Go to Home Page
Intro Mary Garden
The Cloisters - Mary's U.S. Botanical Garden
John S. Stokes Jr. 1999
Comprehensive collections of plants for countries, regions and the
world are to be found in botanical gardens at many major cities.
World-wide the Flowers of Our Lady may be considered - according to
their origins - in three major groups: those of the temperate
climates of Europe, of the Mediterranean climate of the Holy Land
and of the tropical climates of Latin America.
When we undertook our Mary's Gardens research into the symbolic
Flowers of Our Lady of medieval tradition in 1950, we turned to the
plant collection of the Cloisters at Ft. Tryon Park, New York
City, to see and to photograph those of medieval Europe - until we
were able to grow them in our own seed starting and nursery beds.
We later found many of these, together with additional English
wildflowers, at the specimen beds of Kew Gardens in London.
We found that the planting of the Bonnefont Cloister - then
maintained by Cloisters Horticulturalist, Esther Ann Hubner
according to the 1938 planting plan developed by James J. Rorimer,
Curator of the Department of Medieval Art of the Metropolitan
Museum of Art, parent organization of The Cloisters - included in
its some 250 plants some 150 found in our research to have
documented medieval religious associations.
In the early years of our work Mary Gardens were mostly planted
with the more familiar and commercially available flowers of the
research, but in time as gardeners became interested in greater
horticultural variety and symbolic richness we made a listing of
the 150 Flowers of Our Lady which could be seen at the Bonnefont
Cloister garden. This was privately published and distributed in
mimeographed form in 1965, and is now posted to our Mary's Gardens
website (under "Developmental Articles") as "Flowers of Our Lady
Growing at the Cloisters (1965)."
The flowers were listed alphabetically by botanical name with the
common name for each - both found on markers in the garden - and
also with their sequential numbers and bed location letter codes
from the planting plan (now the 1959 revision) available at the
Cloisters gift shop.
In the early 1980's, a major revision was made to the planting plan
of the Bonnefont Cloister Garden by the then Cloisters
Horticulturalist, Susan Leach, grouping the plants in the beds
according to use. This new planting arrangement is described
and illustrated on the web page, "The Bonnefont Cloister Herb Garden"
at http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/medny/herbgdn1.html
The planting of the smaller Trie Cloister Garden was also revised
to include only plants illuminating the second of the renowned six
Unicorn Tapestries hung in the Museum.
Then, in 1985 the book, Sweet Herbs and Sundry Flowers, Medieval
Gardens and The Gardens of The Cloisters - by Tania Bayard,
Assistant Horticulturalist at the Cloisters; with foreword by Susan
Taylor Moody, Cloisters Horticulturalist - was published by the
Metropolitan Museum, with chapters on "The Uses of Herbs in the
Middle Ages"; on "The Gardens of the Cuxa, Bonnefont and Trie
Cloisters"; and on "Plants in Containers", with plant listings for
each; together with an excellent bibliography.
The following is a listing of the Flowers of Our Lady, from Our
Mary's Gardens research to date, included in the plant list for the
Bonnefont Cloister in the second, 1997, printing of the book, with
religious names added for this article. A notice at the front of
the book states: "For recent diagrams of the gardens and lists of
the plants grown in each please write to The Gardens, The
Cloisters, Fort Tryon Park, New York, New York, 10040."
* Plants, not in our listing from the 1959 Planting Plan
Achillea millefolium Yarrow Our Lord's Back
Aconitum napellus Monkshood Mary's Slipper
Adonis aestivalis* Pheasant's Eye Mary's Rose
Agrimonia eupatoria Agrimony Our Lord's Nail
Agrostemma guthago* Corn Cockle Mary's Rose
Aguga reptans* Bugle St. Lawrence Plant
Alcea rosea* Hollyhock St. Josephs Staff
Alchemilla vulgaris Lady's Mantle Mary's Mantle
Allium schoenoprasum Chives Our Lady's Garleek
Althea officinalis Marshmallow Our Lady's Cheeses
Anagallis arvensis Scarlt Pimpernl Ladybird
Anemone coronaria* Poppy Anemone "Flower of Field"
Anemone pulsatilla Pasque Flower Pasque Flower
Anethum graveolens Dill Devil-Away
Angelica archancelica Angelica Angel's Plant
Anthemis tinctoria Gldn Marguerite St. John's Flower
Antirrhinum majus* Snapdragon Infant Jesus Shoes
Apium graveolens* Wild Celery Virgin's Marsh Plt
Aquilegia vulgaris Columbine Our Lady's Shoes
Armeria maritima Thrift,Sea Pink O.L. Pincushion
Artemisia abrotanum Southernwood Our Lord's Wood
Artemisia absinthium Wormwood Mary's Tree
Artemisia camphorata Camphor Artem. Our Lady's Maid
Arum maculatum Cuckoo-Pint Lady-Lords
Atropa belladonna< Deadly Nightshd Beautiful Lady
Bellis perennis English Daisy Mary's Rose
Borago officinalis Borage Virgin's Face
Bryonica dioica Red Bryony Our Lady's Signet
Brassica nigra* Black Mustard "Mustard Seed"
Calendula officinalis Pot Marigold Marygold
Campanula medium* CanterburyBells O.L.Nightcap
Carlina acaulis Charlemagnes Th Mary's Thistle
Centauria cyanis Cornflower Mary's Crown
Cheiranthus cheiri Wall Flower Mary's Flower
Chelidonium majus Celandine Gift of God
Chenopodium botrys Jerusalem Oak Jerusalem Cabbage
Chrysanthemun bals.tan. Costmary Our Lady's Balsam
Chrysanthemum leucanth. Ox-Eye Daisy Mary's Star
Chrysanthemum parthen. Feverfew Mary's Flower
Cichorium intybus Chicory Heavenly Way
Cnices benedictus Blessed Thistle Our Lady's Thistle
Colchium autumnale Autumn Crocus Rose of Sharon
Convallaria majalis Lily-of-Valley Our Lady's Tears
Coriandrum sativum Coriander Saint John's Head
Crocus sativus Saffron Crocus Saffron
Cuminum cyninum Cumin Cross-Cumin
Cytisus scoparius Scotch Broom (Flight legend)
Daphne cneorum Daphne Mary's Rose
Daphne mezereum February Daphne Our Lady's Laurel
Datura stramonium Jimsonweed Angel's Trumpet
Dianthus barbatus Sweet William Our Lady's Tuft
Dianthus carthusianorum Carthusian Pink Our Lady's Bedstraw
Dianthus caryophyllus Carnation Mary's Rose
Dictamnus albus Gas Plant Burning Bush
Digitalis purpurea Foxglove Virgin's Glove
Dipsacus sativus Fuller's Teasel Our Lady's Brushes
Dryopteris felix-mass* Male Fern Mary's Bedstraw
Euphorbia lathyrus Caper Spurge Virgin's Milk
Filipendula ulmaria* Queen-of-Meadow Lady-of-Meadow
Foeniculum vulgare Fennel Our Lady's Fennel
Fragaria vesca Strawberry Fruitful Virgin
Galega officinalis Goat's Rue Wild Holy Hay
Galium verum Yellow Bedstraw O. L. Bedstraw
Genista tinctoria* Dyer'sGreenwood Lady's Slipper
Geranium robertianum herb Robert Mary's Bed
Geum rivale* Water Avens Lady's Bells
Glechoma hederacea* Ground Ivy Our Lady's Vine
Helleborus foetidus Hellebore Easter Flower
Helleborus niger Christrmas Rose Christmas Rose
Helleborus orientalis Lenten Rose Lenten Rose
Hesperis matronalis Dame's Rocket Our Lady's Violet
Hyoscyamus niger Henbane Mother of God's Plt
Hypericum perforatum St.John's Wort St.John's Wort
Hyssopus officinalis Hyssop Cloister Hyssop
Inula helenium Elecampane Adam's Root
Iris x germanica Flag,Fleurde lisMary's Sword
Iris pseudocorus Yellow Flag (Fleur-de-lis)
Juniperus communis* Juniper Tree of the Cross
Juniperus sabina Savin Virgin's Palm
Lamium sp.* Dead Nettle Madonna's Milk
Laurus nobilis Sweet Bay St. Bridget's Plt
Lavendula sp. Lavender (M. Drying Plant)
Leontopodium (alp.)* Edelweiss (Purity)
Leonurus cardiaca* Motherwort Cross-Nettle
Leucojum vernum Sprng Snowflake Easter Bells
Levisticum officinale Lovage Our Lady's Duster
Lilium candidum Madonna Lily Mary Lily
Linaria vulgaris Toad Flax Mary's Flax
Linum usitatissimum Flax (Flight legend)
Lonicera periclymenum* Woodbine Lady's Fingers
Lunaria annua Honesty Peter's Pence
Lychnis coronaria Rose Campion Our Lady's Rose
Lychnis flos-cuculi Ragged Robin Christ's Blood
Lychnis githago Corn Cockle Mary's Rose
Malva alcea* Mallow Virgin's Bread
Malva sylvestris Purple Mallow Our Lady's Cheeses
Mandragora officinarum Love Apple Mandrake
Marrubium vulgare Horehound Mary's Nettle
Melilotus officinalis* Yellow Clover Mary's Bedstraw
Melissa officinalis Lemon Balm Sweet Mary
Mentha longifolia* Horsemint Our Lady's Leaf
Mentha pulegium Pennyroyal O. L. Flavoring
Mentha spicata Spearmint Mary's Mint
Muscari botryoides Grape Hyacinth Church Steeples
Myosotis scorpioides Forget-me-not Eyes of Mary
Narcissus jonquilla Jonquil St.Joseph's Staff
Narcissus poeticus* Poet'sNarcissus Our Lady's Rose
Narcissus pseudo-narcis.Daffodil Mary's Star
Nepeta cataria Catnip Mary's Nettle
Nigella damascena Love-in-a-Mist O. L in-the-Shade
Nigella sativa Black Cummin Black Cross
Ocimum basilicum Basil Holy Communion Plt
Ononopardum acanthium Scotch Thistle Our Lady's Thistle
Origanum vulgare Pot Marjmoram O. L. Bedstraw
Ornthogalum umbellatum Star of Bethlm Mary's Tears
Paeonia officinalis Peony Mary's Rose
Papaver rhoeas Corn Poppy O. L. in-the-Corn
Petroselinum crispum Parsley O. L. Little Vine
Pimpinella anisum Anise Our Lady's Sprig
Polemonium caeruleum* Jacob's Ladder Jacob's Ladder
Polypodium vulgare* Wall Fern Mary's Milk Drops
Primula auricula Auricule Easter Flower
Primula elatior* Oxlip Primrose O.L.Candlestick
Primula veris Cowslip Our Lady's Keys
Pulmonaria officinalis* SpottedLungwort Mary's Tears
Pyrus communis* Pear (M.Fruitfulness)
Rosa Canina Dog Rose Mary's Thorn
Rosa centifolia Cabbage Rose Vigin's Rose
Rosa eglanteria Sweetbrier Our Lady's Leaf
Rosa gallica French Rose Rose of Jericho
Rosmarinus officinalis Rosemary Mary's Bouquet
Rumex acetosa Garden Sorrel (M. Bitter Sorrows)
Ruta graveolens Rue Herb O' Grace
Salvia officinalis Sage Mary's Shawl
Salvia sclarea Clary Christ's Eye
Santolina chamaecypar. Lavender-Cotton Holy Plant
Saponaria officinalis Soapwort O. L. by-the-Gate
Satureya hortensis Summer Savory Church Flower
Sedum acre Stonecrop Our Lady's Hair
Sedum telephinum Orphine Live-for-Ever
Sempervivum tectorum. Houseleek Live-for-Ever
Silybum Marianum Milk Thistle St. Mary's Thistle
Stachys officinalis Betony St. Anthony's Tea
Symphytum officinale Comfrey Abrahm,Isaac,Jacob
Tanacetum vulgare Tansy Jesus-Wort
Taraxacum officinale Dandelion (M.Bitter Sorrows)
Teuchrium chamaedrys Germander O. L. Little Flowr
Thymus serphylum Creeping Thyme O. L. Bedstraw
Thymus vulgaris Thyme Virgin's humility
Trigonella foenum-graec Fenugreek Beautiful Mary
Valeriana officinalis Valerian O. L. Needlework
Verbascum thapsus* Great Mullein Mary's Candle
Verbena officinalis Vervain Herb of the Cross
Viola odorata Sweet Violet Our Lady's Modesty
Viola tricolor Wild Pansy Our Lady's Delight
Vitis vinifera Grape "Grape"
Photo from "The Bonnefont Cloister Herb Garden", copyright
Sarah McGowan.
Copyright Mary's Gardens 1965, 1999