Though quite late in coming, it has been an amazing spring
here.  I dutifully put up the
wall-o-waters around the tomato and pepper plants when they went in the ground
early last month, something I always do to protect those tender plants from
late spring frosts.  However, from the
moment we were able to get into the yard and work when the snow finally melted,
we haven’t once been even threatened with cold temperatures.  The fruit trees were loaded with blossoms,
and we didn’t lose any to late frosts or wind. 

At the same time, it hasn’t ever gotten very warm.  I feel like I’ve somehow been teleported to
the Oregon coast.  Cloudy every single
day, and at least a few sprinkles or a little rain most days for the past six
weeks.  I read of people in the Midwest and
back east lamenting high temperatures and lack of rain, even though they wouldn’t
count the little amounts we get as rain. 
(We measure rain in the hundredths of inches here, and most days we get
0.02” or less.  If we get around 0.05” we
call it a soaker.)

Anyway, the flowers are looking fabulous.  And I had a friend ask me yesterday what I
had growing in the way of medicinal flowers. 
So I thought I’d write it all down. 
Some are well known medicinal powerhouses; others are more limited in
their action.  See what you have growing
and what you might consider adding in this year.  All but one have been covered in other
articles here on the blog where their medicinal uses and preparation methods
are detailed.

Calendula.    This cheery annual needs only be planted once
as it readily self-sows in subsequent years. 
The petals of this common medicinal flower are most frequently used to
address issues with the skin, but they are also used to treat stomach
complaints and ulcers.

Chrysanthemum.    The showy chrysanthemum flowers brighten many
a fall garden year after year.  The
medicine is in the flower.  Very popular
in Asian culture, chrysanthemum tea treats a wide variety of conditions,
including hypertension, liver-injury, and headache.

Dianthus. 
  Unfortunately, the vast majority of
research with dianthus is conducted in Asia, where it is commonly used to treat
hepatitis and urinary tract issues. 
Perhaps of greatest interest is that a water-extract of this herb has
been shown to suppress and prevent peanut-allergy-induced anaphylaxis.

Echinacea.    This perennial medicinal powerhouse self-sows
and spreads well in the garden, producing enough flowers and leaves to keep the
family supplied with medicine for upper respiratory infections.  However, it is useful for far more than
colds, exerting powerful antibacterial and anti-viral influences.  If you were to grow only one flower, this
would be it.

Hollyhock.   While hollyhocks aren’t often used for
medicine—most people use their cousins mallow (Malva neglecta) or marsh mallow (Althea officinalis), they work
just as well.  These flowers self-sow
very well and grow quite nicely even in poor soil.  As a bonus, the hollyhock petals can also be
used in syrups and infusions.

Nasturtium.    Not only are the flowers higher in
antioxidants than blueberries, they are also quite tasty in salads.  A nasturtium tea or tincture is most often
employed in treating upper respiratory and skin infections.  Plant them around your cabbage and broccoli
to ward off cabbage moths.

Passionflower.   The flower is most often used for
treating insomnia, anxiety, and depression, though it is also beneficial for
many other conditions, including headaches. 
It has also shown promise is treating alcohol, morphine, and opioid
addictions.

Peony.  Widely used in
Chinese medicine for hundreds of years, it is the four- to five-year-old roots
that are the most medicinal.  So you’ll
need to get this one growing as quickly as possible or know where to find it
when the time comes.

Poppy.   We’re all familiar with the
pain-relieving properties of extracts from opium poppy seeds.  The ones you want to grow are Papaver somniferum.  Other species of poppies don’t possess the
same narcotic properties.

Rose.  The only flower
here that I haven’t previously blogged about, rose (Rosa gallica var. officinalis)
flowers are used for treating colds and bronchial infections, skin problems,
and intestinal issues.  As everyone has
heard often enough, the hips are high in vitamin C.

Snapdragon.   Also widely used in Asian folk medicine
for centuries, snapdragon is most often applied as a poultice in managing
various skin issues.  It also makes a
delightful addition to summer salads.

Sunflower.   Another flower that readily self-sows
each year, various aerial parts of the sunflower are most frequently used in
managing respiratory issues.  It’s also
used to treat malaria, whooping cough, and venomous bites.

Yarrow.   I lied. 
If there was only one medicinal flower to grow, yarrow is it.  Echinacea can do a lot, but yarrow can do a
lot more, from toothaches and colds to bites (spider to snake), asthma, and
kidney stones.  And it self-sows ore
readily than echinacea, thriving under more adverse conditions. 

Links to related
posts:

Click on the flower names above