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Intro Mary Garden
Culinary and Fragrant Herbs of Religious Symbolism
Most of our culinary and fragrant herbs were grown at one time in
medieval-monastery gardens or used by missionaries, In this way they came
to have popular names reflecting religious life and thought.
Some of the names came from the liturgical feasts in the Church calendar
for which plants normally were in bloom or fruit. Others came from
striking plant shapes which brought to mind events of the Bible or
thoughts about the life of the Holy Family. Many fragrant, soothing and
healing herbs were associated especially with Mary, the mother of Jesus,
because they suggested her sweetness and maternal solicitude.
The following religious names of herbs have been gleaned from
dictionaries and floras of the old and new worlds. It is hoped they will
contribute to the lore of herbs and to the religious sense of herb
gardening.
A summary of herb growth and uses has also been included. Further details
are available from the many excellent herb books and nurseries.
The following abbreviations are used:
Growth: Annual Biennial Perennial, Shrub. Height in inches.
Parts Used: Flower, Leaf, Root, Seed
Uses: Aromatic, Flavorlngs, Potherb, Salad Greens, Teas
Botanical Name Common Name Religious Name Gr Ht Parts Uses
Achellea millefol. Yarrow Our Lord's Back P 36 1 AT
Allium schoenopras. Chives Our Lady's Garleek P 24 1 FP
Althea officinalis Marshmallow Our Lady's Cheeses P 48 1 P
Anethium graveolens Dill Devil-Away AB 36 ls AFP
Angellca archangel Angelica Angel's Plant BP 72 r AFT
Apium graveolens Celery Virgin's Marsh Plant AB 36 ltf PFST
Artemisia abrotanum Southernwd Our Lord's Wood P 48 l A
Artemtsia absinth. Wormwood Mary's Tree P 48 1 P 48 l A
Artemlsla pontica Rom. Wormwood Our Lady's Needle P 48 1 A
Asperula odorata Sw. Woodruff Our Lady's Bedstraw P 8 1 AT
Bellis perennis Engl. Daisy Mary-Love B 8 1 T
Borago officinalis Borage St. Joseph's Staff A 24 fwl APST
Calendula officin. Pot Marygold Marygold A 24 f FZT
Chrysanth.balsamita Costmary Our Lady's Balsam P 36 1 A,F,T
Cichorlum intybus Chicory Heavenly Way P 72 fir FtP
Coriandrum sativum Coriander St. John's Head A 36 ls AF
Crocus sativus Saffron Crocus Saffron P 6 1 AFT
Cummin cyanum Cumin Cross-Cummin A 6 s AF
Dianthus plumarius Clove Pink Virgin Pink P 18 r AF
Foenlculum vulgare Fennel Our Lady's Fennel AP 60 ls ASFT
Hierochloe odorata Holy Grass Mary's Grass P 24 1 AF
Hypericum perforatm St. Johnswort Jesus' Blood Drops P 24 1 T
Botanical Name Common Name Religious Name Gr Ht Parts Uses
Hyssopos officinal. Hyssop St. Joseph's Plant P 18 1 ST
Inula helenium Elecampagne Adam's Root P 72 r F
Iris florin., blue Orris Root Madonna Iris P 18 r A
Laurus nobilis Sweet Bay St. Bridget's Flower T 40ftl AT
Lavandula officin. Lavender Mary's Drying Plant S 36 fls AFS
Levisticum officin. Lovage Our Lady's Duster P 72 lrs F
Lilium candidum Madonna Lily Mary Lily P 48 f A
Majorana hortensis Sw.Marjoram Mother-of-God's Fl AP 24 1 AFT
Malva sylvestris Purp.Mallow Our Lady's Cheeses AB 36 lrs P
Marrubium vulgare Horehound Mother-of-God's Tea P 36 ls FT
Matricaria chamom. Gmn.Chamomile Mary's Plant A 24 fi T
Medicago sativa Alfalfa Holy Hay P 36 1 PT
Melissa officinalis Lemon Balm Sweet Mary P 2l ls AFT
Mentha arvensis Japanese Mint Our Lady's Plant P 24 1 AFT
Mentha crispa Curly Mint Cross-Mint P 36 1 AFT
Mentha pulegium Pennyroyal Our Lady's Flavoring P 6 1 AFT
Mentha requieni Spanish Moss Mother-of-Thousands P 2 1 AFT
Mentha spicata Spearmint Mary's Mint P 24 1 AFT
Monarda didyma Bee-Balm Sweet Mary P 36 fl AT
Myrrhis odorata Sweet Cicely St. Barbara's Grass P 36 1 S
Nepeta cataria Catnip Mary's Nettle P 36 1 AFT
Ocimum basilicum Basil Holy Communion Plant A 24 ls AFT
Origanum vulgare Pot Marjorum Mary's Bedstraw P 30 1 AFT
Paeonia officinalis Peony Mary's Rose P 36 s F
Pelargonum lim.var. Lemon Geranium Lady Mary P 12 1 A
Petrosolenium crisp.Parsley O.Lady's Little Vine B 36 1 FPST
Pimpinella anisum Anise Our Lady's Sprig A 24 ls AFPT
Primula veris Cowslip Our Lady's Keys P 8 fl PST
Primula vulgaris Primrose Our Lady's Frills P 6 fl PS
Rosa centifolia Cabbage Rose The Virgin's Rose P 72 fl AFT
Rosmarinus officin. Rosemary Mary's Nosegay S 72 fls AFT
Rumex acetosella Sorrel (M. Bitter Sorrow) P 36 1 A
Ruta graveolens Rue Herb O'Grace P 36 1 F
Salvia officinalis Sage Mary's Shawl P 36 1 AFT
Salvia sclarea Clary Christ's Eye B 36 1 AF
Sanguisorba minor Burnet St. Anthony's Button S 12 1 FT
Satureja hortensis Sum.Savory St. Joseph's Flower A 12 1 AF
Symphytum officinal.Comfrey Abraham,Isaac,Jacob P 36 1 T
Tagetes lucida SweetM.Gold Mary's Flower A 18 f A
Tanacetum vulgare Tansy Jesus-Wort P 36 fl F
Taraxicum officin. Dandelion (M. BitterSorrow) P 8 1 FPT
Thymus serphyllum Creeping Thyme Mary's Bedstraw S 5 1 AFT
Thymus vulgaris Thyme The Virgin'sHumility S 8 1 AFT
Viola odorata SweetViolet Our Lady's Modesty P 6 f AF
Viola tricolor Wild Pansy Our Lady's Delight AB 8 fl T
Copyright Mary's Gardens 1965, 1996