 |
 |
Begining with 'H' |
[List All] |
|
|
| |
 |
Heliconia
Name: Common names such as lobster claw and parrot flower reflect their beak-like shape.
Colour: Red, orange yellow, pink.
Availability: all year round.
Description: The real flowers are tiny and inside the "beaks". Some less-common species may have furry beaks. The variety shown here has upright facing flowers; some forms, called hanging heliconia, have flowers which dangle down from the main stem. |
 |
Hellebore
Name: Pronounced HELL-e-bore and also called Christmas Rose the botanical name is Helleborus.
Description: The flowers' translucent petals and dotty stamens, combined with delicately pointed leaves, give the flower the appearance of a wild dog-rose. Smooth olive-green stems only reach around 20cms and give the flower a very dainty appearance.
Colour: H. niger is either bright purest white, or a warm deep purple. H. corsicus has green or cream bell-like cups in clusters, while H. orientalis has speckled and streaked flowers in unusual shades of cream, green, purple and pink.
Availability: November to January.
Varieties: As cut flowers hellebores come in three main species - Helleborus niger, the Christmas rose; H. orientalis, the Lenten rose and H. corsicus
Care Tips: Hellebores are short-lived flowers but very beautiful nonetheless. They benefit from a long drink before arranging and keeping them cool will prolong their life. Despite its beauty, the black roots of H. niger are extremely poisonous, so although it is safe to handle, hands should be washed after handling it.
Trivia:
Facts: The flower is used for winter decorations particularly in Scandinavia
Folklore: The Cornish refer to the Christmas rose as "The Virgin's Mantle". In medieval times it was said to be good for breaking bad spells and curses and was often planted near the front door.
Medicinal: H. niger was first described in a "herbal" in 1597, it was then known as the Christmas Herb or the Christmas Flower. Nicholas Culpeper's legendary 17th century herbal refers to it. It was regarded as a suitable treatment for insanity and depression. It was first referred to as the Christmas Rose in the 18th century because of its resemblance to the single wild rose (dog-rose). |
| If you would like to send flowers for a special occasion, contact 01600 715724 |
|
|
 |
Hyacinth
Name: The word hyacinth comes from the Greek Hyakinthos, a handsome young man who in Greek mythology was loved by the sun god Apollo. One day they were practising throwing the discus but the jealous god of the West Wind, who was also in love with Hyakinthos, blew the discus back and it fatally wounded him. From his blood grew a flower which the god Apollo named after him.
Origin: It was brought to Western Europe in the 16th century and was first cultivated in Austria in the 1500's. During the 17th and 18th centuries, like the tulip, it was to be found only in the collections of very rich flower collectors. Because of the hyacinth's pervasive perfume, the bulbs were exorbitantly expensive. The bulbs are now grown in Holland and Great Britain.
Colour: Usually white, pink, peach and blue. More unusual colours to look for include dark wine purples, rosy reds, navy, egg-yolk yellows and soft oranges.
Availability: November to April
Family: Hyacinthus orientalis belongs to the Liliaceae family and so grows from a bulb.
Varieties: Varieties come in all colours including pure white "Carnegie", salmon "Anna Marie", delicate pink " Splendid Cornelia" and baby blue "Delft Blue
Trivia:
Facts: Nowadays the cut flowers are sold with roots intact at the bottom to make the flowers last longer. Don't cut these off, but just give the stems a good rinse. |
 |
Hydrangea
Name: Hydrangea means 'water barrel' and refers to the shape of the fruit after it has sprung open. In any case hydrangeas need lots of water.
Origin: Japan - introduced into UK in 1788.
Care Tips: Vase life is about one to two weeks.
Description: small, star-shaped flowers packed closely together to form a rounded or pyramidal head. It is also a popular pot plant and garden plant.
Colours: White, pink, blue, lilac, green, red/brown.
Availability: Spring until Autumn
Family: Hydrangeaceae
Trivia: It is suitable for drying.
Varieties: Two common varieties sold are Hydrangea macrophylla (rounded cluster) and Hydrangea paniculata (pyramidal cluster). |
| If you would like to send flowers for a special occasion, contact 01600 715724 |
|
|
 |
Hypericum
Name: Pronounced hy-PERRI-cum, common name St John's Wort.
Origin: Native to the Himalayas and China, the plant has been cultivated in the UK since 1594 originally for its medicinal properties but now also grown commercially for its ornamental berries.
Colour: Berries in shades of red, orange and brown as well as golden flowers like giant buttercups.
Variety: Hypericum has increased hugely in popularity over the past five years. Then there was only one general variety of hypericum widely sold. Now there are at least six or seven named varieties available, all with different characteristics.
Availability: all year round.
Care Tips: Remove the leaves as these fade quickly and are not as ornamental as the berries.
Trivia:
Medicinal: Hypericum has also become better known for its medicinal properties. Under its common name, St John's Wort, hypericum is sold as a herbal antidepressant. |
| If you would like to send flowers for a special occasion, contact 01600 715724 |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
