Flowers

13

CLOVE PINK
(Dianthtis CaryophyUus)

This lovely flower, the single or hardy Carnation, was
the Gillyflower about which the first colonists often wrote
though that name is now applied to the Stock. The old
Garden Pink or Pheasant's Eye, a gay but untidy flower,
illustrates that the modern color adjective "pink" comes
from these flowers, named thus because they were
"pinked" or slit, fringed, or spotted.

European perennial. Pink family, Summer.

14

Field Museum of Natural History

LONDON PRIDE

(Lychnis chalcedonica)

A flower of magic and Midsummer Eve, this was called
"Flower of Jerusalem." From Japan it travelled westward,
and the Crusaders are said to have brought it home,
together with lilies and saffron. The old English name
for it is Maltese Cross. Only in New England was it
called London Pride. Its uncompromising scarlet is,
nowadays, considered too clashing with most other garden
hues. Dusty Miller (Lychnis coronaria) is a dignified old
flower with solitary dark red blossoms.

European perennials. Pink family. Summer.

Old-Fashioned Garden Flowers

15

PORTULACA

(Portulaca grandiflora)

In the century since it was discovered on hot plains of
southern Brazil, Portulaca has risen and fallen again in
favor. Often the railway station-master grows them in
his cindery garden, for they are as robust as the taste to
which their bright colors appeal. With their orange, rose,
scarlet, crimson, deep red and pure white blossoms, they
make a Topsy's bouquet. On cloudy days Portulacas sulk
and close their eyes.

Tropical American annual, Portulaca family. Summer.

16

Field Museum of Natural History

BOUNCING BET

(Saponaria officinalis)

People gave Bouncing Bet an honorable place in the
olden garden. Her somewhat insipid pink petals (often
double) and her rustic aroma (scarcely a perfume) were
not scorned in a more innocent age. But with improving
standards, and the influx of Oriental horticulture, she
was seen to be a bit plebeian and now she lives like a waif
in the ditches and streets. These she graces, still fresh,
buxom, and, indeed, irrepressible.

European perennial, Pink family, Summer.

Old-Fashioned Garden Flowers

17

MONKSHOOD

(Aconitum Napellus)

Deep blue-purple were the cowls of Monkshood in old
style "back borders." But blue-and-white varieties are
also known. The leaves look like a Larkspur's. Being an
autumn flower, this is a choice addition to the garden,
but its intensely poisonous nature inspires fear. Even
honey made from its nectar is dangerous. The root yields
a powerful drug.

European perennial, Buttercup family, Autumn.

18

Field Museum of Natural History

BLEEDING HEART

{Dicentra spectahilis)

Although this brilliant flower with rosy red petals
(the inner white) only reached England in 1847 from the
island of Chusan, it was taken up rapidly in popular favor
and is rich in old home associations. It is related to our
native Dutchman's Breeches, but is far showier, like an
old-fashioned valentine.

Japanese perennial, Fumitory family. Spring.

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Old-Fashioned Garden Flowers

19

WALLFLOWER

{Cheiranthus Cheiri)

A native of Greece, this flower with its odor of violets
is still a favorite in England. Here it must be treated like
a biennial, which is its only obvious drawback. Its petals
are either a rich sunset yellow veined with brown, or a soft
glowing Rembrandt brown, darker veined. A happy
brown is a rare shade in gardens and was rightly prized
by our grandmothers.

European perennial. Mustard family. Spring.

20 Field Museum op Natural History

HONESTY

(Lunaria annua)

The English traveller, Josselyn, who visited Boston
first in 1638, reported that "White Satten groweth pretty-
well." Gerarde, last of the great herbalists, wrote: "We
call this herbe, in Norfolk, sattin, and among our women
it is called honestie." Pope's Money is another old name.
It is not the pink-red flowers (too sickly for some tastes—
but there are blue and white varieties) that gave this
plant its favor, but the satiny partitions between the pods,
like silver coins, which make a lasting winter bouquet.

European annual, Mustard family. Spring.

Old-Fashioned Garden Flowers

21

GIANT SPIDER PLANT

{Cleome spinosa)

In old southern gardens this striking flower, with its
long blue or purple stamens, spreading like slender spidery
legs sprawling from the great frail, clawed petals, is still a
favorite with country people. The petals are white to
rose-purple. The drawbacks of this showy flower are its
clammy stem and strong odor. It is giving place to its
relative. Rocky Mountain Bee Plant (Cleome serrulata),
which is free of its disadvantages.

Tropical American annual. Caper family. Summer.

22

Field Museum of Natural History

HEN-AND-CHICKENS

{Sempervivum tectorum)

Like an old hen ruffling out her plumes to shelter her
scurrying chickens is this fussy rosette of fleshy leaves,
with its many little rooted offsets clustered about it.
The specific name tectorum, meaning "of the house-tops"
indicates where it was grown in Old World villages. Our
forefathers greatly admired a curiosity, especially a
facetious one, like this Houseleek. But the modern favor,
in the same vein, has deserted the Sedum family, and gone
over to Cacti.

European perennial, Sedum family. Summer.

Old-Fashioned Garden Flowers

23

DITTANY
{Didamnus albus)

Both stem and aloof white flowers of Dittany, called
also Gas Plant or Burning Bush, give off a volatile oil
that great-grandfather liked to ignite with a spark from
his flint. This feat can be performed (if at all) on still,
heavy summer evenings, the oil being thickest just below
the flowers. The glossy, lemon-scented leaves are valuable
for the back border. Some clumps have been known to
outlive father, son, and grandson.

Eurasian perennial. Citrus family, Summer.

24

Field Museum of Natural History

GARDEN BALSAM

{Impatiens Balsamina)

Closely related to the Touch-me-nots of our woods,
the Garden Balsam reached England from India in 1596.
Modern garden esthetes would permit us to grow white or
pink balsams, but the kinds that they liked in the old
colonies were bold red and yellow balls of big double
flowers. This is the kind that the Pennsylvania Dutch-
man still grows, along with portulacas and tub oleanders.

Tropical annual, Touch-me-not family. Summer.

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Old-Fashioned Garden Flowers

26

PRIMROSE
(Primula acaulis)

The aboriginal Primrose, at least in European garden-
ing, is this species with pale gold, faintly fragrant flowers
that are borne close to the earth in a nest of light green
leaves rather like those of young lettuce. Many better
"picking" species, and more brilliant colors, have come to
replace it, yet it remains the most refined and lovable of
them all. Primroses are still grown at Mount Vernon and
sold in the streets of Washington by old negroes. But
they are really ultra-English flowers, linked by various
traditions to the names of Shakespeare, Milton, Darwin,
Wordsworth and Disraeli.

European perennial, Primrose family, Spring.

26

Field Museum op Natural History

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VALERIAN

{Valeriana oficinalis)

Valerian or Garden Heliotrope got into the olden
garden because of its medicinal roots. The medicine
tasted and smelled so bad that grandmother was sure it
must be good for you. The odor of the flowers, however,
is delicate and spicy. The individual little tubular flow-
ers, white or lavender, are not impressive but the whole
head makes a filmy "softener" for bouquets that may
return to style, to vary the perpetual Baby's Breath.

European perennial, Valerian family. Summer.

ELECAMPANE
{Inula Helenium)

The puritan Fathers wouldn't have felt safe about
their healths in this un-Christian New World, without
their "Enula Campana." The flowers with 40 or more
long slender yellow rays, are really very handsome, almost
like sunflowers. The carrot-like roots yield the medicine
which is still known to prescription chemists. Inula
buhonium and Inula dysenterica were also grown, as sup-
posed specifics against plague and dysentery.

European perennials, Daisy family, Summer-Autumn.

28 Field Museum of Natural History

TANSY

(Tanacetum vulgare)

The greatest charm of Tansy is its feathery dark
foliage. The rayless sultry flowers are scarcely attractive,
and the odor of the plant is rank and irritating. Tansy
was an old ladies' bitter-tasting tonic and Tansy leaves
were put into Puritan's Easter cakes (to take the joy out
of them, mayhap). Some doctors consider the plant rank
poison. Tansy is still grown in country gardens, and is
escaped in the Atlantic states, especially around Boston.

European perennial, Daisy family, Autumn.

Old-Fashioned Garden Flowers

29

CHAMOMILE

(Anthemis nohilis)

Chamomile tea was taken in the days of Washington
by the best of men. Even today the worst of doctors may
prescribe it. It is also used as a hair rinse, but in the
garden we seldom see its white rays, which are short but
pleasing. The fragrant foliage is really very dainty.
Golden Marguerite {Anthemis tinctoria), with yellow
rays, is not genuine Chamomile, and its aroma is too
pungent.

European perennials, Daisy family. Summer.

30

Field Museum op Natural History

FEVERFEW

(Chrysanthemum Parthenium)

"Feather-fewe" is mentioned as a New England garden
plant so early that it must have arrived with the founders
of Boston. Its growth is bushy, 3-4 feet tall. No cure for
fevers, it was grown apparently for its feathery leaves.
A variety with yellow foliage is still used as a bedding
plant under the name of Golden Feather. Costmary
(Pyrethrum Balsamita) was also grown for its aromatic
leaves.

Eurasian perennials, Daisy family. Summer.

THE ILLUSTRATIONS

The frontispiece of this leaflet is from an old illustra-
tion in Flore des Serres, 1847. The photographs of Crown
Imperial, Grape Hyacinth, Jonquil, Sweet William, Clove
Pink, London Pride, Monk's Hood, Bleeding Heart, Hen
and Chickens, Dittany, Primrose and Elecampane were
loaned by Wayside Gardens, Mentor, Ohio; Tiger Lily
and Valerian by A. B, Morse Company, St. Joseph,
Michigan; Wallflower by Vaughan's Seed Store, Chicago.
Job's Tears is from a United States Department of Agri-
culture publication. All other photographs were made
by Hermann Lusche in gardens about Chicago.

THE UBI?/'"Y OF THE

DEC 3-1936

MWIVERSriY OF ruiNnilc