Hamamelis virginiana is a large shrub usually growing in the United States and Canada that produces comestible fruits used either as dry fruits or as fresh ones.

      The leaves, having dimensions between 3.7 and 16.7 are frequently used in medicinal purposes. Another use is in cosmetics as the extract of Hamamelis contains several bioactive ingredients useful for the human skin in the process of depigmentation. It is used as ingredient in face lotions, body lotions and hair products and as additive in several deodorants and antiperspirants.

      A study made in the United States shows that Hamamelis also has in its composition: tannin, kemferol, saponine and leucocianidol.

      Because of its complex chemical composition the Hamamelis extract has astringent and haemostatic actions. At the same time, Hamamelis helps in the decongestion process and has great results in treating varix, haemorrhoids and phlebitis.

      The oval leaves fall in late autumn when the flowers emerge. The yellow flowers appear in late September or at the beginning of October and the fruits have a dark black color and contain comestible white seeds. The flowers have a pale yellow color and rarely reach an orange or reddish color.

      Native Americans used to use not only the leaves but also the bark in cases of external inflammations.

      Hamamels Virginiana enjoys full sun or partial shade and has a light reddish brown wood color and a density of 0.68. It prefers moist acidic soil and the best propagation method is by seed as cutting are pretty difficult to start.

       If talking about diseases the Which-Hazel has no major problems. It has high resistance when it comes to pollution and low sensitivity when it comes to pests or diseases.

Hamamelis virginiana Pictures Gallery
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      Bellis perennis is a small plant with evergreen leaves that have the shape of a spoon, known not only as a wild plant but also as a garden plant. Daisies are thought to be a symbol of love and purity. The shape of the flowers, white with the center colored in yellow makes it even more delicate at first sight.

      Considering the fact that Daisies are opened during the day and closed at night, the name might also signify the “day’s eye”.

      Being such an easy plant to grow, this flower will spread just by leaving the lawn uncut and because of this, daisies are sometimes considered to be weeds.

      Daisy is one of the flowers that can be found in bloom all year long and that requires no special attention, a flower that should be present in any garden.

      The plant can be propagated by seeds and the perfect environment is one with well-drained soil and plenty of sunshine. Daisies will start blooming the next year in case you choose to plant them outside. In case the planting process is done indoor, the flower can also start blooming the first year. The soil should be kept moist until the seeds have germinated, after that, the watering process should be repeated when the soil appears to be dry.

      To become eye-catching, daisies should be planted in groups. In this case, be careful regarding the distance between your daisies. If to crowded, they will have problems with the blooms that will be smaller than usual and the plant will turn to be unhealthy.

      Daisies are also used as a homeopathic remedy for several illnesses and it is used in cases of rheumatic symptoms, traumatisms of the pelvic organs or acne. In ancient Rome from daisies was extracted a juice that was afterwards used on bruises or cut incised wounds.

Daisy-Bellis perennis Pictures Gallery

      The Bellflowers often occur in temperate climates of the Northern hemispheres, and their variation depends on the temperatures and host soils, being acknowledged the fact that in alpine climates we can meet Bellflowers reaching up to 5 cm height, in temperate climates reaching up to 2 meters, while in Mediterranean regions a great variety of hybrids of the Bellflower.

      The Bellflowers are annual, biennial and perennial plants which produce beautiful flowers that comprise of 5 lobes usually. The color diversity is not very unusual as it varies between blue to purple, although there are occasions when the flowers occur on white and pink. An ingredient contained by both its leaves and stem is latex, a highly demanded substance in our modern times.

      Not only beautiful in appearance, the Bellflower is known to produce fruit as well, even if they’re not edible. The fruit can be described as a small container which is full of seeds.

      Amongst the famous species included in this numerous family we can mention the Harebell in Britain, the Bluebell in Scotland or the Canterbury Bells, famous for their cultivation in gardens all over the UK. If planted in the garden, the Bellflower needs a well drained soil and as much sun as they can get. They can also grow in partial shade, being quite resistant to unpleasant weather conditions.

      The plant reaches its maturity and it blooms in the middle of the summer, starting with the month of July and extending the period up until September.

      Appropriate to plant in rock gardens or small places, you can be sure that Bellflowers can really add a touch of serenity and colorfulness to your home and garden. Amongst the most popular cultivated species of the Bellflower we can mention: the Campanula punctata or the Little Punky, the Campanula rutudifolia, also known as Thumbell Blue, the Campanula glomerata Superb (Clustered Bellflower) and the list could go on.

      Bellflowers make for very diverse flowers in indoor or outdoor settings. Stemming from their biological makeup, they can also survive in many different climates and surroundings.

      Amazingly beautiful and easy to nurture, the Bellflowers can adapt easily to any garden conditions, lest they don’t suffer from cold or high sun exposure.

Bellflower Pictures Gallery

      The Aster belongs to the family of Asteraceae and at first; botanists had trouble with classifying this genus. Before the 1990’s it was considered that the genus contained around 650 species, but after this year the specialists decided that it was better to include some species in other categories and other particular genera, and so the Aster genus now comprises of only 180 species. Some of the most famous species of this genus are: Aster alpinus, Aster amellus, Aster divaricatus, Aster ericoides, Aster pilosum (also known as Frost Aster) and so on.

      The name of Aster comes from the ancient Greek and it refers to the shape of a star, the Aster being amongst those multicolored flowers which delight our eyes with their innocent appearance and their joyful colorfulness. They are known to bloom from August through October, but there have been cases when these flowers were even found in late December.

       The Aster is generally known as the September flower or as the Michaelmus daisy. Even though the Aster can resist up until Christmas, the flower is available to buy all year long through importation from other countries. Very appealing to use at creating bouquets or arranging one’s house, the Aster is mainly cultivated and grown in personal gardens where the care and attention of the owners seems to be just what this flower needs to reach maturity. Very resistant and un-pretentious to the properties of the soil, the Aster can grow even in the areas with less sun or partial shade and also, it can grown in cold and temperate climates.

      One curious thing about the Aster flower is that it doesn’t bloom in yellow or orange shades and it’s only available on white, violet, blue and even purple. The flower does not wither up until 10 day after its cutting and so this makes it even more sought by the florists who are continuously seeking for resistant and beautiful flowers to contribute to their unique floral arrangements.

      Many species of the Aster genus and many hybrids are known to be grown indoors, as people have come to appreciate the beauty of this flower and have found it comfortably easy to cultivate for decorative purposes.

Aster Pictures Gallery

      Poppy, a plant discovered 3000 years ago in the Egyptian Pyramids, used to be considered by some cultures a symbol of deep sleep and death. The first significance is inspired by the opium that can be extracted from it and the second one by the powerful red color that has great resemblance with that of blood. Greeks and Romans considered poppy a symbol of love or a sign of fertility that brings health. Poppy was also used as a symbol in literature and the best example is „The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”.

      Poppy is a small herbaceous plant that usually grows in groups and that has just one flower per stem. The diversified palette of colors and the not very demanding growing process, alows gardeners to play with it in order to create an explosion of beauty underlined by the fragility of its appearance. The colors can vary from white, pink, yellow, orange, red to even blue and in almost all cases the flower disks have dark centered markings.

      Besides the natural purpose of the plant that is as a garden plant, Poppy plays, because of the opium that can be extracted from it, an important role in producing several drugs or foods. Opium Poppy or Papaver somniferum is the species of Poppy used as an ingredient in producing several drugs and the seeds in cooking and baking.

      Being considered drugs only prescribed by doctors under close supervision, the morphine, the opium alkaloids and the codeine contained by Poppy can mislead people in judging the way in wich the plant was administrated. For example, the seeds produced by Poppy are used as ingredients in several foods such as muffins. It was proven that, if consuming muffins the result can be a false positive drug test.

      Some countries have chosen, because of the morphine contained by Poppy or even because of various religious reasons as in the case of Saudi Arabia, to bann the sale of the seeds.

Poppy Pictures Gallery

      The origin of the Yoshino Cherry is basically unknown and the species is thought to be somewhere between Prunus speciosa and Prunus subhirtella.

      Also known as sakura in the place after which it is named, the Yoshino Cherry enjoys temperate climates, has bronze-toned leaves and prefers full sun and well-drained soil. The flowers have a sweet fragrance, a number of 5 petals that are either white or pink and grow in clusters, creating the impression of a beautiful throng. When talking about the fruit, the Yoshino Cherry is nothing but delicious. Small little fruits that have a diameter of 8 or 10 mm and that contain a delicious juice considered to be a big enemy of clothing, as the stains will most definitely remain on them permanently.

      The elegant, beautiful aspect has turned the Yoshino Cherry into an ornamental tree frequently used in decorating public parks, for example. Because of the pleasant fragrance, the Yoshino Cherry tree is usually planted in a large number, in order to make it even more persistent, obvious and inviting.

      The best growing place for the Yoshimi Cherry is in an acidic soil with very good drainage. As the tree has drought-sensitivity, the root should always be moist and the planting process is to be done after taking in consideration all the requirements, one of being related to the light conditions. Make sure to plant it in full sun otherwise the result will be a one-sided crown.

      Some of the pests that could attack the tree are: aphids, borers, scales of several types and tent caterpillars.

      Several diseases can also harm the tree and in some cases bad weather can make the situation worse. Some of this diseases are: powdery mildew, black knot, a bacterium that causes leaf spot or twig cankers on the fruits and a fungus that affects the leaves by causing reddish spots.

Yoshino Cherry Tree Pictures Gallery

      The Bouvardia usually occurs on red, but other colors are also possible, such as white, orange, yellow or even pink to peachy nuances. If cultivated indoors, this particular flower needs a lot of attention as it can be threaten by factors which lead to withering, and so if not taken care properly its leaves can become yellow and will finally die out. One of the aspects that should never be neglected when nurturing a Bouvardia is temperature. This flower is a bit more pretentious that other plants when it comes to temperatures and light. The correct temperature is of 21 degrees Celsius at night and 26 degrees Celsius at day. Remember that a Bouvardia flower cultivated indoors should never be left in full sun, as the sun can heavily damage it.

      The name of Bouvardia was inherited from Charles Bouvard, who was known to be the personal physician of Lois XIII and also the person in charge of the Royal Garden in Paris, also known as Le Jardin du Roi, a botanical masterpiece famous even today for the beautiful decorations and for the selection of flowers and hybrids.

      The tall stems of this beautiful Bouvardia flower suggest distinction and its unique scent suggests that it is indeed a flower for royalties. Very elegant, the Bouvardia flower is used at decorating weddings or other special events. Judging by its appearance, this flower is no ordinary flower and the people who cultivate it in their gardens or indoors are aware of the flower’s distinctiveness.

      The commercial availability of the Bouvardia has no limits, as the flower is available worldwide during the whole year. The life duration after cutting its stem is of approximately 8 days, time enough to successfully celebrate any type of occasion or personal event.

      Although mainly decorative, it’s not unusual for this plant to be used in the perfume industry by the famous perfume brands which are continuously seeking special and unconventional ingredients for their aromatic combinations. The floral scent is very popular amongst women and so the perfumes which rely heavily on flowers’ scents are usually successful and quite expensive.

Bouvardia Flowers Pictures Gallery

      The touberous has a long and thin stem that can reach a height of one meter and the flowers occur all aroud and are shaped as bells. The little white flowers have a very strong fragrance that becomes even stronger when the night comes. It blooms in August, only at night and lasts for around 40 days.

      The leaves are relatively small, of a greysh-green color that usually occur at the base of the plant. There are also small leaves growing on the stem and one interesting detail regardin these leaves is that there are always simetrical.

      The propagation process is made by bulbs that should be planted at a distance of 30 centimeters from one another. The bulbs are very sensitive to frost and it is strongly recommended keeping them inside during winter. After planting tuberosa, the plant should receive water in abundance until the leaves appear and a certain regularity should be kept after this. Some important things to know about the watering process is that the plant does not enjoy alkaline water and that blooming might not occur in the first year.

      Besides the pleasant smell, Polianthes tuberosa has many therapeutical effects and has been used with this purpose since the XVIth century. The essential oils extracted from the plant are considered to be benefic for the human body as they induce a certain peace, amplifying creativity. The exotic smell of Polianthes tuberosa was included in several worldwide known perfumes such as “Pison” by Christian Dior or “Chloe” by Karl Lagerfeld.

Polianthes tuberosa Pictures Gallery

      The flower, produced from March to May, can reach a height between 20 and 50 centimeters and has 8 or 12 petals. The shape of the flower is similar to that of Daisies and the colors are identical: white petals with a yellow centered disc that has the role of reproduction.

      As it produces benzylisoquinoline alkaloids the plant has a big degree of toxicity and even though it is possible for dears to feed on these plants the sap is toxic. Its effect over animals is, destroying their cells.

      Bloodroot is not recommended as a medical cure. Even though it is said that Native Americans use to utilize it in medical purposes, professionals strongly advise those tempted to use this plant in order to cure some diseases, not to do it, because of the complications that appear.

      The misunderstandings created by those less informed, mislead people in believing that Bloodroot does miracles when talking about cancer. Several cases have been reported and many imprudent wannabe doctors have been sent to jail for causing terrible wounds to those in look for a cancer cure. As a result, many women have been disfigured when using it as breast cancer cure, because of the burning effect it has on the human tissue.

      In the United States of America, Bloodroot is used, in small amounts, in producing toothpaste even though it seems to be causing a disease called leukoplakia.

      Even though the flower lasts from March to May, the leaves remain green after the flower dies and persist until late summer.

      There two types of Bloodroot: those that are single-flowered, with 8 to 12 petals and those that are double-flowered, such as Sanguinaria Canadensis. The double-flowered Bloodroots are more popular between gardeners as the flowers seem to last longer than those of the single-flowered version.

Bloodroot Pictures Gallery

      The Liatris are perennial summer plants originating from the east of North America. Also referred to as Blazing Stars or gay Feathers, the Liatris flowers are strongly pollinated, as their blooming flower acts as a magnet for the bees and the butterflies. Although people use it mainly as a decorative plant, there are situations when people cultivate this plant indoors in pots. The life duration of this flower is quite long and it can even survive in the hardest conditions of winter through its corms.

      The planting of this flower should be made either in the autumn or in the spring, maintaining a generous distance of 30 cm between bulbs and also, it should be planted 5 to 10 cm deep. Like any other successful cultivation, solar light, a rich soil and water are indispensables. They usually require a resourceful soil and strong sun light.

      One should not be fooled by the apparent delicacy and beautiful aspect of the Liatris as it is a very resistant flower, very rarely susceptible to diseases specific to flowers. Something different about this plant is that it reaches its maturity from the top of the stem to its root. The Liatris usually occurs on purple and lavender, but these colors can vary until reaching shades of white, rose or even blue. This amazing colorist variety makes the Liatris so appealing to florists, as they can include the flower to any types of decorations and can easily cater to the specific needs regarding color of their customers.

      The Liatris is commercially distributed worldwide and is available all year long, as the flower can be used even in dried up bouquets.

      If you’re planning on organizing yourself an amazing garden, then the Liatris flower is what you need. It can offer the most vivid colors to your garden, with the least of effort, as the plant is known to be easily nurtured for.

      Another important aspect that any gardener should know about the Liatris is that the flower propagates through division or from seed in the spring. Because of the easiness with which this plant is being cultivated, most gardeners would want to re-cultivate the plant for future years because of its wonderful ability to adapt to any garden and also for its beautiful aspect as cut flower.

      By following the minimum set of instructions regarding the cultivation process of the Liatris you will be able to enjoy in very short time a beautiful decorated garden, full of colorful and lively Liatris flowers.

Liatris Pictures Gallery