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Begining with 'L' |
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Leucospermum
Name: Leucospermum, sometimes called pincushion protea.
Description: Leucospermum are very strange looking flowers, almost like plastic pan scrubbers! A rounded head of springy, firm hooks curling upright. They grow as big shrubby bushes. You can tell this from the thick, heavy stems each flower is supported by.
Origin: Originate from South Africa.
Colour: Shades of orange.
Availability: All year round.
Care Tips: Care is the same as for all cut flowers. You will need to cut the stems with sharp secateurs as they are very thick and woody.
Trivia: The plant requires smoke from a fire to germinate their seed. |
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Lilac
Name: Mostly known to florists by its genus name Syringa (pronounced sir-IN-ga). Lilac is a well known shrub in English cottage gardens.
Description: The cut flower is far more glamorous than the shrub with long branches laden with flowers. The flowers are very labour intensive to grow but the final result is well worth it.
Origin: Lilacs were first cultivated in the middle of the last century in Europe, and most of the varieties developed are those still sold today.
Colour: Available in white, mauve, violet or pink. The purple-flowered varieties, which have the stronger scent are only available in spring for a very short season of perhaps six weeks.
Availability: October to May
Varieties: "Madame Florent Stepman" is the most widely grown lilac, a pure white flower named after the original grower's wife. |
| If you would like to send flowers for a special occasion, contact 01600 715724 |
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Lily
Name: Lilium candidum was the most significant flower symbol for Christians and suggested purity. As a symbol of purity associated with virgins it became known as the Madonna Lily.
Origin: One of the first descriptions of the lily dates from the Chinese Middle Ages "the plant flowers until late autumn and there are three types, red, yellow and purple".
Colour: Some forms (Lilium longiflorum, L. candidum, oriental lilies) are highly perfumed but white only; others (asiatic lilies) are highly coloured but scent-free
Availability: All year.
Care Tips: Remove the pollen stamens by pinching them together and pulling them up out of the flower. This prolongs the flower's life as well. Use sellotape to remove pollen, not water which will fix the stain.
Trivia:
Facts: Lilies have been cultivated for over 3000 years. Feng Shui believers hold the lily as an emblem of summer and abundance; to the Chinese, lily means "Forever in love". The lily was the holy flower of the ancient Assyrians. Until the 16th century the Madonna lily was the only garden variety known, because of this the "lilies of the field" as mentioned in the bible are thought to be this specific lily. A lily has adorned the coat of arms of the kings of France since 1179. King Chlodwig I allegedly received this 'fleur de lys', as it is called in heraldic language, from an angel. But in actual fact his flower wasn't a lily, as the name implies, but an iris. Via Louis XI the motif made its way to the coat of arms of the Medici family, and from there on to the arms of Florence and Tuscany. Interestingly, only the Florentine 'fleur de lys' has stamens like a lily.
Mythology: In Greek poetry, the lily stood for tenderness. It was also referred to as the voice of cicadas or of the muses. There is a Greek myth that tells us how the lily was born from the milk of the goddess Hera. The lily still symbolises pure, virginal love in the Christian world.
Medicinal: In the past, various flowers were used to prepare remedies in popular medicine. In China some served as lucky charms, while others were thought to be capable of averting the evil eye. In another historical account we read that people were interested in lilies for their anti-toxic powers and their capacity of curing depressions. In Europe, too, lilies were used as a remedy against a wide range of diseases and ailments right up to the beginning of the last century.
Caution: Be aware that lilies can be highly poisonous to cats. Owners should be aware of this risk and keep their pets away from them. |
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Lily of the Valley
Name: Botanically known as Convallaria.
Description: Little white bells arranged up a short delicate stem.
Origin: First cultivated in 1420.
Colour: White.
Availability: Mainly April and May.
Care Tips: Must not be left out of water too long. Keep cool and shaded.
Trivia:
Facts: Signifies a "return to happiness". Lily of the valley is much used in bridal arrangements for their sweet perfume. Traditionally associated with May 1st, especially in France where the "muguet" is handed out at special events. |
| If you would like to send flowers for a special occasion, contact 01600 715724 |
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Limonium
Name: Pronounced Le-MOHN-ium which comes from the Greek word leimon which means meadow. Commonly called sea lavender because it has lilac flowers and grows in coastland areas, or statice because its appearance hardly changes throughout flowering.
Description: Narrow stalks branch off into many slender stems, each branching into further stemlets bearing several tiny papery flowers. The flowers look stunning en masse, by themselves or as an ideal filler.
Origin: The species is native to the Caucasus, but it has been cultivated in the UK since 1791.
Availability: It used to be available as a cut flower in high summer only, but growing techniques and imports mean we can enjoy this flower all year round.
Colour: Shades of purple and pink. |
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Lisianthus
Name: Pronounced lizzie-ANN-thus. Also called Eustoma, Prairie Gentian or Texan bluebell.
Origin: Native to the prairies of Texas and Mexico, despite their delicate appearance.
Colour: Shades of purple, cream, pink, also pale green, or bold two-tone "picotees" with coloured petal edges.
Availability: All year round.
Varieties: Single forms look like fullblown tulips or poppies; double forms like roses or peonies. In wonderful air-brushed soft dusky tones which spiral beautifully and are unbelievably silky to the touch.
Care Tips: Longlasting flowers, if their stems are recut regularly.
Trivia:
Facts: Has been one of the most popular flowers exhibited by the Flowers & Plants Association. Many people do not know what it is, but everyone loves it! |
| If you would like to send flowers for a special occasion, contact 01600 715724 |
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